When a New Yorker was hiking in Europe, his Swiss friend kept saying “Listen to that!” but he didn't hear anything. His ears were accustomed to loud city noises and it was days before he was able to notice the sound of a bird. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. There is background music in restaurants, bars, stores, rest rooms, elevators, and when you are waiting on the telephone. Russell Baker blames “society's determination to entertain you whether you like it or not”.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, but in practice they avoid it. They drive with the car radio turned up, switch on the television when they get home, and exercise while listening to music on headphones. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} They can buy things in stores, but they do not have enough human contact. So they fill their lives with sound.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Young men play their car stereos loudly in order to create a personal environment around them. Like animals, they are marking a territory to warn rivals away and to attract a mate.

    It may also be true that the brain itself wants excitement just as the stomach insists on food. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} This seems extreme. Perhaps we would be better off if we sought periods of silence to provide balance.

    Over time, habits of negative thinking about ourselves can lower self-esteem (自尊). So if you want to feel better about yourself, try some of these things:

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Are you so used to focusing on your problems that they're all you see? Next time you find yourself trapped in problems or disappointment with yourself or your day, find something positive to deal with it. Each day, write down three good things about yourself, or three things that went smoothly that day because of your action or effort.

    Aim for effort rather than perfection. Some people get held back by their own pressure to be perfect. They lose out because they don't try. Usually, you may think, “I won't audition (试镜) for the play because I probably won't get the lead.”{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Remind yourself that everyone is good at different things.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Thinking more like this: “She's a great basketball player — but the truth is, I'm a better musician than athlete. Still, I'll keep playing because I enjoy it.” It helps you accept yourself and make the best of the situation.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Don't be afraid to voice them. If someone disagrees, it's not a judgment on your worth or your intelligence. That person just sees things differently from you.

    Set goals.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Then make a plan for how to do it. Stick with your plan, and keep track of your progress.

A. Focus on what goes well for you.

B. Take pride in your opinions and ideas.

C. Think about what you'd like to achieve.

D. It's certain that the role will go to someone else.

E. Recognize what you can change and what you can't.

F. Train your inner voice to remind you of what you are accomplishing.

G. Cheer on others for their success and keep in mind what you do well.

    When I was younger I was fascinated with stories of magic．I was absorbed in books where wizards(法师)and fighters battled the powers of darkness in strange worlds．I was delighted when they won bringing peace and happiness to their lands{#blank#}1{#/blank#}I wanted to be able to magically make my pain disappear，to make my problems go away，and to have power over this world that so often has power over us．

    As I got older，however，I realized that there was no such thing as magic{#blank#}2{#/blank#} I had daily pain from a back injury that never healed(治愈)right．I still sometimes dreamed of magic but in time even that faded away．

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} This magic grew stronger in my heart，soul，and mind day by day．It was called LOVE．This magic connected me to my own highest self and to all of the other souls in this world．It didn't abolish my poverty but it made every day of my life feel richer{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    There is such a thing as magic in this world．There is such a thing as magic in each one of us．This magic is called LOVE{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Also，I hope you use it to help others，to heal this world，and to build a bridge to souls of everybody．

A．I struggled through a long period of poverty．

B．I was not eager to have any power that controlled the world．

C．Then one day I started to discover a different kind of magic．

D．May you choose it，share it，and live in it every single day of your life．

E．It didn't get rid of my pain but it helped me deal with it so much better．

F．It helped me see them as the beautiful，loving and joyful souls they truly are．

G．Most of the readers like me secretly wished for magical powers for themselves．

Sleep and Teens--Biology and Behavior

    How much sleep do teens need? And how much sleep are they realistically getting? Based on current data, most teens need about 9-plus hours to have the best or most suitable sleep night. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Many factors combine to decrease sleep in adolescents. We can think in general of two major factors: biological, the brain processes that regulate the amount and timing of sleep, and behavior, all the psychological, parental, societal, cultural features of teen's life.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}These changes lay the ground work for the biological night to occur later during the teen years than before. Circadian Rhythms (daily biological clock) seems to slow down as young people progress through the middle school years. At the same time, the sleep pressure system appears to change in a way that makes it easier to stay awake longer, though without changing the amount of sleep that is needed.

    Moreover, many teens have a "technological playground" in their bedrooms: television, computer with 24/7 Internet access, telephones, electronic game stations, MP3 players, and so forth. These technologies provide instant and constant contact with peers. Societal and media pressure to consume these technologies is now higher than ever. Yet society also requires that teens go to school at a time of day that is at odds with their biological and social lives. So we see teens turn to caffeine, late-night Internet and cramming in activity after activity as a means to keep awake.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Problems emerge for lack of sleep. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}For some, grades begin to suffer as they struggle to keep awake during class and while doing homework. And others may simply feel moody, never knowing how to feel or do their best. Worse still, many teens suffer from both physical and mental illness.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}The earlier teens can start this good sleep habit, the easier it will be for them to stay healthy, happy and smart.

A. Sleep experts recommend teens keep consistent sleep and wake schedule

B. Teens may schedule sleep like any other daily activity and make sleep a priority

C  Then they are trapped into a terrible situation where they would never get enough sleep

D. The sleep-wake bio-regulatory factors appear to change significantly during adolescence

E. Some teenagers struggle to wake up in the morning  often resulting in late or missed school

F. Teens may be driven to things that can wake them up because they'll fall asleep if they do not

G. However, it is indicated that most teens fall short of this goal, many by a considerable amount.

    Actions speak louder than words. A smile says, "I like you. You make me happy."

    That's why dogs make such a hit. They are so glad to see us that they almost jump out of their skins. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    A baby's smile has the same effect. Have you ever been in a doctor's waiting room and looked around at all the sad faces waiting impatiently to be seen? There were six or seven patients waiting when a young woman came in with a nine-month-old baby. She sat down next to a gentleman who was more than a little impatient about the long wait for service. The baby just looked up at him with that great big smile that is so characteristic of babies. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Soon he struck up a conversation with the woman about her baby and his grand-children and then the entire reception room joined in, and the boredom and tension were changed into a pleasant and enjoyable experience.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Telephone companies throughout the U.S have a program called "phone power which is offered to employees who use the telephone for selling their Services or products. In this program they suggest that you smile when talking on the phone. Your "smile" comes through in your voice.

    You don't feel like smiling? {#blank#}4{#/blank#}If you are lone, force yourself to whistle or hum a tune or sing. Act as if you were already happy, and that will tend to make you happy.

    Your smile is a messenger of your goodwill. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} To someone who has seen a dozen people frown or turn their faces away, your smile is like the sun breaking through the clouds. Especially when that someone is under pressure from his bosses, his customers, his teachers or parents or children, a smile can help him realize that all is not hopeless-that there is joy in the world.

    Growing up I remember my weekly "career" announcements. Anchor woman, flight attendant and teacher, among many, many others. Each week I heard "you can do that. You will be good at that". {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Throughout life, I learned that not everyone believed in me the way my mom and dad believed in me. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. I dug deep and gain success. I have 2 children of my own now and I echo those words of encouragement to them everyday. I often tell my nieces and nephews, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} as I listen to other family members tell their children and even my boys telling that to each other.

    Most often when we think of what passes from one generation to the next it consists of artifacts and genes.

    I will pass these words on and I know they will carry on for each generation to come. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.