If anyone had told me three years ago that I would be spending most of my weekends camping. I would have laughed heartily. Campers, in my eyes, were people who enjoyed insects bites, ill-cooked meals, and uncomfortable sleeping bags. They had nothing in common with me. .
The friends who introduced me to camping thought that it meant to be a pioneer. We sleep in a tent, cooked over an open fire, and walked a long distance to take the shower and use the bathroom. This brief visit with Mother Nature cost me two days off from work, recovering from a bad case of sunburn and the doctor's bill for my son's food poisoning.
I was, nevertheless, talked into going on another fun-filled holiday in the wilderness. Instead, we had a pop-up camper with comfortable beds and an air conditioner. My nature-loving friends had remembered to bring all the necessities of life.
We have done a lot of it since. Recently, we bought a twenty-eight-foot travel trailer complete with a bathroom and a built-in TV set. There is a separate bedroom, a modern kitchen with a refrigerator. The trailer even has matching carpet and curtains.
It must be true that sooner or later, everyone finds his or her way back to nature. I recommend that you find your way in style.
A．This time there was no tent. B．Things are going to be improved. C．The trip they took me on was a rough one. D．I was to learn a lot about camping since then, however. E．I must say that I have certainly come to enjoy camping. F. After the trip, my family became quite interested in camping. G. There was no shade as the trees were no more than 3 feet tall. |
Interruptions are one of the worst things to deal with while you're trying to get work done. , there are several ways to handle things. Let's take a look at them now.
.Tell the person you're sorry and explain that you have a million things to do and then ask if the two of you can talk at a different time.
When people try to interrupt you, have set hours planned and let them know to come back during that time or that you'll find them then.. It can help to eliminate(消除) future interruptions.
When you need to someone,don't do it in your own office.， it's much easeier to excuse yourself to get back to your work than if you try to get someone out of your space even after explaining how busy you are
If you have a door to your office, make good use of it. . If someone knocks and it's not an important matter，excuse yourself and let the person know you're busy so they can get the hint(暗示) that when the door is closed, you're not to be disturbed.
A.If you're busy, don't feel bad about saying no B. When you want to avoid interruptions at work C. Set boundaries for yourself as your time goes D. If you're in the other person's office or in a public area E. It's important that you let them know when you'll be available F.It might seem unkind to cut people shirt when they interrupt you G.Leave it open when you're available to talk and close it when you're not |
Lots of people find it hard to get up in the morning and put the blame on the alarm clock. In fact, the key to easy morning wake-up lies in resting your body clock Here is how to make one.
● In order to make a change, you need to decide why it's important. Do you want to get up in time to have breakfast with your family, get in some exercise, or just be better prepared for your day? Once you are clear about your reason, tell your family or roommates about the change you want to make.
● Rethink mornings. Now that you know why you want to wake up, consider re-arranging your morning activities. If you want time to have breakfast with your family, save some time the night before by setting out clothes, shoes, and bags.That's a quarter-hour more you could be sleeping if you bought a coffee maker with a timer.
● Keep your sleep/wake schedule on weekends. If you're tired out by Friday night, sleeping in on Saturday could sound wonderful. But compensating on the weekends actually feeds into your sleepiness the following week, a recent study found.
● Keep a record and evaluate it weekly. Keep track of your efforts and write down how you feel. After you've tried a new method for a week, take a look at your record.If not, take another look at other methods you could try.
A. Get a sleep specialist. B. Find the right motivation. C. A better plan for sleep can help. D. And consider setting a second alarm. E. If the steps you take are working, keep it up. F. Stick to your set bedtime and wake-up time, no matter the day. G. Reconsider the 15 minutes you spend in line at the café to get coffee. |
Helen Keller once wrote, “The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves.”The UN has set December 5 as Internatuional Volunteers Day to give recognition to these people.
