English is one of the most difficult languages to master. Even if you might not yet sound like someone born and raised speaking the language, you should still congratulate yourself on how far you've come. Remember that practice makes perfect. So keep working at it and your skill level will certainly improve.

    Create an English environment for yourself. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}The more you hear the language, the better you'll understand how and when to use common words and phrases and how the language is pronounced.

    Practise speaking English every chance you get, whether at school, at work or speaking to family and friends. When you speak in your native language, ask yourself, “How would I say that in English?”

    Watch yourself speak English in the mirror. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} And practise changing anything you don't like. If you're uncomfortable making up things to say to yourself, just read your lessons aloud.

    Use confident body language while you speak English. Even if you're having trouble pronouncing words or remembering phrases, don't keep your head down. Speak in a natural, conversational tone(语气); keep your back and head straight, and your chin(下巴) up. If you're in a relaxed setting, put your hands behind your head and put your feet up.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} 

    Find a language friend who speaks fluent English and wants to learn your language. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Increase your confidence by knowing you have something valuable to teach, as well as something to learn.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Instead of saying “I'm no good at this,” say “Every day I'm getting better.”
A. Take turns teaching each other.
B. Train your body into feeling in control.
C. Speak confidently about your English ability.
D. Learning a language requires long hours of study and practice.
E. Get comfortable with the way you look speaking the language.
F. Read books, watch television shows, movies and plays in English.
G. Improve your confidence by teaching those worse at English than you.

Tips for procrastinators (拖延者)

    You manage to finish and hand the project in on time, but you feel exhausted. Then, your teacher says, “Get ready. We will start the test in 5 minutes.” {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Many of us are guilty of delaying doing what we should do. At the same time, we might risk missing a deadline and not getting a good mark. It is also very stressful. Here are some tips for procrastinators on how to get your work done ahead of time.

    Create a to-do list. Creating a list will help organize your work and ideas while keeping you on track.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Keep it up to date by checking off completed tasks as you go along. This will keep you focused and orderly.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Chances are, you won't be able to get a lot of work done when you're tired. Finding a time of day when you are full of energy will get you to be more productive.

    Choose reliable study partners. Working with study partners will encourage you to complete the task at hand and ensure that you remain focused. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Divide the work into smaller parts. Procrastination is often a reaction to feeling overwhelmed (无法对付的). Dividing work into smaller parts will make it easy to handle. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} You will find your ability and be more likely to finish what you need to do.

    Hopefully these tips will help you do away with the stressful, last-minute efforts of a procrastinator.

A. Work when you're feeling energetic.

B. Remind yourself to turn off all the devices.

C. You forgot that there's also an examination today.

D. Try to encourage yourself to stick to your work plan

E. Deal with your tasks a bit at a time instead of wasting time wondering where to start.

F. Put the tasks that you feel less confident about or are likely to avoid on the top of the list.

G. You know that others are relying on you and they think that you deserve trust and are responsible.

    Have you ever lost your temper (脾气)? Did you scream or want to hit someone?

{#blank#}1{#/blank#} You may get angry when something doesn't go your way. Maybe you get mad at yourself when you don't understand your homework or when your team loses an important game. Maybe your teacher gave you too much homework. Or maybe a friend borrowed your favorite video game and then broke it. That made you angry!

    There are different ways people feel anger. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Are you breathing faster? Is your face bright red? Do you want to break something or hit someone? Anger can make you scream at those around you, even people you like or love.

    Some people keep their anger buried deep inside. If you do this, you might get a headache or your stomach might start to hurt. You may start to cry. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} You should find a way to let it out without hurting yourself or others.

    Don't lose control if you get angry {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Instead, admit to yourself that you are angry and try to know why. What can you do to keep the situation from happening again? If your little sister gets a toy and you don't, it's not OK to break that toy. Maybe you can ask her to share it with you.

    It helps to talk about your anger with an adult, such as a parent, teacher, or relative. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. It's not good to hide your anger.

B. Anger can even be a good thing.

C. Taking it out on others never solves anything.

D. Many things may make you angry.

E. Usually your body will tell you when you are angry.

F. Once you talk about anger, those bad feelings usually start to go away.

G. When someone you know is angry, he or she may stop talking to you or become quiet.

    Are you truly happy? Do you ever know what it means to be happy and what it takes to achieve happiness?

