"Smart" Idioms

    Today we take a look at the word “smart”.If someone says you are smart,what do they mean?Is it a good thing or something bad?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}This is because the word smart has many meanings.

●That smarts!

    For example,someone could say you look smart or are dressed smartly.That means they like what you are wearing and your physical appearance.To use a slang（俚语）expression,they could say,“You look really cool!”But if something smarts,it can be unkind or hurtful,either physically or mentally.If you accidentally trip over a chair and fall down,you might shout,“Ow!That smarts!”Or if a friend says something that hurts your feelings,you can say you are smarting from the hurtful comments.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

●Smarting

    If you are standing too close to a campfire,you could say your eyes are smarting from the smoke of the fire. Here the word “smarting” means a sharp pain.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}If someone is smart as whip,they are able to think very quickly.

●Street smart and book smart

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Some people are considered street smart.They may not have a strong education.But they are good at dealing with people and problems in the real world.Other people might be book smart.This means they have spent many years in school.But they may not be so smart when dealing with people or real-world problems.

●Don't get smart with me!

    And then there is the definition of smart that means to talk or behave disrespectfully.If you say something disrespectful to your parents,they might say,“Don't get smart with me!”Here,“smart”means to show a lack of respect by saying something unkind.In fact,a child who has a smart mouth makes rude comments,not smart ones.This definition of smart can also be used as a verb.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A.Do they really mean you are smart?

B.People have different attitude toward being smart.

C.However,different people have different ways of being smart.

D.In fact,maybe that person is no longer you friend.

E.The answer is not as easy as you might think.

F.But the most common meaning of smart is to be intelligent.

G.If you smart off to the wrong people,they could hit you in the face.

    Doctors say anger can be an extremely damaging emotion, unless you learn how to deal with it. They warn that anger can lead to heart disease, stomach problems, headaches, emotional problems and possibly cancer.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Some people express anger openly in a calm reasonable way. Others burst with anger, and scream and yell. But other people keep their anger inside. They can not or will not express it. This is called repressing anger.

    For years many doctors thought that repressing anger was more dangerous to a person's health than expressing it. They said that when a person is angry, the brain releases the same hormones (荷尔蒙).They speed the heart rate, raise blood pressure, or sugar into the blood, etc. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Some doctors say that both repressing and expressing anger can be dangerous. They believe that those who express anger violently may be more likely to develop heart disease, and they believe that those who keep their anger inside may face a greater danger of high blood pressure.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} They say the first step is to admit that you are angry and to recognize the real cause of the anger, then decide if the cause is serious enough to get angry about. If it is, they say, “{#blank#}4{#/blank#}”  Wait until your anger has cooled down and you are able to express yourself calmly and reasonably.” Doctors say that a good way to deal with anger is to find humor in the situation that has made you angry. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. They say that laughter is much healthier than anger.

B. Expressing anger violently is more harmful than repressing it.

C. Doctors say the solution is learning how to deal with anger.

D. Anger may cause you a cancer.

E. Do not express your anger while angry.

F. Anger is a normal emotion that we all feel from time to time.

G. In general the person feels excited and ready to act.

    Although many Chinese students say that their knowledge of English grammar is good, most would admit that their spoken English is poor. Whenever I speak to a Chinese student, they always say, “My spoken English is poor.”{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    I would like to suggest that there may be some reasons for their problems with spoken English.

    First, they fail to find suitable words to express themselves due to a limited vocabulary.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}However, you can speak with a limited vocabulary, if you choose a positive attitude. Others will follow you as long as you use the words that you know.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Sometimes they make mistakes when they are speaking because they are shy and nervous. Yet students should remember that their goal should be FLUENCY NOT ACCURACY. Your aim in writing is to be accurate following the rules for grammar and using the right words and spelling them correctly. However, in speaking your aim is fluency. You want to get your message across, to talk to someone in English, as quickly and as well as you can, even though sometimes you may use a wrong word or tense , but it doesn't matter.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The third reason is that not enough attention is paid to listening . You have one mouth but two ears !All that hearing is necessary for you to start speaking .

