Sleep is something we all do. But some people need to sleep more than others. Babies sleep most of the time. Children in school sleep about ten to twelve hours a night. Most adults sleep only seven or eight hours. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    All parts of our bodies have to rest after they work.. Our arms need a rest after we lift heavy thing, When we run fast, our legs work hard. They get tired. We have to rest them. Our brains work hard, too. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. We can sit quite still and rest our arms and legs. But our brains aren't resting. They go right on thinking as long as we are awake.

    Our brains slow down a bit when we sleep and dream. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Instead of thinking wide-awake thoughts, our brains make up dreams. Some dreams are very pleasing. Some are not. Most of the time we forget them when we wake up.

    Scientists have tried to find out what would happen if people were not allowed to sleep. They asked some people not to go to bed. The people stayed up all night and all the next day. They stayed up the next night too, and the day after. They played games, but they made mistakes. They forgot things. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The people grew rude and mean. They became angry with their friends. Finally they were too tired to stand up. When they sat down, they fell asleep.

    Scientists have found that if people are not allowed to sleep and to dream, they act in an unusual way. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} But we do know that we need it to stay well. So tonight have a good sleep. Lie down under the covers. Shut your eyes. Let your thoughts wander. Soon you'll stop thinking. You'll be asleep.

A. It was hard for their tired brains to work.

B. When we are awake, they help us pay attention to the world around us.

C. But babies, children, and adults — all of us need to have our sleep.

D. Good sleep helps to improve one's memory.

E. No one knows why sleep is so good for us.

F. But even as we sleep our brains are doing some work.

G. Of course you will have a good sleep.

    Here are some tips that will help you get rid of anxiety over being phoneless or reduce your risk of phone addiction.

    Disable the Internet connection. Take up your courage to disable the Internet connection on your smartphone.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Needless to say, you will save o lot of cash on it.

    Find your passion.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Find your dream job and you will leave your “best friend” at least for a while. If you have nothing to do at home, try a new hobby that will distract you from all those apps and social media.

    Purchase an ordinary phone. No smartphones. No iphones. Remember those times when we used phones in emergency situations only or when we wanted to invite someone to a party.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Don't let the fear control you. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Claim your joy. I can only speak for myself here, but I think that a smartphone is one of the worst inventions. It's useful and helpful at times, but it has ruined many happy lives and relationships. That's because we allow our phones to control us.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The fear of being phoneless is a serious problem. It's like drug or cigarette addiction. If you want to change your life, sell your expensive smartphone, buy an ordinary one, and become a sociable person. There are so many wonderful people that can bring joy into our life. Chatting online is great, but chatting in real life is best.

A. Free your mind.

B. Choose other electronic devices.

C. Keep your mind sharp and alert.

D. Beat your social butterfly wings.

E. Those who love their jobs never feel exhausted and bored.

F. Thus, you'll spend less time with your phone and more time in real life.

G. I bet some of you remember times when few people had a phone at home.

    Do you know how to pick a good book you'll really like? Here are some tips.

    Start With Your Interest.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}You can pick something that you love to read, not for school. They can be ancient martial (武术) arts, computers, or fashion design. You name it, there are books about it.

    What's Your Type? Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction (or both)? Fiction books, like novels, can transport you to another world or help you imagine something beyond your own experience. Nonfiction books give you the who, what, when, and why of something{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Many of them read like novels from start to finish.

    Read the description. The reviews and quotes on the back and inside covers of many books give you an idea of what the book is about. They can also help you pick future books, too. If you find a book you really like, take a minute to read the quotes and see which authors praised the book.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Find a Family Favorite. Which book did your mother love best when she was at your age?{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Find out and give them a read — then you can share your thoughts about the book.

    Finally, you'll probably enjoy what you're reading a lot more if you find a quiet place and make time for the book.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}You can put on some good music, get yourself some tea and let yourself be carried away by the book. You'll see that time does fly when you're reading something you love!

A. How about your brothers and sisters?

B. They tell stories using facts — but that doesn't mean they're boring.

C. Reading is a good way to improve your English.

D. Most reading is best enjoyed when you can concentrate (全神贯注) on it.

E. Often, they'll have similar styles and you might find books you like by those authors, too.

F. So you should read as much as possible when you are free.

G. Reading on your own isn't like reading for school.

    I just counted how many foreign languages I've studied so far in my life and it's been twelve!

