Winston Churchill once said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. “Life has never been kind, but if we really want to enjoy it, it can only be possible with a positive attitude. The only way to have a better and pleasant future is to change outlook or attitude towards life.

    Look at the Brighter Side of Things.

    Even in the most unfortunate situations, there is always something to look forward to. In life, we do come across various situations where we compare our fate with others.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Never go to the comparison road, because it is endless.

Believe in Yourself.

    Lack of motivation causes a great deal of stress, and negative thoughts easily pop up when a person suffers from an inferiority complex (自卑感).{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Clear your mind and get rid of all the negativity.

Think Positively.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}it is also the first step in self-improvement, as improving oneself is only possible through positive thinking. It has been noted that positive thinkers are better equipped in handling disappointments as compared to pessimists (悲观者), as they usually focus on things that can be done to solve it rather than spending hours complaining.

    Help Others.

    Helping or being kind to someone in their time of need is probably the easiest way to be happy. It is by doing these simple deeds that important discoveries about oneself are made.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Be Thankful.

    Each day take a few moments and be thankful for all the great pleasures that life has provided. Even during tough times, remember the people who were always there and provided unconditional love and support.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Think about everything that is right and forget about the wrong; your heart will be filled with thankfulness in no time.

B. Helping others, even in small things, helps in the birth of a happier and generous you.

C. Never think less of yourself because you are as different and important as everyone else.

D. Some people will always compare their worst with the best of others.

E. The best way to live is to get used to everyday changes and work hard.

F. Thinking positively is an important part of being positive.

G. First make the situation clear and see if they are right.

How to Learn A Foreign Language

    Spend the time!

    By far the most important factor（因素） is how much time you spend in learning the language. The more time you spend with the language, the faster you will learn.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Focus on words and phrases!

    To build up your vocabulary, you'll need lots.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Learn these words and phrases through your listening and reading. Read online, using online dictionaries, and make your own vocabulary lists for review. Gradually（渐渐地）you will be able to use them.

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    Listen wherever you are on your MP3 player. Read what you are listening to. Listen to and read things that you like, things that you can mostly understand. If you keep listening and reading, you will get used to the language.

    Take responsibility for your own learning!

    If you do want to learn the language, take control. Choose content of interest that you want to listen to and read. Seek out（找出）the words and phrases that you need to understand in your listening and reading.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Discover the language by yourself. Talk when you feel like it. Write when you feel like it.

    Relax and enjoy yourself!

    Do not worry about what you cannot remember, or cannot yet understand, or cannot yet say. It does not matter.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}The language will gradually become clearer in your brain, but this will happen on a schedule（计划）that you cannot control. Just make sure you spend enough time with the language.

A. Listen and read every day!

B. You are learning and improving.

C. That is the greatest guarantee（保证）of success.

D. Do not wait for someone else to show you the language.

E. Start to notice words and how they come together as phrases.

F. Soon you will run into your new words and phrases elsewhere.

G. This means spending time enjoyably connected to the language you are learning.

    Ways to make a great first impression

    You've heard it a million times already, but it really does take but a few seconds to make that all-important first impression (印象). Here are some easy ways for you to impress your classmates or teachers.

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Before you shake hands with somebody, make sure that your hands are clean. The handshake should not be too strong or weak. Most people use their right hands, unless they have a reason to use the left.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Be on time

    When meeting someone for the first time, arriving on time is as important as breathing. You may have an excuse, but that will leave the person who hardly knows you with a bad impression.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}It's better to be hanging around the place than be stuck in traffic.

    Introduce yourself and ask for names

    Make sure you properly introduce yourself. Ask for their name in a polite way.  {#blank#}4{#/blank#}This will increase the chances of their remembering your name in the future. Always remember to stand up when greeting someone and be sure to introduce them to anyone you're with.

    Make good conversation

To get the most out of your discussion, try to find something common between the two of you. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}A person will feel more comfortable with someone they can relate to (产生共鸣).

A. Use body language

B. Have a proper handshake

C. Repeat the name and use it later in conversation.

D. As a general rule, plan to arrive about 30 minutes early.

E. It could be a similar taste in clothes or a common hobby.

F. You'll be in serious trouble if you leave them with a bad impression.

G. However, don't have your left hand in your pocket because this appears impolite.

Jessica: What are you doing now?

Susan: I {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (listen) to the news.

