Many people think of guys as being carefree when it comes to their appearance. But in fact, a lot of guys spend plenty of time in front of the mirror. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Body image is a person's opinions and feelings about his or her own body and physical appearance. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. You appreciate your body for its capabilities and accept its imperfections.

    So, what can you do to develop a positive body image? Here are some ideas:

    Recognize your strengths. Different body types are good for different things. What does your body do well? Maybe your speed, strength, or coordination makes you better than others at a certain sport. That may be basketball, table tennis, mountain biking, dancing, or even running. Or perhaps you have non-sports skills, like drawing, painting, singing, playing a musical instrument, writing, or acting. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Exercise regularly. Exercise can help you look good and feel good about yourself. Good physiques (体形) don't just happen. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. A healthy habit can be as simple as exercising 20 minutes to one hour three days a week. Working out can also lift your spirits.

    Respect your body. Practicing good habits — regular showering; taking care of your teeth, hair, and skin; wearing clean clothes, and so on — can help you build a positive body image.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Your body is just one part of who you are. Your talent for comedy, a quick wit (智慧), and all the other things make you unique. So try not to let small imperfections take over.

A. Be yourself.

B. Just explore talents that you feel good about.

C. Use this as an opportunity to discover what you're good at.

D. They care just as much as girls do about their body image.

E. They take hard work, regular workouts, and a healthy diet.

F. The good news is that self-image and body image can be changed.

G. Having a positive body image means feeling satisfied with the way you look.

    Stress(压力) is a popular cause of major diseases affecting people worldwide. It is so common that people have begun to search for the best and easiest ways to reduce stress. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Exercise for a better life.

    Regular runners say that there is no better feeling than the one you get when you finish your daily run. Exercising is a good way for you to remove stress from your life. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} And it can also lift your mood. An additional benefit of exercising is that it keeps you fit and healthy!

Organize it.

    Keeping your workplace and home organized is also a way for you to avoid stressful situations. Working in a messy(凌乱的) area keeps your brain thinking on several different things at the same time.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

Manage your time wisely.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Sticking to(坚持) your schedule gives you focus and a goal to work on. It also helps you avoid missing out on deadlines which are a great source of stress. Managing your time wisely means managing your stress.

    In a word, we shouldn't let stress stop us living a normal and healthy life. Stress will naturally appear due to the modern way of life. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Don't let stress get the better of you and make you lead an unhappy life.

A. Avoid stressed people.

B. Know what causes your stress.

C. Plan your day ahead and stick to it.

D. Here are some ways to say goodbye to stress.

E. Regular exercise gives you time to think things.

F. And it gets hard to focus on (思想集中) just one thing.

G. But just like fire, if we control stress it can't hurt us.

    English is one of the most difficult languages to master. Even if you might not yet sound like someone born and raised speaking the language, you should still congratulate yourself on how far you've come. Remember that practice makes perfect. So keep working at it and your skill level will certainly improve.

    Create an English environment for yourself.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}The more you hear the language, the better you'll understand how and when to use common words and phrases and how the language is pronounced.

    Practise speaking English every chance you get, whether at school, at work or speaking to family and friends. When you speak in your native language, ask yourself, “How would I say that in English?”

    Watch yourself speak English in the mirror.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}And practise changing anything you don't like. If you're uncomfortable making up things to say to yourself, just read your lessons aloud.

    Use confident body language while you speak English. Even if you're having trouble pronouncing words or remembering phrases, don't keep your head down. Speak in a natural, conversational tone(语气); keep your back and head straight, and your chin(下巴) up. If you're in a relaxed setting, put your hands behind your head and put your feet up.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Find a language friend who speaks fluent English and wants to learn your language.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Increase your confidence by knowing you have something valuable to teach, as well as something to learn.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Instead of saying “I'm no good at this,” say “Every day I'm getting better.”

A. Take turns teaching each other

B. Train your body into feeling in control

C. Speak confidently about your English ability

D. Learning a language requires long hours of study and practice

E. Get comfortable with the way you look speaking the language

F. Read books, watch television shows, moves and plays in English

G. Improve your confidence by teaching those worse at English than you

    Africa is a very diverse land with many different tribes. One tradition that many of these groups share is painting or marking their bodies and faces in color. They do this for many reasons. Some marks are used to identify people as part of a group.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Let's look at some different examples of body painting.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Among the Masai of East Africa, when men are old enough to marry and make decisions for their people, they participate in a special ceremony in which they paint their heads and faces red. This ceremony takes place every seven to fourteen years, so there is not an exact age for participating in it. The Samburu, also from East Africa, like to paint their faces and hair red because they think it looks attractive.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} To show that he has killed a lion, a man will paint his body with a natural white material, making special marks to represent this accomplishment. The Masai men also use this white to show that they are no longer boys and are considered adults.

