Making Peace with Your Parents

    As a teen, you're going through big changes physically and mentally. Your interests are increasing.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Here is the challenge: Kids need to explore the world in new ways, and parents need to protect them from the dangers that are all out in that world. These conflicts can easily set off fireworks in otherwise calm houses. Sometimes conflicts can't be avoided. But by paying attention to the building blocks of successful relationships, you can work towards making home a happy and healthy place for you and your parents.

    For example, try to find a time to talk when your parents are not angry, tired, distracted or hungry. A good time to talk is when you're all relaxed. Timing is everything if the conversation begins to turn into an argument, you'd better calmly and coolly ask to stop the conversation for now.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Listen to what your parents are saying, and repeat it back to them. This shows them that you're listening. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Respect is the building block of good communication. People who respect each other and care about each others' feelings can disagree without getting things ugly.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} How do you build trust? Trust comes by actually doing what you say you're going to do. Some teens find that doing fun activities with their parents can improve their relationships. Sometimes we forget that parents are more than rule-maker—they're interesting people who like to watch movies and go shopping—just like their teenagers!

    What do you do if you are trying your best, but your relationship with your parents continues to be rocky?{#blank#}5{#/blank#}You can find supportive adults, such as a teacher or a coach, who can lend an ear. Remember you can only change your own behavior. Your parents are the only ones who can change theirs.

A. You may consider seeking outside help.

B. And then you'll be able to accept what your parents say.

C. You can pick it up again when everyone's more relaxed.

D. Faced with the challenge, children don't know what to do.

E. And your desire to take control of your own life is growing.

F. It also gives them a chance to clear things up if you're not on the same page.

G. You are more likely to get along with your parents and have more independence if your parents believe in you.

    Yu Xu, one of China's first female fighter pilots who could fly a J-10 jet, died during a flight training in Tangshan in North China's Hebei province on Saturday. Almost all major media outlets have sung high praise for Yu's spirit. People's Daily said: "She died for the peace and happiness of so many families ... The name of Yu and other heroes will be carved not only in stone, but also in the hearts of millions." However, despite being a news hit, a lot of social media platforms still pay much attention to pop stars, no matter their weddings, problematic marriages or just datings. The day Yu died, she did not even make it to the top-10 hot topics on micro blogs.

    Some netizens have criticized such people for being too cold to news about heroes who defend our country. They even quoted from the book, Amusing Ourselves to Death, to express their concerns over people being misled by new media while referring to pop stars as "xi zi", a contemptuous(轻蔑的) term used for entertainment stars in the old days.

    However, it is unnecessary to shame those netizens who were busy reading about film stars and other celebrities. We live in the age of social and new media, where the celebrities usually draw greater public attention than real heroes. This is partly because the agents(经纪人) of celebrities（名人）are very skilled at using social tools to expand their fan base for commercial gains.

    Of course, we should admit the great influence entertainment has on people's minds and it helps the media industry make money. Pop stars do take up a lot of our time, and especially many young people waste their spare energy on them, their new songs, new movies, even rumors about their love life and other scandals. The domestic media industry needs improvement, some entertainment stars should improve their public images, but it is not right to call them "xi zi".

    The media may be encouraging people to pay greater attention to celebrities than military heroes, but that does not necessarily mean people pay less respect to heroes than stars. The increasing number of reports about the pilot shows the heroes are worth people's added attention, and they get it.

Greater attention to celebrities doesn't mean less respect for heroes

Unless you're one of the lucky few who already know what their passion is and what they really enjoy, you will be spending a lot of time trying new things and figuring out what you're good' at and what you like. Don't be afraid to try new things and fail in them; failing builds character. You have a lot of growing up to do in your 20s, a lot of self-examination and exploration. Use this time wisely to get to understand yourself as best as you can — not that you won't change as you continue to get older, but it's definitely a time of discovery, getting to know yourself and what you want in this world and what you have to contribute in the world.

    Life is about change; don't go against it and just go with it. Learn from your mistakes and grow. Let go of things you can't change. Sometimes change will be so painful that you will want to tear your heart out, but you'll be okay if you just hang on and know that no matter what happens, you will be alright. Win, lose or draw, life will go on and you'll get another chance to start your life over if things haven't gone according to your plan.

    Nothing lasts forever. Enjoy every moment that you have. Enjoy life and practice being present at the moment because time goes by extremely fast. There will be both good and bad times. The bad thing about ups is that there are always downs. It's important to really enjoy the good moments in life because you'll need those memories to reflect back on when the bad times come. The first 10 years after high school go by at a really high speed and before you know it you're 28 and wondering how the time has escaped you.

