A hobby is an inverstment of time. It also can be an investment of money and commitment. Many people choose to developing more than one type of hobby. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} When it comes to choosing the hobby, consider the following factors.

    Hobbies are usually an activity of some sort that brings out a certain skill that you have. When you have a talent like painting or woodworking, it can be easy to determine which hobby suits your skill. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Skill can be developed and challenged as you go along. It is not a necessary requirement. A hobby is fitting because you love it, not because you're a professional at it.

    Some people particularly enjoy taking part in hobbies that they can do in a group with others. It can be a lot more fun to become a member of a hobby group than to sit alone in your basement. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} It's important to share interests and network with other hobby enthusiasts that do what you do.

    Hobbies are generally an activity that you undertake because of the joy it brings you. Of course many people have discovered the joy that also comes with a hobby that earns you a living.  {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Just make sure you make the choice that fits your lifestyle and personal preference.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} But most of the skilled hobbies like art, building or writing have a series of lessons or tutorials that you can take to further your skills. In some cases it's a really good idea to take lessons, especially if you are clueless as to where or how to begin. Step by step books for most hobbies can often be found in bookstores as well.

A. However, hobbies don't have to be skill related.

B. Most hobbies can easily be done within your own home, at your leisure.

C. Look one up or start your own.

D. Read hobby books to learn more about your chosen hobby!

E. Make a list of things that you enjoy or don't know about.

F. It can be a necessary part of selecting the hobby that is right for you.

G. Whether it's full time, part time or not at all, you must decide whether your hobby applies to you

    The road to happiness

    We all know that money can't buy happiness, but many times we act as if we'd be happier with a bit more money. We are trained to want the latest style that television tells us.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}But none of that win bring us happiness. No matter how much we earn, no matter how nice our clothing or cars or toys, none of it will make us happier. And the sad thing is that it could take us decades to pursuing wealth and luxury items before we realize this. So what will bring us happiness?{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Positive thinking. I'm obviously a big proponent of positive thinking as the best way to achieve your goals, but it turns out that it can lead to happiness too.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Happy people feel energetic, in control of their lives, and have a positive attitude to life.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}We have a human need to be close. Having good, supportive friendships, a strong, marriage or close and loving links with our family members will make us much more likely to be happy.

    Flow. This is a popular concept on the Internet these days-the state we enter when we are completely focused on the work before us. Having work and leisure that gets you in this state of flow will almost undoubtedly lead to happiness. People find greatest enjoyment not when they're passively mindless, but when they're absorbed in a mindful challenge.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Don't waste them!

A. Good relationships

B. You've been given the three secrets to happiness

C. In fact, this should be one of first habits you develop

D. In may sound ridiculous, but it has worked for me every time

E. Luckily, here're three secrets to happiness that don't cost a thing

F. We want to earn more money because then we'll have the good life

G. Optimism and self-esteem are some of the best indicators of people who lead happy lives

    Swim-with-dolphins

    Humans have always been fascinated by dolphins and there has been a long history of association between the two.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. The “swim-with-dolphins” tourist industry is becoming more popular every year. The chance to see dolphins in the wild is often a lifetime dream for many people and tour operators are always on the lookout to give their tourist swimmers the best experience they can. After all, it can cost a large amount of money to have this kind of holiday experience. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Research has shown that while dolphins can move away if they do not want to interact with human swimmers, they do not like it at all if the swimmers slip into the water directly on top of them or if humans are in their path of travel. However, if swimmers enter the water to one side of them, the dolphins do not avoid the swimmers to the same extent.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    In all cases, the dolphins seem to have become more sensitive to the presence of the swimmers. For dolphins, swimming with humans is not necessarily a high priority(优先权). {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It is a new and unusual experience for them.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}The advice is that dolphins should be given adequate periods of time throughout the day when they are not exposed to tourism. Humans' lifelong dreams of swimming with dolphins in the wild have severely affected them, leaving not enough time for them to rest and take care of their own babies.

    If we are to enjoy these remarkable animals and not just use them for our entertainment, then we must carefully monitor the “swim-with-dolphins” industry worldwide.

A. They cannot fulfill their lifelong dreams.

B. This possibly seems like less threatening behavior to them.

C. In the long term there could be harmful effects on the dolphin's well-being.

D. It is frequently asked whether “swim-with-dolphins” tourism should be stopped.

E. So tour operators try to place eager swimmers as near as possible to the dolphins.

F. Over time this has turned into a worldwide tourist activity--swimming with dolphins.

G. In fact, only some baby dolphins will be relatively willing to participate in the interaction.

    When we are little, we know nothing about the rights and responsibilities of adulthood. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Thus, if we like a certain toy or if we want to eat a certain type of chocolate, we think that our parents will have to buy that for us.  We don't care that they possibly have not enough money for that. If they don't carry out our wish, we'll begin to cry. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Whenever we begin to cry, we'll get what we want.

