Homework is a major part of going to school: It's your teachers' way of evaluating(评价) how much you understand of what's going on in class. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Luckily, you can do a few things to make homework less work.

    Be sure you understand the homework.

    Write your homework down in your notebook or day planner if you need to. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's much easier to take a minute to ask the teacher during or after class than to struggle to remember later that night!

    Use any extra time in school.

    Many schools have study halls that are specifically designed to allow students to study. It's tempting (诱惑) to hang out with friends during study periods or unstructured (松散的) time. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}  

    Take a break.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} So take some breaks while doing your homework. Sitting for too long without stretching or relaxing will make you less productive than if you stop every so often. Taking a 15-minute break every hour is a good idea for most people.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    If you don't finish your homework during school, think about how much you have left and what else is going on that day, and then budget your time. Most high-school students have between 1 and 3 hours of homework a night. If it's a heavy homework day and it seems like you've got an assignment in every subject but gym and lunch, you'll need to devote more time to homework. It's a good idea to come up with some kind of homework schedule, especially if you are involved in sports or activities or have an after-school job.

A. Pace yourself.

B. Settle down to do homework.

C. And it helps digest important concepts (概念).

D. Most people's attention spans (注意力持续时间) aren't very long.

E. Don't be afraid to ask questions about what's expected.

F. Once your homework is done, you can check over it if you have extra time.

G. But the more work you can get done in school, the less you'll have to do that night.

How to make Quick Decisions For Your Life

    We make decisions every day{#blank#}1{#/blank#}When it comes to making decisions, choosing the right one can at times be stressful, especially if the decision must be made quickly. Indecision often weighs us down, but there are some useful tips for making quick decisions more easily.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Sometimes the key to making a quick decision comes down to planning ahead of time for just such an occasion. We all know we're going to come to an important decision-making point sooner or later, so having a plan already in hand can put our mind at ease when that time comes.

    Overcome fear.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}While it may seem difficult to overcome the fear of making the wrong choice, many experts agree that we shouldn't be afraid to make the wrong decision, even if it seems important. The vast majority of wrong decisions can be corrected, while delaying decisions can often lead to more problems.

    Write down all the advantages and disadvantages of your decision. Even if you don't have all the information, writing down all the pros and cons（优缺点） is a good starting point for figuring out what to do. In cases where there simply isn't enough time to write things down, make a mental list in your mind. Thinking of the pros and cons can help you organize your thoughts.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Determine criteria. Remember that every decision you make should come with a certain list of criteria.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}But once you know the requirements you're looking for, making a decision will become easier. Look for the choice that satisfies the list you've made, and once that choice is found, you should move ahead with it.

A. Have a plan.

B. The list may be short or quite long.

C. Communicate your decision with others.

D. And this can always lead to a clear answer.

E. So cut out any options that you know you will not choose.

F. Often, one thing that keeps us from making decisions is fear.

G. Some can be very important while others are not serious in the long run.

    Why do we go to zoos? Millions of people around the world visit zoos each year, but the reason is hard to explain .{#blank#}1{#/blank#} But the animals they see in zoos are little like the toys, cartoons, and decorations that fill their homes. For such children, meeting with real animals can be confusing, even upsetting.

    The great interest that children have in animals today might lead one to suppose that this has always been the case. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}That was also when zoos became an important part of middle-class life.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}They lived together with our ancestors in a shared natural environment. In the Industrial Era, the human domination (支配)of animals could be seen in the popularity of real-looking animal toys. Children rode rocking-horses that had realistic features, and they slept with bears, tigers, and rabbits that looked and felt almost real. The Twentieth Century marked a further development--the change of animals into people.

    This was the age of Babar the Elephant, Hello Kitty, and the Lion King. Parents and children had previously wanted animals that looked like animals.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    In a zoo they hope to see the living breathing versions of their character friends. They find instead unfamiliar creatures who cannot speak, smile, or interact with them. For this reason, a visit to the zoo can be disappointing for children today.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Meeting real animals reminds us forcefully of the boundary between imagination and reality.

    When we visit animals in a zoo, perhaps we will recall our true relationship not only to animals but to the entire world.

