【推荐1】I moved to Chicago ten years ago. As I was new to the area, I had few _______ and seldom went out to parties. But a month later, I was invited to a party and there I _______ an elderly couple.

The wife and I _______ for a long time. She told me how _______ she was about her husband who was ______ a heart operation (手术). At that time I was working as a researcher in the same _______ where the husband would be going for his operation, _______ I told her to take down my phone number and _______ me to let me know when he was there.

She phoned a few weeks later as she _______ and told me that her husband was admitted to the hospital and ______ waiting. I told her that I would go and check on him every day while I was at ______. I thought that if he was my dad, I would do the same, so I decided to give them some ________.

Weeks turned into months and it just became my ______ to see them and keep track of how things were going before, during and after the heart operation. Sometimes I’d bring a ______ for him to read, or some food that we would ______ together. As time went by, it seemed like I became part of the ______. Even after the husband returned from the hospital, we still often ______ each other on holidays.

Now, ten years later, I ______ my own family. Since our parents don’t ______ close by, this couple has become my son’s “local” grandparents. My wife and I often feel truly ______ to have this couple as our “local” parents! Sometimes family comes out of the most unexpected place.

【推荐2】I've come to the conclusion that I'm rubbish at saying “No”. For example, last Sunday I was sitting at my desk alone, totally ____ in my own business, when a colleague of mine phoned and asked me to get involved in ____ with her. I found myself getting all caught up in her enthusiasm and didn't want to ____ her. So I said “Sure, why not？” and before the call had ____, I found myself agreeing, without giving any ____ whether it was worth doing.

We are both window­shoppers and ___ a whole day in the street. Actually, I hardly have any time to spare because I am very busy ____ my normal job - I've also got a book to write, a business to ____ and a family to look after. And then there are my other projects to ____ - my voluntary work and a couple of other interesting investments that I want to ____. I'm going to have to be more ruthless (无情的) and not just agree to ____ people ask me to get involved in. In other words, I'm going to have to get ____ at saying “No”.Usually I hate saying “No”, because having to disappoint someone usually ____ me. Now I realize ____ I haven't learned to say “No”, I've been feeling very ____.

We had better do what we think is right and what we are ______ to do. Sometimes it does not seem that bad to ______ others. If I focus on the things I ______ want to be involved in, I'll reach a much higher standard and do it quite ______. I'll be enthusiastic and motivated (有积极性) and do something that is good for everyone and everyone will be happy. It'll be a win-­win ______. What's not good about that？So sometimes, we have to say “No”.

【推荐3】Your boss tells you that you did a bad job. Your coworker criticizes you in front of your whole team. Ouch! It's not easy to take criticism, no matter who it comes from. But, it is easy to ____ the blow when you offer criticism to someone in English. Merely by altering your wording and your attitude, you can help someone grow instead of making them feel __.

Phrases like "You’re wrong! ” and “Your presentation was terrible!" have no place in effective __. In fact, it's best to leave the word "you" out, if at all possible. __ attacks make people feel defective, and then they won't really listen to anything you have to say.

Before starting with the criticism, warm the person up with __ .If you are discussing their work, find several things you truly like about what they have done. For example, "I enjoyed your presentation today. You presented a lot of good and helpful information in it, and I can tell you put a lot of effort into it. I appreciate your hard work." This will lower their __ and make them feel appreciated.

However, a short __ compliment followed by "but" such as “It was a helpful talk, but you really need to improve your presentation skills" won't do much to help the process. After you’ve shared your compliments, allow them time to be __ . As a matter of fact, __ following your compliment with a “^,but” will destroy all you've tried to accomplish by making your __ seem false and insincere.

Remember that the goal of constructive criticism isn’t to make the person feel terrible: it's to help them grow. Instead of directly __ the person, try to get the message through to them in the form of light-hearted advice. Phrases like. "Next time you might want to…” or “I find it helpful to " can __ the blame while still leaving an impact: "Next time you might want to give a little more attention to the audience. I find it helpful to look people in the eyes while I am speaking"

People can't change overnight, especially if they don’t get detailed __. As you might have known, __ saying “you need to work on your presentation skills “won’t help a soul! Be detailed in your advice! Show moderation when you criticize anyone and keep in your mind that over-criticism can easily __ people. Remember, you want them to keep trying and improving. Don't leave them feeling defeated'

【推荐1】Be a Traveler, not a Tourist

Last summer，I had just enough money saved to buy a golden ticket—— a 3-month train pass that would take me to the furthest reaches of Europe. Excited for my journey， I ____all the necessities — _____the guidebook.

While the ____of the Internet was definitely a contributing factor to my_____，this was not the only reason I decided to fly ____.

To be honest，I find the guidebook _____a journey—like a bossy aunt who is always telling you what to do，_____she doesn't always know what's best._____has taught me that there is a clear _____between a tourist and a traveler.

While waiting in a queue to see Michelangelo's Statue of David in Florence，I met a man who showed me his _____of "Top 20 Things to do in Italy" and told us_____that he'd "seen" everything Italy has to _____in just four days.

The problem I had with this man's way of ____was that he was too _____the information provided by his guidebook. He was _____in the so-called "must-sees" and blind to all that was happening somewhere else.

So，guidebook-less as we were，I traveled to Estonia.Arriving for no good reason，I had no option but to______some friendly faces for advice. I _____myself and asked them what was happening around town. When this resulted in an _____to a beautiful Estonian home by a river where I enjoyed a 110-degree wood-stove sauna(桑拿)，_____picked forest-mushrooms and the good _____of my five new-found Estonian friends， I was most glad I had left our bossy aunt at home.

【推荐3】Stories about the problems of tourism have been numerous in the last few years. Yet it does not have to be a problem. Although tourism inevitably affects the region in which it takes place, the costs to these fragile (脆弱的) environments and their local cultures can be ______. Indeed, as has happened with some Alpine villages，it can even be a(n) ______ for refreshing local cultures. And a growing number of adventure tourism ______ are trying to ensure that their activities benefit the local population and environment over the long term.

In the Swiss Alps, communities have decided that their future depends on combining tourism more effectively with the local ______. Local concern about the rising number of second home developments in the Swiss Pays-d’Enhaut resulted in ______ being imposed on their growth. There has also been a new interest in cheese production in the area, providing the locals with a ______ source of income that does not depend on outside visitors.

Many of the Arctic tourist destinations have been exploited by ______ companies, who employ temporary workers and send most of the profits back to their home base. But some Arctic communities are now operating tour businesses themselves, thereby ensuring that the benefits increase ______. For instance, a native corporation in Alaska, employing local people, is running an air tour from Anchorage to Kotzebue, where tourists eat Arctic food, walk on the lands and watch local musicians and dancers.

Native people in the desert regions of the American Southwest have followed ______ strategies, encouraging tourists to visit their towns and reservations to ______ high-quality handicrafts and artwork. Some have established highly profitable stoneware businesses, while the Navajo and Hopi groups have been similarly ______ with jewelry.

Too many people living in fragile environments have lost control over their economies, their culture and their environment when tourism has spread through their homelands. Merely restricting tourism cannot be the ______ to the imbalance because people’s desire to see new places will not just disappear. ______, communities in fragile environments must achieve greater control over tourism ventures in their regions, in order to ______ their needs and desires with the demands of tourism. A growing number of communities are ______ that, with firm combined decision-making, this is possible. The critical question now is whether this can become the normal status, rather than the exception.