Ali is from a Middle Eastern country. He now stays in the USA. He smokes a lot of cigarettes every day. He has smoked for nine years. Ali says, “I tried to quit (放弃) smoking in my hometown, but it was impossible. My parents smoke. My brothers smoke. All my friends smoke. At parties and at meetings, almost all the men smoke. Here in the United States, not as many people smoke.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}”

Many smokers are like Ali: they want to stop smoking.  {#blank#}2{#/blank#}  They know it can cause cancer and heart disease. But it is difficult for them to give up smoking because cigarettes have a drug in them. The drug is nicotine. People who smoke a lot need nicotine.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} The nicotine makes him sick. In a few days, the smoker's body is used to the nicotine, and he feels fine. Later, the smoker needs nicotine to keep feeling fine. Without nicotine, he feels bad.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}  Many people who quit will soon smoke again. At a party or at work they will decide to smoke “just one” cigarette. Then they will smoke another cigarette, and another. Soon they become smokers again. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} 

A. It is very hard to quit smoking.

B. Thus nicotine makes smokers addicted to cigarettes.

C. It will be easier to change the smoking habit here.  

D. But it is said that medicine is needed to stop them from smoking.

E. When a person first begins to smoke, he usually feels terrible.

F. Maybe there is only one easy way to quit smoking: never start.

G. The smokers know that smoking is bad for their health.

    Warren Harding was the 29^th President of the United States, serving from 1921 until his death in 1923. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} One was a successful international conference (会议).

    After World War One, Britain, Japan and the United States expanded their navies (海军). They built bigger and bigger ships. Many members of the United States Congress worried about the cost. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} They asked President Harding to organize a conference to discuss these issues.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} President Harding invited representatives from the major naval powers of the time--Britain, Japan, France and Italy. He also invited representatives from countries with interests in Asia and Europe--China, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands. He did not invite the new Soviet leaders in Russia.

    Mr Harding's Secretary of State, Charles Evans Hughes, spoke. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} He proposed that the world's strongest nations should stop building warships for ten years. He also proposed that Britain, Japan, and the United States should destroy some ships to make their navies smaller immediately.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It involved the misuse of underground oil owned by the federal government. Warren Harding was an honest man. But he did not have a strong mind of his own. He was easily influenced. And he often accepted bad advice. He explained the problem with these words, “I listen to one side, and they seem right. Then I listen to the other side, and they seem just as right. I know that somewhere there is a man who knows the truth. But I do not know where to find him.”

A. He is remembered mostly for two events.

B. The conference was not a complete success.

C. They also worried about increased political tension (紧张) in Asia.

D. The conference was held in Washington in November, 1921.

E. President Harding appointed several men of great ability to his cabinet (内阁).

F. He offered the conference a detailed plan to reduce the size of the world's major navies.

G. The second thing for which President Harding is remembered is the Teapot Dome scandal (丑闻).

    Most people have practiced some form of hobby at a point in their lives, whether it is some form of sports, playing a musical instrument, creating art, cooking or something else. There are many different reasons and skills for taking up a hobby.

    Realize you have more time than you think.

    This is probably the one thing that keeps most people back from practicing a hobby. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But we waste so much time on social media, television commercials and worrying about life which we could have used to practice a hobby. Schedule some time for a hobby into your day. Plan ahead and just do it.

    Involve other people.

    Why? Well, have you ever noticed that you stick to something longer when you feel that you cannot let another person down? So, get someone to jog with you, or make music with you, or share recipes with you. Plus, you will inspire them to keep on practicing their hobby.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Put your money where your mouth is.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} So give out a bit of your budget lo your hobby of choice so that you cannot blame a lack of “materials” for not doing anything.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    For me, this has been the most important step in going out and doing a hobby. If you jog, decide which races you want to do this year. If you practice music, organize a concert.

    Find the pleasure in what you do.

    As with most things, starting of getting something ready to start can be difficult. But don't give up.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. It is a total win-win.