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. The following are a few tips that I follow to create happiness in my life.

    ※ Make a plan for attaining goals that you believe will make you happy. Your moods will very likely increase if you are going after something you value.

    ※Surround yourself with happy people. It is easy to begin to think negatively when you are surrounded by people who think that way. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    ※When something goes wrong, try to figure out a solution instead of being absorbed in self pity. Truly happy people don't allow setbacks to affect their mood because they know that with a little thought they can turn the circumstances back to their favor.

    ※{#blank#}3{#/blank#}. These few minutes will give you the opportunity to focus on the positive things in your life and will lead you to continuous happiness.

    ※{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Whether you treat yourself to lunch, take a long, relaxing bath or simply spend a few extra minutes on your appearance, you will be subconsciously (下意识地) putting yourself in a better mood.

    ※Finding the humor in situations can also lead to happiness. Find a way to make light of a situation that would otherwise make you happy.

    ※Keeping healthy is another way to achieve happiness. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    It's the water that makes our daily lives possible. That's why protecting source water is one of the primary missions at the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. We provide safe, clean drinking water to 1.8 million residents in Prince George's and Montgomery counties.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    One way we protect the water is through the watershed. The watershed reduces the pollutants reaching the reservoirs. They hold the source water that provides 30 percent of our customers with drinking water. That's over 600,000 people. For many years, we have issued permits to allow limited recreational use of the watershed. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's a quiet, beautiful area away from urban stress and traffic. And we use it ourselves and other activities to promote water and environmental awareness.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Last year, the WSSC issued new regulations with new restrictions impacting all users, including, closing the watershed a month earlier in the fall and opening it a month later in the spring. We also limited horseback riding to the access roads. Our goal was and is to protect the watershed.

    A very small but vocal group felt we should have consulted them first. Perhaps afterward we should have. But I do want to make one thing very clear. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} But we cannot allow the interests of a tiny group to override (不理会) the well­being of the WSSC customers who drink the water from those reservoirs. There must be a balance.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} So we hired a consultant to gather data, gather input from watershed users, and assess the condition of the watershed. We also asked them to look at our operations and management practices and provide the WSSC with findings and recommendations on how to make improvements.

    It's time to work together to protect the water and provide appropriate access to the rare jewel we call the watershed.

A. We certainly understand the attraction.

B. At no time did we consider closing the watershed entirely.

C. However, only a few people like saving water.

D. But most importantly it's about protecting the water.

E. The government has taken some strong measures.

F. We take that responsibility very seriously.

G. A review of our watershed policies and regulations was overdue.

How students can stay safe while studying abroad

Safety has always been a huge concern for students who study abroad. What are the best ways to ensure safety while studying abroad in unfamiliar surroundings? We've compiled our top tips for staying safe abroad.

Learn about the country's language, culture and legal system.

As well as learning the language, students should get familiar with their host country's legal system and culture. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}What are your legal rights as a foreigner abroad?

Research your destination.

Before you leave, find out as much as you can about the local area using travel advisories (公告) and alumni (校友) recommendations. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

Pay attention to everyday safety.

In some countries, tourists are frequent targets for crimes such as pickpocketing. So avoid travelling alone, especially at night. Let others know where you are going. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

You should also plan for emergencies by saving the number of a trusted friend as well as your local embassy or consulate (领事馆).

Protect your privacy.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}While it's OK to be outgoing, you shouldn't be too open with strangers as any personal information could be used to steal your identity.

While out, you should also be aware of your possessions and not have them on display.

Buy travel and health insurance.

Depending on the country, you may want to buy travel and health insurance, which will cover the cost of stolen items or personal injury. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}So consult those in the travel abroad office to find out your options.

A. Sometimes these services are provided by your college.

B. You should learn to communicate with local people fluently.

C. You should always do your best not to draw attention to yourself.

D. For example, is it offensive to wear certain clothing to go to certain popular sites?

E. And always use licensed taxis or ride-sharing apps with pre-arranged fares.

F. Many students choose to study abroad for they want to expose themselves to another culture.

G. This includes knowing the nearest subway or train stations, emergency service numbers and areas to avoid.