Jealous Ken

    Dick and Ken lived in the same street. Both children had a good home and lots of nice things. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} In other words, Ken was a jealous(嫉妒的) boy.

    Dick and Ken grew up and got jobs. At first, they both cycled to work every morning. Then Dick bought a motorcycle. Every morning, Dick on his motorcycle rode past Ken on his bicycle, and Ken felt jealous. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} He was happy until Dick bought a car.

    Ken worked hard until he had enough money for a car. He bought a car, and it was as good as Dick's car. There were a lot of other cars on the road, so the journey to work was slower, but Ken was happy.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} So Ken worked very hard, and yesterday he bought an expensive new car. This morning Ken left home in his new car. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} But Ken was happy because his car was bigger, better and faster than Dick's car.

    Then he saw Dick behind him, but Dick was not in a car. Dick was riding a bicycle. It was a new bicycle. The cars moved very slowly, so Dick cycled past them easily. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} He watched from his big, expensive car and felt jealous.

A.     Dick was very proud of his new car.

B.     But after a year, Dick bought a bigger car.

C.     Both Ken and Dick walked to work every day.

D.    So Ken bought a motorcycle and he was happy.

E.     Ken watched as Dick cycled away in front of him.

F.     But Ken was unhappy because some of Dick's things were better than his.

G.    There were cars in front as far as he could see, and none of them could move.

Real-life Room Escape Games

    Real-life room escape games are a type of physical adventure game in which people are locked in a room with other participants and have to use the things in the room to settle a series of puzzles, find clues, and escape the room within a set time limit.

    The game are based on Escape the Room video games, such as Crimson Room and QP-Shot, created by TAKAGISM Inc. By Toshimitsu Takagi in 2005, in which the player is locked inside a room and must explore his or her surroundings in order to escape. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Other inspirations include adventure board games and movies. Real-life room escape games are becoming popular in the United States, Japan, and China. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} For example, some games require you escape prison cells while others require you escape space stations.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Soon, they were exported to North America, Asia and Australia. Examples include the two pioneer companies Hint Hunt and Adventure Rooms.

    The games were so successful that new locations began opening up across China, in cities big and small, according to Want China Times. In the southern city of Shenzhen, for example, the first escape game location opened last August. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} "These real-life escape games can help those who stay at home on their computers and iPads all day to experience real social circles," Tian Xiaochuan, who owns two room escape game stores in Jinan, told Want China Times. Earlier this year, The South China Morning Post said the real-life escape games are a hit among "highly stressed students and overworked young professionals". {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Some players get so involved that they tear down equipment or decorations inside their "prisons", as Zhu Yumeng, chief operating officer of Beijing room escape game store Taoquan told China Daily.

A. Each game adds local themes to settings.

B. And seven new game locations quickly followed.

C. They should also be brave enough to face their fears.

D. Sometimes the excitement becomes a bit much, though.

E. Weekend or day event escape games have been held in some stores.

F. Permanent real life escape games in a fixed location were first opened in Europe.

G. Players must be observant and use their critical thinking skills to escape the room.

    If you can't lay your hands on items you need because they're buried under piles of junk, if you're constantly moving items from one pile to a new temporary pile, if you find yourself thinking, “can't throw this away. {#blank#}1{#/blank#},” you're probably a clutter（杂七杂八的东西）victim. If you're ready to de-clutter, then we have a few simple tips.

    ⒈Choose a nice day and take the room contents outside. Psychologically it's easier to sort and let go if you're one step removed. It's also less likely that the clutter will make it back inside. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Classify them as dump（丢弃）, donate and keep. Be realistic: if the item in question hasn't been used for over a year it is unlikely you will ever use it. Deal with the dump and donate piles. Do this before anything comes back into the house. It's much harder to mess up your good work if the stuff is physically gone.

    ⒉{#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Make sure there is one temporary box to house items which really belong in another room.

    As each room is sorted, those items can be replaced, and other misplaced items can be housed there while the de-cluttering process continues.

    ⒊Replace everything that remains. Keep small items in clear plastic boxes and store them in cupboards.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. It will make you think twice about acquiring something if you know something else must go.

