Every minute, every single day, about a truckload of plastic enters our oceans. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} And to date, only 9％of that has been recycled.

    We buy a bottle of water, drink it for a few minutes, and toss its permanent packaging "away". We eat potato chips, finish them, then throw their permanent packaging "away". We buy produce, take it out of the unnecessary plastic wrap, then throw its permanent packaging "away".

    The cycle is endless, and it happens countless times every single day. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} As far as we try to toss a piece of plastic—whether it's into a recycling bin or not——it does not disappear. Chances are, it ends up polluting our communities, oceans or waterways in some form.

    For years, we've been told the problem of plastic packaging can be solved through batter individual action. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} But the truth is that we cannot recycle our way out of this mess.

    Recycling alone will never stop the flow of plastics into our oceans；we have to get to the source of the problem and slow down the production of all this plastic waste. Think about it: if your home was flooding because you had left the tap on, your first step wouldn't be to start mopping. You'd first cut the flooding off at its source—the tap. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    We need corporations—those like Coca-Cola, Unilever, Starbucks and Neatlé that continue to produce throwaway plastic bottles—to step up and take their responsibility for the mess they've created. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} We will continue to do our part, but it's time for the world's largest corporations to do theirs.

A. This is their problem to deal with.

B. Plastic pollution is becoming very serious.

C. But here is the problem—there is no "away".

D. In many ways, our plastic problem is no different.

E. We think that if we simply recycle we're doing our part.

F. It's impossible for us to get rid of plastic pollution completely.

G. Since the 1950s, some 8. 3bn tons of plastic have been produced worldwide.

Four ways to get a feel for a college on your own

    There's more to visiting a college than a campus（校园）tour. And there's a critical part for students and parents: testing the school on your own. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    ⒈Go to a dining hall or student union.

    The best common place where students relax and hang out is the cafeteria or student center, where you can see what college kids are like in their natural habitat.

"Go to lunch in a cafeteria right at noon, "says Edward Walker, founder of Independent Consultants in Education," {#blank#}2{#/blank#}"

    ⒉Sit in on a class.

    A lot of high school students aren't sure what they want to study yet when they are visiting colleges, but familiarizing yourself with the academic atmosphere is important. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} You can come up with a few academic areas that you think you'd like to study and reach out to those classes.

    ⒊{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Chat with anyone walking around campus. Don't let mom and dad do it for you. "Your parents can talk to people, too and then you can compare notes, "says Walker." Talk to various groups of students so you'll get a well-rounded picture."

    Tour the community.

    Whether the school is in the countryside or in a city center, check out the off-campus area nearest the college. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Talk to parents.

B. Talk to students.

C. Many schools offer people chances to sit in on a class.

D. Here are four ways to get more familiar with a prospective（预期的）school.

E. That's one of the best places where you can learn about a school's atmosphere.

F. Big communities are still the major places that attract tourists in our society today.

G. If there's time, tour some of the museums or other points of interest and eat at a local restaurant.

    The winter vacation during the senior year of high school can be a stressful time for students. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} They may also be feeling sad that time with family and friends having a relaxation. Here are some wise ways to spend the last winter vacation of high school.

    Start practicing responsibilities. After you enter college, you have to do a lot of things on your own. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Although some may just want to spend winter break sleeping and relaxing, it's the right time for you to begin taking on some household tasks. You should start doing laundry and more things on your own. In this way, you can learn to become responsible.

    For students who haven't decided on a major, the last winter vacation of high school can be an opportunity to explore their interests. Students are often told they'll have time to decide on a major once they get to college. However, the last winter break might be the freest time they'll have for a while. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Besides a major, you also need to decide on a school. This is a great time to go on more campus visits. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Take another visit to ensure you're making the right choice. Sometimes, seeing the school in different seasons can help you decide if it is truly where you belong.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Some students agree they should take advantage of time at home with family and friends while they still can. But most students don't realize how important family is until they've moved away. As you get more into college life, you will probably not be returning home as often, so take this opportunity. Enjoy your friends and family, as it will all change once you enter college.

