How you calm yourself before giving a speech? Both modern research and centuries of experience from experienced（有经验的）public speakers suggest some practical（实用的）advice.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Know to whom you'll be speaking, and learn as much about your audience（听众） as you can. The more you can expect the kind of reaction your listeners will have to your speech, the more comfortable you'll be in delivering your message. Be audience-centered rather than speaker-centered.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    You will feel less nervous if you talk about something you are familiar with or have some personal experience of. Your comfort with the subject of the speech will be reflected in your delivery.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    The better prepared you are, the less anxiety（焦虑）you will experience. Being prepared means that you have researched your topic and practiced your speech several times before you deliver it.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    You are likely to feel the most nervous during the opening moments of your speech. Therefore, it is a good idea to have a clear plan for how you will start your speech. Being familiar with your introduction（介绍）will help you feel more comfortable about the entire speech. If you know how you will end your speech, you will have a safe harbor in case you lose your place. If you need to end your speech ahead of time, a well-delivered conclusion can permit you to make a graceful exit.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    One of the symptoms(症状) of nervousness is a change in your breathing and heart rates. Nervous speakers tend to take short, shallow breaths. To help break the anxiety—reduce breathing pattern, consider taking a few slow deep breaths before you rise to speak.

A. Know your introduction and your conclusion(总结).

B. Channel（引导） your nervous energy.

C. Know your audience.

D. Use deep-breathing techniques.

E. Be prepared.

F. Select（选择）an suitable topic.

G. To talk with your friends before giving a speech.

    For the rest of March, a disease will sweep across the US. It will keep kids home from school.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Employees will suddenly lose their ability to concentrate.

    The disease, known as "March Madness", refers to the yearly 65 – team US men's college basketball tournament (锦标赛). {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Teams compete against each other in a single – elimination (单局淘汰) tournament that eventually crowns a national champion.

    Nearly 20 million Americans will find themselves prisoners of basketball festival madness. The fun comes partly from guessing the winners for every game. Friends compete against friends. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Colleagues against bosses.

    Big – name schools are usually favored to advance into the tournament. But each year there are dark horses from little – known universities.

    This adds to the madness. Watching a team from a school with 3,000 students beat a team from a school with 30,000, for many Americans, is an exciting experience. Two years ago, the little – known George Mason University was one of the final four teams. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    College basketball players are not paid, so the game is more about making a name for their university and themselves.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}About $ 4 billion will be spent gambling (赌) on the event. According to Media Life magazine, the event will bring in $ 500 million in advertising income this year, topping the post – season income of every US professional league, including that of the NBA.

A. Husbands against wives.

B. The players will go all out for the games.

C. But that doesn't mean money isn't involved.

D. College students will ignore piles of homework.

E. People are willing to spend more money on watching it.

F. It begins on March 15 and lasts through the beginning of April.

G. Many people had never even heard of the university before the tournament.

    How did you learn how to ride your bike? Someone probably gave you a few lessons and then you practiced a lot.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} No one is born to know how to study. You need to learn a few study skills and then practice them.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Do you have trouble paying attention in class? Are you sitting next to a loud person? Is it hard to see the board? Make sure you're sitting in a good seat that lets you pay attention. Tell your teacher or parents about any problems that are preventing you from paying attention and taking good notes.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.Waiting until Thursday night to study for Friday's test will make a homework night no fun! It also makes it hard to do your best. We're all guilty of putting things off sometimes. One of the best ways to make sure that doesn't happen is to plan ahead.

    Break it up! When there's a lot to study, it can help to break things into chunks(大块). Let's say you have a test on 20 spelling words. Instead of thinking about all of the words at once, try breaking them down into a five-word chunks and working on one or two different chunks each night.

    Ask for help. You can't study effectively if you don't understand the material.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} You can check yourself by reading through your notes. Does it all make sense? If not, ask your teacher to go over it with you.

    Get a good night's sleep. So the test is tomorrow and you've followed your study plan—but suddenly you can't remember anything, not even 2+2! Don't worry. Your brain needs time to digest(消化) all the information you've given it. Try to get a good night's sleep.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Plan ahead for tests and projects.

