Do you know what a big dream is? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Or, is a big dream something that provides only entertainment? Children dream big dreams, but there are three barriers to realizing dreams. They often kill them before they ever have a chance to grow.

The Self

    Immediately following the birth of a big dream, a negative self-talk takes over and gives all the reasons why it cannot happen. This inside voice is the ego（自我）. It's there for protecting and should be listened to. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Most people are influenced by the inside voice. That's why only a handful of people make their dream come true.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} 

    Family and friends are a lot like the ego. They want to protect those they love, so they will often list all the reasons why the big dreams won't come true. Sometimes, family and friend destroy dreams of those they love most, out of their own fear of being left behind.

The World

    If one gets past the first two barriers, one has to face the world. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In the past, big dreamers were locked up and sometimes even killed when they were shown to the world. Fortunately, in most of the world today, big dreamers just get laughed at.

    The way to realize a big dream is with confidence and action. When children have confidence and then take action, they will be ready to accept any failure. The truth is that every great dreamer whose dreams have never seen the light of success knows failure well. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} 

A. Does a big dream show one's future ?

B. They simply fail until they succeed.

C. How Big Dreams Die

D. It is the last and the most terrible barrier.

E. Family and Friends 

F. Sometimes it is right, but more often it is wrong

G. And their big dream is to be a rock star or a famous artist.

Question: Why is it so hard for some people to apologize after they've done something wrong? I have made efforts to persuade my uncle to be nice to people that he's hurt. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} How I wish things would be better if he'd just say he's sorry and ask them to forgive him.

Answer: {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's just easier for him to pretend nothing happened than to face the embarrassment (尴尬) of admitting he was wrong. You've probably done the same thing yourself at some time. In fact, most of us have. Furthermore, what if others won't forgive him even if he apologizes?

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Pride blinds us to our mistakes or faults. Or at least it makes us pay less attention to their seriousness.

    Pride also makes us unwilling to admit to others that we were wrong. Perhaps we're afraid they will look down on us if we admit it. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} 

    But others see through our pride. And things would be far better if we admitted our faults and asked for forgiveness. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} 

    Now you know why your uncle refuses to apologize, talk to him again. Help him to learn how to apologize and ask for forgiveness from others.

A. But a deeper reason is pride.

B. But he just refuses to do that.

C. We may even hope that somehow they will overlook it.

D. As a result, you would offend others and hurt their feelings.

E. There are a variety of reasons for your uncle's refusal to apologize.

F. Otherwise our pride would only hurt us and cause conflict with others.

G. One reason your uncle finds it hard to apologize could be embarrassment.

    Why is setting goals important? Because goals can help you do, be, and experience everything you want in life{#blank#}1{#/blank#} goals allow yourself to make your life happen.

    Successful and happy people have a vision of how their life should be and they set lots of goals (both short-term and long-range) to help them reach their vision. By setting goals you are taking control of your life{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} They decide what they want in life and then get there by making plans and setting goals. Unsuccessful people just let life happen by accident. Goals aren't difficult to set, and they aren't difficult to reach{#blank#}4{#/blank#} You are the one who must decide what to pursue and in what direction to aim your life.

    Research tells us that when we write a goal down we are more likely to achieve it. Written goals can be reviewed regularly, and have more power{#blank#}5{#/blank#} they are harder to neglect or forget. Also when you write your goals in a particular way you are able to make yourself continuously aware of situations that will bring you nearer to your goals.

A. Like a contract with yourself

B. Instead of just letting life happen to you

C. Winners in life set goals and follow through on them

D. It's like having a map to show you where you want to go

E. My suggestion is that you shouldn't set goals just for the sake of it

F. I think there's nothing which can stop you from achieving your goals

G. It's up to you to find out what your goals, ideals and visions really are

    Although many Chinese students say that their knowledge of English grammar is good, most would admit that their spoken English is poor. Whenever I speak to a Chinese student, they always say, “My spoken English is poor.” {#blank#}1{#/blank#} I would like to suggest that there may be some reasons for their problems with spoken English.

