Question: I have been learning English for about 7 years. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} And I still can't make myself understood in English. However, I love learning English. How can I learn English well? Please help me.

    Answer: Many people have asked me this question. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Here I will give you several tips for learning English.

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    First of all, you must want to learn. If you are not interested in learning English, no class will help you and no book will help you. So you have to be honest with yourself. Ask yourself, “Do I really want to learn English?” If you can't answer “yes” to this question, it is better for you to set English aside until you're ready and willing to learn.

    ● Set goals (目标).

    To learn English well, you must set some goals. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It will also help you to see your progress. Ask yourself, “What are my goals? What areas would I like to improve?” Think about what your goals are, and review once in a while to see that you are making progress toward your goals.

    ● Practice, practice, and practice.

After you have set your goals, you have a better idea of what you need to practice. Just like the athlete whose goal is the Olympics must train daily, you as a language learner must practice language every day to make progress toward your goal. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    The importance of communication cannot be denied. Using effective communication skills is important to relationships and to success at work.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Here are a few:

    Prevent misunderstandings. When you clearly communicate your wants, your needs, and your intentions, there will be no misunderstanding. Many of our arguments and disagreements occur simply because one of us did not communicate clearly. Another example of the importance of communication can be seen in the medical field. When a doctor tells a patient his diagnosis(诊断)and gives instructions for care and medicine, it is critical that the patient understands exactly what the doctor intends to communicate.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Strengthen relationships. We get to know each other (either in business or personally) by talking and listening{#blank#}3{#/blank#}People like people they know. In business, the more personable business person, who showed an interest in his customer, wins the sale every time over the business person who is aloof and shows no interests in the customer, whatsoever!

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Talking about your problem and stresses actually helps to relieve the stress and anxiety. You feel as if some of the burden has been lifted from you when a friend listens and shows that she cares.

    The importance of communication skills becomes obvious when you think of the many times that you communicate with someone during a single day{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Taking the time to improve our interpersonal skills is definitely worth the effort!

B. There are a number of reasons that communication is so important to us．

C. When you communicate well, people respond negatively to you.

D. Knowing more about someone strengthens that relationship.

E. Otherwise, serious results could occur!

F. Increase confidence.

G. Relieve stress.

    I think the majority of people would agree that it's unhealthy to live in the past. After all, we're all familiar with the new age philosophy, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Living in the past holds us back from being able to enjoy the present moment. But are there any benefits of revisiting a previous time? Actually, yes. The past has several advantages:

     Learning from our mistakes: We all know that poor choices can be some of life's greatest teachers{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}By revisiting an unfavorable event from our past, we can often view it from a different perspective as time has passed. Being older and wiser, we are now able to reevaluate the experience and gain deeper insights and understandings of what happened and why, and how it has impacted us since. What once scarred us can now be healed through a newly-found awareness and no longer be a negative force in our lives.

    Motivated by earlier successes{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Other times life has been difficult. Remembering the past when we were at our best can help motivate us out of our current slump(低谷) and put us back on track for success. Use your past successes to propel(推动) you on to newer and greater things.

    While it's evident that revisiting the past has several advantages, there is a warning. Just like an amusement park, it's fine to visit but you cannot stay there forever. At some point, the park closes and all visitors are asked to leave. Enjoy the past when necessary but don't always stay there. Use it for living in the present and planning for the future{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Moving beyond

B. That's why it's called the present

C. In that way, it will serve you well

D. See the mistakes as a step on the road to a solution

E. There are times when we have all enjoyed success on a variety of levels

F. Recalling times when we made mistakes can help us make better future decisions

G. So, failure is the mother of success

    Many of us deal with the rush every morning in preparation for work or school, but it doesn't have to be this way. With a little time management, these steps can help you cut down on your morning stress.

    Create an evening preparation routine.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} These simple tasks will take you less than 30 minutes to complete each evening and will save you a huge headache every morning.

    Get a good night's sleep.

    Make sure you start winding down for bed at a reasonable hour to allow enough time for a healthy night's sleep. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If needed, set a bedtime reminder alarm on your alarm clock. Always keep the temperature in your bedroom comfortably cool 

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    An extra 30 minutes in the morning will make a difference. As long as you go to bed on time, waking up 30 minutes earlier should seem natural after just a few days. Use this time to think, shower and eat breakfast.

    Plan a realistic day.

    Writing things down means you don't have to worry about forgetting to do them. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Write down anything that cannot be put off to the following day.

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    Getting up to face a new day is far more satisfying when you have something to look forward to. Make sure you manage your time better so that you have time to do something you love on a daily basis.

A. Morning stress is very common.

B. Schedule something you love daily.

C. Never fill your mind with unnecessary worries.

D. Make a summary of what you did in the daytime.

E. Wake up 30 minutes earlier.

F. Iron your clothes, locate your keys, plan a nutritious breakfast, etc.

G. Most people require between seven and eight hours' sleep each night.

Five Ways to Go Green and Save Green

    Climate change is in the news. It seems like everyone's "going green." We're glad you want to take action too. Luckily many of the steps we can take to stop climate change can make our lives better. Let's start now.

    Save energy to save money.

    Set your thermostat（恒温器）degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heat the water.

    Unplug (拔掉……的电源插头) electrical equipment when you're not using it.

    Save water to save money.

    Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.

    Plant drought-tolerant (耐旱的) native plants in your garden. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Find out about these plants in your area.

    Fix a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your money.

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    Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your health and reducing your risk of being fat.

    Eat smart.

    If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.

    Avoid bottled water.

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    Use a water filter (过滤器) to make drinking water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive but it causes large amounts of container waste.

A. When speaking of something to eat, try local products whenever you can.

B. Our grandchildren and their children will thank us for living green.

C. Bring a reusable water bottle with you when traveling or at work.

D. Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible.

E. Less gas = more money and better health!

F. Move a little nearer to your work.

G. Many plants need little watering.

    In the middle of my home country there are very large places. They are hot and dry land called deserts.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Families live a long way from other people. Sometimes they are the only people for thousands of kilometres. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    About 65years ago these people found that using strong radios was a possible way for families living far away to communicate with each other. They decided they could use the radios for school. In this way, children could talk to each other like at school. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    The children each spent about 30minutes a day on the radio. They talked to their teacher about their work and difficulties. The teacher designed some exercises and tasks based on what they learned and posted them to the children. After finishing their work, the children sent it back to their teacher to mark. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} He tried to visit each child twice each year. This was sometimes difficult. The journey was very long and could be dangerous. In addition, the school held camps once a year. The children could all meet each other and shared their learning experience.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The government provides families with computers so that the children can use the Internet to talk to their teachers and classmates by e-mail now. The teachers enjoy their work very much because they get to know the children and their families very well. It is an interesting way to learn, don't you think?