A. Enjoy quality time at home.

B. Don't visit a campus just once.

C. Spend more time with your friends.

D. Ask your parents what major you can study.

E. So find out what you really like to learn in college.

F. And you'll be independent and responsible for yourself.

G. They may be dealing with pressure to choose a school.

    As we all know, the spine (脊柱）stands at the center of your health, providing your body with structure and support. It also contains your spine cord (脊髓) a massive collection of nerves conveying electric signals from the rest of your body to your brain.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Maintaining good posture is one of the most important things you can do to keep your spine healthy. Proper posture means standing or sitting while keeping your spine straight, except for its natural curves. Posture comes into play even when you are asleep. Sleeping on your side puts less stress on your spine than most other positions. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Especially if you work at a desk most of the day, it's important to get up and stretch regularly.

     {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Stretch can help the muscles around your spine relax and allow bones to shift into better arrangement. Strength exercises like push-ups (俯卧撑）can also help by strengthening the muscles around your spine. However, don't overdo the exercise, as repeated movements can strain the muscles around your spine.Finally, your diet affects the health of your spine because many vitamins arc necessary for bones and nerves. In particular, vitamins B and D are essential to keep bones healthy, so you may want to consider taking a supplement (补充). {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, so it is also helpful to do some of exercise outside.

    Many of the actions necessary to keep your spine healthy are identical to those used to preserve your health in other ways. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. It can be hard on your back to stay still for too long

B. So protect your back, the rest of the body will benefit

C. However, the latter can also be absorbed from sunlight

D. Doing yoga to protect your spine is also a necessary step

E. Exercise is also an important factor in your spine's health

F. Try the following exercises to keep your spine more flexible

G .So, to have a healthy spine, you should take the following factors into account

    After a tiring day, your bedroom, a comfortable and inviting space, should be one place where you can finally relax. If the space seems too limited, you can try out these tips to make it look larger.

    ⒈Avoid dark colors and increase natural light.

    In a small room, walls and decoration that are dark can make the area seem even smaller. Choose light color like cream and peach for your walls. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Try to allow as much natural light as possible to fall into the room, through the window or the balcony door. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    ⒉Look for furniture that uses wall space.

Choosing furniture that fits into a corner or which can be placed against a wall will greatly increase ground space in your room. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}—--try hanging some on one wall and see the difference it makes.

    ⒊Find creative ways to store your stuff.

    Make full use of the built-in shelves and storing capacities in the kitchen and bathroom. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}You can also look for multi-function furniture: a coffee table with drawers, or a foot stool with interior storage.

    ⒋{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    When doing weekly clean-ups, throw out your old and unused objects and keep only the essential items in view. You can also cut back on the unnecessary appliances. Move the table fan out into the living room during winter. If your bedroom is already small, don't bring in a TV. If you already have one, try moving it out and see if it gains you extra space.

A. Mirrors also create an impression of space.

B. Remove untidy and unnecessary appliances.

C. Store rarely used items in a box under your bed.

D. Purchase the possible less furniture for your room.

E. Bright sunlight can kill some bacteria in your bedroom.

F. Sunlight will brighten the room and make it seem more cheerful.

G. Pillows, curtain covers, and decorative items should also be light in color.

How to Find Something You Like to Do

    Finding something you enjoy doing can improve the quality of your life and reduce your stress levels.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} It can also help you make friends or even provide a purpose in your life. Then how can you find something you like to do?

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Some hobbies, such as albums and gardening, can take up a lot of time. Other hobbies, such as video games or reading, can be done at your own pace and do not require any extended time.

    Research the hobby or activity you would like to get involved in. Find out how much time and money you will need to devote to starting and continuing the activity. For example, some sports—related interests might require special equipment. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Your local library or phone book should also have information on hobbies and activities in your area.

    Talk with other people who are involved in some of the activities you are interested in.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Ask if you could tag along (跟随) to a meeting or spend some time with this person while he is involved in his hobby to see if it is something you would enjoy.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Challenge yourself to try a new activity you are interested in for a week or so. Allow yourself to learn about the hobby and determine whether you will enjoy the activity or not.

A. Think about how a hobby benefits you.

B. A hobby can connect you with other people.

C. Take a chance on a hobby and see how it turns out.

D. Think about how much free time you can devote to a hobby.

E. You can find information about hobbies and interests on Find My Hobby's website.

F. You can get first—hand knowledge by interviewing someone about a particular hobby.

G. It takes a long time and energy to decide whether a particular hobby is right for you.