Little－known facts about germs

    Germs are everywhere and in so many forms.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} There are some steps you can take to help prevent the spread of germs in your personal space.

    Computer keyboards can have more germs than a public toilet.Keys and spaces on a keyboard are main breeding grounds for bacterial and viral growth.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Clean your keyboard regularly with specialized wipes for electronics，and remove dust with an air duster.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} While it seems to make sense that covering your toothbrush would protect，the opposite is the case.With a cover on your brush，a more humid environment is created and more likely to encourage growth of germs.Wash your toothbrush when done，and allow it to air dry.Make sure you store it away from the toilet.

    Hand sanitizer(洗手液) does not always replace soap and water washing.Hand sanitizer is great when you're not near a sink，and need to clean your hands.But given the choice of a spritz of sanitizer or good old soap and water，choose the soap and water route.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}  Lather up and scrub hard for at least 20 seconds，and wash between your fingers and the back of your hands.Don't skimp with the hand sanitizer either—cover the same hand areas as for soap and water.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you freeze foods that you suspect might be spoiled，freezing them will not kill the germs already in the food.Freezing prevents further bacterial growth，but when you thaw it out，the bacteria continue to increase and pollute your food.

A．Freezing food does not kill germs.

B．Try not to eat outside especially in summer.

C．Exposure to germs can lead to many illnesses.

D．Toothbrush covers do not protect your brushes from bacteria.

E．There are a lot of effective ways to get rid of germs in your house.

F．Soap and water are only a better germ fighter when done properly.

G．Some reports show five times more germs on a keyboard than on a public toilet.

Is it necessary to learn when we are 50s, 60s or even 70s? Most people consider when they get retired, they are supposed to be completely laidback, do something fun, or hang around. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}It's particularly important to the elderly.

    Through learning, we know how to think, how to memorize, how to ask questions and even how to interact with others. According to a study, while we are learning, the brain creates neural(神经) pathways that make us smarter.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}The more we learn, the more new neural pathways develop in our brains.

When it comes to learning, it doesn't mean we must load ourselves with lots of knowledge. What we need to do is just learn something we like day in and day out.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Everyone learns from bottom to up. If we have an interest to learn, that desire will naturally push us to move forward.

As we feel worn out from learning, don't be discouraged.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}An old saying goes, “Birds of a feather fly together.” As long as we have partners to learn all together, our learning excitement will come alive again. On the contrary, if we don't learn, and choose to distance ourselves from others, we might be getting dumb, and slow; eventually, we lose energy, and life passion. Instead of being bored, dumb, why don't we keep learning?

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} More importantly, learning explores our life horizon, helps us build up our confidence; gradually, it leads us to a way of finding a sense of value and achievement in the process of learning journey.

A. It's never too old to learn.

B. Don't worry if we cannot learn well.

C. You should set a high learning target.

D. Learning makes us understand how potential we are.

E. In other words, our brains are active as we learn something new.

F. Look for a partner who has the same common interest as you do.

G. However, the truth is that learning makes us energetic, and self-fulfilled.

    My mother is a diligent and kind woman. She is very busy from morning till night. As a teacher, she works hard.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Both my brother and I love her dearly as she loves us.

    My mother has been teaching math at a middle school in my hometown. She goes to work early in the morning and does not return home until late in the afternoon. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} She treats them with patience and teaches them well. For her excellent quality and very good teaching results, she has been elected as a model teacher several times.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Every day, when she comes back home from work, she sets about doing housework, sweeping the living room and bedrooms or cleaning the furniture, and putting everything in good order. She seems to be busy all the time. As she has been very busy working every day, she looks older than her age. But she looks as cheerful and happy as ever. Mother never buys expensive dresses for herself, but she often buys some inexpensive but high quality clothes for us.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}She just eats a plain meal outside when she is too busy to cook herself. She lives a busy yet simple life, without any complaints.

    Often she says to us, “Work while you work, and play while you play. That is the way to be happy and gay. If you do not work, you will become lazy and be of no use to society”. What a piece of good advice this is! {#blank#}5{#/blank#}This advice of hers will always serve as a guide to my behavior. My mother is great indeed, and I always feel proud of her.

A. She enjoys listening to classical music.

B. As a mother, she takes good care of us and gives us every comfort.

C. She loves her students and cares for them.

D. She never goes to expensive restaurants to enjoy meals.

E. My mother is hard-working and never wastes money.

F. I never forget it and always bear it in my mind.

G. Can you tell us something about your mother?

Think like This When You Feel Stressed

    It's a sweet opportunity. If you look on pressure as a threat, you are sure to be negatively impacted by its occurrence. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} They look on it as a great chance. They will cherish (珍惜) the pressure moment and approach it with confidence and enthusiasm.