B. Study regularly instead of just the night before.

C. You can learn how to study in much the same way.

D. You'll be surprised by what comes back to you in the morning.

E. If you're studying math or science, do some practice problems.

F. Be sure to ask your teacher for help if you're confused about something.

G. Good studying starts in class.

    Changing your life can come in small, easy steps. You can transform yourself and live a better life by making positive changes along the way. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Choose to change bad habits.

    Some bad habits seem to stick around without us even realizing it. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} You can overcome them, find better alternatives, and get through your struggle to become a better you! Do it for yourself more than anything.

    Choose to grow.

    It's easy to get stuck in a fixed way of life. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} In choosing to grow, you build character, develop your strengths, become aware of what needs improvement, and turn into the well-rounded person you need to be to succeed.

    Choose to seek a balanced life.

    Where do you need balance? Are you all work, no play? Or the opposite? {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you're spending too much time working or locked away alone, find the time for social interaction (社交) and having fun. If you haven't committed to a schedule in a while, make the decision to start following one.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    This is vital to human existence. We need the loving bonds created by family members and friends. Personal relationships are key to emotional growth and social stability.

A. Choose to spend time with those you love.

B. Choose to organize your schedule flexibly.

C. Make the choice today that you won't be ruled by them.

D. Here are some choices that will lead to your transformation.

E. Neither extreme will lead you to a pleasant life for very long.

F. However, with re-evaluation and growth comes a beautiful freedom.

G. It's good to change, and you've only got so many years to refresh yourself.

    Besides studying and tests, teens need to learn some life skills for the future. These skills can help them live by themselves. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Managing money

    You often get a little money from your parents, {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

You can make a list of the things that you want to buy, and plan how to spend the money. Don't waste.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Doing laundry correctly is important. You should first read the instructions on clothing, and then check the pockets of the clothes. Pay more attention to different colors of them.

    As for cleaning, you should learn how to use brooms, mops (抹布) and so on.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} , the people who live with you will thank you for the efforts you make.

    Cooking your favorite meals

    You should learn how to cook a few of your favorite meals. First ask your parents for help to decide on the menu and ingredients（材料）, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. How to use brooms, mops.

B. and you may spend it as you like.

C. If you often do more cleaning.

D. and your parents know you how to spend your money.

E. Washing and cleaning.

F. and then you can go shopping, cook the meals and clean up the kitchen together.

G. The following are some necessary skills.

    When I first came to UK from China at 6, I entered the first grade. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. I saw children throw their left over food into the large trash cans — from half-eaten pizzas to untouched burgers. I watched them pour their milk into a white bucket. In China, this was a huge no-no in school. We had to finish everything.

    One day, my first grade teacher announced that we would be having a party and everyone was told to bring something from their country. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. My mom stayed up after her long day of work and made many dumplings. She put them in the fridge and woke up early in the morning to steam them and fry them so they would taste extra fresh when I brought them to school. They smelled great and looked golden brown after they were cooked.

    I was so excited to share these with my class and teachers. It was placed in the corner of the table next to all the other delicious food. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. One or two kids bravely took a piece and knew what they were because they had it with their parents at a Chinese restaurant. At the end of the party, it was cleanup. My teacher walked up to me and asked, pointing to the dumplings, "Would you like to take these home?" I carefully replied, "No…" {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. I thought she was going to share it with other teachers, but immediately after I said that, she threw all the dumplings into the trash and continued cleaning. I was confused; what just happened?

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. And today I still witness this frequently in my English fiends. Please eat all your food or take it to go or share it or just get enough so you don't have to throw it away. Thank you.

A. In China, "no" usually means "yes"

B. I got super excited and told my parents

C. It was very impolite to take your gift home

D. This was the biggest culture shock I have experienced

E. When I got home, I shared the experience with my parents

F. Many kids had the cookies and juices and were hesitant to try the dumplings

G. I didn't understand why kids were getting their lunch food and not finishing it