How to Care for Your Ears?

    Ears not only let us hear, but they also paly a role in maintaining our balance, which is vital to our ability to function in daily life. Yet, we ignore them. We can't even see our ears, except in a mirror. We take it for granted what they do for us day in and day out—until we notice something worng, such as when an earache strikes or when we start having to ask people to repeat what they say. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

◆Clean your ear with a washcloth—covered finger only.

    Never put anything inside your ear canal, including cotton swabs (药签). {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

◆Leave earwax(耳垢) alone.

    Wax is your ear's way of eliminating （消除）anything foreign that gets into the ear canal. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you find you have too much earwax, use a few drops of earwax remover（去除剂）in the canal. After a few minutes, wash the ear with warm water.

◆Avoid noisy places.

    Rock concerts and construction sites are just a few places that frequently have noise levels that can damage

hearing.Any place where you have to shout to be heard should be avoided.

◆{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Be careful not to play MP3 too loud, especially if using earphone.

◆Be careful with illness and medications.

    Respiratory illnesses should be treated to avoid their spread to the ears. Certain medications can damage hearing, so follow the directions carefully before taking them.

    See your doctor if you suffer from sudden hearing loss or hear noises in your head. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A．Most people don't need to clean wax out of their ears.

B．In such case, go to see a doctor as soon as possible.

C．These can be symptoms of a serious illness which needs to be treated.

D．This article will show you how to care for your ears.

E．Turn the volume down.

F．Avoid using earphones while listening to MP3.

G．Your ear canal is very narrow, and a swab can damage it.

    There are many expressions with the word “dog”.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} They take their dogs for walks, give them goof food and medical care. However, dogs without owners to care for them lead a different kind of life. The expression, lead a dog's life, describes a person who has an unhappy existence.

    When we say we live in a dog-eat-dog world,{#blank#}2{#/blank#}A person has to work hard like a dog to be successful. Such hard work can make people dog-tired. And, the situation would be even worse if they became sick as a dog.

    Still, people say every dog has its day. This means that every person enjoys a successful period during his or her life.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Yet, some people say that you can never teach an old dog new tricks. They believe that older people do not like to learn new skills and will not change the way they do things.

    Some people are compared to dogs in bad ways. People who are unkind or uncaring can be described as junkyard dogs living in places where people throw away things they do not want. Junkyard dogs are often used to guard this property. They bark or attack people who try to enter the property. However, sometimes a person who appears to be mean and threatening is really not so bad. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Dog expressions are also used to describe the weather. The dog days of summer are the hottest days of the year. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} But we do not want it to rain cats and dogs.

A. We could say his bark is worse than his bite.

B. That means many people are competing for the same things, like good jobs.

C. But there are many difficulties on the road to success.

D. People love dogs and treat them well.

E. To be successful, people often have to learn new skills.

F. Dogs are loyal to people.

G. A rainstorm may cool the weather.

    Make sure your estate(财产) plan keeps up with life changes

    Few things are as important as estate planning. If you don't handle your business while you're alive, the ramifications(影响) can run deep and wide long after you're gone.

    Estate planning may seem discouraging because it deals with issues of aging. Or maybe you think estate planning is only something folks like Bill Gates do. It's for everybody. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Here's how.

    What's an estate plan? Think of estate planning as a set of legal documents that spell out who gets your possession when you die, who you want to make medical decisions, who should make financial decisions on your behalf, and more. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    This is not a one-shot deal. It's great that you finally got your will done, have your medical directives in place, and gave someone power of attorney. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Life is changing. Your documents should keep pace with change.

    “Remember to update beneficiaries on life insurance policies after the first spouse(配偶) dies,” says Martin Levine, chief financial officer for 4Thought Financial Group in Syosset.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Get help. This is one time when DIY probably isn't a good idea. Talk to a financial adviser, preferably one with expertise in estate planning.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Don't assume that establishing joint tenancy (sharing ownership in personal property, such as a home) or joint ownership over financial accounts is enough to protect your assets.

A. Make no assumptions.

B. But, you're hardly finished.

C. Decide to do it, and to avoid unexpected consequences.

D. It is difficult to choose a right heir before your death unless they are your closest ones.

E. Ideally, it will make things easier for your heirs(后继人) at a time when they most need it.

F. Finding a reliable agency to deal with your possessions is a wise choice when planning estate.

G. The birth of a child and divorce are other life events that will require updating estate planning documents.

    When things go wrong, many people turn to their friends for comfort and support. Are you the kind of person your friends trust to be there for them when they're feeling down? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. You might feel awkward or nervous about comforting a sad friend at first, but with a little practice, you won't have to worry about saying the wrong thing or making the situation worse. When one of your friends is upset, help him/her by being there for him/her, finding the right things to say, and avoiding common mistakes.

    ①{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Comfort your friend according to how upset he/she seems to be. If he/she seems to be very troubled, it may take more effort on your part to help him/her. If something is bothering him/her, but he/she isn't too upset, be there for him/her without overreacting.

    ②Find out what's wrong. Before you say anything try to figure out what the problem is. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. If you try to talk to your friend without knowing the situation first, you could end up with putting your foot in your mouth.

    ③Give your friend a hug. A kind touch will do wonders for your friend, even if you don't know what he/she is upset about. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.You can also pat him/her gently on the shoulder.

    ④Let your friend vent (发泄). If your friend needs to get his/her sadness or anger out, let him/her do. Pay attention and don't interrupt. Encourage him/her to express himself/herself fully.

    ⑤Just listen. Your friend needs someone to listen compassionately to him/her right now, so focus on doing that. Be patient and non-judgmental. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Don't act bored or try to change the subject.

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

Most teens can't wait to become adults, free to make their own decisions. But with freedom comes responsibility, and this applies especially to your finances. The earlier you begin developing good financial habits, the more secure your future will be. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Educate Yourself

To take charge of your financial future, read a few basic books on personal finance. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} And you will find it easier to say "no" to a friend who encourages you to waste money or classmates who plan expensive trips that you can't afford.

Plan Your Spending

 {#blank#}3{#/blank#} First, never spend more money than you can get, and second, watch where your money goes. The best way to do this is by creating a personal spending plan to track the money coming in and going out. 

Postpone Satisfaction

 {#blank#}4{#/blank#} However, you'd better prevent yourself from doing so. With more money saved, you can buy something even better. So whether you received money from a part-time job or special occasions like Chinese New Year, it is wise to hang on to your money so that you can enjoy a greater satisfaction later on. 

Start an Emergency Fund

To get ready for independence, you'd better save money for emergencies. So why not stick to a wise spending plan and put some money into this fund every month? {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It will also give you a sense of safety and enable you to sleep better at night. 

Managing money is a skill that takes time to develop. If you can form the habits of self-educating, planning and saving, you'll be on your way to a solid financial future.

A. There are two golden rules for you to follow.

B. Waiting to get what you want is called postponed satisfaction.

C. The best way to monitor your spending is to open a bank account.

D. Here are some habits that can help set you up for financial success.

E. This simple action will help you get out of unexpected financial problems.

F. Many teens rush to buy their favorite items as soon as they get some money.

G. Once you have learned enough knowledge, you won't be easily misled by others.