Helen Keller once wrote, “The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves.”{#blank#}1{#/blank#}The UN has set December 5 as Internatuional Volunteers Day to give recognition to these people.

    Nineteen-year-old Andrew Makhoul was a communications major at the University of Pennsylvania. It was coming up to spring break, but unlike his classmates, Makhoul wasn't planning on spending the break relaxing.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    He traveled to Guatemala. He went to an orphanage（孤儿院）in one of the most violent and poor parts of Guatemala city.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Although he didn't speak much Spanish, he found communication wasn't a problem: “You communicated with love.” And what he gave out, he got back: “You could see love when you looked in their eyes.”

    Makhoul's first time as a volunteer only lasted a week, but by the end of that week, he knew he'd be back in the future.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}The UN highlighted the case of Palestinian women who are survivors of breast cancer. As part of the UN's Aid and Hope Programme for Patient Care, the women have been volunteering their time to create low-cost breast prosthetics（假体）to be distributed to women for free, among whom Shahd El-Swerki is a brilliant example.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} By the end of her time there, she admired these women who are “not only survivors but also volunteers”.

    About 2,400 years ago, Greek philosopher Aristotle said, “The essence（本质）of life is to serve others and do good.” Volunteers all around the world are making these words come true, each and every day.

A. It depends upon volunteers to stay open.

B. She worked with the women as part of the programme.

C. Here, we tell two volunteering stories from around the globe.

D. Sometimes, volunteers themselves live with huge challengers.

E. He decided to spend his time doing something useful for people.

F. Volunteers want to do their best to make the world warmer and more beautiful.

G. These words certainly prove true for the millions of volunteers all over the world.

                                                    5 Ways to Get Work Done

    As the day draws to a close,are you having trouble finishing your work? You don't need to end up with a sense of failure.In the hours left,the following ways can help you get things done to have a sense of achievement.

⒈Trick yourself.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}So,try this: add something to your to-do-list that takes only 30 seconds to finish.Feeling a bit inspired? Then use as short a deadline to deal with another.Or focus on something by giving yourself only five minutes,and then work as long as you can.

⒉Take lots of breaks.

    Find yourself checking your cellphone or reading the Internet?{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Have some breaks,and you'll be able to face your work again with delight.

⒊Use rewards.

    One-hundred more words on this report,and you can have a cup of coffee.One more phone call,and you can check your personal email.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

⒋{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Most of us spend too much of our day sitting.It's bad for our health and bad for our concentration.Take a walk or do some jumping in a free meeting room—anything to get you refreshed and your brain working again.

⒌Work as a team.

    When you have a big project deadline coming up,you can even keep a meeting room and work in the same place.{#blank#}5{#/blank#},but also you'll feel more connected to your co-workers while doing it.

A.Get physical exercise

B.Don't feel guilty

C.Do things energetically

D.Not only will you get more done

E.Rewards are wonderful motivators

F.Endless work makes us busy and tired every day

G.A feeling of having made progress will inspire you

    In today's world English has become a global language. Speaking or writing in English is a matter of global interest these days, for it is now a requirement for being able to communicate with the outer world. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Enthusiasm（热情）

    The first thing you need to have is an enthusiasm to reach your goal. The most important thing you have to have is emotional devotion（情感，承诺）with your desire to learn English quickly. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    You pass by a lot of things in English that you meet with in your day-to-day life. Things could include magazines, emails, posts on social media, websites, a piece of literary work（文学作品）or a newspaper. Read them because you never know what is waiting for you in there. You might find that a lot of things are already known to you but the content will surely be full of new vocabulary allowing you to improve faster.

    Keep a note of the new words

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. It's a bit more important that you keep a handy notebook with you and whenever you learn a new word or expression, write down the context along with the word. Use the word in a sentence and note the meaning, too. Sometimes you may find forgetting a certain word or phrase seems impossible. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. So, to prevent this you need to keep visiting your pages and go through the notes you have made time and time again.