Jessica: Is there anything urgent? If not, I {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (real) want to have a talk with you.

Susan: No, there isn't. What's wrong?

Jessica: I think your grandma is {#blank#}3{#/blank#} nice person, but I can't help {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (think) that she doesn't like me.

Susan: Oh, she likes you. She is just old-fashioned and has her own way of doing things.

Jessica: But every time I clean the kitchen, she comes in {#blank#}5{#/blank#} me and cleans it again. Then she complains that the house is not tidy. I can't deal with this.

Susan: Just let her do it and ignore (忽视) her. She thinks if you don't get on your hands and knees {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (clean) the floor, the floor won't be clean.

Jessica: What a silly thing to say! What's a mop (拖把) for? And what's wrong with my cooking?

Susan: Nothing. I love your cooking.

Jessica: Then why does she complain about it? This morning she suggested that I {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (go) to cooking school to learn {#blank#}8{#/blank#} to cook.

Susan: Jessica, just ignore her. She only wants to make sure {#blank#}9{#/blank#} we can take care of ourselves.

Jessica: Don't we?

Susan: Yes, we do. I'm sorry that she makes you suffer {#blank#}10{#/blank#} stress, but I wish you'd learn to get along with her. Remember, she's an elder.

Jessica: Don't worry. When things get tense (紧张的), I just remind myself that she's your grandma, and I keep my temper (脾气) under control and my mouth shut.

    When I was young, my friends and I often played baseball in an alley(小巷) behind our home. A woman named Mrs Shinas owned a tiny house nearby, and she used to watch us play from her window.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} we all thought that she was mean.

    She had a big trained dog and whenever one of our baseballs rolled in its direction, Mrs Shinas would send the dog to catch it.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} soon we ran out of balls.

    In those days, I used to water our lawn each day. One day as I stood watering our small lawn, I noticed that Mrs Shinas' lawn looked a little dry. It took only a few more minutes to water it, so I did it.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    When autumn came that year, I also helped gather up the leaves on Mrs. Shinas' yard. As I was doing this one day, she invited me to sit in her living room. She gave me a cookie and a glass of milk. As I sat there eating the cookie, she showed me her collection of paintings. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}that surprised me a lot. It was the first conversation I had ever had with her.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} She went into her kitchen and returned with a box. In it were all the balls that her dog had taken. She handed me the box, said "thank you" and smiled. I realized she had a kind heart. I also learned that when we serve others, we are showing them that we love them.

A. We wanted to buy a new ball.

B. But the dog wouldn't return the ball to us.

C. Her next action even changed my opinion of her.

D. Then she thanked me for taking care of her lawn.

E. Soon I found myself watering her lawn each day.

F. She rarely came out of her house and never smiled.

G. What delighted me most was that she was a great painter.

    Whether you've been in college or you're looking forward to going to university in the future, you and your family likely spend some time worrying about the cost of your college education.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, that will pay off for years to come. Earning scholarships is a great way to help you. The Financial Aid Office at Illinois State helps students identify scholarship opportunities every day. Here is some advice to help you.

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    Have you asked your high school or community college financial aid office about scholarships at your school? Many schools have a list of several scholarships right there.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Check with community organizations, banks and credit unions, and large employers who may offer scholarship opportunities in your area.

    Find your “hook”

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Your unique characteristics can help your scholarship applications stand out. Pay special attention to awards that mention your best qualities, whether that's academic achievements, leadership, community service, or something less common. Think about why a donor wants to assist you in paying for your education. Most scholarship providers want to encourage a particular behavior. Companies may want to attract future employees.

    Develop a routine

    Every scholarship is different in terms of when you can apply, what you need to turn in, when the winner is announced, and how the money is given to you.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} There isn't a single application or search engine that allows you to find and apply for everything. Visit the website for the Office of Student Financial Aid for lists of scholarship opportunities. Go through the lists to find the ones that match you best and keep track of when you can apply for them.

A. While you're searching, consider what makes you special as a student.

B. Typically, scholarship applications open in the late fall or early spring for the next school year's awards, but that also varies depending on the donors.

C. There is no doubt that college education is a necessary step to get yourselves prepared for the future.

D. Local awards can often be easier to get as the application pools are smaller and less competitive.

E. Begin in your own backyard

F. It's no secret that college is one of the biggest investments.

G. Believe in yourselves