Learning English is challenging because of the various rules and exceptions to the rules. The best way to learn English is to hear it spoken and repeat the words as you hear them. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}You will learn how to make English a daily part of your life in order to learn to speak it quickly.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Ask a friend to help you write letters of English alphabet on index cards. You should write a letter on each card. Practise the letters by mixing up the cards and saying the letters. You can ask your friend to help you pronounce the letters and quiz you on your knowledge.

    Make your own videos in English. If you have a video camera, you can tape yourself speaking English and practice along with your own video. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Watch your videos daily, and repeat what is being said.

    Get a private tutor. A professional English instructor can give you one-on-one instruction that will help you understand the rules of English. Your instructor can teach you how to write and speak English.  {#blank#}4{#/blank#} You can also inquire at your local community college.

    Watch movies with English subtitles. When watching a movie in your native language, use the English subtitles so you will understand the connection between your language and English.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} You will make mistakes, and that is OK. You need to practice English as much as possible in order to quickly learn to speak the language fluently.

    Tiny Tomatoes

    Tomatoes come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. And the little tomatoes are some of the most fun to grow and are perhaps the most rewarding. 
    Little tomatoes are classified into plum, cherry, grape or currant (醋栗) tomatoes.   {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Plum tomatoes are the largest of the groups listed, and currant tomatoes are the smallest. There are also differences in color, flavor and skin thickness, but these differences are more relative to specific varieties.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Plum, cherry and other small tomato types are fun to grow because they always produce abundant crops of flavorful fruit. They are fun to snack on while working in the garden or while daydreaming about working in the garden.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}They are typically sweeter than large tomatoes, and little tomatoes contain less juice and fewer seeds than large tomatoes.

    To grow little tomatoes, select a site that receives at least six to eight hours of full sun per day. Use a large container set in a sunny spot if a sunny planting site is otherwise unavailable.”

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}You could also plant seeds, but already-started plants will provide fruit much more quickly. Water infrequently to help plants grow deep roots before the heat of summer arrives.

    Harvest fruits when they are ripe. They will generally slip from the plant at this point.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Store harvested fruit indoors and unrefrigerated as cool temperatures change the flavor.

A. The best time to grow tomato plants is March.

B. Differences in size matter most commonly here.

C. They are also influenced by growing conditions.

D. Then select plants from the garden center or farmers.

E. All of them are delicious and almost of the same size.

F. These are good additions to salads and cooked dishes.

G. But they should feel firm in your hand at the same time.

    Going to college is a new experience full of excitement of the unknown. Socialization is a big thing for college students and it is common to feel a little uncomfortable going into a situation where everyone is a stranger. You may probably miss your friends from high school.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} College is a great opportunity to make new lifelong friends. The question is: how?

    ▲ Get to know your roommate.

    You may find you have lots of things in common with your roommate, but even if you are completely different from each other, with a little effort and understanding the two of you may become best friends.

    ▲{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    If you leave your door open, this shows that you welcome visitors. As a result people will naturally stop in and say hello. Closed doors are not likely to bring many visitors and those who stay locked up in their rooms may give others the impression of being cold. Other students will be less likely to stop in and build a new friendship.

    ▲ Join clubs or organizations.

     Getting involved in organized socialization is a great way to meet new people.    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} By staying active in college groups such as clubs and organizations you can meet lots of people with whom you share common interests.

    ▲ Talk to classmates.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Starting conversations in class is a great opportunity to meet people who are interested in the same kind of studies as you are. Short friendly discussions can build lifelong friendships.

    ▲ Try out for a sport.

    If you're athletic trying out for a sport will do for you the same thing that joining a club will do{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Trying actively to find new friends can help ease the feelings of being lonely.

B. Close the door to keep away from theft.

C. Your roommate is the first person you will have close contact with.

D. Hang a welcome sign on your dorm room.

E. Get to know your classmates as you'll be spending several months with them.

F. You will instantly meet a large group of people who share your interests in sports.

G. It also helps you get more familiar with the campus.

    Four simple ways to stay positive. Trying to stay positive, both in good times and bad, is a great way to improve your quality of life. Try these four methods on a daily basis.