A. Don't just move on after reading

B. Read everything you may come across

C. Don't let yourself down if you face a difficulty

D. However, being a human being you are built to forget

E. You won't achieve success if you aren't enthusiastic enough

F. By following these tips you will improve the language quickly

G. Spend the most of your time in either listening or reading in English

Values for Americans

    One of the most basic moral values for Americans is honesty. The well-known legend about George Washington and the cherry tree teaches this value clearly. Little George cut down his father's favorite cherry tree while trying out his new hatchet. When his father asked him about it, George said, “I cannot tell a lie. I did it with my hatchet.” Instead of punishment, George received praise for telling the truth.  {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But Americans still believe that “honesty is the best policy.”

     {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Remember Aesop's fable about the turtle and the rabbit that had a race? The rabbit thought he could win easily, so he took a nap. But the turtle finally won because he did not give up. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The hill was so steep that the little train had a hard time trying to get over it. But the train just kept pulling, all the while saying, “I think I can, I think I can.” At last, the train was over the top of the hill.

    Compassion(怜悯) may be the queen of American virtues. The story of “The Good Samaritan” from the Bible describes a man who showed compassion. On his way to a certain city, a Samaritan man found a poor traveler lying on the road. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The kind Samaritan, instead of just passing by, stopped to help this person in need,

     {#blank#}5{#/blank#}In fall 1992, people in Iowa sent truckloads of water to help Floridians hit by a hurricane. The next summer, during the Midwest flooding, Florida returned the favor. In less dramatic ways, millions of Americans are quietly passing along the kindnesses shown to them.

A. The traveler had been beaten and robbed.

B. Another virtue Americans respect is perseverance (坚持不懈).

C. As a matter of fact, it is these virtues that help the country develop.

D. Compassion can even turn into a positive cycle.

E. There used to be a high and steep hill.

F. Sometimes American honesty—being open and direct—can hurt people.

G. Another story tells of a little train that had to climb a steep hill,

    Homesickness is a feeling that we all have probably experienced at one time or another.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Remember the following strategies before you get ready to leave.

     {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Knowing more about homesickness will provide insights into how common it is for people to have feelings of missing home. This will surely help make you feel less stressed or embarrassed about missing home.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} You can ask someone who is knowledgeable about where you'll go to describe the daily routines or activities you should expect. If it's practical, you could plan a preliminary(初步的)visit with family or friends to the place you'll go to.

    Make plans for when you arrive at your new location. When you know what some of your routines and activities will be when you get to the new place, you'll feel more comfortable.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} One study found that vigorous exercise and purposeful social interaction while away helped to avoid feelings of homesickness.

    Bring something from home. Sometimes homesickness can be difficult because you never know when it might hit you. Bring along a favorite book, a pair of slippers, or a picture.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} They can be helpful to comfort you when you're homesick.

A. Adopt your previous habits and routines.

B. Explore your new location.

C. Become familiar with the place you will go to.

D. The experience will seem a little more familiar, making homesickness less likely.

E. Preparing to move away from home helps prevent homesickness.

F. Know that homesickness is totally normal.

G. These items might help make home feel a bit closer.

Tips for Developing Your Artistic Talent

    Everyone has an artistic talent. You might not even know it. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. However, in fact, there are a lot of different ways to express your artistic side. You don't necessarily have to be a professional(专业人员). You can enjoy art just for its own value. Check out a few tips for developing artistic skills.

    ⒈Art takes a variety of forms

    Most people think that art can only be found in museums and is only for the elite(精英). You can look around you.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. They may be found in nature, and even in usual advertisements and posters. Just start to look at such sides as line, color, composition and style.

    ⒉Try things out

    If you want to develop your artistic talent, start trying things out.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    ⒊Appreciate

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Almost anything can be used for inspiration. Visit museums and galleries, or look at art books. When you look around you, you develop your artistic appreciation and use it to work on developing your own skills.

    ⒋{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Don't expect to create a masterpiece(杰作)with your first try. There must be mistakes. Many artists spent years studying and perfecting their skill. You might not want to reach their level, but don't feel shy about your work. Even if it's not perfect, it will be. Try out, learn from your mistakes, and improve your skills.

A. Take art classes

B. Don't be afraid to make mistakes

C. You'll find art and beauty are everywhere

D. You might have always thought that you don't have any skills in the arts

E. Another way to develop your artistic talent is to learn how to use your eyes

F. There are many things you can try from painting, costume, dance and singing

G. Discuss the art with other art lovers to see what they think and then form your own opinion