Money Matters

    Parents should help their children understand money.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}So you may start talking about money when your child shows an interest in buying things, candy or toys, for example.

    ⒈ The basic function of money

    Begin explaining the basic function of money by showing how people trade money for goods or services. It is important to show your child how money is traded for the things he wants to have. If he wants to have a toy, give him the money and let him hand the money to the cashier(收银员).{#blank#}2{#/blank#} When your child grows a bit older and understands the basic function of money, you can start explaining more ways of using money.

    ⒉ Money lessons

    Approach money lessons with openness and honesty.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you must say no to a child's request to spend money, explain, “You have to make a choice between this and that toy.”

    ⒊{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Begin at the grocery store. Pick out two similar brands of a product –a name-brand butter and a generic(无商标产品), for example. You can show your child how to make choices between different brands of a product so that you can save money.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}  If he chooses the cheaper brand, allow him to make another purchase with the money saved. Later, you may explain how more expensive choice leaves less money for other purchases.

A. Wise decision

B. The value of money

C. Permit the child to choose between them.

D. Tell your child why he can –or cannot –have certain things.

E. The best time to teach a child anything about money is when he shows an interest.

F. Talk about how the money bought the thing after you leave the toy store.

G. Ask yourself what things that cost money are most important to you.

A. Be a good listener.  B. Care about the details.

C. Strike up a conversation. D. Make time for friendships.

E. Reach out to the newcomers.    F. Avoid causing inconveniences

    Develop Better Relationships with Neighbors

    Good neighbors are a lot like electricity or running water：we don't know how much we depend on them until we don't have them. They make our lives more pleasant and give us a sense of who we wrte, both as an individual and as a member of the community. Here is how to develop your relationships with these very important people in your life.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Often neighbors don't even know each other's names. But it's okay to be the one to break the ice , even if you've lived next door for years.Most neighbors enjoy making small talk with the folks on the other side of the fence. So as you see them at work in their yards, smile, wave, and say hello. Ask how their kids are (whether they're babies or in college), whether they could use an extra cucumber from your garden, or what they think of the price at the local supermarket.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} These days, the old Welcome Wagon is a thing of the past. But your new neighbors may be feeling lonely and unsure, especially if they're far from home, and might appreciate a friendly face bearing fresh-baked chocolate cakes. If they have kids, tell them where the children in the neighborhood live. Recommend the best places to eat and sleep. Invite them over for coffee or tea when they get settled, give them your number, and point to your house as you say good-bye.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Return anything that you borrow from a neighbor, such as tools, in good repair and as soon as you've finished with them. Replace anything that belongs to your neighbor that you, your children, or your pets break or soil. Make sure that your car is not blocking their doorway. Such random acts of consideration will have your neighbors talking—and the talk will be good.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you value a friendship with your neighbors, spend time with them. What better way to meet your neighbors than to invite them to an informal barbecue, pool party, or holiday open house? Better yet, you might even consider throwing a get-together in their honor. Deliver the invitations in person to everyone who lives on your street and chat with each for five minutes before moving on to the next house. This way, you will get an idea of what your neighbors are like so that you can plan for appropriate food and music.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} In a good relationship, it's really the little things that count. Help to bring in the mail for the elderly neighbor when there is a heavy rain. When your neighbor gorgets to take in his rubbish cans, roll them back into his yard. If you're truly concerned, you'll know when your neighbor needs some cheering up—a bunch of flowers or a helping hand when it's needed. All it takes to develop your relationship with neighbors is the respect for their feelings.

Crossroads International

    How does crossroads work?

    Crosswords is a resource network. We take goods Hong Kong doesn't want and give them to people who badly need them. We collect those goods and give them out in the welfare agencies in Hong Kong, Mainland China, elsewhere in Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Who do we help?

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} They are grass-root groups who have seen a need and tried to meet it. They can't get the job done without backup, though, so our task is to help them do their task. Our warehouse (仓库) is full of goods, from computers to high chairs, clothing to books, cupboards to dining sets. They send us a list of their needs and we try to match it with the resource we have in stock.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Crossroads itself also operates on a low budget. We do not buy the goods we send. They are donated. Similarly, rather than raising funds for freight (货运), we ask transport companies to donate their services{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Even our full-time staff work on a voluntary basis.

    What can you do?

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} While we receive large quantities of goods and there is never a short supply of requests for them, we are always in need of hands to help sort and prepare them for shipping. If you are volunteering regularly, we can offer work in some of the categories, some of the time.

