Taking good notes is a time-saving skill that will help you to become a better student in several ways. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Second, your notes are excellent materials to refer to when you are studying for a test. Third, note-taking offers variety to your study time and helps you to hold your interest.

    You will want to take notes during classroom discussions and while reading a textbook or doing research for a report. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Whenever or however you take notes, keep in mind that note-taking is a selective process. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The following methods may work best for you.

●Read the text quickly to find the main facts and ideas in it.

●Carefully read the text and watch for words that can show main points and supporting facts.

● Write your notes in your own words.

●{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

● Note any questions or ideas you may have about what was said or written.

    As you take notes, you may want to use your own shorthand(速记). When you do, be sure that you understand your symbols and that you use them all the time. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Use words, not complete sentences.

B. There are three practical note-taking methods.

C. You must write your notes on separate paper.

D. Otherwise, you may not be able to read your notes later.

E. you will also want to develop your own method for taking notes.

F. That means you must first decide what is important enough to include in your notes.

G. First, the simple act of writing something down makes it easier for you to understand and remember it.

What Teenagers Can Do to Earn More Respect?

    As teenagers continue to grow and develop into young adults, the transition (过渡) into adulthood has begun. With so many physical and emotional changes going on, certain manners are often forgotten and other adult traits are not yet accepted as a way of life. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} By doing the following things, you will earn more respect.

Contribute to the household

    At the very least, clean up after yourself. As a teenager, you are old enough to clean up after yourself. When you make a mess, clean it up. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} All chore (杂活) that you do help to reduce the load of the person who did them before. Now that you're old enough and capable, why shouldn't you contribute to the household? {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

Be responsible

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Whether they are basic things, like brushing your teeth or doing your homework, or more involved chores that contribute to the household, simply fulfill your responsibilities on time. When adults know that they can rely on you, their trust and respect for you will increase.

Solve more of your own problem without asking for help

    Instead of taking the easy approach and asking for help, make an effort to solve your problems on your own first. The “easy way” is only easy for you, but it is an extra task for the person from whom you are seeking help. Seek help only after you have made an honest effort to solve your own problems. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} When you become a good problem solver, you increase your value to the community.

A. Everyone has certain responsibilities.

B. By being aware of these manners and traits, you can manage them sooner.

C. When speaking to a group, speak loud enough.

D. The people doing the chores before will greatly appreciate the help.

E. Depending on the problem, 15 minutes of effort is usually a good guideline.

F. It will make your life more pleasant.

G. This includes, but is not limited to, your dishes and your room.

How to Make Plans

    Most people get scared when talking about planning or writing plans. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.  And you need to plan for success as planning really works and inspires you to go straight ahead. However, how to create effective plans is still a problem. Don't worry, and just follow the steps below.

    Step 1 {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    What plans have you had in the past？Probably, in some of your plans, you haven't ended up where you thought you were going to end up. Get a good understanding of what you have done and what you haven't done in the past. It is a primary foundation for your new plan. If having no plan, just take actions and make plans right now.

    Step 2 Think about the What-Ifs

    When you are building your plans, you should consider where you are going and make clear the What-Ifs. Because not everything just goes smoothly as you believe. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

Step 3 Document the plans

    When starting to make plans, you should try to write them down. It is of key importance for the future.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} In addition, make sure you have the plans fully written out with all the key elements concerned, including details.

    Step 4 Update the plans

    According to your written plans and actual situation, you should check out the plans you have completed and haven't completed. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Make sure all the assumptions are there and work out the details. After hanging on for some days, planning will be getting simpler and easier.

A. Review historical plans

B. Make new plans immediately

C. Actually, people are more likely to succeed in a planned way

D. And you need to continue what you haven't done and update it

E. Not all people can memorize every word they said and thought well

F. And what you should do next is to check your plans monthly or quarterly

G. For your benefits, you need to make Plan A and Plan B in case of changes and contingencies（偶发事件）

    Why is life worth living?

    "Why is life worth living?" If you ask this question, you will get different answers. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But we have put together a few reasons from different people as to why life is worth living.