Nineteen-year-old Andrew Makhoul was a communications major at the University of Pennsylvania. It was coming up to spring break, but unlike his classmates, Makhoul wasn't planning on spending the break relaxing.
He traveled to Guatemala. He went to an orphanage（孤儿院）in one of the most violent and poor parts of Guatemala city. Although he didn't speak much Spanish, he found communication wasn't a problem: “You communicated with love.” And what he gave out, he got back: “You could see love when you looked in their eyes.”
Makhoul's first time as a volunteer only lasted a week, but by the end of that week, he knew he'd be back in the future.
The UN highlighted the case of Palestinian women who are survivors of breast cancer. As part of the UN's Aid and Hope Programme for Patient Care, the women have been volunteering their time to create low-cost breast prosthetics（假体）to be distributed to women for free, among whom Shahd El-Swerki is a brilliant example. By the end of her time there, she admired these women who are “not only survivors but also volunteers”.
About 2,400 years ago, Greek philosopher Aristotle said, “The essence（本质）of life is to serve others and do good.” Volunteers all around the world are making these words come true, each and every day.
A. It depends upon volunteers to stay open.
B. She worked with the women as part of the programme.
C. Here, we tell two volunteering stories from around the globe.
D. Sometimes, volunteers themselves live with huge challengers.
E. He decided to spend his time doing something useful for people.
F. Volunteers want to do their best to make the world warmer and more beautiful.
G. These words certainly prove true for the millions of volunteers all over the world.
Your telephone is running low on power while you are waiting to fly out of an airport.
Then you discover a public USB charging area close by.Then you take a deep breath and sit back, happy to get the power for free.
What could go wrong? Plenty.
In addition to providing an electrical current, phone charging cords can send and receive data. That free USB charging hub at an airport, hotel or any other public place may not only charge your phone.The USB charging hub could be connecting to your phone and copying your contact list, email and text messages, voice mail, photographs and videos. It can also copy passwords, banking information and any other information stored on your phone.
If you want to charge your phone while traveling, you have other choices that do not increase your risks.
Connect your phone only to electrical outlets so data transfer is not possible. It is better to use a distant wall outlet than a nearby USB charging hub.
Carry an extra, fully-charged battery. Having one means you can charge your phone without having to worry about carrying a special cord or finding a power outlet.
If you must use a public USB charging center, be sure to turn off your phone completely.
But it will reduce the chances of it happening, depending on what phone you have.
A. Remember to fully charge your phone before you leave home or work.
B It also could be transferring information to and from the device.
C. The public USB charging hub may even download programs to your phone.
D This may or may not prevent data transfer.
E. You can charge your phone with the extra battery wherever you are.
F. An available outlet may not be as near as a USB charging hub, but the few extra steps may keep you safe.
G. You quickly reach for a charge cord and connect your phone to the charging hub.
We Chinese are really particular about what we eat; meanwhile we are also concerned with how we eat. Along with the growing popularity of the manners in the workplace, The following are some Chinese table manners. Hope it would help you to get an idea on how to handle the table manners with high proficiency.
At the beginning of Chinese dinner, the first wet towel served by the waiter is for the hands, not the face. Along with lobster, chicken and fruits would come a small basin in it some lemon slices or rose petals are floating on the water,When washing your hands, you should wet your fingers in turn and wash them quietly, then dry your hands with wet towel.
You can introduce the features of Chinese food to foreign guests. and they can choose dishes as they like. Some people like to recommend food or even picking up dishes for the guests, but you have to know the foreign guests are not used to this; they may grow tired of your repeated advice.
You have to pay attention to the manner when picking up food, only do so when the dishes come in front of you; do not pick up before your neighbors; the dishes should not be picked up too much at one time and you should chew your food slowly, It is a greedy performance to wolf down the food.
For example, avoid touching the neighbor, be careful not to make the dishes out of the plate or spill the soup. Please do not make food noise when drinking the soup or chewing the dishes. Do not chat with others when eating. Do not spit the bones or the fish bone directly to the desk, you had better cover your mouth and pick it out on the plate with your chopsticks.
