Homework is a major part of going to school: It's your teachers' way of evaluating(评价)how much you understand of what's going on in class. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Luckily, you can do a few things to make homework less work.

    Be sure you understand the homework.

    Write your homework down in your notebook or day planner if you need to. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}It's much easier to take a minute to ask the teacher during or after class than to struggle to remember later that night!

    Use any extra time in school.

    Many schools have study halls that are specifically designed to allow students to study. It's tempting(诱惑)to hang out with friends during study periods or unstructured(松散的) time. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Take a break.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}So take some breaks while doing your homework. Sitting for too long without stretching or relaxing will make you less productive than if you stop every so often. Taking a 15minute break every hour is a good idea for most people.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    If you don't finish your homework during school, think about how much you have left and what else is going on that day, and then budget your time. Most highschool students have between 1 and 3 hours of homework a night. If it's a heavy homework day and it seems like you've got an assignment in every subject but gym and lunch, you'll need to devote more time to homework. It's a good idea to come up with some kind of homework schedule（日程）, especially if you are involved in sports or activities or have an afterschool job.

A.Pace yourself.

B.Settle down to do homework.

C.And it helps digest important concepts(概念).

D.Most people's attention spans(注意力持续时间)aren't very long.

E.Don't be afraid to ask questions about what's expected.

F.Once your homework is done, you can check over it if you have extra time.

G.But the more work you can get done in school, the less you'll have to do that night.

    English is one of the most difficult languages to master. Even if you might not yet sound like someone born and raised speaking the language, you should still congratulate yourself on how far you've come. Remember that practice makes perfect. So keep working at it and your skill level will certainly improve.

    Create an English environment for yourself.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}The more you hear the language, the better you'll understand how and when to use common words and phrases and how the language is pronounced.

    Practise speaking English every chance you get, whether at school, at work or speaking to family and friends. When you speak in your native language, ask yourself, “How would I say that in English?”

    Watch yourself speak English in the mirror.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}And practise changing anything you don't like. If you're uncomfortable making up things to say to yourself, just read your lessons aloud.

    Use confident body language while you speak English. Even if you're having trouble pronouncing words or remembering phrases, don't keep your head down. Speak in a natural, conversational tone(语气); keep your back and head straight, and your chin(下巴) up. If you're in a relaxed setting, put your hands behind your head and put your feet up.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Find a language friend who speaks fluent English and wants to learn your language.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Increase your confidence by knowing you have something valuable to teach, as well as something to learn.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Instead of saying “I'm no good at this,” say “Every day I'm getting better.”

A. Take turns teaching each other

B. Train your body into feeling in control

C. Speak confidently about your English ability

D. Learning a language requires long hours of study and practice

E. Get comfortable with the way you look speaking the language

F. Read books, watch television shows, moves and plays in English

G. Improve your confidence by teaching those worse at English than you

    Social media and the mobile web have given rise to a strange phenomenon called the selfie(自拍). It refers to a picture of yourself, usually shared on any social networking website.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Some selfies are extreme close-ups(特写镜头), and others show part of an arm held straight outward. A few of them even feature the subject standing in front of a bathroom mirror.

    Everyone takes selfies, but the younger crowd seems to be especially involved in the trend. Young people are relatively heavier digital users. They are interested in staying connected to their friends.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    There are also kinds of psychological factors driving people to take a selfie and upload it to a social networking site.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} A quick and easy way to attract other's attention is to get "likes" and comments from friends. Secondly, it's human nature to show off your own great achievements. When you feel good about yourself or look good, it's far too easy to take out your phone and document it all through one or several selfies.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}That's right. Sometimes people are bored at work, bored at school, bored at home and even bored on the toilet. Last but not least, social media is about being social! If that means uploading as many selfies as possible, then so be it. It's fun, and it's a cool way to sort of document your own life.

    Finally, there are things to be mindful of when you're posting. It's easy to think you're sharing a photo with a few people.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}So don't post anything online, selfie especially.

A. There are lots of selfie styles.

B. The rise of selfies has become universal.

C. Social media, to some extent, is the driving force of their selfie activity.

D. The desire to take, post and get "likes" on selfies goes back to a biological behavior.

E. But the whole world of social media is public and every individual can get access to it.

F. There are also people who will take selfies because they have nothing else better to do.

G. The leading factor is that people want to get attention from as many people as possible.

                                        Wrong Reasons for Going to College

    A college education can be priceless{#blank#}1{#/blank#}If any of these following factors had a big influence on your decision, you're probably right to second-guess yourself.

