As is well known, saying “no” is not easy at all. But sometimes we have to learn to say “no”. To learn to say “no”, we have to first understand what's stopping us about it. There are some common reasons why people find it hard to say “no”.

    You want to help others. You are a kind soul(灵魂) at heart. You don't want to turn the person away and you want to help when possible, even if it may take up your time.

    Afraid of being rude. I was brought up under the idea that saying “no”, especially to people who are older, is rude. This thinking is common in Asian culture, where face-saving is important. It means not making others look bad or lose faces.

    Wanting to be agreeable. At times, you find you are not in agreement. You don't want to keep yourself away from the group, so you agree to do others' requests(请求).

    Fear of conflict(冲突). The person might be angry if you refuse him. This might lead to an ugly conflict. Even if there isn't, there might be disagreement which might lead to bad effects(影响) in the future.

        Fear of losing opportunities(机会). Sometimes, saying “no” means closing doors or losing opportunities. It may make you feel worried. For example, one of my friends was asked to work in another department(部门) in her company(公司). Since she liked her team, she didn't want to go. However, she didn't want to say “ no” as she felt it would affect her promotion(晋升) opportunities in the future.

⑴题完成句子；⑵⑶题回答问题；⑷题找出并写下全文的主题句；⑸题将画线句子译成汉语。

    "I sometimes get up at three or four in the morning to surf the Intern"

    "I check my e-mail almost forty times a day."

    "I seldom spend less than three hours each time on the net."

    "spend more time in chat rooms than with my 'real-life' friends."

    Do you know any people like these? They are part of a new addiction(瘾) called Internet addiction. According to experts，Internet addicts(迷)spend at least thirty to forty hours online every week. They lose control of the time they spend on the Internet.

    For example, one college student was missing for several days. His friends were worried and 1ooked for him everywhere but couldn't find him. They called the police. The police found the student in the computer lab: he was surfing the Internet — for seven days straight.

    A study shows that about six to ten percent of Internet users become addicted. The teenager spend more time on the Internet than with friends and family. That's why some experts worry most about young people.

    Is "surfing the Internet" a hobby or all addiction for you? You may have a problem if you have one of the following symptoms(症状):

    You go out with your friends less and less.

    You can't wait to get online again.

    You've decided to spend a short time online，but then you spend several hours.

    You do not go to important family events or you do not do school projects because you like to spend hours on the Internet.

    What is the solution? Some experts suggest that people set strict limits(限制) on their time for Internet use. You have to learn to control it，or the Internet would control you.

Information Card

Music Manners (礼仪)

    You probably know you should say "please" and "thank you" at restaurants. You probably know the rules of a library. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Keep it down! You have to notice the volume (音量) of your music. You should not play your music so loud that everyone around you can hear it. Some people might even get angry.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} You need to know when to turn your MP3 player off and put it away. Libraries and schools don't allow MP3 players. There are other places, like museums. They don't have rules, but it would be rude (粗鲁的) to have your MP3 player on.

    Take one out! Once in a while it's OK just to take out one earphone. Imagine you are listening to music on your MP3 player when someone asks you the way. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, and you can still tell him the way with one earphone, and then put it back and continue listening to your music. You can also do this when you order food at a fast food restaurant or when you answer the telephone and it's not for you.

    In a word, you can decide what the best music manners are. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

It was five to nine on Sunday evening. Cindy was in the kitchen. She stood there and thought happily," My parents will be home soon,"{#blank#}1{#/blank#}For the first time she made a cake for her mother, so it didn't look so good.

The kitchen was in a mess(杂乱). {#blank#}2{#/blank#}She turned off all the lights and waited excitedly in the dark. Later, she heard the key getting into the door.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

When her parents were walking in quietly, Cindy turned on the lights suddenly(突然) and said to her mother, "Happy Birthday, Mom!" A chocolate cake was waiting for them on the table.

 {#blank#}4{#/blank#} "Look at the mess! What did you do here?" she shouted.

"But Mom, I only wanted to make a..."

"Dear, "said Cindy's father, "please take a look at the table. What is that?"

"I know- it's a mess, a big mess," Cindy's mother said angrily(生气地)."I have to clean it. I'm too tired to say a word, and I can't stand looking at the table. How... !"

Cindy was not happy. She didn't think mother liked the chocolate cake.

Just then her mother saw the chocolate cake on the table.

Cindy's mother ran to her at once and said, "Sorry, my dear. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}" Then they sat down and shared the cake. They were so happy.
 

    Do you hope to live a better life? Then how to make you wish come true? Keep away from anything that is useless. Do the right thing! However good or bad a situation(处境) is, it will change. The best is yet to come. Well, here are some tips for you to follow!

Mind your meals

    Try to eat more foods that grow naturally (自然地) on trees and plants. Have meals on time every day. And remember not to go to school or work without breakfast, for it is more important than lunch or dinner.

Exercise and smile

    Each day take a 40—minute walk. Make time to practice some other exercise, such as yoga and Taiji. They offer us daily energy for our busy lives. Try to smile and make at least three people smile each day.

Forget and forgive(原谅)

    Problems appear(出现) sometimes and they only stay for a short time. Forget what happened in the past. Don't always think of your terrible past. Life is not very long, so we shouldn't waste time hating anyone. Forgive everyone for everything.

Also do such things

    Call your family often and stay in touch with your friends. Each day give something good to other people. Make yourself happy no matter how you feel. Read more books than you did before and you can learn more from them. Don't compare(比较) your life to others'.

{#blank#}1{#/blank#} to do to have a better life

    Patrick doesn't like school. He thinks doing homework is too boring. He likes to play baseball and basketball after class.

    One day his cat is playing with a little elf (精灵). The elf says, "Help me! Don't give me back to that cat. If you help me, I can grant（承认you a wish." So Patrick says, "Help me do all my homework for 35 days."

    The elf doesn't always know what to do and he needs help. "Help me! Help me!" he says. And Patrick has to help. "I don't know this word," the elf asks. "Get me a dictionary. Look up the word." When it comes to math, the elf says," I know nothing about math. Here, sit down beside me and help me." The elf doesn't know anything about history, he says, "Go to the library. I need books. And you can help me read them, too."

    Patrick works hard every day. Patrick gets A at each subject. But I tell you a secret. In fact Patrick does the homework by himself.