Everyone can help to save the world

    We are all environmentalists now. We all know about acid rain and the ozone hole. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} As consumers we have the power to make decisions which will contribute to a better world and it is in our power to do what we can to protect the earth.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} In this way we have the power to influence retailers (零售商) to sell us these so-called “green” products. Therefore, the supermarkets have understood the message and are now trying to improve their environmental image. They are turning to less wasteful and recyclable packaging. The range of “green” products will continue to expand to meet the growing demand. This message has also reached the manufacturers. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} They have realized that protecting the environment may start as an advertising campaign but in the hands of intelligent people it can become a very profitable business. Besides, we can do more.

    Furthermore, we also know there are other areas where all of us can make a positive contribution to a cleaner, healthier and safer environment. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} There are a number of ways we can do this. For example, we now know how important it is to have our homes well insulated (隔热). We should choose the best energy efficient technology, such as modern light bulbs which can reduce electricity consumption by 80% over the older ones. We must also work hard to reduce the amount of rubbish we produce. We all produce tons of rubbish and waste disposal has become a big problem. As an environmentally-conscious consumer we should buy products which do not have so much packaging. Also, we should try to avoid non-returnable goods at all costs. In Scandinavia and Germany, for example, plastic bottles and cans are now returnable goods.

    In conclusion it is important to emphasize once again the rise of consumer power. We must realize that we are all part of the problem.   {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. We can all reduce energy consumption at home and so cut the emissions from power systems.

B. For example, when we walk into a supermarket we can choose to buy environmentally friendly products and reject products which damage our planet.

C. There are some other ways to protect the environment.

D. Companies are developing environmentally friendly products that maintain a high quality and a low price.

E. But what are we doing about these problems?

F. Nevertheless we must also realize that we have the responsibility to be part of the solution.

G. Everybody has the duty to contribute to a cleaner world.

Your Teen Is Falling Asleep in Class

    Teens have a busy morning schedule as they need to wake up and get moving very early in order to catch a bus and get to school by the required time. This means teens need to get their rest the night before or they will be too tired to learn anything at school. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    When a teen falls asleep in class, two things happen: he/she misses what is being taught and he/she loses the respect of the teacher. He/She may also receive a consequence from the school, depending on the classroom discipline policy. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    To prevent your teen from being sleepy in class, try these three tips：

    *Set a time for “lights out” on school nights. This is never any later than 10 p.m. and preferably 9 p.m. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Soft music can be on and used to help calm your teen.

    *Help your teen develop a nighttime routine that involves activities that slow them down for the end of the day. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Turning off the computer and disconnecting from friends and the excitement of the day an hour before bedtime will also help your teen relax.

    * {#blank#}5{#/blank#} This will reinforce (增强) what it feels like to be rested and capable of accomplishing what he/she wants.

A．What's worse, they may even fall asleep in class.

B．Set a good example and show him/her your love for learning.

C．Taking a bath and reading are two activities that work well.

D．Point out the positives after your teen has had a good night's rest.

E．All of these things affect your teen's academic success and can be avoided.

F．“Lights out” means the computer, television, lights and cell phone should be off.

G．While your teen keeps his/her goals in line with your expectations, he/she may have his/her own goals.

How to help children improve the ability to study

    Children often have trouble studying because they haven't developed good study habits. Teaching your child study skills early will give those skills to become habits.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Create a Positive Learning Space. To increase concentration, set up a workspace for your child.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}.  His or her desk should have as few distractions as possible and be well equipped with school supplies, like pencils, erasers, rulers, calculators, loose leaf paper and even a computer if your child is at a grade level where a computer is helpful or necessary. The environment should also be cheery and fun so that he or she has a good mental association with it.

Maintain a Reliable Schedule. Make sure your child studies at the same time every evening. This habit keeps children from wasting time ,and helps them focus. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Most children have trouble focusing for more than an hour. Encourage your child to take a brief break can help him or concentrate more deeply when it's time to do so.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.Encourage your child to turn off his or her cell phone, video games and computer unless the computer is needed for the task at hand. These devices often distract children and can lead to wasting time. You should also be reasonably quiet and calm while your child is studying. Avoid noisy activities like talking loudly on the phone, vacuuming or watching television while your child is studying.

    Give Positive Reinforcement(强化).Positive reinforcement is not simply a matter of rewarding good study habits or high test scores, but also of acknowledging a child's progress no matter how small. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.It will help to improve his or her study skills in effective ways.

A. Studies show kids and teens are more willing to study when praised.

B. A loving, caring and optimistic reaction will often be just the thing that your child needs.

C. The following tips can help your child study better.

D. Keep your child away from electronic devices.

E. If possible, only use the space to complete homework.

F. Avoid Distractions.

G. Also, let your child take a brief break every hour or so.

Some Most Common Senior Year Mistakes

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}You'd better find out how to avoid these common mistakes. Finding a balance between having fun and studying for your courses is a great way to start preparing for college, since you will be called upon to do this during your college years.