A. Animals are the best friends of the human beings.

B. Most of children are looking forward to visiting zoos.

C. Perhaps that disappointment is the best gift a zoo can offer.

D. But now they want animals that look and act like humans

E. Yet, it was not until the Industrial Era that animals became part of childhood.

F. In prehistoric times, there had been no zoos, as animals were a real part of the human world.

G. Many of those visitors are children, whose lives are already surrounded by animals' images.

    Here are some top tips for world travelers.

    Travel light.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. It's no fun carrying a huge bag around a foreign city. Don't take too many clothes and avoid heavy books and electrical equipment.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Always keep your passport on you in an inside pocket or special travel belt. Th ere may be thieves about. It's a good idea to make a photocopy(复印件) of your passport and travel documents.

    Transport sense. Don't let go of your bags on the train. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. There are always thieves on public transport. If you want to sleep, tie your bag to your arm. When you take a taxi, it's a good idea to ask for the driver's permit. Many foreigners pay too much money because they take unofficial taxis.

    Keep clean．It's a good idea to wear dark clothes because they hide the dirt while white clothes attract it! Make sure you have plenty of clean underclothes and deodorant (除臭剂).{#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. You should always be polite and respectful towards the locals. Even if you find their habits and behavior a bit strange, you shouldn't show your feelings. Remember, you're their guest.

A. Be polite.

B. Keep your documents safe.

C. You should carry a spare bag.

D. You don't want to smell bad!

E. Keep them with you at all times.

F. Make sure your bag isn't too heavy.

G. It's a good idea to wear similar clothes to the local people.

Social Media

    Social media can be defined(解释)as web-based and mobile media that are used for people to interact ,connect and communicate with each other. It often involves the creation and sharing of content (writing, pictures, and video) that people make themselves, mostly through the Internet.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}The first type involves people getting together to work on a project, for example, Wikipedia. Blogs and micro-blogs (such as Twitter) are another type of social media. There are other websites like You Tube that allow people to share content such as pictures, articles or videos.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}These sites allow people to stay in touch with friends, make new ones and join communities. Facebook is an example of this type. Many people like to play games on the Internet and, yes, there are social media games as well. These games allow gamers to interact with each other and play with or against other gamers. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The final type of social media is websites like Second Life, where people can create avatars(化身)and use and create objects, as if they were in the real world.

    Social media are different from traditional media. With social media, many individual people in different places create content.

    Another difference is that people who produce content in social media don't need very special skills.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} It takes only a few minutes to write a twitter post, for example.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} But whatever you might think, social media is here to stay.

A. World of Warcraft is a good example.

B. And social media content can be produced much faster.

C. In general, there are six different types of social media.

D. Another type of social media are social networking sites.

E. Some people think social media is good and some think it is bad.

F. In traditional media, people need special skills to produce something.

G. Social media is one of the fastest-growing industries in today's world.

    A good night's sleep is one of the best things for your health. The following steps might help you enjoy a good sleep.

    Create a nightly routine(惯例).

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It could be as simple as washing your face or brushing your teeth. As you begin to move into your "nightly routine", your mind will know that it's time to sleep.

    Learn your body clock.

    Some experts believe sleepiness comes in cycles(周期性地). If you know the cycles in your body clock, you can use them to your advantage. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}If not, it might be a long time before you're ready for sleep again.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Put your clock under your bed or on the bottom shelf of your bedside cabinet(床头柜), where its light won't disturb(干扰)you. That way, if you wake up in the middle of the night, or have problems in sleeping, you won't worry about how late it is and how much sleep you're missing.

    Paint your bedroom a relaxing color

First, take any unnecessary things away from your bedroom— they stand in the way of a good night's sleep.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} It's a reminder of sleep.

    Choose the right pillow

    One study found that neck pillows can actually improve the quality of your sleep as well as reduce neck pain. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}It should provide neck support and be washable.

A. Hide your clock.

B. Change your habit

C. You probably can't fall asleep very easily

D. When sleepiness comes, get to bed in time.

E. Then paint your room a relaxing color, like green.

F. The best neck pillow should be soft and not too high.

G. This is something you do every night before going to bed.