Aesop (伊索) was a slave living around 550 BC. We call the stories he wrote fables, as every story has a moral. Almost all the fables he wrote are {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (humor) and entertaining, appealing to people {#blank#}2{#/blank#} all ages. Till now, Aesop's fables {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (translate) into many languages and are known all over the world. Not only {#blank#}4{#/blank#} the fables themselves lived for nearly 1500 years, but the {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (express) from them have entered various languages.

    One fable, for instance, is about a farmer who was driving his cart along a country road. The cart got {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (stick) in the mud, but the farmer made {#blank#}7{#/blank#} effort to get it out. Instead, he began to pray to the gods for help. The god Hercules finally appeared and told {#blank#}8{#/blank#} man to get busy and push {#blank#}9{#/blank#}. “Push your shoulder to the wheel.” Hercules advised.

    The moral of the story is clear. We mustn't rely on others for help. Another saying which has come from the fable is “God helps those {#blank#}10{#/blank#} help themselves.”

    If you feel stressed by responsibilities at work, you should take a step back and identify (识别)those of {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(great) and less importance. Then, handle the most important tasks first so you'll feel a real sense of {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(achieve). Leaving the less important things until tomorrow {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(be) often acceptable.

    Most of us are more focused {#blank#}4{#/blank#} our tasks in the morning than we are later in the day. So, get an early start and try to be as productive {#blank#}5{#/blank#} possible before lunch. This will give you the confidence you need to get you through the afternoon and go home feeling accomplished.

    Recent {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(study) show that we are far more productive at work if we take short breaks {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(regular). Give your body and brain a rest by stepping outside for {#blank#}8{#/blank#} while, exercising, or dong something you enjoy.

    If you find something you love doing outside of the office, you'll be less likely {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(bring) your work home. It could be anything-gardening, cooking, music, sports—but whatever it is, {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(make) sure it's a relief from daily stress rather than another thing to worry about.

    Currently， both women and men {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(surround) by magazines and websites full of tips about dieting， exercise and fashion. Gone are the days {#blank#}2{#/blank#} all men had to think about wearing a nice suit to be smart and handsome. Things have changed.

    Now， a survey has suggested that 80% of men admit {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (be) unhappy about their body. The biggest body issues for {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (they) were beer bellies and lack of muscles. Some think it is because {#blank#}5{#/blank#} the pressure of influence of role models we see on TV and in magazines. People end up with a perception of {#blank#}6{#/blank#} the perfect body should look like. But not everybody wants to put in the effort to have perfect muscles like Arnold Schwarzenegger. An opportunistic designer has even invented a muscle­enhancing shirt {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(make) the buyer look more of a strong man．

    But Joe Warner，the former editor of Men's Fitness magazine， thinks the muscle­enhancing shirt is just {#blank#}8{#/blank#} trick. He thinks many people in the country are overweight and should accept they need to do more exercise {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(regular)．Exercise is always good. But we mustn't forget beauty is only skin deep. Character is {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (important) than appearance.

    Nearly 800 new pupils of Lianhua Elementary School in Hefei, Anhui Province, is reported {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(receive) a unique gift: an admission letter {#blank#}2{#/blank#} their names are written by teachers using Chinese writing brush. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(similar), Shaanxi Normal University has been sending their freshmen calligraphy admission for eleven years. Several former professors in {#blank#}4{#/blank#} 70s take about a week writing more than 4,500 admission letters every year.

    It is believed in China that "handwriting is the man," {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (mean) good handwriting can not only cultivate one's temperament (气质), but can also reflect one's literacy and character. At present, {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(tradition) calligraphy has again become a compulsory lesson in many Chinese primary and middle schools, which aims {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(enhance) students' cultural competence. At the same time, parents are attaching great importance {#blank#}8{#/blank#} children's calligraphy practice. It is fair to say that calligraphy is not left out in today's fast-paced society; {#blank#}9{#/blank#}, its incomparable value is standing out.

    The charm of Chinese culture embodied in calligraphy can always strike a chord with writers and {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(view). Do you have any interest in learning it?