    Still, little by little, we realize that our parents can't offer us all that we want for certain reasons. We then also understand that parents have their rights. They have the right to scold us when we do something wrong or when they find out that we have lied to them. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} They choose our clothes, the food we eat, the school we will study at, the hours when we should go out to play and the time we have to return home.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} They are the ones to blame later if we don't receive proper education. That's why when we beat a classmate at the kindergarten, parents are the ones to apologize for our deeds in front of the teacher and the classmate's parents. And when we get ill, they are responsible for not taking good care of us and for dressing us inadequately.

    The moment we become teenagers, we notice that we should be responsible for the society. Now we have the right to be independent. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It is supposed that we are mature enough to solve our problems and to make people around trust us. For some of us, this is a difficult test to pass, but it is the best method to see if we are capable of taking our place in society.

A. We think our parents should offer us all we need.

B. We should believe we can do them by ourselves.

C. This is a child's important weapon to threaten his/her parents.

D. Moreover, they have the right to make choices for us when we are little.

E. As a matter of fact, parents have a lot of things to be concerned about.

F. But at the same time they are responsible for many things that happen to us.

G. However, it's also time for us to give explanations when we do something wrong.

    Have you ever set a goal for yourself and got excited to get working on it? The first few weeks are great! You're moving forward. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Before you know it, your goals have taken a back seat. Sound familiar? We are not alone. Many face the same struggle. Here are the four ways to complete these goals.

Make yourself a priority（优先权）.

    You most likely put others before yourself. It is a wonderful thing to want to help others, but if you are putting others before your own priorities and goals, you will be quickly in a great pressure. This is a habit we have to get rid of. If we don't care about ourselves first, we can't be our best to help others. Take yourself seriously. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

Make clear goals with action steps.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Create action steps, and no matter how small you think they are, use them. It becomes a way for you to measure your progress. Don't discount the small steps. When life gets in the way it's so much easier to move on or pick right back up when you have these small action steps to guide you.

Create your own hope.

    This is your self-talk. Make it positive and daily. You do not need permission to take action towards your goals and don't wait for someone to give you this permission. If you need to, seek positive influencers and listen to their stories. Learn to say “No.” {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. This is your journey, not theirs.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Have a mindset to be grateful for the things, people, and opportunities in your life. If we don't appreciate what we have now, how would we be able to appreciate anything once we completed our goals? Each of us has our own life experiences and life struggles, which shape us into who we are. They are lessons that can either make you or break you. The choice is up to you and determines if you will be successful in achieving you goals.

A. The more details you can have with your goal, the better.

B. Make this a positive healthy habit.

C. Then life starts throwing tons of difficulties at you.

D. Learn to be thankful.

E. Focus on the process.

F. You don't have to do everything for everyone.

G. This is actually difficult for those of us that care for others.

Does a Dog Help a Teen with Low Self-esteem?

    A dog is known as man's best friend for good reason. Loyal and affectionate, a dog companion can enrich its owner's life in many ways, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Many teenagers suffer from periods of low self-esteem (自尊) as they try to navigate the wavy waters of adolescence and deal with all of its associated highs and lows. A teenager who lacks self-esteem may feel isolated from his peers and unable to tell his parents about personal issues. The company of a dog can be a huge comfort and ease feelings of loneliness and awkwardness. A dog offers genuine unconditional love. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}All dogs need exercise, so taking his clog for a walk is the perfect opportunity for a teenager to get outdoors and benefit from fresh air and physical activity. Exercise allows people to take control of their bodies, which is often the first step toward regaining control of other aspects of their life, says mental health specialist Dr. Alan Cohen. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Exercise releases chemicals called endorphins (内排肽）into the brain, which create positive responses in the body, including improved self-esteem. Dogs can help teenagers be more sociable and make new friends, suggests HELPGUIDE. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} A dog is a great ice-breaker, avoiding awkward social situations and putting the teenager at ease with people he meets. The more confident the teen becomes when out and about with his clog, the more his self-esteem will improve. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If a teenager is suffering from depression or developing dangerous habits such as alcohol and drug abuse, more extreme action may be required. In these cases, professional help should be sought and all treatment plans considered. Parents who suspect that their teen's low self­esteem is a sign of a far more serious problem should ask a suitably qualified health professional for advice.

A. In some cases, having a dog will not help with a teenager's low self-esteem.

B. It simply accepts its owner for who he is and doesn't judge, question or criticize.

C. Pets offer an unconditional love that can be very helpful to people with depression.

D. You don't have to worry about hurting your pet's feelings or getting advice you don't want.

E. In particular, someone with low self-esteem may find a pet dog to be extremely beneficial.

F. A teen may meet his peers while walking his dog in the park or taking part in a dog training class.

G. Many forms of exercise besides walking can be enjoyed with a dog, such as cycling, jogging and throwing a ball.