    Fourth, most Chinese students are reactive rather than proactive language learners. Instead of actively seeking out opportunities to improve their spoken English they passively wait for speaking opportunities to come to them and wonder why their English always remains poor.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. The person you are speaking to will understand you and make allowances for nay mistakes he hears.

B. They may try to avoid making similar mistakes next time.

C. Obviously the better answer is to expand their vocabulary.

D. If you have this proactive outlook, then you will see English opportunities wherever you go.

E. However, their spoken English does not have to remain “poor”!

F. Second , they are afraid of making mistakes.

G. The second reason lies in the reluctance of using what has just been learned.

I Think I Can: How to Push Yourself to Success

    “Because I can” has magic power. It pushes us to leave our comfort zones. It gives us a reason to do the things that we think we can't. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    Whether it is to get to the store or work, climb the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Break the “I'm tired” or “It is too hard” or “It is too far” cycle. Increasing your activity level will provide enormous benefits, both physically and mentally.

    Try Something New

    It is easy for us to make excuses for why we shouldn't try new things.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Maybe it seems too difficult. Or maybe, it is just inconvenient. Reminding yourself that You Can try something new will help you to move past these roadblocks and discover new things about yourself and possible new interests.

Speak Up

    Often, we dare not address（处理）things that bother us or make us unhappy.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}.Use that voice “because you can.” Communicating to loved ones, co-workers, and even your boss as to how you feel, what your needs and expectations are and what you are thinking can help you develop deeper, more meaningful and rewarding relationships. Further, you will be truer to yourself, thus making you a happier individual.

Increase Your Willpower

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. However, developing a strong willpower, whether it is in response to our favorite chocolate cake or to over-shopping is something that we can all benefit from. Next time you are tempted to do something you think you might regret, try reminding yourself that you can say no. You have the power.

A. Saying “No” to our favorites can be challenging

B. Here are a few ways to apply this positive thinking to your own life

C. You have a voice

D. Be More Active

E. “Because I can” is an easy way to include more activities into your life

F. Maybe you think it is out of your comfort zone

G. A strong willpower can keep us motivated（有动机的）and reach our goals

    While it may seem that a cab driver has only one responsibility—to drive customers to and from certain destinations, this is not the case. Instead, a cab driver must be ready to take on a number of different tasks. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Taxis have been around in various forms for many centuries, and the many duties of a cab driver increase as time goes on. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Not only do cab drivers have to pick up all kinds of people, but many of them have to interact with their customers. Frequently, cab drivers are hired by tourists or business people for an entire day, and this can mean making unavoidable contact with different people with different personalities.

    Taxi drivers must also be able to operate different types of vehicles. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The vehicles have ramps (斜面) that can be raised and lowered. This type of vehicle requires a special license that most cab drivers must get before obtaining a position as a taxi driver.

    Generally, cab drivers are not required to repair vehicles. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} For example, almost all taxi drivers know how to change tires (轮胎), lights, and other small vehicle parts. Many drivers are also responsible for checking the taxi on a regular basis.

    Perhaps the most important task that a cab driver must be aware of is how to charge a customer for each trip. While the prices of some trips have been predetermined (商定), such as airport fares, other trips must be calculated using taximeters (计价器) and fee charts. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    What do you do in a situation like this? You're eating dinner with friends at a nice restaurant. You're having a great time when a phone rings at the table next to you. A man takes out his phone and starts talking loudly about problems he's having with his girlfriend. He talks for almost ten minutes! {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Many people find cell phones useful in their daily lives. But we've all sat next to someone talking too loudly on a cell phone. You may want to tell the loudmouth to end the conversation, but let the management take care of those noisy customers. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Here are a few rules:

    ▪Off means off! {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If a sign says "turn off cell phones", don't use your phone.

    ▪{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Speak softly and for a short time. Try to move away from other people.

    ▪Lights off, phone off! Never make calls in a theater or at the movies.

    ▪{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Talking on a cell phone while driving is dangerous. And watch where you're going when you're walking down the streets and talking on the phone.

    As more people use cell phones, things are only going to get worse. So, the next time you're getting ready to make a call, stop and consider the people around you.