Attraction of the Minions

When it comes to film, people usually favor good over evil,focus on the hero and ignore the supporting characters. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Originallycomedic background characters in the film Despicable Me(卑鄙的我), these yellow pill­shaped nuts, havetotally stolen the show and turned into a popular figure. This summer thecharacters debuted(首演)in their own self­titled movie in theaters abroad, having the second biggestopening weekend of all time for a cartoon film according to USAToday.Recently, McDonald's has been including Minion toys with kids' meals in someareas, causing loyal fans to flock to the restaurant to collect them all. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

Themovie's huge popularity even surprised its writers.“We never knew the Minionswere going to be so popular.It just became a force of nature，” the film's co­writer Cinco Paul toldthe LosAngelesTimes.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}For many, the appeal is obviously their cuteness.Their simple nature can easilysurpass cultures and age groups.Even children can draw them.Thousands ofexamples of fan­made Minion art from fingernails to Halloween clothes arevisible on global social media platforms.

Butthere's more to the phenomenon than just cuteness.US entertainment website HitFix explains that their way of communicating makes the creatures influential aswell. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} But it seems everyone can understand them through theirexaggerated(夸张的)movements and expressions.

Moreimportantly, their childlike mannerisms is a brand of humor that winshearts.“Clumsy, foolish Minions are recognized as the ultimate betapersonalities，”wrote Peter Debruge of US entertainment magazine Variety.

Theydesire nothing more than to serve their most despicable master. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}“Perhaps we love Minions because they remind us of ourselves，” HuffingtonPost associate Web editor SaraBoboltz wrote, “or an evil version of ourselves.”

    Kids' health: four steps for fighting stress

    Everybody gets stressed from time to time. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}some ways of dealing with stress— like screaming or hitting someone— don't solve much. But other ways, like talking to someone you trust, can lead you to solving your problem or at least feeling better.

    Try taking these four steps the next time you are stressed:

    (1.)Get support. When you need help, reach out to the people who care about you. Talk to a trusted adult, such as a parent or other relatives. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}they might have had similar problems, such as dealing with a test, or the death of a beloved pet.

    (2.)Don't take it out on yourself. Sometimes when kids are stressed and upset they take it out on themselves. Oh , dear, that's not a good idea. Remember that there are always people to help you. Don't take it out on yourself. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    (3.)Try to solve the problem. After you are calm and you have support from adults and friends, it's time to get down to business. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}even if you can't solve it all, you can solve a piece of it.

    (4.)Be positive. Most stress is temporary（暂时的）. Remember stress does go away, especially when you figure out the problem and start working on solving it.

    These steps aren't magic, but they do work.. and if you can stay positive as you make your way through a tough time, you'll help yourself feel better even faster. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Ask for a helping hand to get you through the tough situation.

B. Notice your friends' feelings and find a way to help them.

C. Different people feel stress in different ways.

D. Ah, it feels so good when the stress is gone.

E. You need to figure out what the problem is.

F. And don't forget about your friends.

G. Then, find a way to calm down.

How to Think Positively

    Quite often when we're going through a challenging time, we may get the advice to just “think positively！”  {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Does it mean to deny our pain or discomfort? Should we pretend everything is alright? Here is some advice about how to think positively.

    Accept that you are here to grow. Life doesn't always go smoothly. Life's lessons can be difficult, but they are even more so if you approach them with avoidance(逃避). {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Learn to turn lemons into lemonade(柠檬水). Look for the lessons to be learned in every situation. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself when things don't go your way, do what you can to make the best of the situation. Learn, instead, how to avoid falling into the same traps and making the same mistakes. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Believe in yourself. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Your dreams and goals are an indication of where your talents lie and where your true potential is. Needless to say, you must develop your inherent (固有的) gifts.

    Look for inspiration and support. Read about and study the successful stories of others. Many successful people have gone through challenging circumstances to get where they are. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} To help you stay positive and focused, get support from family and friends.

    Finally, thinking positively doesn't mean being unrealistic, It means dealing with life and life's challenges as they are. It means being willing to do the work necessary to get on with the business of living fully.

