I will never forget that at the age of 9 I was asked to deliver a speech entitled A Challenge in My Life before the whole class! You can imagine how {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(terrible) shy I was the moment I thought of that…with so many eyes {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (fix) upon me. I could do nothing but {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (prepare) for it, though. First, I was to draft the speech, which was just a piece of cake for me, a good writer. But the hardest part {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (lie) in my oral presentation from my memory, for to read from the paper was not allowed. The real moment began {#blank#}5{#/blank#} I stood on the platform with my legs trembling and my mind blank. But my {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (listen) were waiting patiently without any signs of rushing me. Gradually I found myself back, giving out my speech tongue-tiredly. After {#blank#}7{#/blank#} seemed to be a hundred years, I found my audience applauding…I made it! From then on, my fear of talking before {#blank#}8{#/blank#}big audience disappeared. Actually with my confidence building up, I now turn out to be a great speaker. Looking back, I know the greatest difficult on our way {#blank#}9{#/blank#} success is our fear. Overcome it, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} you will be able to achieve your goals.

    People often have trouble {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (get) used to a new culture because they need a long time to adapt to it. They are usually curious {#blank#}2{#/blank#} they first arrive in a foreign country and sometimes they may get confused about what to do. However, if they stay for {#blank#}3{#/blank#} long time, they may start to feel different {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (stage) of culture shock. They can feel lonely or sad because they can't deal with the local people. How {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (quick) people get used to culture differences may depend on the way they {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (learn). That's a problem if they can't speak the language. So the first important thing is to learn to speak the local language. On {#blank#}7{#/blank#} other hand, some can study the situation and make good guesses about the culture. When they finally begin {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (understand) some of the language and make some new {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (friend), they will gradually enjoy themselves and feel {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (comfort). Then they can live an easy life in a completely new culture.

    There was once a {#blank#}1{#/blank#}distinguish king whose name was Tamerlane. Like Alexander the Great, he wished to become one of the masters of the whole world. So he raised a great army and made war on other countries. He conquered many kings and occupied many cities. But with his army{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (beat) at last, Tamerlane escaped alone from the field of battle, looking{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(misery)

    For a long time he wandered in fear from place to place. His enemies were looking for him. He was about to lose all hope. One day lying under a tree, he thought of his failure. Feeling discouraged, he supposed that he couldn't carry on any longer. Suddenly he saw a small object climbing up the trunk (树干) of the tree. He looked more closely and saw an ant and a grain of wheat{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(carry) by it.

There was a hole in the tree only a little way above, and that was the home of the ant. “You are brave, Mr.Ant,” he said, “but you are carrying something that is too heavy for you.” Just as he spoke, the ant lost its footing and fell to the ground. But it still held on to the grain of wheat. Tamerlane watched the little insect. It tried the second time. The twentieth time—but always{#blank#}5{#/blank#}vain. “I am{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (awful) sorry for you.” Tamerlane thought. He had some doubt {#blank#}7{#/blank#}the ant could succeed or not. Then it tried the twenty-first time. Slowly, one little step at a time, it climbed across the rough place at{#blank#}8{#/blank#}it had fallen so often. The next minute it climbed safely into its home, carrying the grain of wheat. His constant efforts paid off. “Well done!” said Tamerlane, “you've taught me a lesson. I, too, will try, try again, till I succeed.” He {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(set) about reorganizing his army. And at last he realized his ambition{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(defeat) once or twice doesn't matter too much. What matters much is to lose heart forever.

    Over the years I have been teaching kids about a simple but powerful concept —— the ant philosophy ( 哲学 ), an {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (amaze) four part Philosophy.

    First, ants never quit. If they are heading somewhere and you try to stop them, they will climb over. They will climb under or climb around. They never quit {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(look) for a way to get where they {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(suppose) to go! Second, ants think about winter and summer. They are always gathering their winter food in the middle of summer and they are making{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(prepare) for the long cold winter. So you have to think about storms in summer and think about rocks{#blank#}5{#/blank#} you enjoy the sand and sun. Third, ants think about summer all winter. During the winter, they remind{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (they),” This won't last long and we will soon be out of here.” On {#blank#}7{#/blank#}first warm day, the ants are out. If it {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(turn) cold again, they will dive back down .But they come out again if it is warm. Last, how much will an ant gather during the summer to prepare for the winter? All that it {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(possible) can. {#blank#}10{#/blank#}you can learn from the ant philosophy is: Never give up, look ahead, stay positive and do all you can!

    Students are busy. Between classes, work, homework and family, there can be a lot to balance. So why would we suggest that you add another thing to that list by {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (join) a student organization? First of all, it presents many opportunities to learn more about {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (you), your goals, and your strengths. You can also find out what you're good at, whether that's listening, staying organized, or serving others. This self-awareness {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (be) beneficial in your future career.

How to Become a Morning Person?

You have grand ambitions: to start a business, to write a book. But chances are you work long hours, or household responsibilities consume your days. By the time you finish all you have to do, you will have had no energy {#blank#}1{#/blank#}anything you want to do beyond turning on the TV.

Yet some busy people do make time for their priorities. The secret is giving the most attention to {#blank#}2{#/blank#}at the very beginning of a day. They get up earlier than they have to. Morning by morning, they make progress on something {#blank#}3{#/blank#}matters.

It's not fun to force yourself out of bed, but these early hours are often the best time to do things for yourself. With a little schedule reorganization, {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(become) a morning person is more doable than you think.

I first learned that mornings {#blank#}5{#/blank#}be transformational years ago, when I was studying a busy lawyer's schedule. She wanted to spend more time with her son, but she had little control over when she left work. This state of affairs kept her sad {#blank#}6{#/blank#}she realized she and her son were both early risers and the morning time could be made full use of. After thinking it through, the lawyer decided to get up even earlier. Then, when the boy stepped into the dining room, she {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(finish) preparing a rich breakfast so they two could enjoy the meal to the fullest together.

Mornings are also great for focused thinking. Getup an hour earlier, and you can knock out your most important task of the day. Or you can spare some time for those creative desires {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(bury) deep in your heart and hard to nurture.

But many will argue：I'm not a morning person! The fact is that there are not so many true night owls. When most people take an honest look at {#blank#}9{#/blank#}they're spending the hours before bed, they'll find they have wasted much time on the TV programs they don't mean {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(watch). Also, they often browse through photos on social media of people they didn't like in high school anyway.

A better approach is to sleep earlier, rise earlier and turn unproductive evening hours into productive morning hours.