A. Dining manner should be gentle
B. Do not repeatedly urge the guests to eat
C. which is for hand-washing not for drinking
D. table manners are also demanding more attention
E. At last, you should learn how to become a gentleman
F. we should know how to be polite in some public places
G. which is not only good for digestion but also a part of table manners
How to Become an Activist （活动家）
Activists are people who see the need for change and devote their time to doing something about it.If you are interested in it you can do so.
This could be anything from a student club to a national organization （like the American Civil Liberties Union or the National Organizers Alliance）. Most activist organizations offer different levels of involvement, so you can do whatever you feel most comfortable with, whether that means attending meetings and demonstrations or just donating a little money when you can.
Volunteer your time. One of the best ways to make a difference is to volunteer your time. Reach out to organizations in your community that do work for your cause, and ask how you can help.
Donate money or supplies.If you can't afford to donate money to an organization that supports your cause, you may be able to donate other things they need, like clothing or canned food.
Reach out to family and friends. Tell your family and friends about your cause, and invite them to get involved. If they are interested, share literature about your cause or just talk to them about what you have learned.
Promote your cause on social media. You can use social media to help keep your friends and followers informed about the causes you support.Also, you can invite your friends to attend events or donate to fundraisers for your cause.
A. Take classes on issues related to your cause.
B. Join an organization that supports your cause.
C. They are driven by passion and a vision for a better future.
D. If you do volunteer work, invite them to volunteer with you.
E. Most activists or charitable organizations need resources to do their work.
F. Post useful articles and write about what you are doing to stay involved.
G. If you can't reach out to them in person, then try connecting to people online.
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.
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.
Knowledge
Everything you read fills your head with new information, and you never know when it might come into use.Besides, you might lose everything else—your job, your money, even your health, but knowledge can never be taken from you.
Vocabulary Expansion
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.
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.
Fans used to be crazy about a specific film, but now the public tends to base its consumption(消费) on the interest of celebrity attached to any given product. Besides, fashion magazines have almost abandoned the practice of putting models on the cover because they don't sell nearly as well as famous faces..
Celebrity clothing lines aren't a completely new phenomenon, but in the past they were typically aimed at the ordinary consumers, and limited to a few TV actressesThe most successful start-ups have been those by celebrities with specific personal style. As celebrities become more and more experienced at the market, they expand their production scale rapidly, covering almost all the products of daily life.
No matter how famous the product's origin is, if it fails to impress consumers with its own qualities, it begins to resemble an exercise in self-promotional marketing. And once the initial(最初的) attention dies down, consumer interest might fade, loyalty(忠诚) returning to tried-and-true labels.
The pop-cultural circle might be bigger than ever, but its rate of turnover has speeded up as well. Each misstep threatens to reduce a celebrity's shelf life, and the same newspaper or magazine that once brought him fame has no problem picking him to pieces when the opportunity appears. Still, the ego's(自我的) potential for expansion is limitless. Having already achieved great wealth and public recognition, many celebrities see fashion as the next frontier to be conquered. As the saying goes, success and failure always go hand in hand. Their success as designers might last only a short time, but fashion-like celebrity-has always been temporary.
A. Today, celebrities face even more severe embarrassment
B. It is the celebrity effect, rather than the quality of the products that appeals to the consumers
C. Celebrity has become one of the most important representatives of popular culture
D. The public's taste of fashion is not always constant and easy to predict
E. Today they're started by first-class stars whose products enjoy equal fame with some world top brands
F. However, for every success story, there's a related warning tale of a celebrity who overvalued his consumer appeal
G. As a result, celebrities have realized their unbelievably powerful market potential, moving from advertising for others' products to developing their own
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．.
Plastic thrown away carelessly makes its way into rivers and other waterways.. 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)..That means harmful material may get into our food supply.
. 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.. 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.
