Taking good notes is a time-saving skill that will help you to become a better student in several ways.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Second,your notes are excellent materials to refer to when you,are studying for a test.Third,note-taking offers variety to your study time and helps you to hold your interest.

    You will want to take notes during classroom discussions and while reading a textbook or doing research for a report.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}.Whenever or however you take notes,keep in mind that note-taking is a selective process.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    The following methods may work best for you.

    Read the text quickly to find the main facts arid ideas in it.

    Carefully read the text and watch for words that can show main points and supporting facts.

    Write your notes in your own words.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Note any questions or idea you may have about what was said or written.

    As you take notes,you may want to use your own shorthand（速记）.When you do,be sure that you understand your symbols and that you use them all the time.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A.Use words,not complete sentences.

B.There are three practical note-taking methods.

C.You must write your notes on separate paper.

D.Otherwise,you may not be able to read your notes later.

E.You will also want to develop your own method for taking notes.

F.That means you must first decide what is important enough to include in your notes.

G.First,the simple act of writing something down makes it easier for you to understand and remember it.

    Do you remember the last time you read a book, or a magazine? Is checking e-mails or updating microblog your daily reading habit? If you're one of those who don't make a habit of reading regularly, you might be really out.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Stress Reduction

    No matter how much pressure you have at work, in your personal relationships, or other issues in daily life, it all just slips away when you lose yourself in a great story.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Knowledge

    Everything you read fills your head with new information, and you never know when it might come into use.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Besides, you might lose everything else—your job, your money, even your health, but knowledge can never be taken from you.

    Vocabulary Expansion

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} As a result, this will gradually enlarge your everyday vocabulary. Then you might become more knowledgeable and well-spoken, which can increase your self confidence and even help you get promotions more quickly.

    Better Writing Skills

    Exposure to well-written work has a great effect on your own writing. In other words, writing styles of other authors will influence your own work.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Now that reading has so many benefits, step away from your computer and go hunting for something new to read!

A. Here are some benefits of reading.

B. Here are some suggestions for your health.

C. The more you read, the more words you gain exposure to.

D. This goes hand-in-hand with the expansion of your vocabulary.

E. A well-written novel can bring you pleasure, and allow you to relax.

F. The more knowledge you have, the better-equipped you are for your life.

G. That is why beginners always learn how to write by reading the works of others.

Time for a Brainstorm

    A brainstorm is a session （会议）where a small group of people come together to solve a problem. People voice spontaneous ideas, sometimes just shouting, and a note-taker writes them all down.  {#blank#}1{#/blank#} By getting different ideas out there, ideas are said to bounce off each other and even can help solve the problem at hand. Brainstorming is often a group exercise but individuals can also conduct personal brainstorms.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}He defined it as using the brain to storm a creative problem and do so in commando (突击队）fashion，with each stormer attacking the same objective. According to him, it was easier to tone down a wild idea than think up a new one. He placed importance on the collection of as many ideas as possible and dismissed scientific thinking.

    Brainstorming has become one of the most popular ways to solve problems and hold discussion in schools and businesses. Many students brainstorm for a group assignment or even for a personal essay.  Sarah Grace, 24, is an Australian marketing analyst and uses brainstorming during all her creative duties.  She thinks brainstorming is the best way to work as a team. The sessions get everyone on the same page，everyone moving together and with a clear understanding about the foundations of an event or idea. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    However, a big problem with brainstorming is creating a mess that leads people further away from a solution. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you don't have a strong moderator or leader of the brainstorm, can go really off track，and people just start discussing something totally different.    
     Brainstorming can sometimes confuse the human brain.  {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you brainstorm too much and your page is filled up with all the messy links, you can paint yourself into a bit of corner and get trapped with ideas.  You need to move past brainstorming as soon as you have something workable.

A. The ideas can be smart，strange or crazy.

B. It is caused by a lack of direction from a leader.

C. Brainstorming really helps her organize her thoughts.

D. Brainstorming really is the best way to build team spirit.

E. It can open too many doors and not suggest a clear direction.

F. They can be words, phrases, paragraphs and anything that can help answer the question.

G. Brainstorms were popularized in the 1940s by American advertising boss Alex Osborn.

    Here are six diet foods that can hurt your weight loss journey.

