America's holiday shopping season started on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Shoppers make the most money this time of year, about 20 percent to 30 percent of all revenue all year. About 136 million people shopped during the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} In an era of instant information, shoppers can use their mobile phones to find deals. Nearly 80 percent of this year's holiday shoppers, or about 183.8 million people, shopped on Cyber Monday. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Online spending on Black Friday rose 15 percent to hit $2.7 billion this year. Cyber Monday spending increased 12 percent to $3 billion. NBC News reported that for many, shopping online was a more comfortable alternative than crowded malls.

    The shift to online shopping has had a big impact on solid shopping malls. Since 2010, more than 24 shopping malls have closed and an additional 60 are struggling. Fortune says the weakest of the malls have closed. However, the business in malls is thriving again, it adds.  According to a survey, 94.2percent of malls were full with shops by the end of 2014. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The average American consumer will spend about $805 on gifts. That's about $630.5 billion between November and December – an increase of 3.7 percent from last year.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}That goes to China's Singles' Day, celebrated on November 11, which posted record sales of $14.3 billion in 2015.

A．More and more people shop online nowadays.

B．That is the highest level in 27 years.

C．It is the busiest shopping day of the year.

D．One-in-five Americans used a tablet or smart-phone.

E．The traditional mall industry can hardly survive.

F．Cyber Monday falls on the Monday after Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

G．Nonetheless, Cyber Monday is not the biggest online shopping day in the world.

    If you want to make a difference by doing a volunteer job, you can take the following steps.

    Before becoming a volunteer, consider your hobbies and interests. You can find a job in your area or around the world where you can help.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}They can be found in nursing homes or at food banks, and other charities.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Then you can apply for the volunteer sector (领域) you have chosen. Rewrite the resume and focus on education and experience in your chosen field.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}If you are not free during the volunteer shifts (轮班), it's more likely that you will be passed over.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}You can also go to their websites to fill out an online application and email a copy of your resume.

    Speak or contact directly with the manager in charge of hiring new volunteers. It's important to tell them your enthusiasm for the volunteer work. At the same time, make it clear how you are qualified.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Fill out any other paperwork that is requested to complete the application process. It's best to set an appointment to interview in the end.

A. Be friendly and outspoken.

B. Don't forget to offer a hand to others in need.

C. Volunteer jobs are often available (可获得的) in many places.

D. Visit the volunteer location in person with a copy of your resume.

E. Make a detailed timetable that shows you can do the volunteer work at the time.

F. It's because you are not sure the hiring manager has read your resume or seen the online application.

G. Review your work and volunteer resume (简历) to determine what strengths and experience you have.

    Some people lie all the time. However, it can be difficult to determine when they are lying to you.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Make false eye contact

    A person who is lying to you won't make eye contact with you or they make too much eye contact. If a person is lying he may feel you are watching him and he will look down at the floor or away from your eyes. Some people try to stare at you in the face in a deliberate way.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    Avoid using contractions (缩略语)

    The liars will say “I did NOT notice your money”, instead of “I didn't notice your money”. This is an attempt by the liars to be absolutely clear what they mean.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Liars often feel uneasy, turn away from the person to whom they are speaking, blink rapidly, smile less and have pitch changes in their tone of voice. They may cross their arms which is a sign of being “closed” or trying not to reveal too much information. They could touch parts of their face, an ear or a nose or play with keys or another item that they have in their hand.

    Provide additional information without being asked for it

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. The result is the more complicated the story is, the less believable it will be. You will have the feeling that nothing could be further from the truth.

A. Usually, it ends up making the story a lot less believable.

B. Luckily there are always some indications that can help you recognize liars.

C. Use unusual body language.

D. Behave abruptly.

E. Liars seem to think that by telling their story in detail, you will find it more believable.

F. Liars try to talk the story with their own words using imagination.

G. In this way, they feel like making eye contact will make what they are saying more believable.

                                                                                    How Can I Fight Laziness?

