With the summer holiday just around the corner, it seems like everybody is busy planning their vacations. Here are some tips that can help you enjoy your holiday without empting your pocket:

    Travel off-season

    Go to your desired destination while the demand is low and take advantage of huge discounts. During the peak season, the hotel and flight prices increase quickly, and you'll likely spend more of your vacation time standing in line due to the rush of tourists. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

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    Websites can help you find discount hotel rooms. Look for places that do not charge extra for children if they use the existing bedding. Stay with the locals. If you and your family are going to stay for a longer period, renting a small apartment is a good choice.

    Eat like a local

    Why eat at big chain restaurants when you can experience something new? {#blank#}3{#/blank#} During your family trip, try new food where the locals eat. This will not just save money, but also provide you with a new and different experience. For smaller meals and snacks, avoid restaurants and try street food or other takeout. 

    Don't hesitate to bargain

    Tourist- heavy places are known for overcharging for just about everything. Clothes, travel goodies, souvenirs, etc. are very expensive at these places. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Bargain hard to get the best price.

    Choose local transportation

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Instead, take buses, railways or subways, which are always cheaper. If you are planning to stay for a while, you can consider renting a car. Hiring a car is much easier than carrying your bags everywhere if you are moving around a lot.

A. Save on hotels.

B. Surf the Internet while traveling.

C. Therefore, avoid buying anything there.

D. So it's best to find out when the off-season starts.

E. Planning your meals is another way to reduce your travel costs.

F. For this reason, you shouldn't feel ashamed to ask for bargains.

G .As a tourist, avoid taking taxis whenever possible, since they are expensive.

    All over the world people are hooked on sports, which help them to strengthen their body and build their character.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} They improve the participants' physical skills, and provide entertainment for the audience as well.

    Many people like to watch others play games.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Often they get very excited when “their” player or team wins. If they are crazy about the game or the player, then they'll become their die-hard fans. Some sports are so interesting that people everywhere go in for them. Football, for example, has spread around the world. Swimming is popular in countries near the sea or in those with many rivers.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}And think of people in cold countries. Masses of people love to skate or ski in Japan, Norway or Canada.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Chinese boxing, also has a very long history. But basketball and volleyball are rather new, which started in the late of the nineteenth century. People are inventing new sports or games all the time. Water skiing, as a modern game, is one of the newest in the family of sports.

    People from different countries or races may not be able to understand each other, but after a game, they get to know each other better and they often become good friends.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}They learn to fight hard but fight fair, to win without pride and to lose with grace. They also learn to be competitive and optimistic, which will equip them for life challenges in the future.

A. They buy tickets or turn on the TV to watch the games.

B. What fun it is to jump into a pool or lake, whether in China, Egypt or Italy!

C. Some sports or games date back thousands of years, like running or jumping.

D. Sports help to train a person's character.

E. Chinese people liked doing sports even in ancient times.

F. Sports are competitive physical activities or games through casual or organized participation.

G. And the friendship may last for a life time.

How to find your own suitable interests?

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}And it is also a great way to improve your health. Most hobby clubs have members who are very experienced in their hobbies. While a hobby has many benefits, it is not always easy to find the right one. Here is how to find one that fits you.

    Try hobbies that fit in were you like to be. Try one as soon as possible. You may find yourself with a new hobby by doing what you want to do. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Try to write a short story, and writing might become your new hobby.

    Get out of your comfort zone and try to learn something new every month.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

Many people find that they enjoy things they never thought they would. For example, even if you are not patient, try making a needlepoint (针绣花边) pillow. You might find that you enjoy needlepoint.

    One of the best ways to find a hobby that fits you is to try new things. People who like outdoor activities could try hiking or bird-watching. If you enjoy visiting new places, maybe traveling is a hobby that is right for you. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Join a local club. Experienced members will help you learn the skills for the hobby.

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A. Other members will also be able to give you advice.

