When I was a little girl, my mom would say, “Half the fun of doing anything is sharing it with others.” {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Friends and mates allow us to enjoy our successes and our joys, comfort us in our hard moments, and provide a mirror for us to learn more about ourselves. I've always looked at friends as the family we choose. They enrich our lives. As Robert Louis Steven once said, “{#blank#}2{#/blank#}”.

    To be a good friend or partner, it's important to be a good listener. Hear what your friend or mate has to say first rather than jump to conclusions or get defensive. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} When they hear their words repeated back to them, it can help them to realize what they said was not exactly what they meant to say.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} You know the old golden rule, “Care for others the way you would like them to care for you.” The support of a friend during a tough time could make the difference between success and failure. Encouragement and confidence are the gifts that can help change a person's life.

    Take care, though, with whom you choose to have close relationship, for they can have a great effect on yourself – respect and life path. As someone once told me “{#blank#}5{#/blank#} They will either take you up or down.”

A. I am afraid so.

B. It is quite true

C. Friendship is the most important factor.

D. Sometimes it is useful to be their mirror.

E. A friend is a present which you give yourself.

F. The attitudes of your friends are like the buttons on a lift.

G. Patience, sympathy and understanding are also important qualities.

    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.

A. Learn the English alphabet.

B. Use every opportunity to speak English.

C. You can subscribe some English magazines to learn English.

D. Constant repetition is the key to remembering words in English.

E. If you have any difficult points, you can consult your dictionary at any time.

F. You can find an English tutor by placing an advertisement in your local newspaper.

G. You can make a play in which you and a friend are having a simple conversation in English.

    Facing the Enemies Within

    We are not born with courage, but neither are we born with fear. Fears, even the most basic ones, can totally ruin our ambitions (雄心壮志). Fear can ruin fortunes. Fear can ruin relationships. Fear, if left unchecked, can ruin our lives. Fear is one of the many enemies living inside us.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    The first enemy we face is indecision. Indecision is the thief of opportunity{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Take a sword to this enemy.

    The second enemy inside is doubt.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} But you also can't let doubt take over. Many people doubt the past, doubt the future, doubt each other, doubt the government, doubt the possibilities and doubt the opportunities. Worse of all, they doubt themselves. I'm telling you, doubt will ruin your life and your chances of success. It will empty both your bank account and your heart.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Do battle with the enemy. Do battle with your fears.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Be courageous in your life and in your pursuit of the things you want and the person you want to become.

A. Sure, there's room for healthy doubt. You can't believe everything.

B. Build your courage to fight what's holding you back, what's keeping you from your goals and dreams.

C. Let me tell you about two of the other enemies we face from within.

D. Below are the ways which might be useful for us to overcome our fears.

E. Doubt is an enemy. Go after it. Get rid of it.

F. It will steal your chances for a better future.

G. Some people doubt everything.

    Curiosity is an important characteristic of a genius. I don't think you can find an intellectual giant who is not a curious person. Thomas Edison, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, they are all curious characters. Richard Feynman was especially known for his adventures which came from his curiosity.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are four reasons:

    It makes your mind active and strong.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Their minds are always active. Since the mind is like a muscle which becomes stronger through continual exercise, the mental exercise caused by curiosity makes your mind stronger and stronger.

    It makes your mind observant of new ideas.

    When you are curious about something, your mind expects new ideas related to it. When the ideas come they will soon be recognized.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} This is because your mind is not prepared to recognize them. Just think, how many great ideas may have lost due to lack of curiosity?

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    By being curious you will be able to see something new that is normally not visible. They are hidden behind the surface of normal life, and it takes a curious mind to look beneath the surface and discover the unknown.

    It brings excitement into your life.

    The life of curious people is far from boring. It's neither dull nor routine. There are always new things that attract their attention and there are always new “toys” to play with.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. So is curiosity that important?

B. But why is curiosity so important?

C. It leads you to a new and exciting life.

D. It opens up new worlds and possibilities.

E. Curious people always ask questions and search for answers.

F. Rather than get bored, curious people have an adventurous life.

G. Without curiosity, the ideas may pass right in front of you and yet you miss them.

    Because of the Internet, people from different parts of the world can connect with one another, and get information about nearly everything in the world. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} They spend so much time online, hardly realizing that much of it is actually wasted on something meaningless. For example, they waste much time playing games. Luckily there are many meaningful things you can do on the Internet.

     {#blank#}2{#/blank#} These courses don't require you to go out to attend classes. They can also be done from the comfort of your home. So they're very convenient.

    If you're a DIY person, you should check for online resources that help you with this thing. For questions like how to paint a room, or how to repair a broken car engine, all the answers can be found online. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} From home decoration and repair to fashion and relationships, there are many sources that give you good advice.

    Practice your hobby on the Internet. Find the latest information on things that you are interested in.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} In a word, the Internet has many good sources that allow you to practice your hobbies, and even earn out of them.

    Listen to your favorite songs, watch your favorite movies, or listen to speeches by inspirational speakers. Songs can help you feel relaxed. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} And listening to inspirational speeches can make you feel good about yourself.

A. Take part in fun activities that you enjoy.

B. Movies can give you that much-needed break.

C. Take academic courses and improve your skills.

D. However, very few people make really good use of the Internet.

E. So, what type of productive things do you like to do on the Internet?

F. Therefore, there are so many websites from which we can gain knowledge.

G. Also you can use the Internet to find answers for questions related to daily life.

    Everyone knows the basics of looking for a job, but only about 20%g of job applications can be successful Employers know what they need and personalities that fit the position will get the job. Use this chart to match your personality with potential jobs.

    Personality: social butterfly

    Potential Jobs: retailer, restaurant host or hostess, coffee shop staff, tour guide, receptionist.

    Comments:

    Retailers base their weekly labor budget on sales from the week before.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} .

    Receptionists at health clubs and resorts are usually part time. These jobs also allow studying during downtime.

    Personality: love children

    Potential Jobs: daycare teacher, summer camp counselor, nanny.

    Comments:

    Aside from daycare, try any business with a nursery, children's department, or places children would love to have a birthday party.

    Recreation centers love summer help.

    Experienced nannies may earn a living while in college. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} .

    Personality: great students

    Potential Jobs: tutor, community college librarian, cafe staff.

    Comments:

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} . Teens may also check community centers, library bulletin boards and ask guidance counselors.

    Community college openings are open to everyone, and teens will love the environment.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    Potential Jobs: lifeguard, summer camp counselor, swim coach, children's sport coach.

    Comments:

    Lifeguards must he certified.

    If you're good with kids, recreation renters love summer help.

    They also may hire good athletes as teachers.

    Whatever job you decide to take, remember you are a student first, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, however, what you do with your study stays with you forever. By all means work, but work responsibly.

A. Jobs come and go

B. Personality: readers

C. Personality: athletes

D. Some even get rooms and meals

E. Restaurant servers must be over 18 years old

F. Many tutoring firms hire exceptional students

G. This provides insight into the industry opportunities