A new report says plastics are responsible for $13 billion in damage to the oceans and the undersea environment. The findings were announced recently at a United Nations conference．{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Plastic thrown away carelessly makes its way into rivers and other waterways.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. After a while, it collects in the sea. And plastic never goes away. Plastic is not biodegradable—destroyed by bacteria or natural processes. Instead, it just breaks up into smaller pieces over time. The oceans contain a lot of chemicals and other pollutants(污染物).{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.That means harmful material may get into our food supply.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Human beings cause pollution and they can take steps to stop it. They can use fewer single use product containers and throw plastics away correctly. Plastic recycling programs also works—where old bottles and other plastics are collected, broken down and used to make new products. We could reuse bottles in our households many times if we wish to, rather than end it after the first use. We could, when we get rid of that plastic, recycle it and reuse it, which replaces the need for raw materials.

    The report also calls on companies to improve methods for using plastics.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. And it calls for information about the way plastic is thrown out or removed from use. By putting a new value on plastic, industry has a special reason to clean up the environment.

    But all of the companies must join to deal with the problem.

A. Then, fish may eat the plastics.

B. But people can make a big difference.

C. Plastics should be gathered together and reused.

D. It is convenient to use plastic bags in everyday life.

E. It asks for them to better measure and control plastic use.

F. The plastic eventually reaches coastal areas and ocean waters.

G. The report tells about harm to sea life and what might be done to improve the situation.

    Some students prefer to learn by themselves. They think they can learn better in this way because they have more freedom, pressure and independence. There is some truth in their way.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}It is better to have a teacher, especially when they learn something more difficult. First, a teacher can act as a guide to lead you to success. When you learn, you need help and advice. A teacher will give you a hand when you face difficulties. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    What is more, a teacher puts real pressure on you.  If you study by yourself,you must be strong-minded enough to keep on.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} But under the guidance of a teacher, you will feel there is always someone to watch you. The teacher may give you homework to do. You must complete the homework, or you will not pass the course.

    Last but not least, studying with a teacher will help you receive the benefit of the teacher's knowledge {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.They teach students how to learn and how to obtain information. They guide all of you in class to discuss the material and provide extra material to broaden the scope of the topic.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}I choose to learn in a big family—my school. Without a teacher, I would feel there would be no fun and no pressure. I could not learn well in such dull and depressing circumstances.

A. Besides, teachers are connected with our life.

B. Teachers can help you solve all of your problems.

C. In short, I prefer to go to class studying with a teacher.

D. Without a guide, you would be searching in darkness.

E. And you may become inactive for lack of a strong will.

F. But they fail to see the advantages of learning with a teacher.

G. In class, teachers do more than just going over the material in the text.

    Everyone knows that fish is good for health. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}But it seems that many people don't cook fish at home. Americans eat only about fifteen pounds of fish per person per year, but we eat twice as much fish in restaurants as at home. Buying, storing, and cooking fish isn't difficult. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}This text is about how to buy and cook fish in an easy way.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Fresh fish should smell sweet: you should feel that you're standing at the ocean's edge. Any fishy or strong smell means the fish isn't fresh. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}When you have bought a fish and arrive home, you'd better store the fish in the refrigerator if you don't cook it immediately, but fresh fish should be stored in your fridge for only a day or two. Frozen fish isn't as tasty as the fresh one.

    There are many common methods used to cook fish. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}First, clean it and season it with your choice of spices (调料). Put the whole fish on a plate and steam it in a steam pot for 8 to 10 minutes if it weighs about one pound. (A larger one will take more time.) Then, it's ready to serve.

A. Do not buy it.

B. The easiest is to steam it.

C. This is how you can do it.

D. It just requires a little knowledge.

E. The fish will go bad within hours.

F. When buying fish, you should first smell it.

G. The fats in fish are thought to help prevent heart disease.

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

    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.

Many people might feel lost during a major transition (转折) in life. Life coaching, however, is the best choice for anyone who is looking for ways to get through the tough path of life.

{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Some life coaches might focus only on certain types of situations, like advancing careers, while others may be willing to help with nearly any life transition.

A life coach will often act as an advisor for his clients (客户). {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Many times, he will also be able to look at a client's life with a fair eye and offer fresh ideas on certain situations. In doing so, the life coach will usually be able to help his client work through any problems he may face.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} During this interview, the life coach should find out what the client's wants, needs and goals are in life.

How to help each client is different to everyone, and it is a very individualized process. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Because of this, a life coach must develop plans based on each client's strengths, weaknesses, abilities and so on. A life coach will also usually take each client's morals and values into consideration.

Some life coaches may be able to find employment with a few select universities and corporations. There are also a handful of large life coaching firms that hire life coaches as well. The majority of life coaches, however, work for themselves, opening their own life coaching practices.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Methods that work for one client may not work for another.

B. A good life coach should try to satisfy all the needs of his clients.

C. He is often expected to listen closely to their concerns and problems.

D. Before a life coach can help a client, he first needs an in-depth interview.

E. Life coaches offer guidance to all types of people in different stages of their lives.

F. In some cases, life coaches may work together and offer a wider range of services.

G. Generally, there are no strict education requirements for starting a life coaching career.