【推荐1】Five Ways to Make Studying More Fun

1. Get in the zone.

Pick an area of the house you haven't used before. Use a stand-up desk instead of the kitchen table. Set up a space in your bedroom or home office that is just for studying. Put some time into making it a place you want it to be.     1    

2. Study with a partner.

Getting together with a friend or a group of classmates can help you learn new study skills while you are still getting a few laughs in.     2     Pick one person and each of you choose a side to argue. If you have a group, they can join and vote the winner.

3. Break it up.

Plan scheduled study breaks every hour and take part in an activity you enjoy. Go for a quick walk, watch a short video, or eat a snack.     3     Before you take a break, write down what you have learned during your study time and add to this list each time you take a break.

4.     4    

By activating the left and right sides of the brain at the same time, music maximizes（使最大化）learning and improves memory. It's no secret that music helps with concentration and creativity.

5. Leave the house.

    5     If the weather is nice, head to a park or the beach. Study at your favorite coffee shop or bookstore. If you're active, you might want to try exercising to improve memory and thinking skills. Some of your best thoughts and moments of clarity（清晰）come when you're moving your body.

A．Make use of music.

B．Activate your brain.

C．Break up difficult ideas into small ones.

D．Decorate it, paint the wall, or get some new furniture.

E．Try having a debate about a topic you're trying to learn.

F．Sometimes a change in locations can keep things fresh and exciting.

G．If one hour is too long, go for 20-25 minutes and then take a short five-minute break.

【推荐2】Having a dental fear(牙科恐惧症) is a common problem. Learning to overcome your fear of the dentist is possible with a little determination and guidance. It is worthwhile to overcome the issue as healthy teeth might help you be healthy physically and spiritually.

Admission

Admitting you have a fear is the first step in overcoming dental fear. When you acknowledge your fear, you can start the process. Dentistry has come a long way over the years. The anesthetics(麻醉) are improved, the techniques are of higher quality and dental offices have a better understanding of these issues you are concerned and all these can help you overcome it.

Research

Speak to family and friends about your fear. Be open and honest about your issues and get feedback from them regarding their dental experiences. You can contact your local Dental Society and express your concerns. Another good approach is to simply call dental offices and get useful information from the front office staff.

First visit

Most dental offices schedule your first visit by a dental assistant. This gives you a chance to ease into the situation. Do not hesitate to express your fear and hesitation. Pay attention to what the assistant says. It can be very useful and it can gently guide you to a new attitude towards dentists.

Relaxation techniques

There are many things you can do to relax yourself. Slow, steady, deep breaths are keys to relax properly. Another aid in relaxation is to bring your iPod to play some relaxing music while you are in the dental chair. Music is a wonderful tool to use and is a helpful distraction.

Facing your fear and making the first dental appointment are necessary for your health. Ignoring your dental health because of your fear will only worsen the issues and cause you to have serious dental problems.

1. We can learn from the first paragraph that ________.

A．few people might have the dental fear

B．it's impossible to overcome the dental fear

C．it's meaningful to overcome the dental fear

D．it's not necessary to pay attention to dental health

2. You can start the process of overcoming dental fear after ________.

A．admitting your dental fear

B．asking advice from other people

C．learning something about dental health

D．making an appointment with a good dentist

3. What should you do when you first visit a dentist?

A．Ask someone to accompany you.

B．Listen carefully to the assistant's advice.

C．Avoid telling your fear and hesitation.

D．Avoid showing any attitude towards the dentists.

【推荐3】A guide to gaining self-confidence and feeling your best

Do you value yourself as a human being? Do you believe that you’re able to get the things you want?     1     We’ll tell you exactly how to gain self-confidence so you can believe in yourself more. So, let’s get started.

    2     . Everyone is good at something, so focus on areas where you’re the best. Make a list of your strengths, and take pride in your talents (天赋). When you’re feeling down, read your list so you can tell yourself how amazing you are.