Recently some American scientists have a useful piece of advice to people in industrialized nations. They say people should eat more of the same kind of food eaten by humans living more than 10, 000 years ago.
The scientists say that the human life has changed greatly. Our bodies have not been able to deal with these changes in lifestyle and this has led to new kinds of sicknesses. These new sicknesses were not known in ancient times.So they are called “diseases of civilization”.
Scientists noted that people in both the Old Stone Age and the New Stone Age enjoyed very little alcohol or tobacco, probably none. However, a change in food is one of the main differences between life in ancient times and that of today.
Stone Age people hunted wild animals for their meat, which had much less fat than domestic ones. They ate a lot of fresh wild vegetables and fruits. They did not have milk or any other dairy products, and they made very little use of grains.We eat six times more salt than our ancestors. We eat more sugar. We eat twice as much fat but only one third as much protein and much less vitamin C.
But scientists say that we would be much healthier if we eat much the same way the ancient people did, cutting the amount of fatty, salty and sweet food.
A. People today probably don't want to live like our ancestors. B. Ancient people also got lots of physical exercise. C. Stone Age people lived a simple life. D. Many cancers and diseases of the blood system are examples of such diseases. E. Modern people used to suffer from “diseases of civilization.” F. But today, we enjoy eating a lot of these. G. In that case, they would live much healthier. |
Why Walking Your Dog Is Great Exercise
Having trouble sticking to an exercise program?Research shows that dogs are actually nature's perfect personal trainers-loyal,hard-working,energetic and enthusiastic.Your friends may skip an exercise session because of appointments,extra chores or bad weather.
Is dog walking really effective exercise?Many people are becoming interested in exercise to help lose excess weight.Dog owner-ship and obesity were evaluated in Seattle,Wash.,and Baltimore,Md.,in a study published in the journal Preventive Medicine in September 2008.Dog owners who reported walking their dogs were almost 25 percent less likely to be obese than people without dogs.
What are the benefits of regular exercise?Dr.Joanna Kruk reviewed medical literature describing the health benefits of exercise.Her research showed that the risk of developing a number of serious health problems is reduced by physical activity and exercise.
It's easy to forget about healthy walking plans,so set the stage for a successful program: Establish a walking schedule; plan to walk 30 minutes total each day.This might include a 10-minute neighborhood walk in the morning and a 20-minute romp at the dog park after work.Or maybe three 10-minule walks or one 30-minute walk fit in better with your day.
If dog walking is "scheduled" each day,you'll feel more responsible for sticking with your program.Most importantly,daily walking your dog will keep it fit and give it an opportunity to utilize their senses while also engaging their mind.
So,grab a leash,whistle to the pup,and go for a walk-today and every day! Take action!
A.Plan for success.
B.Track your progress.
C.This will reinforce your good behavior.
D.Dog walking is a great way to start a healthy lifestyle program.
E.However,dogs never give you an excuse to delay exercising.
F.Plus,your dog will also get used to the routine and remind you when "it's time"!
G.Obesity is affecting about one in every three to four adults in the United States and Europe.
Four Habits to Help You Succeed
We all want to succeed, whether it's in losing weight or learning the guitar. For those who have tried and failed, success seems difficult to understand. Why does one person succeed where another person fails?
1）Identify your core values.
Finding your core values is in line with creating inner motivation.Pick a handful of things and actually write them down. Remind yourself of your values every day, and reflect on whether you are honoring those values through your work.
2）Pick a goal and focus on it.
Choose one goal to start something large enough that will give you a sense of achievement, while adjusting well to your core values. Focus is key here.If you perform many tasks at a time, you might never complete your projects because they will take far too long.
3）Set a deadline for success.
Set a date for success. Identify when you hope to achieve your goal.By setting a time limit, you are making the process more real.