    Because all your friends are going.

    In only a few weeks' time, the whole friend group will be scattered to a half dozen different colleges in a half dozen different places. Not to go will set yourself apart{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Because someone else expects it from you.

    Perhaps you come from a family where everyone goes to college. Or maybe, you're the kid that everyone is proud to believe will be the first to get there{#blank#}3{#/blank#} It's become so much a part of the air you breathe that you've never stopped to consider whether you want to go or whether you're ready to go.

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

    It's been tough to find even a summer job. You don't have an alternative plan. Everyone else is doing it(see above). You think you might as well go to school. That is the lamest(无说服力的) of reasons to spend $20,000 or more in the next year.

    Because you are afraid you'll regret it if you don't go.

    Your uncle tells you that his one regret in life is that he didn't go to college. Others tell you that they could have gone so much farther in their career if only they had a college education{#blank#}5{#/blank#}So this is not a persuasive reason for you to go to college.

A. Because you don't know what else to do.

B. It seems that for years everyone has just assumed that of course you'll go.

C. Because you don't want to work.

D. But maybe in your heart you know that you are going for the wrong reasons.

E. Friends will wonder what's wrong with you

F. Everyone seems more excited than you are.

G. Whatever the story is, there are always people who regret decisions they've made.

How to Fight Laziness?

    Lazy people will never gain anything in life. However, laziness can be defeated once a few changes have been made in your mind.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Many people lack sleep constantly, since they stay up too late and get up too early to prepare for work. These people have little motivation(动力) once they arrive home. Laziness works hand in hand with a lack of motivation and a tendency to put off things. By adjusting your sleep schedule to provide a few more hours of meaningful rest, you can fight laziness throughout the day.

    Another way to fight laziness is to change your mind from passive to active. Some people treat their lives as if they were pushed from task to task. Others take a more positive approach, viewing each task as a challenge they must overcome alone.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    Some people fight laziness by removing the temptations(诱惑) that surround them. A television in the living room may provide entertainment, but watching too much TV often contributes to laziness. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Complete a few tasks and reward yourself with what you enjoy, such as a good dinner or a film.

    Laziness can also be a lasting problem at home. Couples and children may all have different energy levels, but laziness can be spread if not dealt with immediately. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Be the first to collect and wash dishes after a meal. Others at home may finally follow your example and perform their own tasks. It is difficult to practice laziness when you are surrounded by motivated people.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Enough exercise and a balanced diet can help you to develop a healthy lifestyle, thus enabling you to have more energy and help lift your spirits.

A. One way to fight laziness is to get enough sleep.

B. Knowing how to fight laziness is important.

C. To fight family laziness, set an example.

D. Create a reward system for yourself, just as parents do for a child.

E. Laziness sets in when you no longer feel in charge of your own life.

F. Finally, taking exercise regularly can help you fight laziness.

G. With strong determination, you will be able to achieve your goal.

    Many of us live with a roommate at times. Sometimes, there can be problems. Such as whose turn it is to take out the trash, or who should be the one to clear up after dinner?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}There's always someone to talk to, so you need never be lonely.

    Besides these obvious benefits, there are some you may not notice.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}when living with others. To examine the effect of living alone, Australian university researchers did much research and found that people living alone tended to eat less fresh food including fruits and vegetables, which can have side effects on long-term health. However, those living with others generally got benefits from a more varied diet compared to those living alone.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The researchers believe the social and cultural roles played by cooking, food preparation and eating may be important considerations. For example, those living with friends have someone else to go shopping with, and thus, they are more likely to buy higher-quality fresh food regularly.

    In addition, a person living alone can eat whatever they want at any time of the day. However, it's helpful to have someone around who questions your decision to eat frozen pizza at 3:00 am.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    So, if you now live alone, fighting a losing battle against poor eating habits, why not consider sharing a home with someone else?

A. However, There are always ways to solve these problems.

B. You know that there's always someone else around who can help you feel safer.

C. However, living with another person also comes with many benefits.

D. For example, we're actually more likely to eat healthier food.

E. In other words, roommates can draw your attention to such an unhealthy routine.

F. Living with roommates will have a good atmosphere.

G. What could explain this?