How Can I Fight Laziness?
Lazy people will never gain anything in life. However, laziness can be defeated once a few changes have been made in your mind. Many people lack sleep constantly, since they stay up too late and get up too early to prepare for work. These people have little motivation once they arrive home. Laziness works hand in hand with a lack of motivation and a tendency to put off things. By adjusting your sleep schedule to provide a few more hours of meaningful rest, you can fight laziness throughout the day.
Another way to fight laziness is to change your mind from passive to active. Some people treat their lives as if they were pushed from task to task. Others take a more positive approach, viewing each task as a challenge they must overcome alone.
Some people fight laziness by removing the temptations(诱惑) that surround them. A television in the living room may provide entertainment, but watching too much TV often contributes to laziness. Complete a few tasks and reward yourself with what you enjoy, such as a good dinner or a film.
Laziness can also be a lasting problem at home. Couples and children may all have different energy levels, but laziness can be spread if not dealt with immediately. Be the first to collect and wash dishes after a meal. Others in the home may eventually follow your example and perform their own task. It is difficult to practice laziness when you are surrounded by motivated people.
Enough exercise and a balanced diet can help you to develop a healthy lifestyle, thus enabling you to have more energy and help lift your spirits.
| A．To fight family laziness, set an example. |
| B．Knowing how to fight laziness is important. |
| C．One way to fight laziness is to get enough sleep. |
| D．Finally, taking exercise regularly can help you fight laziness. |
E. With strong determination, you will be able to achieve your goal.
F. Laziness appears when you no longer feel in charge of your own mind.
G. Create a reward system for yourself, just as parents do for a child.
A garden that's just right for you
Have you ever visited a garden that seemed just right for you, where the atmosphere of the garden appeared to total more than the sum(总和) of its parts? 16 . But it doesn't happen by accident. It starts with looking inside yourself and understanding who you are with respect to the natural world and how you approach the gardening process.
●___ 17
Some people may think that a garden is no more than plants, flowers, patterns and masses of color. Others are concerned about using gardening methods that require less water and fewer fertilizers(肥料). 18 . However, there are a number of other reasons that might explain why you want to garden. One of them comes from our earliest years.
● Recall(回忆)your childhood memories
Our model of what a garden should be often goes back to childhood. Grandma's rose garden and Dad's vegetable garden might be good or bad, but that's not what's important. 19 --how being in those gardens made us feel. If you'd like to build a powerful bond with your garden, start by taking some time to recall the gardens of your youth. 20 then go outside and work out a plan to translate your childhood memories into your grown-up garden. Have fun.
| A． |
Know why you garden |
| B． |
Find a good place for your own garden |
| C． |
It's our experience of the garden that matters |
| D． |
It's delightful to see so many beautiful flowers |
| E． |
Still others may simply enjoy being outdoors and close to plants |
| F． |
You can produce that kind of magical quality in your own garden, too |
| G． |
For each of those gardens, writer down the strongest memory you have |
The Science of Risk-Seeking
Sometimes We decide that a little unnecessary danger is worth it because when we weigh the risk and the reward, the risk seems worth taking. 71 Some of us enjoy activities that would surprise and scare the rest of us. Why? Experts say it may have to do with how our brains work.
The reason why any of us take any risks at all might have to do with early humans. Risk-takers were better at hunting, fighting, or exploring. 72 As the quality of Risk-taking was passed from on ration to the next, humans ended up with a sense of adventure and a tolerance for risk.
So why aren't we all jumping out of airplanes then? Well, even 200,000 years ago, too much risk-taking could get one Killed. A few daring survived, though, along with a few stay-in-the-cave types. As a result, humans developed a range of character types that still exists today. So maybe you love car racing, or maybe you hate it. 73
No matter where you are on the risk-seeking range, scientists say that your willingness to take risks increases during your teenage years. 74 To help you do that, your brain increases your hunger for new experiences. New experiences often mean taking some risks, so your brain raises your tolerance for risk as well.
Mean taking some risks, so your brain raisers your tolerance for risk as well.
75For the risk-seekers a part of the brain related to pleasure becomes active, while for the rest of us, a part of the brain related to fear becomes active.