4）
Failure can't be avoided when you take risks. By its very definition, the desire to succeed means you are risking failure. Many people tend to give up far too early. Don't fall into this trap! Remember your mindset earlier. Know it will happen. A failure is merely you working out the details, and learning what works and what doesn't. Use failure. Treat it as a good thing, and move on!
A. Stick to your goal. B. Make the right decision. C. I've made a list of four habits to help you set goals and achieve them. D. Sit and reflect on what you value most. E. Keep it realistic, while not giving you too much time. F. The more focused you are on one goal, the higher chance you have of success. G. Push yourself to be courageous, and take that next step. |
Becoming Refreshed without sleeping
Sometimes there is just not enough hours in the day to get everything done and get a good night's rest. Once in a while you can get away with a sleepless night and still feel reasonably good by adjusting your meals and activities.
The last thing you want to do when you are tired is get warm and cozy, this will cause you to fall asleep. Keeping the air conditioner on will make you feel much more alert and refreshed.
Eat small amounts. Eating small amounts of healthy food will help refresh you. Fruit and nuts are a good choice because they are nutritious and will energize you Try to stick to low carbon meals to keep you going. Chewing gum after your snack or small meal will also help keep you awake.
Keep it bright. When it is dark your body thinks it is time to go to sleep. Turn on lots of lights, which will trick your body into waking up and feeling better. You get double the benefits if it is daytime.
Take a break. Taking a little break will help you in the long run. Turn up some energizing music to get yourself positive. Relax and talk to a friend in person or on the phone for a few minutes.
A. Keep it cool
B. Calm down and sleep
C. Avoid big, heavy meals as they will make you tired
D. Going outside whether it is day or night for some fresh air
E. Missing sleep regularly can make you sick and should be avoided
F. When you are tired, you may just want to sit around and do nothing
G. Having a good time for a few minutes will refresh you quicker than anything else.
Make Your Brain Smarter
You know that eating a proper diet and getting plenty of exercise help make your body healthy and strong. But did you know that there are ways to make your brain healthier and smarter? Studies show that when the brain is forced to do something new, it creates new neural (神经的) pathways.
● Limit your TV viewing.
Watching an average TV show requires very little brain power and brings the same result as neglecting (忽视) physical exercise. If you watch TV, choose something educational and informative.
● Use your non-dominant (非支配的) hand.
If you are right-handed, use your left hand for everyday activities, or use your right hand if you are left-handed. Doing familiar things in a new way will cause your brain to create new neural networks. Brushing our teeth is something we do daily. But maybe we should. Experts suggest that we can force the brain to work by changing things up and working with our non-dominant hand. So the next time you brush your teeth, open the tube, apply your toothpaste and brush with the opposite hand.
●
Jump in the shower and shut your eyes. Even if you drop the soap—that's okay. Searching for the soap while feeling the textures (质地) with your eyes closed works. Using your fingers to make fine distinctions between objects or textures can reconnect the brain areas involved in touch, suggests Larry Katz, a professor of neurobiology at Duke University Medical Center and author.
A. Shower with your eyes closed.
B. Smart people rarely follow a set pattern.
C. The more pathways you have, the smarter you will be.
D. Use your different senses.
E. We really don't put that much thought into it.
F. Put your brain to best use.
G. Your brain will become weak just as your muscles do.
Common public speaking problems
The use of “I feel”, “I think” and “maybe”
In the question-and –answer session of the speaking competition, many contestants began their answers with uncertain expressions like “I feel”, “I hear”, “maybe” and “perhaps”. These words show that the person is only speaking from his or her point of view.
Work on keeping your answers brief and to the point. Also work on delivering them with calmness and confidence. Instead of the empty-sounding “I guess”, using facts, together with a clear conclusion based on those facts, is far more likely to be popular with an audience.
Don't stick to the same tone. It can be boring. Try to mix it up. For example, when they spoke about their dreams, some sounded romantic. Others used humor. Very few used several different styles tighter. , rather than just sticking with the same one.