    I always follow my interests and find ways to put my language learning into things I'm already interested in. I like to read blogs(博客)in other languages.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. For the most part, bloggers tend to write the same way they speak, so I don't have to worry much about adopting strange terms that are only used in writing.

    Movies are also a really good tool, especially if you can find subtitles in the language you're learning.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}, they will still keep your brain listening and reading in the same language. Music is another way to start listening to things in your new language. Personally, I'm so bad at understanding lyrics(歌词)even in English, so this one doesn't really work for me, but I have friends who learn a language through lyrics. Games are of course also an excellent way of studying a new language. A lot of language learning computer programs include games. I'm super competitive and if I play any of them, I can be hooked for hours.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    When the initial excitement of learning a new language begins to fade, it can be hard to stick with it. The hardest bit for me is when I'm comfortable enough with a language to understand most things and make myself understood. I'm actually stuck at this stage in Norwegian.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Ideally I should sign up to take a big language exam. Each time I start getting self-satisfied, it's time to take a new course or sign up for online lessons, or take up some sort of challenge that will require me to level up my skills.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. The best language class I've ever taken was my beginner's Russian course at university where my professor never used any English. It got to the point where I would kind of just forget about English while in Russian class, which helped me to really immerse myself in the Russian language and do a whole lot with the limited Russian I had.

A. That's really uncomfortable

B. Whatever languages they're translated into

C.I also try to think in the language I'm learning

D. It's time well spent if I'm learning the language

E. Computer games always make me feel worn out

F. Though they don't always exactly match what's being said

G.I found them the perfect learning tool because they're usually written in oral language

Be a Green Child

    What does it mean to be green? "Green" is more than just a color. It also means taking special steps to protect the environment. Why green? Plants are green, and without them the Earth wouldn't be such a lovely home for us human beings. What can we do? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Reduce It!

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} For instance, a shorter shower means you used less water and less fuel since your house uses to run the heater that warmed up the water.

    Reuse It!

    Sometimes people call ours a "throwaway society". It means that we're a little too willing to throw away old stuff (东西) and buy new stuff.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} For instance, if your baby brother becomes older and loses interest in his plastic basketball hoop (篮圈), why not give it to another family who has a little kid?

    Recycle It!

    Recycling has never been easier. Many communities will pick it up right in front of your house and some towns even require it. Recycled goods go to a recycling center, where they can be turned into new cans, bottles, and paper.

    Enjoy It!

    It's true that rubbish and pollution are problems, but the Earth remains a huge and beautiful place that's ready for you to explore.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Go for a hike, visit local nature centers and gardens, and climb up mountains.

    But before you travel the globe, take a look at your own backyard. Is there a spot where you could plant a tree or put in a little fruit or vegetable garden?{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Here's a four-step guide to being green.

B. Many times, even if you no longer need something, someone else just might.

C. You can start locally by visiting the naturally beautiful spots in your city.

D. Turn off the water when you're brushing your teeth.

E. Get out there and get your hands dirty.

F. You can watch with pride as your tree takes root and your garden plants grow.

G. When you use less of something, you do a good thing for the Earth

    Asking for a raise can be a discouraging prospect for any employee. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} If you're a female employee seeking a raise, it matters to approach that conversation strategically. Here are a few tips for pulling it off successfully.

    Do your research.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} So if you're making a case for a pay increase, you'll need to gather some data on what others in similar positions are earning. To that end, do some research on sites like Salary. com. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Remember to collect the average earnings for all workers in your position and make your case for why you deserve to be paid similarly.

    Don't get emotional.

    Women are often accused of getting emotional on the job. In fact, it's that so-called sensitive nature that causes some people to claim they're uncomfortable working with and promoting female employees. That's why it's extremely important to keep you cool during a salary negotiation. Be specific and present hard evidence of your value to the company. Try to focus on your positive contributions, rather than the negative feelings. And although the discussion might get heated, be sure not to yell or, worse yet, cry while it's going down. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Given many news stories about how men out-earn women, you may tend to draw on some of that data as a reason for getting a raise. But be very careful about using that argument, because unless you have definitive proof that your male colleagues - with the same exact titles, experience, and responsibilities—are making more money than you, you're better off avoiding that angle.