The English language has many ways to talk about something that is funny. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It is a basic human need. Physical humour, especially, can cross limits like nationality and language and bring people together from all different walks of life.

    Humour comes in many forms. The most obvious and traditional way we use humour is in jokes. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} This is when a person changes a word or uses it in a different context(上下文) for comic effect.

    Another way people can use humour is through telling a funny story. Perhaps something bad happened to the person but they can laugh about it now. People also invent funny stories in order to make people laugh. The advantage of this is that the characters aren't real. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} 

    Physical comedy usually divides opinions. For some, seeing someone fall down, whether it is planned or not, is one of the funniest things they can see. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Some types of humour can also be harmful if someone is not in the mood for being made fun of！People's senses of humour vary across the world, so what may be funny in your country might be incredibly harmful in another!

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The British, for instance, are famous for their humour in English. However, people learning a foreign language face much difficulty when it comes to being funny in a second language.

A. Humour is just one of the ways.

B. Everyone needs to laugh once in a while.

C. Other forms of humour are word play and puns(双关语).

D. Therefore, you don't have to feel bad for laughing at them!

E. People of all ages and cultures have a strong sense of humour.

F. Most people know how to use some form of humour in their native languages.

G.For others, finding physical humour and non-serious accidents funny seems cruel.

    How to deal with your homework

    Write it down.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Make a note on your notebook. Always be sure to write down any homework for school so you won't forget anything.

    Create a homework station. Find somewhere comfortable and quiet to work.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}It will take twice as long to get the homework done. Shut off your cell phone, log off(退出) your computer(unless you will need it for your homework) and close the door.

    Do homework as early as possible. Don't leave homework to die last minute.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}The earlier you start your homework, the sooner you will finish! Do all your homework as early as you can, so you don't have a pile of(一堆) homework the next day.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Think about how long it will take you to complete each homework subject. For example: English-ten minutes, science-ten minutes, math-forty minutes, history-twenty minutes.

    Treat yourself. You can easily get tired by sitting through an hour or two of homework without stopping. Once you finish homework for a subject, take a small break. Just make sure it's quick(no more than 15 minutes). Do not turn on the TV, or you'll never go back and finish your homework.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Use your time wisely

B. Start as soon as you get home

C. Start your hardest homework

D. Never do your homework in front of the TV

E. You can take a walk or find something to eat

F. After short breaks, return to finish up the last of your work

G. Keep a homework notebook where you record all your homework

    Generally, the skills and attitudes you form as a student will be especially important to your development. The following tips can help you become an active student.

    Don't be satisfied with yourself{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Leave no room for the average of the ordinary. If you can do good things, try hard to become better. If you have become better, try to become the best.

    Give yourself new challenges{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Any new things will give you the chance to understand yourself better. You should try anything. What you learn from these activities can be useful in the future.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}One reason why a student is not active may be that he has a defeated(挫败的) attitude. As much as possible, you should face each challenge with the willingness to succeed.

    Think over your mistakes, if there are any. Being active doesn't mean you will always be successful{#blank#}4{#/blank#} However, they will never succeed if they don't realize the meaning of failure.

    Keep a to-do list. This can serve as a reminder when a student becomes lazy{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. To achieve this, you have to desire to become excellent.

B. Have strong faith that you will succeed.

C. Try to take an active part in group discussions.

D. Don't be afraid to attend activities you wouldn't normally do.

E. There are students who would give up the moment they fail.

F. You can't be active if you don't know what is going on.

G. It can keep you on the right track and help you organize your tasks for the day.

Gardening 380 Kilometers above Earth

    Astronauts have to go through physical, psychological, and technical training. They also go through training in how to care for plants. These “astronaut gardeners” share their work and living space with plants.

    Taking seeds and plants along on a trip isn't a new idea. As space trips become longer, it will be necessary to grow food in space. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Because of this, it's not practical to send everything needed for a long journey, only to be used once and thrown away.