Irresponsible answers
. you're responsible for your words. Even though you want to answer quickly, you don't want to sound foolish. So you should think twice before you talk. Don't be like the student who, when asked about his opinion on book piracy(盗版), started by saying he supported it.
Talking around the topic rather than directly answering it
You should focus on one point and give a clear solution. . is it asking you to discuss a certain topic or to present your own point of view?
Use one or two arguments together and give a strong conclusion. Remember that judges are not judging you on whether they agree, but on your ability to say what you think clearly.
A. Try mixing more than one style.
B. Improving your communication skill.
C. Using only one speaking style
D. It's important to involve your audience.
E. Public speaking is different from personal conversations.
F. The key is to work out what question is being asked
G. To the judges and audience, this lacks the support of facts and seems not to be reliable.
Third-Culture Kids
Did you grow up in one culture, your parents came from another, and you are now living in a totally different country? If so, then you are a third-culture kid!
The term “third-culture kid” (or TCK) was coined in the 1960s by Dr. Ruth. She first came across this phenomenon when she researched North American children living in India. Caught between two cultures, they form their very own. About 90 percent of them have a university degree, while 40 percent pursue a postgraduate or doctor degree. They usually benefit from their intercultural experience, which helps them to grow into successful academics and professionals.
In fact many hardships may arise from this phenomenon. A third-culture kid may not be able to adapt themselves completely to their new surroundings as expected. Instead, they may always remain an outsider in different host cultures. Max, for example, experienced this fundamental feeling of strangeness throughout his life as a third-culture kid. While this can be a way to create a network of friends all around the world, it can be difficult for a third-culture kid like Max to maintain close friendships and relationships.
For a third-culture kid, it is often easier to move to a new foreign country than to return to their “home” country. After living in Australia and South Korea for many years, Louis finally returned to Turkey as a teenager. But she felt out of place when she returned to the country where she was born. She did not share the same values as her friends' even years after going back home.
While a third-culture kid must let go of their identity as foreigner when he/she returns, the home country can prove to be more foreign than anything he/she came across before. The peer group they face does not match the idealized image children have of “home”.
As a part of the growing “culture”, TCKs may find it a great challenge for them to feel at home in many places.
A. Yet being a third-culture kid is not always easy.
B. In general, they often reach excellent academic results.
C. This often makes it hard for them to form their own identity.
D. However, their parents can help them see the opportunities of a mobile lifestyle.
E. Their experience abroad helps them to gain a better understanding of cultural differences.
F. Unlike other teens of her age, she didn't know anything about current TV shows or fashion trends.
G. Additionally, making new friends and saying goodbye to old ones will at some point become routine for a third-culture kid.
Positive thinkers don't only live happier lives,and have better health but they are also more likely to reach their goals. Even if a negative thinker managed to succeed,his life is still going to be tough because he won't be able to enjoy the success he achieved.Then how to become a positive thinker?
●Stay around positive people.
Have you ever felt bad for no reason just because you were around someone who was feeling bad? So one of the best ways to stay positive is to spend more time with positive people.
●Reduce the stress in your life.
Stress isn't only harmful to your life but it can also change your opinion of the world. If you can spend enough time relaxing and restoring your energy each day,you will become a more positive person.
●Train your mental muscles.
The more you think positively,the more likely your brain structure is going to change and the more naturally positive thoughts will come to you. The more you train your mind to think negatively,the more likely you will become a natural negative thinker.
●
Read about the stories of successful people and watch movies that promote positive thinking.Whenever you get exposed to positive media your mind gets trained to think positively and as a result you will become a positive thinker.Avoid negative media at all costs for they can do the opposite to you.
A.Learn from successful people.
B.Get exposed to positive media.
C.The opposite also happens with negative thinking.
D.Start right now to train your mind on positive thinking.
E.People infect each other with their emotions and beliefs.
F.The more stressed you become,the more likely you are to worry.
G.Negative thinking ruins people's lives and prevents them from succeeding.