    I'll get another chance. Under pressure, we often lose hope. We tend to distort (扭曲) the reality of the situation. One of the most common phrases is the “chance of a lifetime”, in which we tell ourselves, “I will never get an opportunity like this again, so I can't miss it. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    I'll do my best. This is what people who do their best under pressure tell themselves when they are going into a pressure moment. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Because it prevents them from wasting valuable energy worrying over things they can't influence and promotes confidence at the same time. Focusing on doing your best keeps you in the moment and guides your behavior toward success.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} People who perform their best in pressure will reduce the significance of the upcoming pressure moment, so they feel less stressed. Whether it's a sales call or an interview for their dream jobs, they are like winning athletes, and when asked how to handle the pressure of the big game, they responded, “It's just another game.”

    I can control how I respond. People who do their best in a pressure moment focus on what they can control. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you have an upcoming interview, don't worry about the other applicants. You can't control them. Practice how you will handle an unexpected problem.

A. It's no big deal.

B. It stops you paying attention to anxiety.

C. Instead, take care of your own business.

D. Remembering past successes increases your confidence.

E. In fact, we have many chances to succeed in our lifetime.

F. But people who do their best in a pressure moment are different.

G. Focusing on doing your best quickly decreases pressure in the moment.

Overcome Culture Shock in the Classroom

    Culture shock occurs in a classroom when students are exposed to a new situation.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. However, it can also happen to students moving from a small town to a large city, to home－schooled students starting formal school education or to students progressing from one level of education to another. There are several strategies that teachers can use to help students overcome culture shock.

    Make group rules

    Brainstorm(集体讨论) group rules with the class as a whole to create a safe space and good learning environment.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Rules could include respecting differences, listening when someone is speaking and not teasing, for example.

    Provide a partner

    Find a partner for the new student in the adjustment period.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}. A good partner is someone who is friendly, outgoing and patient. The partner should show the new student around the school, spend time with him or her after class and eat lunch with him or her.

    Know the source of a problem

    Identify problems early and work with the student and his or her family to deal with them. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. It can also be caused by overseas or home school environment. Students and parents need to be aware of all the rules and customs that apply.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Create lessons that include information about different countries and traditions. These could include story reading, geography, cultural studies and history. Encourage the student to share some information about himself or herself.

A. Create special lessons

B. Respect other cultures

C. They have lost their own language and culture

D. Explain the rules and require everyone to follow them

E. A partner can help him or her quickly adapt to the new environment

F. Classroom culture shock is often caused by the very different environment of a classroom

G. Typically, this happens when a new immigrant(移民) arrives in a classroom for the first time

    If you live in a city where everyone rushes, realise that you don't have to be like everyone else. You can be different. I can't give you a step-by-step guide to moving slower, but here are some ideas to consider and perhaps adopt, if they work for your life

    ⒈Do less

Cut back on your projects, on your task list, on how much you try to do each day. Focus not on quantity but on quality. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    ⒉Have fewer meetings

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Try to reduce the number of meetings and have blocks of time with no interruptions, so you don't have to rush from one meeting to another.

    ⒊{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    If you're constantly rushing to appointments or other places, it's because you don't allot(分配)enough time in your schedule for preparing and for travelling. Pad your schedule to allow time for this stuff. If you think it only takes you 10 minutes to get ready for work or a date, perhaps give yourself 30 to 45 minutes so you don't have to shave in a rush or put on makeup in the car.

    ⒋Practise being comfortable with sitting and doing nothing.

    When people have to wait, they become impatient or uncomfortable. Try standing in a line and just watching and listening to people around you. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    ⒌Realise that if it doesn't get done, that's OK

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} And yes, I know that's a frustrating attitude for some of you who don't like laziness or living without firm deadlines, but it's also reality. The world won't end if you don't get that task done today.

    Try these things out. Life is better when unrushed.

    Remember the quote: if nature can get everything done without rushing, so can you.

A. Do nothing but wait.

B. Pick two or three important things-or even just one -and work on those first.

C. Start to put off or cancel the unnecessary.

D. Give yourself time to get ready and get there.

E. Meetings are usually a big waste of time and make you rush.

F. There's always tomorrow.

G. It takes practice, but after a while, you'll do it with a smile.