    Lazy people will never gain anything in life. However, laziness can be defeated once a few changes have been made in your mind.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Many people lack sleep constantly, since they stay up too late and get up too early to prepare for work. These people have little motivation once they arrive home. Laziness works hand in hand with a lack of motivation and a tendency to put off things. By adjusting your sleep schedule to provide a few more hours of meaningful rest, you can fight laziness throughout the day.

    Another way to fight laziness is to change your mind from passive to active. Some people treat their lives as if they were pushed from task to task. Others take a more positive approach, viewing each task as a challenge they must overcome alone.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Some people fight laziness by removing the temptations(诱惑) that surround them. A television in the living room may provide entertainment, but watching too much TV often contributes to laziness.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Complete a few tasks and reward yourself with a good dinner.

    Laziness can also be a lasting problem at home. Couples and children may all have different energy levels, but laziness can be spread if not dealt with immediately.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Be the first to collect and wash dishes after a meal. Others in the home may eventually follow your example and perform their own task. It is difficult to practice laziness when you are surrounded by motivated people.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Enough exercise and a balanced diet can help you to develop a healthy lifestyle, thus enabling you to have more energy and help lift your spirits.

A. To fight family laziness, set an example.

B. Knowing how to fight laziness is important.

C. One way to fight laziness is to get enough sleep.

D. Finally, taking exercise regularly can help you fight laziness.

E. With strong determination, you will be able to achieve your goal.

F. Laziness appears when you no longer feel in charge of your own mind.

G. Create a reward system for yourself, just as parents do for a child.

    Many of us live with a roommate at times. Sometimes, there can be problems. Such as whose turn it is to take out the trash, or who should be the one to clear up after dinner?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}There's always someone to talk to, so you need never be lonely.

    Besides these obvious benefits, there are some you may not notice.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}when living with others. To examine the effect of living alone, Australian university researchers did much research and found that people living alone tended to eat less fresh food including fruits and vegetables, which can have side effects on long-term health. However, those living with others generally got benefits from a more varied diet compared to those living alone.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The researchers believe the social and cultural roles played by cooking, food preparation and eating may be important considerations. For example, those living with friends have someone else to go shopping with, and thus, they are more likely to buy higher-quality fresh food regularly.

    In addition, a person living alone can eat whatever they want at any time of the day. However, it's helpful to have someone around who questions your decision to eat frozen pizza at 3:00 am.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    So, if you now live alone, fighting a losing battle against poor eating habits, why not consider sharing a home with someone else?

A. However, There are always ways to solve these problems.

B. You know that there's always someone else around who can help you feel safer.

C. However, living with another person also comes with many benefits.

D. For example, we're actually more likely to eat healthier food.

E. In other words, roommates can draw your attention to such an unhealthy routine.

F. Living with roommates will have a good atmosphere.

G. What could explain this?

    Test-taking tips

    Passing tests is a huge part of succeeding at school. Clearly, if you want to do well on a test, you need to prepare by learning the material(资料) {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Just breathe.

    Even the best prepared student sometimes gets nervous before a test. Nervous feelings can cause people to forget facts that they know. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Breathing deeply is helpful for this. So is moving your body slightly, such as by rolling your shoulders around. Try to arrive for a test a few minutes early, so you can relax before it starts.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    When you are handed a test, look over all the questions before you begin. Read them carefully, noticing details. Also pay attention to how many points each question is worth. Divide your time based on the percentage of your grade each question is worth.

    First answer questions you know and then go back to the difficult ones. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}But try to write an answer for every question on the test, even if you're not sure of the answer. The only exception(例外) is if you will lose points for wrong answers

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. If you're not sure whether you should change an answer, it's best not to. More often than not, your first instinct(本能) will be correct.

    Try your best.

    Above all, study well and try your best. If you do that, you can be proud of whatever score you get.

A. Pay attention to the time.

B. Read the test through first.

C. So one important test-taking tip is to try to relax.

D. But other actions can help make test-taking easier.

E. That way you don't spend too long on one question.

F. Check to make sure you have completed the whole test.

G. Try to finish early so you have time to review your answers and correct mistakes.