    First, they fail to find suitable words to express themselves due to a limited vocabulary. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}However, you can speak with a limited vocabulary, if you choose a positive attitude. Others will follow you as long as you use the words that you know.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Sometimes they make mistakes when they are speaking because they are shy and nervous. Yet students should remember that their goal should be FLUENCY NOT ACCURACY. Your aim in writing is to be accurate following the rules for grammar and using the right words and spelling them correctly. However, in speaking your aim is fluency. You want to get your message across, to talk to someone in English, as quickly and as well as you can, even though sometimes you may use a wrong word or tense, but it doesn't matter. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The third reason is that not enough attention is paid to listening. You have one mouth but two ears! All that hearing is necessary for you to start speaking.

    Fourth, most Chinese students are reactive rather than proactive(主动的) language learners. Instead of actively seeking out opportunities to improve their spoken English they passively wait for speaking opportunities to come to them and wonder why their English always remains poor. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. The person you are speaking to will understand you and make allowances for any mistakes he hears.

B. Obviously the better answer is to expand their vocabulary.

C. They may try to avoid making similar mistakes next time.

D. If you have this proactive outlook, then you will see English opportunities wherever you go.

E. Second, they are afraid of making mistakes.

F. However, their spoken English does not have to remain “poor”!

G. The second reason lies in the reluctance of using what has just been learned.

    Choose your food wisely and you can add years to your life. Our list of anti-aging food goes way beyond green tea! {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, it doesn't matter how you eat your green and yellow beans, as long as you eat them. Eating whole, cooked peas and other beans may actually slow aging and make skin look younger.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, it may be one of the best thing you can do for your health. People who eat these anti-aging foods, especially walnut (核桃), three times a week or more enjoy two to three more years of life.

    Don't panic — no one is saying you have to give up your steak — but doing a few meatless meals a week can increase the number of weeks in your life. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Anti-aging foods like rice, beans, tofu, and buckwheat nearly as much protein per serving as meat does, and you get the added benefit of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

    Carrots are the typical healthy food. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. But did you know that carrots can not only lengthen your life span but also help you look younger?

    Not only are blueberries delicious, but they're also full of tons of nutrients, namely Vitamins A and C, as well as anti-aging antioxidants (抗氧化物质)like anthocyanin (花青素). A higher intake of anthocyanin may be associated with reductions in age-related decline to help preserve your health as you get older. The antioxidants found in blueberries can also protect against oxidative damage to your cells.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. Since they are delicious

B. When it comes to anti-aging foods

C. If you eat nuts in your diet regularly

D. Sometimes your health depends on your mouth

E. And they decrease the risk of heart disease, and other diseases

F. Adding plant sources of protein can help extend your life span

G. Therefore, it's probably no surprise to hear they're really good for you.

How to Take Effective Notes During Lectures

Effective note-taking is an active part of the learning process that requires you to get the main idea and write down its key words in your own way.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Prepare for the lecture in advance.

Teachers hand out outlines of their lectures before they begin.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}It can help you focus on the difficulties you have in understanding and you will be able to ask better questions in class.

Find your style of taking notes

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}For example, some visual learners could draw certain shapes to represent important concepts. Some people prefer writing words, and some may find it most helpful to record a lecture and listen to it while studying. You have to find the style works best for you.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Rather than writing complete sentences or even complete words, create a form of fast and brief writing with some signs or phrases to make note-taking easier. This will help you take notes quickly and keep up with the lecture.

Take down key points.

It is important to write down key points from the lecture.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Things like key ideas, definitions, and descriptive phrases can help you remember the subject. For example, if the lecture is based on a specific battle in history, try to write down the date, the major characters involved and the overall outcome of the struggle.

A. Develop your shorthand.

B. Write questions as you are listening.

C. Skimming them will warm up your brain.

D. Everything you learn may be helpful in the future.

E. Different people may have different ways of note-taking.

F. It means you need to focus on the most meaningful information.

G. With the following tips, you can become a better lecture note-taker.