    ⒋Once a week, take two bags and go through your home. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. When you've finished, throw the rubbish away and replace the misplaced items.

    Follow these small steps and you too can de-clutter your life.

A.     Sometimes, it's good to let go

B.     Sort everything into three piles

C.     It might come in useful one day

D.    Stick with that particular room until it's finished

E.     Place the remaining items in clearly labeled boxes

F.     One bag is for rubbish, the other for items in the wrong place

G.    When you're done, stick to a “one thing in, one thing out” rule

    Do you remember those times when your mother told you to avoid talking to strangers? But now you're not a child any more. In fact, there are advantages of talking to strangers.

    1: You can meet a really great person.

    Talking to a stranger is a good habit because you never know whom you may meet. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} You can also meet someone who'll give you a chance to get your dream job.

    2: {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    You have some opinions about different subjects and you know your friends' and relatives' points of view about them too. But there are millions of other people who think differently and can give you unpredictable yet smart ideas that'll broaden your horizons.

    3: You can improve your social skills.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Asking appropriate questions and attentive listening are two skills that many of us don't have. You can better these skills when talking to a stranger.

    4: You will feel a boost of confidence.

    If you belong to that shy type of people, talking to a stranger may seem to be a real challenge for you. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}You can overcome your fear of being judged by others by talking to strangers and become more confident.

    5: You can cheer someone up.

    The thing you will definitely like about talking to strangers is that you can make someone's day better. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Compliment people and they will think something pleasant about you. Having a sweet short dialogue is one of those perfect chances to make people cheerful.

A. Smile and people will smile in return.

B. It can expand your world view.

C. Why not speak to someone until your turn comes?

D. I'm also extremely shy but I realize it's not an issue at all.

E. You can meet a person who'll become your best friend in future.

F. It may show you the solutions you didn't know about.

G. Whatever social skills you have, you can make them better when talking to strangers.

    There is a large percentage of Asian people in the US. They're hard-working, respectful but strange sometimes. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Asian people are different from people in any other cultures. If you think you know them, you might want to think again.

    How are they different? When it comes to most Asian culture, respect is everything. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If you don't show proper respect for him, you will get some real consequences afterward and especially if he's your boss. It's something called face saving in the Asian culture. It's ridiculous sometimes but it's their culture. Sometimes their culture can come in between their relationship at work. Asian people might expect a lot of respect from their co-workers when their co-workers just see them as an equal.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you re Asian, you might want to understand the American culture and even adapt to their culture if you work with them. It will be easier for you since you re in their countries. Imagine an America working in China, expecting Chinese co-workers to get along with him when he criticizes them straight out on every single matter in front of everyone, I think they will take him outside and take care of him. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    If you're an American boss giving your Asian employee a review, you will see that they will have a problem with your negative remarks. They will think that you don t like them, disrespectful, and want to get rid of them. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Of course, it's not fair for you as an American boss but just expect that it can be something that is on your Asian employee's mind.

    There are so many words in English that learning all of them can seem difficult. To make things even more challenging, certain sounds are pronounced differently. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Learn the vowel元音) sounds.

    In English, there are five main vowel letters: a, e, i, o, u. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Each vowel letter has both a short sound(such as the a in "bat")or a long sound(such as the a in "play"). Learn and practice these different vowel sounds to help teach you how to pronounce certain words and to improve your English pronunciation.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    One of the most effective ways to learn a language is to listen to someone speaking it. Once you are familiar with how a language sounds, you will be able to start picking up on more sounds, words and phrases.

    Record yourself.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}To solve this problem and really see how you sound, try recording yourself. Use a smart phone or tape recorder to play back how you sound when you are speaking English.

    Get a spoken English tutor.

    To truly understand if you are saying and pronouncing things the right way, find someone who can practice with you and act as a spoken English tutor. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Break down words.

B. Listen to an English speaker.

C. Sometimes the letter "y" can make a vowel sound, too. .

D. How do you know if you are saying things correctly?

E. He or she will be able to correct you and teach you how to pronounce better.

F. Thankfully, there are tips that you can learn to make things a little easier.

G. Compare your English comprehension to someone else to see if you are doing it correctly.