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#}

    Ebola is a dangerous virus that can cause people to get very sick and even die. The virus is causing the biggest problems in western Africa, where it has spread quickly. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But it can get worse and cause life-threatening symptoms(症状), such as bleeding and trouble breathing.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Ebola does not spread like colds or the flu because it does not float through the air. Ebola also doesn't spread through food or water, like some other viruses. Instead, Ebola spreads when someone touches the body fluids(液体) of a sick person.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    An outbreak is when many people are getting sick with the same illness around the same time. You may have heard of a flu outbreak, which is when lots of people get sick from the same types of flu virus. When an outbreak happens because of a virus, more people could get sick because there is a lot of that virus around.

    Where did Ebola come from?

    Scientists aren't sure how the first person gets Ebola at the start. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Tropical animals in Africa believed to carry the virus include great apes, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, fruit bats, porcupines, and forest antelopes.

    What do kids need to do about Ebola?

    Ebola is making many people sick in Africa, but no matter where you live, it's always a good idea to wash your hands well and often. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. How do people catch Ebola?

B. But they think that people may pick up the virus by touching or eating infected animals.

C. Why do I need to wash my hands?

D. It's very important that infected people get treatment right away.

E. Ebola symptoms can start with fever and headache, kind of like the flu.

F. What is an outbreak?

G. Keeping hands clean can help protect you from common illnesses like colds and the flu.

    Johannes Gutenberg--the ploneer of the printing press

    Johannes Gutenberg was chosen to be the most important figure of the past millennium(千年) by the media(媒体). You may not be familiar with him.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Gutenberg is praised for having invented the printing press and therefore preparing the way for printing books.

    He was born into a wealthy family in the city of Mainz, Germany. His early training was in goldsmithing. In 1428, he moved to Strasbourg and lived there for almost 20 years.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Gutenberg used his skills in metalwork for the mass(大批量) production of books.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}That means that each copy of the Catholic bible(圣经) and all of its 73 books were painstakingly handwritten by men. Gutenberg fashioned a font(字体) of over 300 characters, far larger than the fonts of today. To make this possible, he invented the variable-width mold(模具) and perfected the mixture of materials used by type factories up to the present century.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}The between 1450 and 1455,while preparing to produce a large Latin Bible, Gutenberg is thought to have printed a number of smaller books, a calendar, and a papal Letter of Indulgence. The Bible of 42 Lines, the oldest surviving printed book in the Western world, was completed by August 15,1456.

    The invention of the modem printing press changed the way information was delivered.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Even today in the computer age, we rely heavily on the printed word or text for instruction, information, and for the pleasure of reading literature.

A. Gutenberg made the world a much richer place

B. But he has certainly influenced your life in some ways

C. Gutenberg's idea was one of the greatest of all mankind

D. By 1450, Gutenberg was back in Mainz at work on a printing press

E. In fact, this invention contributed a lot of educating the masses(大众) worldwide

F. Before the spread of Gutenberg's idea, books were primarily handwritten

G. It was in Strasbourg that he probably made his first experiments with moveable type and printing

    Living a more simple life can improve how we think, feel and move around in the world. Here are ways to simplify your life while creating space for happiness.

    Give up your negative thoughts. As humans, we spend a lot of our time being caught up in negative thoughts that brings nothing good into our lives.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} They can grow rapidly and cause unhappiness and do nothing to improve our quality of life.

    Reduce the amount of screen time{#blank#}2{#/blank#} While watching TV and endless YouTube videos or playing computer games can be a nice way to relax, too much can have a negative influence on your lives.

    Cut down on social media{#blank#}3{#/blank#} They say they feel less confident after comparing their lives against those of their online friends. So simplify your life by cutting down on social media-not only for your own health of mind but to stop the endless checking every several minutes.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In the effort to make yourselves better people and improve yourselves, you often set goals but having too many goals can prevent you from achieving them.

    Eat Fewer Unhealthy Foods{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Cutting down on bad foods will not only help you feel much better and give you more energy.

A. Reduce the number of your goals.

B. Negative thoughts are much dangerous.

C. Many people feel their lives are worsened by it.

D. You can make your own healthy food and tasty meals.

E. Learn to choose to think and see the positives in life.

F. Make an effort to remove some unhealthy foods from your diet

G. We spend so much time either staring at a computer or the TV.

How to Be a Great Best Friend

    Everyone wants to be a great best friend but doesn't know how or where to start that perfect friendship. The following will help you.

    Be your own best friend first. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} If you can't respect yourself, then you can't respect others. Understand what values are important to you and stick to them. Seek out others who honor those values because you'll only end up hurting yourself and possibly others if those people don't have the same values as you.

    Trust each Other. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} All you have to do really is make sure you can both trust each other. Don't try to trick or use your friend to your advantage; you need to make them know they can trust you.

    Learn to listen. Nobody likes a best friend who just talks and talks, but never listens. If you're a chatterbox, try to develop good listening skills. Whenever your best friend says something, listen carefully and say something. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If they ask for advice, listen carefully arid give them the best advice you can.

    Care for your best friend. If your best friend is upset, ask them what's wrong. They might not tell you straight away, but they should in the end. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Understand dial certain things are private, and trust that they'd be just as patient with you if you were in their shoes.

    Let your friend have other friends, too. If your best friend picks another friend over you, try to be friend over you, try to be friend too. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Everyone is always looking for new friends. But never leave the old one; your loyalty (忠诚) is what the other person expects and counts on every day.

A. Learn how to respect yourself.

B. Maybe you guys can be a group of friends!

C. Don't interrupt while they're talking to you.

D. Best friends are the most valuable friends you have.

E. If they don't tell you, don't get angry at them.

F. To be a great best friend really doesn't take much.

G. Take time out of your day to appreciate the funny things in life.

    Why Stand in Line on Black Friday?

    Standing in line is a pain. At the post office. At the box office. At a restaurant.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}The first spot outside some Best Buy stores is usually claimed (认领) weeks in advance, often by a person in a tent. Shoppers at Walmart will print out maps of the store, with circles around their primary targets.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    "These queues are quite different than the usual annoying ones we come across day to day at the ATM or in the subway," said Richard Larson, a professor at MIT who has spent years studying line behavior. "Once a year," he said, "the lines are exciting. They're the kind you might tell your grandchildren about."{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Billie LeClere, 45, was first in line on Thursday at Walmart in Manchester, Iowa. She said she was a regular Black Friday shopper. But this year, she came with a specific purpose: to get a good deal on a new TV. She and her husband had recently separated, and he had taken the old TV earlier that day. "The marriage died, not the TV," she said.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} "It's going to be nice to have something that's newer-and it's mine, not his."

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}The following are two of the typical results. The "gotta have it" atmosphere makes people more anxious. Sometimes the behaviour of the queue turns violent. Therefore，lines test patience，personal space especially on Black Friday, when the crowds can be overwhelming (势不可挡的).

A. Shoppers are excited to buy gifts.

B. But on Black Friday, it's an experience.

C. Moreover, the crowds are queuing for good deals.

D. Many families are queuing to chat with each other.

E. The experience gave her a sense of accomplishment.

F. They are trying to turn the experience into an adventure.

G. The behaviour of people in lines has inspired decades of research.