Have you ever had the following experience? You have been given the task of organizing a conference, which includes a must-do list about a mile long. There is the conference site, the guest list, the materials, the technology and even the food and drink to think about and plan. If you are beginning to feel the stress, slow down and take a breath. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Write down your goals. You will need to clearly define what you hope to accomplish with this conference because this will shape the rest of your decisions.  {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    Develop your budget.  {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Then break that budget into different parts such as conference site, materials and speakers' fees. Stick to your budget, and make sure your assistants are keeping their monetary limits as well.

     {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. When searching for locations, keep in mind the number of participants, the convenience of the location, parking and closeness to public transportation, airports and hotels. Your goal in finding a place to hold the conference should be making it as easy as possible for participants to attend.

    Seek help from the staff of the conference site. If you have chosen a site that is known for holding conferences, you can seek help from the staff there as organizing meeting is what they do every day.  {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. They should be able to answer any questions or concern and provide advice when needed.

    Of course, full preparations also include a walk-through. Go to the site and meet with the staff the day before to be certain that everything is in place and to take care of any small details.

  A. Decide on a schedule for the meeting

  B. Choose your conference site

  C. Read the following skills to figure out how to organize a conference

  D. Knowing what you want to achieve eases the stress of moving forward

  E. Make full use of this important resource

  F. You can do nothing without knowing how much money you have to spend

  G. Seek help from your colleagues to support every aspect of the meeting

    It is said that farmers or peasants, especially those in developing countries, are often criticized for cutting down forests. But a new study suggests that many farmers recognize the value of keeping trees.

    Researchers using satellite images found at least ten percent trees cover on more than one billion hectares of farmland.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Earlier estimates were much lower but incomplete. The authors of the new study say it may still underestimate the true extent worldwide.

    The study found the most trees cover in South America.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} North Africa and West Asia have the least.

    The study found that climate conditions alone could not explain the amount of trees cover in different areas.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}There are areas with few trees but also few people, and areas with many trees and many people. The findings suggest that things like land rights, markets or government policies can influence tree planting and protection.

    Dennis Garrity heads the World Agroforestry Center.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}The problem, he says, is that policy makers and planners have been slow to recognize this and to support such efforts.

    The satellite images may not show what the farmers are using the trees for, but trees provide nuts, fruit, wood and other products.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Even under drought (干旱) conditions, trees can often provide food and a way to earn money until the next growing season.

    Some trees act as natural fertilizers. They take nitrogen (氮气) out of the air and put it in the soil. Scientists at the Center say the use of fertilizer trees can reduce the need for chemical nitrogen by up to three-fourths. Trees also capture carbon dioxide, a gas linked to climate change.

A. Nor could the size of nearby populations, meaning people and trees can live together.

B. He says farmers are acting on their own to protect and plant trees.

C. Almost all of it is covered by trees.

D. They also help prevent soil loss and protect water supplies.

E. He devotes most of his time to making people realize its importance.

F. That is nearly half of the farmland in the world.

G. Next comes Africa south of the Sahara, followed by Southeast Asia.

Simple Ways to Build Trust

    The most valuable thing you can have is trust. When there is no trust, it becomes hard to get anything done. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Then think of another one with very little trust.

    Which one do you prefer?

    We can all be better off with more trust in our lives. And I'm going to show you a few things you can do to build trust.

    Be honest. Honesty is the basis of any relationship. Be true to your word and keep your promises. Share honest information, even if it's to your disadvantage.

    Ask open-ended questions.  {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Open-ended questions give your friends chances to tell you about themselves. Ask more questions based on the answers that you get.

    Don't be perfect. There's always something fishy(可疑的) about someone who seem to have everything going for them. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} This sends a message that you're not hiding anything and that you want to build trust.

    Say what you mean. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} When you build up a reputation of saying what you mean, people don't have to second-guess what you are trying to say. This helps you win trust.

    Don't blame others. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Be brave to take responsibility and then decide what you are going to do next. Don't waste the present thinking about the past which can't be changed. A person that doesn't blame gets the trust of others quickly.

