How to Care for Your Ears?

        Ears not only let us hear, but they alsoplay a role in maintaining our balance, which is vital to our ability to function in daily life. Yet, we ignore them. We can't even see our ears, exceptin a mirror. We take for granted what they do for us day in and day out－untilwe notice something's wrong, such as when an earache strikes or when we starthaving to ask people to repeat what they say.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

◆ Clean your ear with a washcloth－coveredfinger only.

      Never put anything inside your earcanal, including cotton swabs (药签).{#blank#}2{#/blank#}．

◆ Leave earwax(耳垢)alone.

      Wax is your ear's way of eliminating(消除)anything foreign that gets into the ear canal.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}If you find you have too much earwax,use a few drops of earwax remover(去除剂) in the canal. After a few minutes,wash the ear with warm water.

◆ Avoid noisy places.

      Rock concerts and construction sites are just a few places that frequently have noise levels that can damage hearing.Any place where you have to shout to be heard should be avoided.

◆{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

      Be careful not to play MP3 too loud, especiallyif using earphone.

◆Be careful with illness andmedications.

      Respiratory (呼吸的) illnesses should be treated to avoid their spread to the ears. Certainmedications can damage hearing, so follow the directions carefully beforetaking them.

      See your doctor if you suffer fromsudden hearing loss or hear noises in your head.   

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A. Most people don't need to clean waxout of their ears.

B. In such case, go to see a doctor assoon as possible.

C. These can be symptoms of a seriousillness which needs to be treated.

D. This article will show you how tocare for your ears.

E. Turn the volume(音量)down

F. Avoid using earphones while listeningto MP3.

G. Your ear canal is very narrow, and aswab can damage it.

                                                                  Questions you should ask yourself when you fail

    Let's face it.We all fail.The more new things we try the more failures we are likely to have.Experiencing failure can be a learning experience and an opportunity for a fresh start.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} A good way to begin this process is by asking yourself some tough questions.

1．What can I learn from this?

    Take responsibility for what went wrong.OK，so it was not all your fault—but some of it was.Successful people don't make excuses or blame others.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Be critical but constructive.Try to look at the experience objectively.Make a list of the key things that happened.Analyze the list step－by－step and look for the learning points.

2．Do I need to acquire or improve some skills?

    Did the problem reveal some lack of skill on your part? How could you learn or improve those skills? Perhaps there are books or courses or people you could turn to.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} 

3．Who can I learn from?

    Is there someone whom you can turn to for advice? Did a boss，colleague or a friend see what happened? {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Most people do not ask for help because they believe it to be a sign of weakness rather than strength.It's not.It shows that you are ready to learn and change.Any good friend will be happy to help.

4．What will I do next?

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}  Will you try something similar or something different? Revisit your goals and objectives.This reversal has been a setback on your journey but think of it as a diversion rather than a halt.You can now reset your sights on your destination and plan a new course.

A．Now draw up an action plan.

B．Make them stepping stones to future success.

C．They take responsibility of the failure.

D．In fact the only way to avoid failure is to do nothing new.

E．The important thing is how we deal with failure.

F．Make a self－development plan to acquire the skills and experiences you need.

G．If they are constructive and supportive then ask them for some feedback and guidance.

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

    Body image is a person's opinions and feelings about his or her own body and physical appearance. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}You appreciate your body for its capabilities and accept its imperfections.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}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 well 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 1 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. Use this as an opportunity to discover what you're good at.

B. Be yourself.

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

D. Just explore talents that you feel good about.

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. So, what can you do to develop a positive body image?

    I've always wanted to start my own business. I've always wanted to start working for myself. Yet I didn't make that decision. I finally got started instead of thinking about it or putting it off. And I made it. Maybe you've not started on something important to yourself. Maybe you can relate to what I'm saying, and you feel you've been slacking (松懈的) off for too long. You had better get started now.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    ⒈It's better than thinking about it.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But thinking can also be dangerous when you do too much of it. You can think as much as you like, but thinking isn't going to change the situation. In fact, thinking isn't going to change anything.③ {#blank#}3{#/blank#} You won't go anywhere, as if you're a human statue. So you had better get started now.

