【推荐2】Flowers exude (散发) timeless beauty and grace. They also make our lives happier and our bodies healthier.     1    

Flowers help in body recovering.

It is a thoughtful thing to send flowers to patients experiencing recovering procedures.     2     The lively nature of flowers that differs from the anxious feeling of hospital rooms improves the recovering rates of patients.

Flowers improve emotional health.

    3     The nice feeling we get from giving or receiving flowers can affect the production of a bodily chemical called oxytocin (催产素), which awards us with deep social trust.

    4    

Whether as a sign of love or deep appreciation to one’s effort, receiving flowers sends a signal to our brain that we are special. The chemistry in our brain produces happy hormones, called dopamine (多巴胺) that makes us feel good and increases our happiness level.

Flowers improve sleep and relaxation.

Studies suggest that the smell of flowers can make people feel in love. Do you have difficulty sleeping?Because of their pleasing smell, flowers help promote relaxation and sleep.     5    

The next time you see a flower or take a walk in a garden, be grateful that nature gives us beautiful flowers that help make us happier and healthier.

A．Flowers reduce stress.

B．Here’s how they affect us.

C．Flowers increase happiness level.

D．It’s time to put flowers in the vases at home.

E．Actually, studies suggest flowers can also promote their recovery.

F．So keep flowers near your bed to improve the quality of your sleep.

G．If you’re eager to remove your emotional problems, flowers can help.

【推荐3】Why I Always Travel With a Paper Map in Hand

The first thing I do when I arrive in a foreign city is find a paper map. To me, it's the single most important task I have to accomplish upon arrival.

    1     I learn where I am in relation to the rest of the city, the names of neighborhoods and the major street. I figure out where the subway stations are, how I can get to the best walking routes.

Then I use that paper map to figure out which sights are closest to each other and how I can use my time most efficiently.     2     I note the neighborhoods I want to visit along the way.

No doubt you may wonder why I don5t just pull out my phone. I do own a smartphone with GPS.     3     It shows a specific destination and a precise route to get there. But it doesn’t put the journey into context, which I dislike. I always want to know where I am in relation to everything else.

My trusty map, on the other hand, is all about context. Ask me the nearest bridge, major market or landmark, and I'll be able to tell you in an instant. Besides, a paper map does not run out of battery.     4     It is easily replaceable.

For a traveler like myself, that paper map is like an entrance into another world. Staring at it transports me into a dreamlike state. I imagine all the places I'll go and the things I will do.     5    

A．It never has a poor connection.

B．But I don't have the habit of using GPS.

C．And all these makes me become a responsible tourist.

D．That map, you see, is my key to getting around the city.

E．However, I think my phone's GPS robs me of something.

F．And it enables me to begin planning how I'll make it happen.

G．I put dots where the bookstores, restaurants and museums are.

【推荐1】How to Improve Your Communication Skills

If you feel like you lack the basic skills required for good communication, there are a number of reliable ways to improve. Here are a few tips:

    1    Effective communicators are always good listeners. Active listening means engaging with what people say by giving positive replies and asking follow-up questions to show that you are paying attention.

Focus on nonverbal communication. Mastering nonverbal signals can help prevent miscommunication and signal interest to those around you.    2    Your nonverbal signals affect the first impression you make on someone. Maintaining eye contact, limiting hand gestures, and having good posture go a long way when meeting someone for the first time.

Manage your own emotions. For clear communication and your own personal well-being, it’s important to manage your emotions and express them appropriately in context.    3    

Practice public speaking.    4    However, there’s no better way to develop good communication skills than by seeking out public speaking opportunities. Great communicators are able to clearly express their feelings, whether they’re speaking to a large group or talking face-to-face to one other person. Regularly speaking in front of a group will help you find your strengths and weaknesses and force you to develop great communication habits.

Ask for feedback. There’s no shame in asking for honest feedback on your communication skills from people around you.    5    

A．Practice active listening.

B．Develop communication skills.

C．Public speaking may sound frightening.

D．Know what’s appropriate to express when speaking publicly.

E．Turn to them for advice on improving your communication skills.

F．Showing strong emotions can lead to poor communication and conflict.

G．Pay attention to your facial expressions and body language when speaking with someone.

【推荐2】阅读下面的短文，并根据短文内容回答后面的问题。

Like many children across the United States, Emerson Weber, 11, is sheltering at home, which makes it hard to connect with people the way she'd like. So the fifth-grader decided to ramp up her letter writing.

Emerson, who already wrote an average of five to ten letters per week, decided to drop an extra note to her own mailman. "In return, she's gotten dozens of letters, a sign of how important human connection is during the pandemic," said her dad, who shared the story on the Internet.

In her note to mailman Doug Scott, Emerson wrote, "The reason why you are very important in my life is that I don't have a phone so how else am I supposed to stay in touch with my friends? You make it possible!" She put the letter in the mailbox and the next day received a package with two notes and stamps inside. One letter was from Scott and the other from his supervisor(主管)at the US Postal Service(USPS), who wanted to share how touched they were by her message.

Emerson's note eventually landed in the corporate newsletter(时事通讯)of the USPS. Then, the unexpected happened. Letters poured in from postal workers from across the country. "The power of connection is what we are delivering, as we bring medicines, letters and goods to people staying at home," USPS spokesman David Rupert said. Because we are hard at work, we are helping keep them safe and connected."

Now, Emerson is writing up to 25 letters each week to respond to her new postal pen pals. "I just think now we need to be thankful for them because we need them during this time," she said.

Emerson's dad admitted he was shocked by the response at first but believed there was a message in this. He explained, "At present, any sort of human contact has more meaning."

1. What does the underlined phrase "ramp up" in Para. I probably mean? (no more than I words)
2. Why did Emerson write to Doug Scott? (no more than 8 words)
3. What happened to Emerson after her note was published in the USPS' newsletter? (no more than 8 words)
4. What was Emerson's father's attitude to her action during the pandemic? (no more than 12words)
5. Do you think what Emerson did is meaningful? Please give your reason. (no more than 20words)