Exercise. When you take good care of yourself, you feel more confident and positive. For good health, exercise for 30 minutes a day most days a week. Do something fun, like playing tennis, going for a walk with a friend, or dancing to your favorite music.     3     Invite your friend or partner to exercise with you to make it more fun.

Stop comparing yourself to others. You are one-of-a-kind, so you’re not going to be like everyone else. Instead of using others as a measuring stick for success, use your past self. That way, you can focus on creating a life that makes you happy. Try to remember that what you see on social media is just the high point of someone’s life.     4    

Set and pursue (追求) realistic goals.     5     Feeling confident can give you the energy to pursue them. Choose a goal you want to work toward, and then break it up into smaller steps. Start working toward your goal today so you can create the life you want.

A．Write down everything you do well.

B．Your dreams are totally within reach.

C．Schedule time to pursue your hobbies.

D．Schedule exercise into your day so you won’t forget.

E．You usually don’t see the bad days and moments of self-doubt.

F．A good support system helps you stay focused on your best qualities.

G．If not, we’re here to help you go after your dreams and believe in yourself.

【推荐1】My Favourite Books

Jo Usmar is a writer for Cosmopolitan and co-author of the This Book Will series(系列) of lifestyle books. Here she picks her top reads.

Matilda

Roald Dahl

I once wrote a paper on the influence of fairy tales on Roald Dahl’s writing and it gave me a new appreciation for his strange and delightful words. Matilda’s battles with her cruel parents and the bossy headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, are equally funny and frightening, but they’re also aspirational.

After Dark

Haruki Murakami

It’s about two sisters—Eri, a model who either won’t or can’t stop sleeping, and Mari, a young student. In trying to connect to her sister, Mari starts changing her life and discovers a world of diverse “night people” who are hiding secrets.

Gone Girl

Gillian Fynn

There was a bit of me that didn’t want to love this when everyone else on the planet did, but the horror story is brilliant. There’s tension and anxiety from the beginning as Nick and Amy battle for your trust. It’s a real whodunit and the frustration when you realise what’s going on is horribly enjoyable.

The Stand

Stephen King

This is an excellent fantasy novel from one of the best storytellers around. After a serious flu outbreak wipes out 99.4% of the world’s population, a battle unfolds between good and evil among those left. Randall Flagg is one of the scariest characters ever.

1. Which of the following tells about Mari and Eri?

A．Cosmopolitan.

B．Matilda.

C．After Dark.

D．The Stand.

2. What kind of book is Gone Girl?

A．A folk tale.

B．A biography.

C．A love story.

D．A horror story.

【推荐3】What’s the first thing you do in the morning? Brush your teeth, wash your face, or eat your breakfast?     1     When you arrive at the office, do you first check your email or make small talk with your colleagues? After you get home in the evening, do you exercise or make your dinner first?

    2     However, they are not. Most of those actions are the byproduct of your habitual patterns. According to a research published by Duke University, 40% of peoples’ daily activities are born from habits, not decisions made after careful consideration.

Habits play an essential role in our lives. They profoundly impact our health, productivity, financial security, and happiness.     3     Nevertheless, most of us fail to do so and easily stick to our regular patterns. However, once we understand the science behind habit formation, we can break habits into parts and restructure them to develop good ones.

Actually, many people are eager to develop good habits and drop bad ones.     4     The answer is to start with keystone habits. Keystone habits are the most influential habits for transforming lifestyles. Studies show that people who routinely exercise also are more productive at work. Families that habitually eat dinner together are found to raise children with better grades and improved emotional control. These are examples of keystone habits bringing a chain reaction in one’s life.     5    

A．Where should we begin?

B．What should you do next?

C．Which route do you take to work?

D．As a result, we all want to develop good habits or break bad ones.

E．We can redesign many of our habits by changing our keystone habits.

F．You may think that all of these choices are the result of careful thinking.

G．They help create the basis for good practices and greatly improve people’s lives.