B. Do you have your own hobbies?

C. Choose a hobby that fits your schedule.

D. For example, some people dream of writing.

E. For example, you wish to become a free traveler.

F. Having a hobby is an excellent way to pass the time.

G. Try photography or painting scenery when you enjoy observing nature.

They Just Can't Help It

    My theory is that the female brain is mainly built for empathy — the ability to understand other people — and that the male brain is mainly built for building systems. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} For example, women are more likely to read magazines on fashion and parenting, while men will choose magazines that feature computers and sport.

    You may think that these preferences are influenced by the way people are taught to behave when they are growing up. However, this is not the case. A new study carried out at Cambridge University shows that newborn girls look longer at a face, and newborn boys look longer at a mobile. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It has also been observed that girls are better at noticing signs of changes in other people's feelings. Boys, however, seem to enjoy building toy towers and playing with toys which have clear functions. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} People whose jobs are in the construction industries are almost male. Math and engineering, which require high levels of systems-thinking, are also male-chosen disciplines. Why do men and women have the difference? Actually women have four times as many brain neurons (神经) that connect the right and left part of their brains. Because of it, women have a better ability to multitask than men. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Men tend to focus on a limited number of problems at a time. They will separate themselves from problems and view tasks as independent from one another.

    Some people may worry that I am suggesting one gender (性别) is better than the other, but this is not the case. My theory says that males and females differ in the kinds of things that they find easy, but that both genders have their strengths and weaknesses. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It is not true. The study simply looks at males and females as two groups, and asks what differences exist, and why they are there.

A. Generally speaking, there are clear differences.

B. Their preference for building systems may change over time.

C. You can see the same kind of pattern in the adult workplace.

D. They will consider many sources of information at the same time.

E. It is important to stress that the female brain may be built more for empathy.

F. That suggests certain differences between male and female brains are biological.

G. Others may think the theory creates a belief of what a particular type of person is like.

    Now let's discuss something about people's habits.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Some of them are good ones, but some of them may be bad ones. Can you remember any of the bad habits you used to have when you were very young? {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Of course, you do not do that anymore, but you can surely remember your mother's efforts to train you. The good habits you now have in such matters as personal cleanliness were part of this early training.

    We may not suck our thumbs any more, but as we get older we get other bad habits. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Anyone who has tried to give up smoking knows this very well! {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In babyhood, it's thumbsucking, In childhood, it's nail-biting. In our teens, it's smoking, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} And if anyone tells you that he has no bad habits, you can be sure that he must have the worst habit of all. Isn't that true?

A. We can't give them up easily, either.

B Each period brings its own problems.

C. Generally speaking, a boy likes biting nails.

D. Everyone has his or her own habits.

E. We benefit from our friends, kind help.

F. In middle-age, it's over-eating, and so on.

G. Perhaps, as a baby, you used to suck your thumb (拇指).

How to Meet New People

    It is easy to find a place where people gather. But once you're in a room full of people, then what? The trick is finding a way to approach someone and get them talking to you.

    Prepare to meet new people before you arrive. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Don't think in terms of yes or no questions. You should consider questions that will allow the person to contribute more than a one-word answer to the conversation.

    Arrive at your event or place. Don't panic when you walk in the door. Take your time and look over the room. If this is a classroom, take a seat and look around the room. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, take time to enjoy the art while looking at the people. Don't rush into talking to someone. You have time, so just get a feel for the group.

    Approach someone. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. But remember, if the person is at the event alone, they may also be shy and try to break out and meet people. You need to make them feel comfortable by chatting with them.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Keep them talking and talk yourself—remember  conversation goes in two directions. You may have a couple of awkward moments, but if you have a few items planned to talk about, you'll find that they'll start adding their own questions and information to the conversation.

    Don't forget to ask them for a friendship follow-up. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, try asking your new friend if they'd like to go to another event with you. If it is a repeat event, such as a class, try asking them if they'd like to meet for coffee before the next class to study the material.

A. If it is a one-time event

B. If this is an art show

C. If you have picked out someone to approach

D. Mentally pull out your prepared questions

E. You may not meet your next best friend on your first try

F. You might find it easiest to approach someone who is also alone

G. Sit down and write out a list of potential questions you can ask someone