A. What do we need?

B. How do we operate?

C. So Crossroads is just that: a Crossroads between need and resource.

D. Nobody in our organization receives a salary.

E. One resource that we are always in need of is people.

F. welfare agencies we help do not run on large budgets.

G. All volunteer work is done at our warehouse.

    When people have a choice of whom to work with, likability can sometimes matter a little bit; more than ability, said Tiziana Casciaro, an associate professor at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management，who researches likability in the workplace{#blank#}1{#/blank#} . These strategies can help：

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    You can induce a sense of similarity with almost anybody by finding things you have in common. They may not be apparent right away, so be observant. Great salespeople do this all the time by studying potential customers for bits and pieces of their lives they can relate to.

    Like someone and they'll like you right back

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Flattery (奉承）can convey fondness, but she doesn't recommend using the fake kind, even though it may work. Casciaro said, ^u Flattery' that is completely made up is exhausting and morally blameworthy. Instead, let a praise come from a real place{#blank#}4{#/blank#} For instance, ^“I really appreciate what you did yesterday.^”

    When you give people praises, it goes a very long way towards their liking you back.

    Be a familiar presence

    Humans like things that are familiar, so just seeing you around in person makes you more likable to others. “This concept gives a whole new meaning to the idea of face time,” Casciaro said{#blank#}5{#/blank#} If not, just try to talk to people as much as possible in person during work hours, she advised You want to maximize rich interactions and cut down on the drier ones, like texts and phone calls. Be sure to be seen.

A. Ask a lot of questions.

B. See the positive in a person and express it to him.

C. People like to guess what others think about them.

D. What can you do to increase your chances of being liked?

E. Find the common points that link you with another person.

F. It's almost irresistible that we like people who seem to like us.

G.Go to after-work drinks if you have time and you would find the outing enjoyable.

    Long ago, people believed that in the future we would work less, have more free time and get more relaxed. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Today we work harder, work longer hours and have more stresses than ten years ago. We walk faster, talk faster and sleep less than previous generations. And although we use machines that save us time, we have less free time than our parents and grandparents. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} An American journalist James Gleick in a new book, says that people are suffering from "hurry sickness" — we're trying to do more things in less time. As a result, our lives are stressful. He says that if we don't slow down, we won't live as long as our parents. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

Newspaper articles today are shorter and the headlines are bigger. Most people don't have enough time to read the articles, so they only read the headlines. On TV and the radio, newspapers speak more quickly than ten years ago. In the USA, there is a book called One-Minute Bedtime Stories for children. These are shorter versions of traditional stories, specially written for "busy parents" who want to save time! Some answer phones now have "quick playback" buttons so that we can replay people's messages faster— we can't waste time listening to people speaking at the normal speed! {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Ten years ago when people went to art galleries they spent seconds looking at each picture. Today they spend just three seconds! Nowadays, many people prefer faster and dynamic sports like basketball.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Our cars are faster but the traffic is worse, so we drive more slowly. We spend more time sitting in our cars, feeling stressed. Experts predict that in ten years the average speed on the road in cities will be only 17 km/h.

A.People didn't feel stressed ten years ago.

B.But unluckily, this has not happened yet.

C.Even when we relax we do everything more quickly.

D.But what is this doing to our health?

E.For most people, being faster doesn't mean being better.

F.The only thing that is slower than before is the way we drive.

G.Now everything is faster than before, which bring us more convenience.

Improving your family life can help make your family members closer and prevent conflicts from getting in the way of everyone's happiness. But at times it seems difficult. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are some concrete steps to make your life more enjoyable.

Do household chores (杂务) together. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} However, sharing household responsibilities can help everyone in your family feel happy. Try to make it as fun as possible, such as by playing music or having contests. Besides, divide chores up into age-appropriate categories. After dinner, the youngest could wipe the table, the oldest could fill the dishwasher, and you could put away leftovers.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}When someone expresses an opinion, don't interrupt them before they can finish speaking. Maintaining respectful communication channels will strengthen your bond.

Express love and appreciation frequently. Little verbal (口头的) and nonverbal gestures of affection go a long way. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If your sibling is doing their homework and there's an empty glass on their desk, ask them, "Hey, can I get you more water?"

Respect your parents' need to protect you. While children need increasing degrees of freedom as they get older, remember that your parents are in charge. Their job is to keep you safe and give you the tools you'll need to take care of yourself when you're an adult. If your parent doesn't allow you to go out without an adult or makes you go to bed early, remember that they have your best interests in mind. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Why do you feel so?

B. Where do you start?

C. Few people actually enjoy that.

D. Chores mean more responsibilities.

E. Respect what your family members say.

F. Don't yell to get your way if they say no!

G. Find small ways to show you care for each other.