    Learning. This is the reason we heard from school and college-going kids.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Right from studies to games, the eagerness(渴望) to do better and learn more makes their lives worth living.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} When we speak to a few office workers and professionals, this is the reason they give. The ability to create things, be it a weekly report or a new document or a painting or composing a new song seems to make life worthwhile for many.

    New Opportunities. This is another reason that is put forth by people in different professions. Both professionally and personally, these people look forward to moving ahead and getting appreciation. They like to catch the new opportunities life throws at them which can make their lives worth living.

    Exploring. Some people just like to say that they want to explore more and discover new horizons. Touring around the world, learning about the world history and visiting the most famous places do make life worth for many people.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Love. Well, this reason is an evergreen one. Life is worth living for the loved ones around, be it a wife/husband, children or friends.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Being able to love someone and being loved back can certainly makes life worth living.

A. People all look forward to knowing, learning and finding out more about everything.

B. Creating.

C. There is no definite(明确的) or right answer in this case.

D. Get together and share special moments.

E. Such relationships make life worth everything.

F. Getting wiser makes life worth living for many.

G. Exploring religious and spiritual boundaries also seems to be another reason.

    For college graduates, it is of vital importance to write application letters well. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. It should state clearly the job you want, and should tell what you have done. It should be simple, human, personal and brief without leaving out any necessary facts. In writing a letter of application, keep in mind that the things a possible employer is most likely to want to know about are your qualifications, your achievements and your aims.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} If the first few sentences fail to win the reader's attention, the rest of the letter may not be continued at all. Try to key your opening remarks to the needs or interests of the employer not to your own needs or desires. For example, instead of beginning with "I saw your advertisement in today's newspaper", you might say "I have made a careful study of your advertising during the past six months "or" I have made a survey in my neighborhood to find out how many housewives use your product and why they like it."

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Be clear about the kind of job for which you are now applying. College graduates looking for their first positions often ask what they can provide in a letter and what if employers want experience  which, naturally, no beginner has.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    It is important to write a good strong closing for your letter, Make a specific request for an interview or give the possible employer something definite to do or expect. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} That makes it easier for a possible employer to get in touch with you.

A. Try to avoid writing in general

B. Don't be afraid of being a new hand

C. Here are a few suggestions for you to prepare yourself better for your interview

D. An excellent idea is to enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your letter

E. The purpose of a letter of application is to help you to"sell"yourself

F. The answer is that everything you have ever done is experience

G. The opening paragraph is perhaps the most important

For centuries Antarctica has attracted people from around the world. Explorers sought to travel there. Scientists have studied weather, wildlife, and geology there for decades. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} In the last few decades, though, scientists have reported that the ice is melting.

 {#blank#}2{#/blank#} That's a difficult question to answer. The loss of ice in Antarctica has not been linear (直线的). That means it isn't a steady decrease. In fact, the rate of melting can vary greatly from year to year. Still, scientists warn that the continent's ice sheet is shrinking.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Climate change is warming the world's oceans and affecting the currents (洋流) of the Earth's oceans. These currents are bringing more warm water to Antarctica than ever recorded.

Today, the planet is warming at a rate that alarms scientists. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The effects of such a rise could cause major problems. It will increase flooding, especially in areas near shores. A large rise in sea level could even make some regions uninhabitable. This could cause millions around the world to become climate refugees (难民).

Can humans stop Antarctica from melting? Probably not — but experts do believe people can slow the process. How can you help? Pay attention to your carbon footprint. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Only changes on a large, global scale (范围) can truly make a difference to Antarctica.

A. How quickly is Antarctica melting?

B. Is human activity contributing to the melting of Antarctica's ice?

C. The ice of Antarctica is the result of thousands of years of snow.

D. West Antarctica is the region most affected by these warm waters.

E. Talk with your family about ways to reduce your use of fossil fuels.

F. If this continues, melting ice could lead to a serious rise in sea level.

G. Experts say the melting of Antarctica's ice sheet is caused by rising temperatures.