    One quite unusual example of face painting is done by the Wodaabe people of West Africa. Once a year, they have a beauty contest for men.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Then they add white and black circles and lines. Black paint is used near the eyes and on the lips to draw attention to the whiteness of their eyes and teeth, which the Wodaabe consider most beautiful.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    As you travel, enjoy the beautiful and bright colors of Africa.

A.Red is the common color in body painting because it often represents health and long life.

B.Other marks are used for ceremonies such as weddings and during times of war.

C.The ceremony expresses hope for rain.

D.The Masai men also have a unique way of showing that they are brave.

E.The women then decide which man they like best.

F.The men pretend to fight each other.

G.The men paint their faces yellow and red.

    Creative vending(售卖) machine prints short stories to read while you wait

    Recently, inventive vending machines have become popular around France. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Created by literature-loving company Short Edition, these savvy stalls(货摊) promise to help pass the time, whether you're waiting at the airport, stuck at the train station, or even accompanying your friend on the trip to the mall.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} To use these wonderful and creative inventions, simply choose your desired reading time: 1 minute, 3 minutes, or 5 minutes. Then, the machine will surprise you with a randomly-selected short story to occupy your time and make waiting around a bit more bearable— at least for a couple of minutes!

    The "Short Story Dispenser" first debuted(亮相) at Paris' bustling Charles de Gaulle Airport last year. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you'd like to learn more about the locations of these lovely literary oases, check out the Short Edition website. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} All you have to do is choose the length of time you'd like to spend reading. And look! Out comes a little piece of literature.

A. Fewer people read short stories these days.

B. Using a "Short Story Dispenser" is simple.

C. How do you kill a few minutes while waiting for a bus or train?

D. Since then, the popular machines have been fixed in various public places across the country.

E. Short Edition, a library of short literature, has fixed unique vending machines that print out short stories.

F. Instead of selling sweet treats or sugary drinks, however, these machines distribute short stories.

G. Pretty in design and minimal in effort, each vending machine offers an appealing way for customers to kill time.

Should I live in the city or the suburbs?

    There are three different kinds of areas you can live in: urban, suburban, and rural. You can describe living in a rural area as living out in the sticks or the county. This type of living is seen as idyllic (田园生活的) for those seeking reprieve (暂时缓解) from crowds. Rural areas generally have small, self-sustaining populations.

    Urban living is city living: active nightlife, full of noise, sophisticated public transit system and sometimes small and expensive city apartments. Urban areas tend to be densely (密集地) populated and have more intense traffic and pollution as a result.

    For those seeking an intermediary between urban and rural living, the suburbs might be just the thing. Suburbs are large residential areas away from the core of town yet close enough to the city center.

    Can you afford to live in the city?

    Choosing whether to live in the city or the suburbs is often a matter of budget — where can you afford to live? By and large, living in the city is more expensive than living in the suburbs, though that's not always the case. For instance, in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and a few other cities, suburban living is not always better on your wallet.

    Your lifestyle influences your happiness in the city or suburbs.

    For someone who enjoys five-star restaurants, vibrant (充满活力的) nightlife, and fast-paced living, residing in an urban hub is a dream come true. On the other hand, if you find crowds and tons of noise unbearable, then a large city might feel like purgatory (炼狱).

    Your lifestyle is one of the primary considerations in deciding where you ought to live. If you are into fishing, hiking, and spending time outdoors, then realize that you may have to drive several hours to enjoy your hobbies if you choose city living.

Is your career better suited for the city or suburbs?

    Your career should also strongly influence your choice about whether to live in the city or in the suburbs. For example, if your job is in landscape, you might find it difficult to find work in the city because there is not a high demand for landscape artists. The fact of the matter is that most city homes don't have large yards with grass to cut, and competition for landscaping contracts is probably fierce. Similarly, a business executive (主管) may find that the suburbs do not offer the convenience afforded by city living.

    The debate of whether to live in the suburbs or the city is long lasting and never-ending. When it all boils down to it, it is a matter of preference and budget, so go with your gut (决心) and you'll make the right choice.