B. Work towards something.

C. Think of a hobby that might interest you.

D. Others' help will definitely do you good.

E. You think that you don't have enough time to even start.

F. The fact is that people spend money where their heart is.

G. Once you have started you'll find the beauty and relaxation in it.

    Studies have shown that drinking water on empty stomach can help increase metabolic (新陈代谢的)rate up by 30%.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. You know what that means right? -- Quicker weight loss!{#blank#}2{#/blank#}, then you will be able to digest food faster and maintain a slim figure despite eating those extra calories. However, this doesn't guarantee you to bite down on all that junk food. Furthermore, you will need to add in around four litres of water into your daily routine for best results.

    Constipation(便秘)is one of the most painful conditions which also results in remains of poisonous substances inside the body. But did you know that one of the other benefits of drinking water is that it helps to clear out your bowels? The colon(结肠),which is in part responsible for bowel movements, require water to function properly.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Drinking water on empty stomach especially if it's hot, can improve the health of our nervous system. Early morning, the stomach is most receptive. At this moment, if you love coffee, which makes central nervous system excited, your nervous system will be affected from the get-go. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, it can properly supply water to your nervous system, which will help it function properly.

    Again, if you are likely to suffer migraine attacks, then water can help fight it off.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} So just by increasing your water intake, you are basically preventing your chances from suffering another headache attack. This is especially so when you are drinking water on empty stomach, as your body didn't get any liquid when you were asleep.

A. If your metabolic rate is higher

B.H you just have a glass of warm water instead

C. When your skin is properly containing combined water inside

D. This means that the rate at which calories are burned increases by nearly one third

E. So just drink down a glass of water and sit on your toilet for a clean colon

F. Your doctor might have already told you that headaches happen due to lack of water

G. Besides, we all know that having a healthy appetite is good for overall health

How to Pass Final Exams

    If you're a student, exams are an important part not only of any class, but also your final grade. Preparing throughout the semester is the most effective way to do well on your final exams. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}There are things you can do to help you pass your exams.

    Attend class regularly. You cannot successfully pass a class or exams if you do not attend the class. This will allow you to hear important lectures and take notes. It also helps you understand your readings and assignments. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Teachers usually discuss what is on an exam during classes. If you aren't in class, you can, t get this important information.

    Start studying early. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}A month before the test date is a good time to begin your preparations. You can study simply by reviewing your notes for 20­30 minutes a day. If you have questions, ask the teacher.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Practice exams are a highly effective way to study for tests. They will help you relax and point out any weak areas you may have going in to the final exam date. If you test yourself just twice, you will remember 75% ­ 80% of the material two weeks later. With no practice tests, that figure is just 20%.

    Reduce your anxiety. You wouldn't have anxiety if you weren't worried about passing your final exam. However, research shows that anxiety blocks your ability to focus, which can really put a damper （抑制）on your studying and test performance. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Do a practice exam.

B. Understand how you can study best.

C. Every individual learns differently.

D. Most exams are based on what happens in class.

E. It is never too early to start studying for a final exam.

F. Basically, there's just no shortcut for knowing the material.

G. Try some relaxation techniques when you're feeling worried.

Master Your Deadlines

The struggle begins in high school, sometimes earlier. Deadlines, and lots of them, start to pile up. At college, the pressure sometimes leads to last-minute rush and unsatisfactory work. At work, failing to meet deadlines can easily get you fired. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are a few best practices.

▪Assign deadlines to what matters.

If the task isn't of high importance, don't set a specific deadline. In this way, you are able to keep it on your radar for a while without feeling pressured. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} This will provide just enough pressure to ensure you get it done.

▪ {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

Set a personal deadline for yourself a day or two before the actual deadline. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you're working with a group of people, add in even more time to account for potential follow-ups and the need for approvals.

▪ Keep communicating.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} This means letting others know when something is taking longer than expected, when a delivery didn't come in, when a client is not providing the necessary information, etc. Although it may feel embarrassing to admit that something is not on schedule, being honest is much better for relieving your stress.

A. Plan for flexible hours.

B. Finish your project as early as possible.

C. But if an activity is urgent, set a deadline immediately.

D. In this way, you'll never have to stay up late and feel stressed.

E. But handled properly, deadlines can actually improve productivity.

F. Whenever you feel challenged to finish work on time, communicate.

G. So if anything takes longer than expected, you can still wrap it up and submit it on time.