【推荐3】Making friends when you're shy can be difficult. Here are some ways you can push yourself to make lasting friendships.

Pay attention to what you have in common with others. Rather than seeing yourself as different from others, notice what similarities you share.     1     As you continue talking, you may find you have even more in common.

Learn to appreciate who you are.     2     But it's important not to be too hard on yourself if you don't like the fact that you are shy. Learning to love yourself will help you gain the confidence it takes to meet new people and make lasting connections.

    3     Think about what interests you or something you've wanted to learn and look for clubs or teams at your school or local community center. Think about what skills you have to offer and you can look for a group in your neighborhood.

If a potential friend asks you to hang out, say yes! If someone asks you to spend time with them, why not try? You might feel anxious if a coworker asks you to grab lunch or a classmate invites you to a library study session.     4     Though you may not always be in the mood to socialize, you'll most likely find yourself having a great time once you get there.

A professional can help. A professional can help you explore why you may be having a difficult time building your confidence and making new friends.     5    

【推荐1】Experts say that students usually need eight to ten hours’ sleep at night, but most Chinese students do not get enough sleep. Some Chinese parents are usually glad to see their children studying late. They will think their children work very hard, but not all parents are happy about this. Once a mother told us that every morning her 10-year-old boy put up one finger with his eyes still closed, begging (请求) for one more minute to sleep. Like thousands of students “early birds”  in China, he has to get up before six every morning.

A report shows that without a good night sleep, students seem to be weaker (虚弱) than they should be. Many students have fallen asleep during class at one time or another. Too much homework is not the only reason why students stay up late. Some watch TV or play the computer games late into the night.

Experts have ever said that the students should develop good study habits. So some clever students never study late, and they are able to work well in class.

【推荐2】More than half of Americans have felt the influence of extreme heat on health, according to a survey. That percentage is even higher in California, where heat is the top problem, reported by 71% of those surveyed. “California does have low levels of air conditioning in homes, maybe because it has cool wind in many parts, but when an extreme heat event comes and there’s no cool air available, you are in trouble,” said David Eisenman, a health researcher. “So you are seeing this higher number.”

Luz Rivas from Los Angeles grew up in a home without air conditioning. “Families like mine have suffered from heat for years,” said Rivas. On hot days, her mother used to take her to the mall to cool down. “Now that these heat waves are getting longer, methods used in the past aren’t going to work as well,” Rivas added.

The California Environment Protection Agency will create a heat wave ranking system to give public warnings. It’s supposed to help the public, especially those outdoor workers, know the seriousness of the heat wave and then learn what they should do. The idea is backed up widely. Many health researchers point out the health risks of heat are worse for outdoor workers, saying that in summer, there’s an 8% increase in deaths on the hottest days.

Lawmakers of California are also considering making indoor cooling a housing right. It can especially help renters like Minerva Contreras, a mother of two living near Bakersfield. Her neighbourhood has seen many days with temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. “It’s very difficult because it’s like not being able to breathe,” said Contreras. Indoor cooling standards are valued by renters but may face a serious fight, and many house owners think the standards fail to consider the variety of climates in the state. For now, the cost of keeping cool for renters mostly falls on them. Contreras doesn’t hold much hope that California will pass cooling standards, saying, “But I would like it very much.”

【推荐3】Different people explain passion (激情) differently. To some, it is finding their dream jobs, while for others, it is doing some voluntary work or following an entertaining hobby. Whatever the definition is some people simply can't discover their passion at all.     1    

They never try. Many people never try to change their circumstances and move towards a more meaningful life. Therefore, there is no point in having any passion, let alone a fight for it.     2    . They do not try to change their lifestyles even if they are not happy about them.

They live a busy life. Some people are so busy that they don't want to add further stress to their life.     3    They don't show any interest in passion that can actually bring balance and happiness to their otherwise sorry lives.

They want to feel passion. These are the people who want to feel passion without doing anything. You need to remember that feelings are an outcome of experiences and passion is no difference.     4     For example, you can't like any actor without watching any of his movies. You can't be passionate about painting if you have never drawn anything in your life.

    5     People who manage to find their passions are mostly interested in making something different, which may be some types of things such as providing a job for themselves, or creating a piece of art. On the other hand, people who are still searching for passion can't think out of the box and bring some uniqueness and interest in their life.