    Plants can serve many uses on a space journey. They can provide more fresh things. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Also, plants can help to make air quality better because they produce oxygen. They can improve the quality of the air inside the spacecraft—the only air the astronauts can breathe.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Due to the lack of gravity in space, the oxygen that the plants produce stays around the plants. This can actually kill them, so fans are needed to circulate the air. Without gravity, roots don't “know” to grow down, leaves don't “know” to grow up, and water doesn't easily travel up the roots to the leaves. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Besides, soil is too heavy to send to space, and special liquid gels (胶) are used to help plant growth.

    Scientists are also working on the plants themselves. They are trying to make plants grow more rapidly and grow with less water and light in space, and they are looking for ways to make plants more resistant to disease. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Imagine that deserts may one day provide lots of fresh food for local people, saving transportation costs. Similarly, plants that are resistant to disease could provide an important food supply. With the world's population now at seven billion (十亿) people, our astronaut gardeners may help discover ways to feed those billions.

A. Every plant grown in space must have several uses.

B. However, there are challenges with growing plants in space.

C. Such methods may result in improvements back here on Earth.

D. The cost of taking anything into space is about $22,000 per kilogram.

E. Specialized containers are being developed to help the plants grow correctly.

F. Astronauts will welcome the addition of fruits and vegetables to their diet of dry foods.

G. Currently all oxygen is taken aboard in tanks and then caught again so it can be reused.

Changing People's Bad Impression On Us

    Some of us have made bad first impressions in front of people we wanted to become good friends with. First impressions are important because they form the foundation on which all future thoughts about someone will be based. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, there are actions you can take to change people's bad impression of you.

    ●Apologize immediately. A sincere apology can go a long way because you will prove to everyone that you value their thoughts about you. Tell the people that you didn't intend to offend (冒犯) them and that you wish to correct the situation. Explain the reasons why you acted the way you did in your apology. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Otherwise, it will make others feel uncomfortable that you keep bringing up the past.

    ●Use humor. When you are around the people you made a bad impression in front of, play a small joke on yourself. Once they know you are not afraid to laugh at yourself, it can break up some of the tension. Remember to only direct humor at yourself. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    ●Do not make assumptions. After you have made a bad impression, it can be easy to assume that everyone thinks the worst of you. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Instead of assuming what someone thinks about you, explain to her that you feel ashamed about how you acted and ask him how your behavior affected him.

    ●{#blank#}5{#/blank#} In order to overcome a bad first impression, your words and actions in the time to come must be consistently good. With enough time and patience, gaining trust and changing wrong beliefs is possible.

    The best way to set yourself up for success is to make sure that your goals are SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely.

Make your goals specific.

    You need to give yourself a concrete goal so you know exactly what you're working toward. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Who will be involved in helping you reach your goal? What exact goal do you want to accomplish? Be very specific. When will you start and when will you reach your goal?

Make your goals measurable.

    Now that you have some of the specifics of your goal nailed down, it's time to look at how you will measure your progress. After all, if you don't have any way to measure your goal, how will you know when you've reached it?{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Some examples of measurable goals might be pounds lost, a positive change in blood work numbers, or fitness minutes accumulated.

    Make your goals attainable.

    It's good to think big. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} A goal that's attainable for you is one that you believe you can reach and have all the support, equipment, knowledge and resources needed to put your goals into action.

    Make your goals relevant.

    You need to make sure that you're choosing a goal that fits you and your lifestyle. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Pick something that is meaningful and relevant to you and you'll set yourself up for success.

    Make your goals timely.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Otherwise, it will be difficult to know how to pace yourself to reach it. Every goal should have a date, which will help you stay on track. In addition, set up a few mini-deadlines to keep you on track to reaching your big-picture goal.

A. Put a deadline on your goal.

B. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

C. You know your goal is specific if it answers these questions.

D. Therefore, you should know in advance how you will make this happen.

E. However, it's also important that you don't set a goal that is too big to reach.

F. Don't choose a goal just because someone else thinks it's something you "should" do.

G. Your goal is measurable if you can find a way to quantify your success using real numbers.