A. If you see them as opportunities to become stronger, you are thinking positively and productively.

B. So next time a well-meaning person tells you to think positively, just smile back confidently.

C. Learning about their experiences can motivate and inspire you to achieve what you want to achieve.

D. Sometimes it's difficult to figure out exactly what that means.

E. Know that you have what it takes to succeed.

F. It just means that you won't let them stop you!

G. By doing so, you will undoubtedly benefit from it.

    It is necessary but difficult for English beginners to memorize new words, and long lists of words seem to make the mission impossible. They are puzzled why they try to memorize words with great efforts but forget them easily. That's why there are often inquiries about how to memorize new words.

{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are some tips to help.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} We too often separate the process of new words memorization from pronunciation. In fact these two can be combined and each will enhance the other. Saying the word to ourselves helps activate aural(hearing) memory, which helps the memory. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The more familiar we are with the word,

the greater chance we will have to keep it for the rest of our life.

    Never memorize single English words. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Relate the word to terms we already know, either as synonym or antonym. For example, the word "gargantuan" is similar in meaning to words "gigantic", ”huge" and "large". Make a sequence of words: "small, medium, large, gigantic, and gargantuan".

    Create a mental image of the word that involves strong emotions. Think, "The gargantuan whale is going to swallow me whole".

    Learning English words requires action. Complaining how difficult it is to memorize new words will be of little help. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Have a try with ten words a day and you will see what a difference you will make in our English learning.

A. So take action right now.

B. Speak the word while memorizing it.

C. Memorizing new words is very important.

D. Actually, some have given up learning new words.

E. In fact, learning new words needn't be that difficult.

F. Make as many associations and connections as possible.

G. The sound of word helps us recall the spelling and familiarizes us with the word.

    I was ten when I first sat with my grandmother behind the cashier (收银台) in her general store. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} I quickly learned the importance of treating customers politely and saying "thank you. "

    At first I was paid in candy. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} I worked every day after school, and during the summer and on weekends and holidays from 8 a. m. to 7 p. m. My father helped me set up a bank account. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    By the time I was 12, my grandmother thought I had done such a good job that she promoted me to selling cosmetics (化妆品). I developed the ability to look customers directly in the eye. Even though I was just a kid, women would ask me such things as "What color do you think I should wear?" I took a real interest in their questions and was able to translate what they wanted into makeup (化妆) ideas. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The job taught me a valuable lesson: to be a successful salesperson, you didn't need to be a Rocket scientist—you needed to be a great listener. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Expect they are no longer women purchasing cosmetics from me; instead, they are kids who tell me which toys they would like to see designed and developed.

A. Later I received 50 cents an hour.

B. Before long, she let me sit there by myself.

C. I ended my selling a record amount of cosmetics.

D. Today I still carry that lesson with me: I listen to customers.

E. My grandma's trust taught me how to handle responsibility.

F. Soon I found myself looking more beautiful than ever before.

G. Watching my money grow was more rewarding than anything I could have bought.

    There are some popular family videos posted on Chinese social media. In these videos, a young child calls out to their mother or father; the parent enters the room smiling, turns around and calls out to their own parent; the grandparent then enters smiling and calls out to their parent – the great-grandparent.

    The format of these videos is being described as the "four-generation challenge". {#blank#}1{#/blank#} People from all over the world have left comments and even made their own versions.

    A Facebook user named Antoine Yupud wrote, "I have to give that to China. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}." The "four-generation" videos have not only touched foreign viewers, but also given them a deeper look into Chinese family values.

    In most East Asian cultures, it is common for many generations of a single family to live together under one roof. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Many Western countries tend to have nuclear families, made up of just children and their parents.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Kids usually move out of the family home after turning 18. Many apply for loans and work part-time jobs to pay for college and rent. If they choose to continue living with their parents after becoming an adult, it can be seen as a sign of immaturity or failure.

    Although family structures in the United States may differ, the loving bonds between family members are common to both. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. Family devotion is usually a strong value.

B. This is called an extended family.

C. These videos have spread to social media in other countries.

D. Nuclear families gradually took the place of extended families.

E. In United States culture, independence is highly valued.

F. These videos have made many people miss their own grandparents.

G. That might be why the "four-generation" videos have gained popularity around the world.