Holiday gift buying can feel a little empty, when all of those endless lists, long lines at the shopping center and dollars spent lead to a 5-miute excitement of flying wrapping paper.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}The following tips can help make gift giving more meaningful for both the giver and the receiver.

    1).Know the person

    The most important thing in the exchanging of gifts is that it shows you really know the person well, and you really care about them.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    2).Donate in their name

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Research suggests that happier people give more to others, and that giving more makes people happier. Moreover, charity-related happiness is highest when people give in a way that promotes social connection. So, try giving to the less fortunate in someone's name this holiday season.

    3).Give handmade goods or hand-me-downs

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}A study suggests that people feel that homemade items show more love, and love is what they want to express to the gift receiver.

    Family heirlooms(传家宝)may be another good girl option. A 2009 study found that when families hand down even a very depersonalized thing—money—through the generations, the symbolic value of the cash is greater than the numerical value alone.

    4).Provide chances for participation

      If there's a golden rule of girls, though, it's this:{#blank#}5{#/blank#}People who receive experiential girls, such as concert tickets or a zoo membership, feel more connected to the girl giver than people who received material girls.

A. But it doesn't have to be that way.

B. Give experiences rather than objects.

C. New and store—bought is not always best.

D. That is always beyond their expectation.

E. That means catering to another's pleasure.

F. Giving gifts to friends or to charity is linked to happiness.

G. Start listing every person you plan to give a holiday gift

    Whether you use a GPS device (设备) in your car or Google Maps on your smartphone, few of us travel anymore without digital help. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} For one thing, GPS isn't as accurate as you might think. What's more, science is beginning to discover that people who rely only on navigational technologies may have a poor sense of place during travel.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} They soon become outdated as cities change, requiring users to continually purchase updated versions. They're also easily damaged from exposure to water, poor weather conditions and other physical forces.

    However, paper maps still offer a few advantages that technologies can't. For example, studying a map allows you to get a full view of where you're going, including the roads, forests, towns, historic sites, rivers and mountains you'll come across along the way. Many older maps are wonderful, offering a lovely feast for the eyes. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Research by Toru Ishikawa and colleagues at the University of Tokyo found that GPS users spent 30％ more time looking at their device than those who used a paper map. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Instead they tended to stare at their screens and follow directions, never gaining a full view of where they were going.

    Therefore, go ahead and use your GPS, but also carry a paper map as a handy backup. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Also it could even be a life-saver!

    Even if you love fish, actually cooking it in your kitchen can be a commitment. Long after the fish has been eaten, the pots washed, and the plates put in the dishwasher, the fish smell still exits.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Luckily, expert cooks have figured out how you can cook your fish without leaving a smell that exists for days.

    First off, know that truly fresh fish really shouldn't have much of an odor)气味)at all. So if you unwrap a package of fish and take a step back from the smell that greets you, throw it away because it's not fresh.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    A lot of the smell from cooking fish is because of the cooking method you use.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    However, other techniques, like cooking fish in paper, can put a lid on the problem before itstarts. Cleaning experts recommend minimizing the odor before cooking by bathing fish inmilk or a solution of lemon and water.

    If it's too late and your home is beginning to smell like the parking lot of a seafood joint, then Good Housekeeping suggests mixing together vinegar and water and letting it boil for several minutes to get rid of the smell.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Shut any inside doors to keep the smell from spreading throughout the house and into bedrooms, but open up kitchen windows and doors to allow the smell to get out. And be sure to wipe any spills and throw away any trash containing fish bits.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} And the resulting sweet scent will make everyone forget about any fishy odor.

A．Frying can cause a big smell problem

B．Prepare your home ahead of fish cooking time.

C．Here's how to make every room smell amazing.

D．Cooking fish wrong brings about terrible smells.

E．When all else fails, bake up some cookies for dessert.

F．But, admittedly, even the freshest fish can get a bit of smell once it's cooked.