    Choosing a life partner is hard. Relationships in general are hard, not just romantic ones but friendships, and family relations as well. Stay in touch with people who you really care about and who really care about you. Make an effort to stay an active person in their life if you really care. You will not have as many close friends as you get older and you will probably lose some friends as well. Remember that it is okay because not everyone who comes into your life is meant to stay forever; let them go and try their best to love the people who are still in your life.

    Happiness, love and confidence come from within. Life is what you make of it and what you put into it. You can create whatever life you want, and if you create that life and it doesn't work for you any more, guess what? You can create a whole new life that does work. You may not have a choice in things that happen to you but you have a choice in how you react—to them. Try to stay positive no matter what life throws at you and get through the tough times by talking to friends, family and an adviser if you need to.

How to Pick the Perfect Family Tent

    People like camping. But to ensure everyone has a good time, choosing the right family tent is important. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here's how to choose the perfect tent for your family.

    First of all, consider the size of the camps. Generally speaking, four-and-six-person tents are popular with families. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But a couple of features（特点）can make all the difference. For families with small children, a tent with a single entrance is a better choice. This makes it easier to keep track of who's coming and going. Of course, two doors can offer added more convenience.

    Some tents require two full-grown adults to set them up. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Be sure to take into account the setup and breakdown needs of any model you're considering. It may be necessary to go with a smaller model, or even two smaller tents, rather than one large tent for your family.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Or, if friends have a tent, see if you can borrow it for an overnight in your backyard. You'll quickly discover what you like and don't like.

    As an alternative, many outdoor shops have rental departments. Do your research to determine what style and size you think would work best, and find out if you can rent that model or one that's similar. Finally, if you are in a rush, ask if you can climb inside the tent at the store. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Getting in and out of the tent sounds basic.

B. To save money, you can make one on your own.

C. But you can turn to anyone for help when necessary.

D. It could be a problem if you're the only adult when camping.

E. Take the tent you are considering out for a “test drive” before you buy.

F. It's your home away from home, and the place where you'll sleep and relax.

G. This will give you a chance to assess all the features up close and in person.

    The art of academic writing is not easy to master. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Academic writing is the skilful exposition and explanation of an argument, which the writer has carefully researched and developed over a sustained period of time. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But the joy of reading and sharing with others, one's succinctly composed piece of argument, is incomparable.

    Before beginning to write, the writer must ask himself a few questions – Why am I writing? What is it that I intend to share with others? What purpose will my writing serve? Have I read enough about the topic or theme about which I am going to write? {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Because academic writing is a serious activity – it makes one part of a shared community of readers and writers who wish to disseminate and learn from well-argued pieces of writing.

    The structure of an argumentative essay should take the form of – Introduction (which should be around ten percent of the entire essay), Body (it should constitute eighty percent of the piece) and the Conclusion (again, ten per cent of the essay). {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The body should include cogent and coherently linked paragraphs and the conclusion should re-state the argument and offer a substantial ending to the piece.

A. These questions may well get clearer and clearer during the process of academic writing.

B. The introduction should function as the hook which draws the reader in and holds his attention.

C. It is a formal skill, which requires precision and accuracy, and is perfected by continuous and dedicated practice.

D. If one is hesitant to answer even one of the aforementioned questions, one had better not write at all!

E. It may take one a considerable period of time to know the skills of academic writing, even long after his/her college graduation.

F. It is a time-consuming activity and demands patience and perseverance.

    Every animal sleeps, but the reason for this has remained foggy. When lab rats are not allowed to sleep, they die within a month.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    One idea is that sleep helps us strengthen new memories. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} We know that, while awake, fresh memories are recorded by reinforcing (加强) connections between brain cells, but the memory processes that take place while we sleep have been unclear.

    Support is growing for a theory that sleep evolved so that connections between neurons (神经元) in the brain can be weakened overnight, making room for fresh memories to form the next day.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Now we have the most direct evidence yet that he is right.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} The synapses in the mice taken at the end of a period of sleep were 18 per cent smaller than those taken before sleep, showing that the connections between neurons weaken while sleeping.

    If Tononi's theory is right, it would explain why, when we miss a night's, we find it harder the next day to concentrate and learn new information — our brains may have smaller room for new experiences.

    Their research also suggests how we may build lasting memories over time even though the synapses become thinner. The team discovered that some synapses seem to be protected and stayed the same size. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} “You keep what matters,” Tononi says.

A. We should also try to sleep well the night before.

B. It's as if the brain is preserving its most important memories.

C. That's why students do better in tests if they get a chance to sleep after learning.

D. Similarly, when people go for a few days without sleeping, they get sick.

E. The processes take place to stop our brains becoming loaded with memories.

F. Tononi's team measured the size of these connections, or synapses, in the brains of 12 mice.

G. “Sleep is the price we pay for learning,” says Giulio Tononi, who developed the idea.