Travel Light

    Getting away for a short time always seems like a great idea—until you have to pack. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}The rule is: pack light. Here are some tips to help you pack.

    Make a list. Think of what you need from your head to your toes.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} When you've done this once, it'll be easier next time.

    2). Consider buying small-size samples of shampoo, toothpaste, and other items at your local drugstore. You can reuse the plastic containers next time you go away too.

    3). Choosing which clothes to bring is probably the hardest packing decision to make. Think once again from head to toe — hat, shirts, jeans, sneakers, etc. Once you've picked out what you want to bring, think carefully. Do you really need that extra pair of jeans? If so, fine.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Don't try to fool yourself. You are the one who will be left holding the bag.

    4). Weather is an important factor in your packing. If it's cold, you could wear a jacket, a sweater, a regular shirt, and a T-shirt. Putting them on will keep you warm. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Remember how much easier it will be to carry your bag! As for shoes, you may want to call ahead to see if dress shoes are necessary. If so, one pair will be enough, along with one pair of comfortable shoes. Remember that it is you who have been invited somewhere, not your things. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} So, do it right—pack light.

    Do you have a hobby? Something you look forward to spending your time with? Something you love to do?{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Or making model airplanes. Sketching. Or making useful things out of waste material. It could be a musical instrument that you love playing. Or singing and dancing.

    There are many things that a hobby can give you, apart from an enjoyable time. Sashay was a shy boy but through his interest in model airplanes he learned the value of sticking to a task until it was finished. His model airplane club brought him to get into touch with similar souls.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Having a hobby helps you relax and get away from the routines of school.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} You really need this well deserved one, too! It gives you focus, self dependence, confidence and builds your personality. This is an opportunity to lose yourself in an enjoyable activity, away from the pressure of school, so at the end of it, you feel relaxed and yet, mentally charged.

    Your hobby defines you.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}And it also shows you what you are good at, and how far you can go, when you apply yourself.

    So go ahead.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}.For a hobby is: Happiness: something which you look forward to doing. Opportunity: to nurture and develop your special and unique skills and celebrate them. Believe in yourself: makes you understand your strong advantages and improves your confidence. Best in you: brings out your best—for in each one of us there is a best that is only ours. YOU gives you a unique character, and makes you YOU!

A. Develop a hobby.

B. It gives you a break.

C. It proves your ability.

D. Hobbies show your character.

E. It showcases your special skills.

F. It could be collecting something.

G. He learned to make friends for the first time.

A Few Active Listening Guidelines

    Listening is arguably the most important element of interpersonal communication. Our ability to listen well impacts the quality of all of our relationships, and not just at home with our family and friends—it can also affect our relationships and interactions on the job, as well as the effectiveness and quality of our work.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Instead, it is a skill that must be cultivated and practiced. Active listening means the difference between simply hearing, and listening with the intent to truly understand. It is a subtle but important distinction.

    ①Give focused attention

    Try to minimize external (外部的) distractions. Turn down the noise, and put down or step away from what you're doing if possible. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Don't watch the clock, fidget (坐立不安) or go over your to-do list for later.

    ②{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Direct eye contact shows your attention and intention to listen. This doesn't mean stare, though. Be reasonable, but try not to let your eyes wander to whatever is going on around you.

    ③Reflect back

    Restate, but don't repeat verbatim. Paraphrase what you think the other party is saying with responses such as: "What I'm hearing is…" or "Let me see if I'm following you…"{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    ④Respond appropriately

    Be open and honest in your responses. Share your thoughts, insights and feelings in a clear, but respectful and considerate manner if you disagree.

    Active listening is a model for good communication. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It takes practice to develop active listening skills, and it's a habit that has to be reinforced (加强). Remind yourself that the goal of conversation is not merely to trade words, but to truly understand what the other party is saying and to be understood in turn.