G．It can be enough to put even the most devoted fish eater off cooking it regularly.

    This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. That makes it a good time to think of ways to honor the teachers who inspire, educate and care about the students they work with year after year.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    An easy way to make teachers feel appreciated is to write them a thank-you note. Be sure to include any favorite parts of their class and anything the teacher did for you that really had an effect on you. "I value notes and letters I receive from my students, their parents and grandparents," a teacher once said. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Visit A Former Teacher

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Many teachers mentioned they love seeing and hearing from former students. It makes them realize that their work matters. If you want to visit a former teacher, the best time to go is during their "off-period" or lunch. If you go to a different school and you want to see your former teacher, be sure to email them in advance. Ask when a good time to visit would be.

    Put Away Your Cellphone

    Putting your cellphone away in class is an easy thing any student can do. It may seem helpful to look up an answer to a question or do research. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Try to think hard about an answer before immediately reaching for your phone. Think about how you are staying in the present moment while you're paying attention in class.

    Listen And Learn

    The teachers interviewed said they had many different struggles and things that made them want to be a teacher. However, they all did agree on one thing. All the teachers mentioned wanting to see their students learn and succeed. This tip hardly requires any action at all. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Value Notes and Letters

B. Write A Letter To Say Thank You

C. However, your cellphones can actually seem like a competitor for your teacher.

D. Another simple way to show your appreciation is to visit a teacher you had a few years ago.

E. When teachers are trying to get students to remember concepts, this can be a huge challenge.

F. Just know that when you listen and learn, you'll show your teacher why they do what they do.

G. Seeing the evidence of the positive influence they have had on their students is comforting for teachers.

    Training for a marathon (马拉松) requires careful preparation and steady, gradual increases in the length of the runs. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, buy the best-fitting running shoes you can find. No one can say which brand will work best for you or feel best on your feet, so you have to rely on your experience and on the feel of each pair as you shop. When you have found shoes that seem right, walk in them for a few days to double-check the fit. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. As always, you should stretch (伸展) at least ten minutes before each run to prevent injuries.

    During the first week, do not think about distance, but run five minutes longer each day. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, it is wise to take a day off to rest. But during the next week, set a goal of at least a mile and a half per run. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. After two weeks, start timing yourself. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Depending on the kind of race you plan to enter, you can set up a timetable for the remaining weeks before the race.

A. After six days

B. For a good marathon runner

C. Before you begin your training

D. With each day, increase the distance by a half mile

E. If they still feel good, you can begin running in them

F. Time spent for preparation raises the quality of training

G. Now you are ready to figure out a goal of improving distance and time

Human bodies were actually designed for walking,a wonderful form of exercise at no cost.It's kind to our bodies and great for our waistlines. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Probably you already love to walk,but you're getting bored of tracing the same old route day after day,or maybe you're new to walking and aren't sure how to get started.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Ask yourself,what do you want to get out of walking aside from the health benefits?Do you want to meet other people?See new places?Get out into the countryside or explore a new city?Knowing your goals will help you decide on the type of walk you want to do.

Call up your friends and schedule walks with them if socializing is your aim. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Many malls have groups that come every day,or every weekend,to "walk the mall".These groups are always happy to include one more walker! 

{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Many large cities have incredible gardens and parks that include quiet walking trails getting you off the beaten path.Thanks to the Rails to Trails program,railways across the country are being transformed into scenic walking paths that are a perfect way to seek calmness.

From the benefits to your heart to your overall happiness,walking is just plain good for you.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} It's a fantastic way to get to know a place by the power of your own two feet.

A.This month,pick up a map and start walking.

B.Ask your friends where they like to walk and just go there.

C.You may as well consider heading to a new city for a change.

D.Either way,it's time to accept the idea of walking with a purpose.

E.Recently,science has proved that walking is good for your body shape.

F.And best of all,it's a great way to see new things and meet new people!

G.If you're after walking alone,ask about local hikes that get you away from the crowd.