    Don't think a lot about negativity.

    Of course, staying positive 24 hours a day, seven days a week is a bit difficult. Letting things get to you is normal, and it's actually healthy to cry or express frustrations once in a while.

    It's when those negative moments control your life that your emotional balance is at risk. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, don't give that sadness another second in your day.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}What you put into your body directly affects how you feel on the outside. Fill yourself with good, healthy foods like fruits and vegetables and limit snacking. Exercise is equally of great importance. Take a few days out of your week for at least a half an hour of activity, and try to stick to a routine. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Be kind to others.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Making someone's day a bit brighter not only puts a smile on his or her face, but also yours as well. Remember to smile and treat each person with pity and respect. Good deeds are contagious （传染的）, and your positive attitude may spread among others.

    Take it one day at a time.

    Being positive isn't an instant thing. It's a steady effort that we follow every hour of every day. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Instead, focus on living in the moment and doing what you can to make each moment better.

A. Eat healthy and stay fit.

B. Take your lunch breaks outside.

C. Don't worry about what the future may bring.

D. Gratefulness helps you appreciate life in bad times.

E. Good feelings come from acts of kindness and selflessness.

F. Take a few minutes to feel sad and accept what happened.

G. Even going outside for a walk and enjoying the sunshine improves your mood.

    We know that choosing a college major can be extremely hard. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. However, it is a challenge to pick one when it feels as if the rest of your adult life is riding on that choice. It is a big commitment, but it's not a life sentence. Many graduates pursue careers that aren't directly related to their college majors, or change careers after several years. You may choose to base your decision on any of these factors:

    Dream job

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Maybe you already know that you want to be a nurse, a day trader, a physician, or a web developer. Before you declare, take a class or two in the relevant discipline, talk to students in the department of your choice.

    Great ambition

    According to PayScale.com, the majors that lead to the highest salaries include just about any type of engineering, actuarial mathematics, computer science, physics, statistics, government and economics. Keep your quality of life in mind, too.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    Some students choose a major simply because they love the subject matter. If you love what you're studying, you're more likely to fully engage with your classes and college experience. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. If your calling is philosophy, don't write it off just because you're not sure about graduate school, or what the job market holds for philosophers.

A. Love project

B. The academy of the School

C. Many schools offer hundreds of choices

D. Science is a specific subject that college students specialize in

E. That can mean better grades and great relationships with others in your field

F. That seven figure salary may not be worth it if you're not happy at the office

G. Some students choose a major because it will prepare them for a specific career path or advanced study

    It's sometimes hard to understand a teenager. It's even harder if a teenager doesn't agree with you.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Listen to what the teenager has to say. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} While you may not entirely agree with what he's saying, the tension will be lessened if the teenager feels like you are listening and trying to understand him. Also, he might return the favor and give you the chance to talk as well. It's best to have a conversation where both of your opinions matter rather than fight and possibly hurt each other in the process.

    Understand that while teenager may appear grown up and perhaps even sound matured, his mind has not fully developed, and he cannot think like an adult all the time. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} However, this doesn't mean you're completely right or he deserves to be ridiculed or treated like a child.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} However, remember that the teenager should understand when "no" is "no". Avoid bringing up a compromise every time you disagree on something. This might teach him that he can always get away with what he wants, whenever he wants it.

    If the conversation launches into an argument, stop it. Tell him that you both need to calm down and think clearly or the problem will never be solved. If he refuses to listen and continues arguing, step out of the room and allow time for both of you to settle down. Do not scold him or shout back. Your words will possibly be lost on the teenager since you both are too angry to listen to each other. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. He still needs to learn, and he doesn't know everything.

B. Avoid having a bad tone, including accusations in your words.

C. Find the good points the teenager has and mention the negative points too.

D. This article tells you how to disagree with a teenager in a kind manner.

E. People like being listened to, so give him the chance to express his opinion.

F. Come up with a compromise if the situation allows one.

G. Bring up the topic after a while and make sure you listen to each other patiently.