    Here we've listed some top mistakes students make so that you can make sure you don't make them.

    Skipping Classes

    Skipping classes could mean missing valuable information for the coming tests.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} As is known to all, information you'll need for your major in your college program may be covered during a high school lecture you miss.

    Forgetting to Study

    When you feel less motivated to study, remind yourself that every good grade gets you closer to finding a college that offers a great program in the major you want. Keep your eyes on the prize!

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} To stay on top of your assignments, calculate how long you think something will take you, and then double it. That way you'll have ample time to get your work done.

    Daydreaming about Your Future Too Much

    Your mind now might be wandering, thinking around about degrees, majors, possible careers, study abroad and many other things. These are all exciting future possibilities, but don't forget the here and now.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Failing to Use Available Resources

    Teachers know about fall the challenges you're facing.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}This help can be in the form of extra office hours, a review of topics covered, study guides, sample exams, or other tools to help you improve your grade. Take advantage of them.

A. Start preparing for college

B. Mismanaging Your Time

C. Your senior year of high school is a busy time

D. And don't forget to think ahead to university classes

E. Almost every high school senior makes some mistakes.

F. Spending too much time daydreaming could seriously limit those future plans You

G. And many of them are nice enough to offer extra help.

    Caregivers care for someone with an illness, injury or disability. Caregiving can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Women especially are at risk for the harmful health effects of caregiver stress. These health problems may include stress and anxiety. There are ways to manage caregiver stress.

    The first thing to do is learn ways to better help your loved one.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}To find these classes, ask your doctor or call your local Area Agency on Aging.

    Take time out to meditate（冥想）or reflect. Spending 10 to 20 minutes twice a day to “clear your head” can work wonders when you're feeling overburdened. Some caregivers learn meditation techniques from classes or books on the subject, while others simply take time out to quietly reflect.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Exercising is another good way to help mind and body recover. It's one of the best-known techniques for reducing stress and keeping healthy. A quick walk several times each week gives you significant health benefits.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Your library may offer exercise DVDs. Invite a friend over to join you.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Nursing a garden, watching a favorite TV show, or reading an article that interests you. Your favorite hobby can help “center” you and remind you that you still have a life outside of caregiving. You must make some time－even for 10－to take care of yourself.

A. Stress from caregiving is common.

B. Try to do something you enjoy every day.

C. You'd better keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings.

D. Find caregiving resources in your community to help you.

E. Whichever way you choose, it's important that you focus on clearing your mind.

F. There are many good indoor choices, too, from walking in place to yoga or tai chi.

G. Some hospitals offer classes that can teach you how to care for someone with an injury or illness.

    Most people have a list of wishes—things that they think will bring them happiness. Happiness lists are easy to come up with. However, the mechanism behind them is somewhat complicated, since it involves what psychologist Daniel Gilbert calls the greatest achievement of the human brain—the ability to imagine. To imagine what will bring joy to our future selves requires mental time travel, which is a unique human skill resulting from two million years of evolution. We use this skill every day, predicting our future emotions and then making decisions, whether big or small, according to our forecasts of how they'll make our future selves feel.

    Yet, our imagination often fails us. When we're lucky enough to get what we wished for, we discover that it doesn't come with everlasting happiness. And when the things we feared come to pass, we realize that they don't crush us after all. In dozens of studies, Gilbert has shown that we can mispredict emotional consequences of positive events, such as receiving gifts or winning football games, as much as negative events, like breaking up or losing an election. This impact bias(影响偏差) —overestimation of the intensity and duration of our emotional reactions to future events—is significant, because the prediction of the duration of our future emotions is what often shapes our decisions, including those concerning our happiness.

    Just as our immune systems work tirelessly to keep our bodies in good health, our psychological immune systems routinely employ an entire set of cognitive(认知) mechanisms in order to deal with life's habitual attack of less-than-pleasant circumstances. Actually, our psychological immune system has an impressive feature of its own: the ability to produce happiness. Thus, when life disappoints us, we "ignore, transform, and rearrange" information through a variety of creative strategies until the rough edges of negative effects have been dutifully dulled. When we fail to recognize this ability of our psychological immune systems to produce happiness, we're likely to make errors in our affective forecasting.

    Happiness, Gilbert points out, is a fast moving target. As passionate as we're about finding it, we routinely misforecast what will make us happy, and how long our joy will last. In reality, he adds that the best way to make an affective forecast is not to use your imagination, but your eyes. Namely, instead of trying to predict how happy you 'll be in a particular future, look closely at those who are already in the future that you're merely contemplating(冥想)and ask how happy they are. If something makes others happy, it'll likely make you happy as well.