As experts continue to study the science of risk-seeking, we'll continue to hit the mountains, the waves or the shallow end of the pool.
| A． |
It all depends on your character. |
| B． |
Those are the risks you should jump to take. |
| C． |
Being better at those things meant a greater chance of survival. |
| D． |
Thus, these well-equipped people survived because they were the fittest. |
| E． |
This is when you start to move away from your family and into the bigger world. |
| F． |
However, we are not all using the same reference standard to weigh risks and rewards. |
| G． |
New brain research suggests our brains work differently when we face a nervous situation. |
I experienced years of loneliness as a child．（1） His friends teased him about babysitting his sister and his interests were far different from mine．With no other kids of my age in the neighborhood，I had to spend hours by myself．
A bright spot for me turned out to be reading．My love of the written word began early as my mother read to me every evening．（2） I started reading books on my own before age 5 and my mother took me to the public library once a week to borrow several books．I quickly graduated from typical children's books to ones with fewer pictures and longer chapters．Reading opened new worlds to me．（3）
My mother also encouraged me to make what I wanted．I tried making toy cars with cardboard boxes and constructing buildings from leftover cardboard and bits of wood my father gave me．When my mother saw my creations，she told me how creative my designs were．（4） I learned a lot about how to extend the life of objects and transform them into something new and useful．It was a trait（特点）others found helpful，and I soon had friends who wanted to make things with me．
（5） My parents made it a point for their two kids to spend time outside，no matter the weather or season．My brother，of course，raced off to be with his friends，while I had plenty to do myself．There was making leaf houses in autumn，ice skating in winter，and so much more．They're all memories I treasure today．
| A． |
I wasn't alone any longer． |
| B． |
I enjoyed reading stories aloud． |
| C． |
I was invited to play with another kid． |
| D． |
I loved the colorful photographs in the books． |
| E． |
Another habit I formed early was being outdoors． |
| F． |
Thus，I began my lifelong interest in making things． |
| G． |
My older brother couldn't be bothered to play with me． |
Some individuals are born with a gift for public speaking．（1） Do you want to be a good public speaker？Here are some principles you most master．
People want to listen to someone who is interesting，relaxed and comfortable．Too often，when you stand up to give a speech，you focus on the "public" at the expense of the "speaking．" （2） Focus on the speaking．Talk directly to your audience，be yourself and make a connection．
Even the most successful public speaker will make mistakes．Yet，the only one who cares about any mistake is the one who is speaking．People's attention wanders constantly．In fact，most people only absorb about 20 percent of a speaker's message．So，don't stop speaking when you make a mistake unless it's a truly serious one．（3）
Your goal is not to be a perfect public speaker．（4） And like everything else in life，that takes practice．Remember，even world champion athletes practice their skills on a consistent basis．
（5） It's rare to hear someone say，"I wish that speaker had spoken longer．" On the other hand，you probably can't count the times that you've thought，"I'm glad that talk is over．It seemed to go on forever!" So surprise your audience．Always make your presentation just a bit shorter than anticipated．It's better to leave your listeners wishing for more than shifting restlessly in their seats waiting for your speech finally to end．
| A． |
Do the opposite． |
| B． |
You want to be an effective public speaker． |
| C． |
You don't need to apologize for a minor slip． |
| D． |
When it comes to public speaking，less is usually more． |
| E． |
The objective of most speeches is to benefit the audience． |
| F． |
Take the fear out of public speaking by focusing on your listeners． |
| G． |
However，the majority of people are effective speakers because they train to be． |
A housewarming party is a special party to be held when someone buys or moves into a new apartment or house．The person who bought the house or moved is the one who throws the party．The party is a chance for friends and family to congratulate the person on the new home．（1） And it is a good time to fill the new space with love and hopefully presents．
（2） Some people register a list of things they want or need for their new home at a local store or stores．Some common things people will put on a gift registry include kitchen tools like knives and things like curtains Even if there isn't a registry，a good housewarming gift is something to decorate the new house with，like a piece of art or a plant．
（3） This is often appreciated since at a housewarming there isn't a lot of food served．There are usually no planned activities like games at a housewarming party．The host or hostess of the party will，however，probably give all the guests a tour of their new home．Sometimes，because a housewarming party happens shortly after a person moves into their new home，people may be asked to help unpack boxes．（4）
Housewarming parties get their name from the fact that a long time ago people would actually bring firewood to a new home as a gift．（5） Now most homes have central heating and don't use fires to keep warm．
| A． |
This isn't usual though． |
| B． |
It is traditional to bring a gift to a housewarming party． |
| C． |
You can also bring food or drinks to share with the other guests． |
| D． |
If you're lucky enough to receive gifts，keep them in a safe place． |
| E． |
It also gives people a chance to see what the new home looks like． |
| F． |
The best housewarming parties encourage old friends to get together． |
| G． |
This was so that the person could keep their home warm for the winter． |