A Few Universal Truths to Transform Your Life

    Life is growth. If you are not reaching the kind of success, the following Universal Truths are just the ones that help to change your life for the better, regardless of where you are, where you've been, or what challenges you are facing. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    The best way to achieve your desires is to set a goal. Sometimes we find ourselves "spinning our wheel", struggling through a day-to-day routine that isn't getting us anywhere because we don't know where we want to go. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Whatever the case is, figuring out what your goals are and whether your current actions are helping to achieve them is important.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Setting goals is important but isn't enough to drive you to the finishing line; it's important, too, to be able to imagine yourself as the achiever of your goals. How will you feel? Why is it worthwhile to follow these goals and not some other ones? If goals are the final result of a journey, your vision(愿景) is the fuel to get you there.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Whether you regard yourself as a towering tree or a blade of grass, or whether you think you are a high mountain or a small stone, you represent a state of nature that has its own reason of existence. If you truly admire yourself, you'll be courageous.

    There is no better time to begin than now. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} But the truth is that your time is now. No matter what dream or desire you have, you are likely not to have more time in your life to make it happen.

A. Having a vision is undoubtedly necessary.

B. Self-appreciation gets you to be positive to move you towards success.

C. Try to understand and let it be the guide to your life as follows.

D. Be sure that you are more powerful than you know.

E. Read and allow them to change your life in beautiful ways.

F. Sometimes we simply do what is expected of us without considering what we want to achieve.

G. You can make a bunch of excuses that you'll start when more experienced or richer.

Tips to Increase Your Productivity

    Want to get more done in your day? Of course you do. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}The good news is that everyone can increase the amount of tasks they accomplish in a day. Here are some tips to help you have a more productive day.

    Make a plan for your day. Make sure you know how you want your day to go in advance, even before you start. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} To work best, create the next day's plan the night before so that every morning you spend time performing, not planning.

    Break large tasks down into bits accomplished easily. Do you have a large project that's just so big that you keep putting it off? Or maybe you're just unsure of where to begin, so you put it off. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Therefore, you will feel a sense of accomplishment as you check the items of your list.

    Always set your priorities (优先事项). {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Figure out what must be done, do that first and rank the rest of your work according to importance. If you don't get to the items at the end of your list, it won't be a big problem, and you can do them another time.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you are the most productive in the morning, that's when you should hit it hard and do as much as you can. If you work better in the afternoon, take care of some things like emails in the morning and then accomplish the important projects in the afternoon. Keep on top of your work habits, and you'll be more productive.

A. Reward yourself if you are productive.

B. This can provide you a roadmap for the day.

C. Be aware of when you are the most productive.

D. It's tough to meet depressed people who are productive.

E. It's important to accomplish the most important tasks first.

F. A good way is to break the project down into more manageable ones.

G. To stay competitive in any industry, you need to improve your productivity.

Nowadays, for many people, buying a house or flat is just too expensive. However, the total amount of rent paid by tenants in Britain in 2017 rose to more than 50 billion-more than double the level of ten years prior. Consequently, a lot choose to share the flat.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

The pros? People rent a room and share the kitchen, living room and bathroom to save money.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}You may not even need to ask; just leave an IOU. Additionally, there's the fact that you gain access to their social networks. Living with people means meeting their friends, who may then become your friends.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Due to the nature of communal living, you're not just dealing with your own life events. Most likely, there will always be a shoulder to cry on when you need one. But don't forget to pay back when they need it.

Now the cons.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}In most cases, the kitchen, for example, will be divided up into designated shelves and areas. Worse, many people may not respect these boundaries. You might well come home to find someone steal your milk or shower gel, and no one owns up to it. Furthermore, there are the unexpected guests. If a flatmate forgets to keep you informed of a party they're throwing and it can be challenging for you to have a quiet night.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Some people prefer their own space while other s thrive in a social environment. Regardless, for many who lack the means to buy their own property, a flat-sharing is, and will continue to be, a necessity.

A. Lastly, there's the emotional support.

B. Those flat-sharing can share the secrets.

C. To start with, do you lack private space?

D. There's limited storage space, for a start.

E. Whether the pros outweigh the cons depends.

F. Then what are the pros and cons of flat-sharing?

G. Also, living with others means that you can pool your resources.