A. If you think it's a bad idea, say so.

B. When things go wrong, don't point the finger at them.

C. Value long-term relationships more than short-term success.

D. Don't waste your energy hiding your mistakes or weaknesses.

E. Think of one of your relationships where there is a lot of trust.

F. Learn more about your friends and be interested in their answers.

G. Trust may be the most important part in successful relationships.

Jealous Ken

    Dick and Ken lived in the same street. Both children had a good home and lots of nice things. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} In other words, Ken was a jealous(嫉妒的) boy.

    Dick and Ken grew up and got jobs. At first, they both cycled to work every morning. Then Dick bought a motorcycle. Every morning, Dick on his motorcycle rode past Ken on his bicycle, and Ken felt jealous. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} He was happy until Dick bought a car.

    Ken worked hard until he had enough money for a car. He bought a car, and it was as good as Dick's car. There were a lot of other cars on the road, so the journey to work was slower, but Ken was happy.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} So Ken worked very hard, and yesterday he bought an expensive new car. This morning Ken left home in his new car. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} But Ken was happy because his car was bigger, better and faster than Dick's car.

    Then he saw Dick behind him, but Dick was not in a car. Dick was riding a bicycle. It was a new bicycle. The cars moved very slowly, so Dick cycled past them easily. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} He watched from his big, expensive car and felt jealous.

A.     Dick was very proud of his new car.

B.     But after a year, Dick bought a bigger car.

C.     Both Ken and Dick walked to work every day.

D.    So Ken bought a motorcycle and he was happy.

E.     Ken watched as Dick cycled away in front of him.

F.     But Ken was unhappy because some of Dick's things were better than his.

G.    There were cars in front as far as he could see, and none of them could move.

How to Have a Successful Teenage Life

    Everyone dreams of success in their life, don't they? Even as a teenager, you can achieve success in your life; it really isn't that hard. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Do well in school.

    No matter how boring it is now, education will help you be a productive member in society. Try your best for excellence in school; listen to the teachers, do your homework, study, and get good grades. Doing so will help you get into a better university, which will enable you to have a bright future. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Do good in your community(社区).

    Volunteering can not only improve your community's status, but it could make you happier. Studies show that people who volunteer are less likely to develop depression (抑郁)than people who don't. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} For example, if you love animals, volunteer at an animal shelter. If you love helping the environment, plant trees or pick up litter. When you help others, it will make you feel better about yourself.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Remember, they're there to help you be the best that you can be. Respect them and value their opinions, even if they annoy you sometimes. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} You don't get to choose your teachers or your family, but you still have to put up with them. Learn how to deal with people now, because when you're an adult, you don't get to choose your boss or your co-workers, so learn how to respect them now.

    These points can help you enjoy success in your teenage life.

A. Live life to the fullest.

B. School sets you up on the right track!

C. Be nice to your parents and teachers.

D. Find chances to do volunteer work that interests you.

E. It will help you pass time and develop your personality.

F. Here are some important points that you may find helpful.

G. Keep it in mind that they do the things they do because they care about you.

    Everyone dreams. If you've ever tried to figure out the meaning of a strange dream, you're not alone. Humans have been trying to make sense of dreams since recorded history. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are some of the findings.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} People with great creativity are more likely to dream about unusual settings and about blocks in the natural world, such as a log or a rock they can't get around.

    You've got a heart problem. People who have frequent nightmares may be significantly more likely to suffer from an irregular heartbeat or chest pain. If you have those problems, it's more difficult for you to breathe at night. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    You're avoiding something. Do you dream about being followed by a stranger, a monster, or a giant tidal wave? This could indicate that you're afraid to deal with something in your daily life. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    You'll have a good result in a test. Students whose performance improved were those who had dreamed about the maze (迷宫) during the sleep. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} This improves learning and problem-solving skills.

    Despite the fact that technology has vastly expanded our understanding of dreaming, much of what occurs when we're asleep remains as it has always been: a mystery.

A. How creative you are.

B. Dreaming may strengthen memories.

C. What kind of problem solver you are.

D. What can our dreams tell about ourselves?

E. How can we understand better about ourselves?

F. That explains why you cannot have a sound sleep.

G. Ask yourself what issue or emotion you're faced with.