    Diet soda.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Drinking diet soda can make you likely to overeat. The answer is because your body is tricked into believing you're ingesting sugar and it makes you crave more.

    Microwave popcorn.

    Microwave popcorn contains the organic compound diacety to give you that butter taste. Try to avoid this ingredient! {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Granola bars.

    Commercial granola bars can be loaded with corn syrup, salt and processed oils that can add to your waistline.   {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Veggie burgers.

    Say isn't so! Going veggie could damage your diet. Read the labels.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Also Hexane has been found in veggie burgers. This a gasoline by-product used during the process of separating soybeans into oil.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Yup. Low fat-products like yogurt can be loaded with sugar. In a cup of Stoneyfield Farm French Vanilla yogurt, there are 20-plus grams of sugar.

    Blue chips.

    Blue corn chips or vegetable chips are a great alternative to potato chips. But again, there needs to be portion control. They can be loaded with salt and fatty oils.

A. Roast meat.

B. Low fat yogurt

C. Diet soda can actually make you gain weight

D. You're better off making your own popcorn

E. Some are made with processed soy and loaded with oils and butter

F. It is as important for thinking as it is for lifting, especially as we age.

G. Opt(选择)for making your own granola at home, but watch your potions.

    Secure your home with these expert-advised home safety tips that turn burglars into losers.

    Store valuables carefully

    Thieves already know you're storing valuables, so upgrade your secret hiding places to ones that are harder to detect. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Thieves often search drawers in the master bedroom but tend to leave kids' rooms untouched. Just make sure it's a place your child can't easily access, like on a high closet shelf.

    Install your security system in the right spot

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, but they also make it easy for burglars to see inside your home. Install your security keypad in a spot that is not visible from the doorstep so no one can see if your alarm is set.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Knowing your house is completely unattended can make your vacation unnecessarily stressful. Whether you're going away for two weeks or just a long weekend, ask a neighbor to check daily for flyers stuck in your front door. Foxy criminals have been known to leave pizza ads in doors to see how long it takes for residents to remove them. Stopping newspapers and mail delivery for the duration of your trip is a sure way to prevent mail from piling up at your doorstep.

    Pay attention to bathroom windows

    Burglars are often people you've seen before, like a serviceman working on your house. If a yard worker or unknown visitor uses the bathroom, he may open the window so he can gain entry later.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    Join in a community-wide crime prevention program

    Cops are getting creative when it comes to catching criminals, and there are lots of opportunities for you to do your part to keep your community safe. Operation Identification is a nationwide project that encourages people to mark their property to fight against burglary and theft.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Also look into groups like Neighborhood Watch to see how you can get involved.

A. Let your neighbors be your eyes

B. Lower the volume of your telephone finger

C. Be sure to double-check that lock after this seemingly innocent person leaves

D.A simple solution is keeping important documents and objects in your child's room

E. Decorative glass or large windows may be important for your front entrance feng shui

F. If you suspect that someone is trying to break into your home, press the “Panic” button

G. In some cities, burglary rates for the system are much lower than those of non-Participants

How to make friends at a new school

    Starting with a new school can be difficult. Everything seems to be different, and you don't even know where to go for your own classes. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, if you use these skills, you can quickly turn some of those strangers into friends.

    Be yourself.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If some people don't accept you, they're not the kind of friends you need. People often stay together because they have similar interests. For example, someone who does a lot of sport may make friends with those who also run or swim a lot.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Remember to be nice to the people you meet at your new school. If you think that you will say something that may make them feel sad, do not say anything and just nod your head if they talk to you. Also, remember to be as helpful as possible!

    Believe in yourself.

    A smile goes a long way. When you walk in the halls, don't keep your eyes on the floor. Raise your head and make eye contact (目光接触) with other people. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Introduce yourself. Tell them your name and where you're from.

    Remember people's names.

    You like it when people use your name, and so do other people. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Besides, ask them in a kind way if they have a nickname (昵称). You'd be surprised how often this might come in handy.