【推荐1】Most of us don’t like to think too much about rubbish.    1    . However, household waste is a major contributor to our planet’s waste problem. Like it or not, it needs to be managed if we are to have a brighter green future.

When it comes to being responsible for our own rubbish, the best way to approach it is by following the three golden rules of waste management, or the ‘3 Rs’-Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

“The order is important.    2     ,” says Eugene Tay, Director of Green Future Solutions in Singapore. “Recycling still affects the environment and should be done last after reduce and reuse.”

But, when our efforts to reduce and reuse still result in an overflowing rubbish bin, the advantages of recycling cannot be ignored. “    3    ,” says Amy Ho, Managing Director of World Wide Fund For Nature in Singapore. “The damage to our environment could then be slowed down as a result. ”

In fact, by recycling just one plastic bottle, you are saving not just the material to make a new one, but you also stop it from getting thrown into a landfill(垃圾掩埋场)for up to 700 years-and that’s before it even starts to rot.     4    .

Recycling is so important that we really have no excuse not to do the simplest of household tasks that will make a difference.

“    5     , ”says Ho. “Starting with recycling grey water for gardening purposes, to recycling materials such as glass, paper and iron-it all reduces the use of raw materials.”

【推荐2】How to avoid a boring conversation

What excuse should you use to avoid talking to people you don’t want to talk to? Here are tips and non-offensive ways to get out of unwanted conversations.

It is natural for anyone at a party to be excused to get a refill.     1     And once you excuse yourself, make a move fast before the person requests you to get a refill for him as well.

Cut off the conversation before it starts by saying something along the lines of “I’m not in a good mood. Can I talk to you later if you don’t mind?     2     Say it firmly so that people get the message loud and clear.

    3     Simply text your friend and ask him or her to come for apparently something important. You will be able to skip a boring chat with a seemingly reasonable excuse.

You are advised to look away from that person and don’t make eye contact, so that you can give powerful hints that you find the conversation extremely boring.     5     Be sure to tune in to the conversation every now and then so you don’t come across as rude.

【推荐3】Most college students have their money from their parents, but college is the time for them to begin true responsibility. With the right information at hand and some practice, you can definitely get major financial assistance for college tuition (学费).     1     The following is the ways you should know about.

Play a sport.

    2     I know it is obvious to the football player that sports will increase the possibility, but did you know you can get scholarships for less-known sports? Have a try on golf, sailboat and marathon! A senior year spent learning and perfecting a new sport can lead to a full ride in college.

Do voluntary work.

Most nonprofits have good scholarships for their volunteers. Try volunteering in your community or a community chapter of a major organization.     3    It can be best to work for an organization that you are familiar or have a childhood history with.

    4    

Try building a personal connection with someone at a scholarship society. Building a relationship through visits, phone calls and gifts can make you stand out the crowd. Remember, these people chose the winners om hundreds of applications a day and a personal touch can really make a difference.

Apply early.

It can never be too early to apply for a scholarship Applying early is another way to stand out of the crowd You can definitely score a better scholarship earlier with much less competition.     5    

Applying early can lead to more applications overall, and someone who applies to 100 scholarships against 10 has a much better chance of being awarded!

【推荐3】University Room Regulations Approved and Forbidden Items

The following items are approved for use in residential (住宿的) rooms: electric blankets, hair dryers, personal computers, radios, televisions and DVD players. Items that are not allowed in student rooms include: candles, ceiling fans, fireworks, waterbeds, sun lamps and wireless routers. Please note that any forbidden items will be taken away by the Office of Residence Life.

Access to Residential Rooms

Students are provided with a combination（组合密码） for their room door locks upon check-in. Do not share your room door lock combination with anyone. The Office of Residence Life may change the door lock combination at any time at the expense of the resident if it is found that the student has shared the combination with others. The fee is $25 to change a room combination.

Cooking Policy

Students living in buildings that have kitchens are only permitted to cook in the kitchen. Students must clean up after cooking. This is not the responsibility of housekeeping staff. Kitchens that are not kept clean may be closed for use. With the exception of using a small microwave oven (微波炉) to heat food, students are not permitted to cook in their rooms.

Quiet Hours

Residential buildings must maintain an atmosphere that supports the academic mission of the University. Minimum quiet hours in all campus residences are 11:00 pm to 8:00 am Sunday through Thursday. Quiet hours on Friday and Saturday nights are 1:00 am to 8:00 am. Students who violate quiet hours are subject to a fine of $25.