    ⒉It's better than never taking action.

    Do you want to be the man or the woman who never does anything? Do you want to be the man or the woman who never gets started? {#blank#}4{#/blank#} You won't regret it.

    ⒊{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    How long are you going to dream about getting started? How long are you going to dream about how wonderful it'll be when you do take action? And how long are you going to dream about how much of a difference it'll make to your life? There's only so much dreaming you can do before you have to turn that dream into action. A dream without action is a fantasy, destined(注定) to never come true.

A. It's better than dreaming about doing it.

B. Here's why getting started is the best way to get started.

C. Thinking will just keep you in the same position you're already in.

D. Take action and get out of your own head.

E. You can adjust your actions along the way.

F. Thinking about something before you do it is a great quality to have.

G. It's better to make a mistake than do nothing at all

You know that eating healthy, staying active, and solving a few brain games can help keep your memory. But the following lesser-known habits work wonders too.

⒈{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

When we sit with our shoulders bent forward, this defeated position actually causes us to feel anxious or depressed — which makes it harder to think clearly and remember things. Conversely (反过来), straight upright posture apparently improves memory because it boosts blood and oxygen flow to the brain.

⒉ Exercise — Once

Having trouble remembering faces? {#blank#}2{#/blank#} In a study, pictures of faces were shown to

older folks after they pedal a stationary (静止的) bike at an intense pace or simply sit on a self-pedaling bike. On average, people remembered the faces better after the intense exercise. What's more, the memory gains after a single workout were similar to the gains after 3 months of regular exercise.

⒊ Limit TV

Every parent and grandparent has heard that too much screen time can hurt a child's cognitive development. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} According to a study, people (aged 50 or older) who watched more than 3. 5 hours of TV a day for 6 years experienced a greater drop in verbal memory test scores than those who watched less.

⒋ Draw aimlessly

A research shows those who drew the words remembered the most when recalling words. That's because while some parts of the brain about getting memory back become worse as people grow older, the picture processing regions usually don't.  {#blank#}4{#/blank#}    

⒌ Walk Backward

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Walk back! Backward motion — whether real, imagined, or watched — helps people remember the information better than sitting still and, in most cases, better than forward motion. It may be that moving backward in space mentally helps us move back in time to the moment we learned something.

A. Sit Tall.

B. Stand Straight.

C. Start more workouts.

D. Sweat for physical training.

E. Thus sketching can help adults keep their memory sharp.

F. But what about those at the other end of their life span?

G. Next time you're trying to recall something, don't just think back.

Physicist and Nobel Prize winner Richard Feynman developed a clever learning method known as the Feynman Technique. It involves explaining what you're learning to others. By teaching what you've learned from memory, you engage in active recall.  {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It also ensures that you understand the topic, because you can explain an idea if you truly understand it. The technique consists of four repeatable steps.

To begin, choose a concept or a topic you wish to fully understand. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} The more interested you are, the faster you'll grasp it. Moreover, a personally interesting topic will keep you motivated and engaged.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}  Write notes and explain it in a way that makes sense to a five-year-old. If you'd rather avoid actually teaching someone, you can just teach it to an imaginary audience. But it works much better if you use a real person. They'll be able to let you know when something isn't clear.

While teaching, you may discover gap s in your understanding. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}  Review your notes, reread books, or seek external help to ensure you have a complete understanding of the context before moving forward.

Now that you fully grasp the concept, test your understanding by trying to teach it to another person. This will help you identify any remaining areas of uncertainty you need to revisit.

The Feynman Technique is a great way for kids and grown-ups to learn.  {#blank#}5{#/blank#} You need to actively think about the problem instead of passively reading or listening to someone else. However, with great efforts in mastering this method, you'll see your learning results improve quicker than ever before.

A. It is mentally demanding.

B. This helps the information stick in your mind better.

C. Teach it to a five-year-old, who would give you direct feedback.

D. Your curiosity about it will determine the pace of your learning.

E. Once you have chosen a topic, you can teach it to someone else.

F. Active engagement plays a key role in promoting deeper learning.

G. When this happens, refer back to the original material for the missing pieces.