2 . If you are currently learning English, 1 highly recommend you check out the apps below.

Quizlet

When learning English, you probably have to memorize a lot of words. If you want to grow your vocabulary as fast as possible, a flashcard app like Quizlet is a great shortcut. With Quizlet, you can create a set of flashcards with new English words you are trying to learn, and practice typing them out until you know them by heart. It's a simple concept, but it's highly effective.

Spotify

Spotify is not a language learning app. But chances are that you already use it or a similar app for listening to music or podcasts（播客）, and one of the effective ways to study is combining something you already use into your existing habits. If Spotify is already on your phone, you can subscribe to some podcasts for English learners or download playlists of songs for learning English, or make your own.

Beelinguapp

Beelinguapp makes reading in English as convenient as possible. It shows you a text in your own language with the English translation side-by-side. Texts are short enough so that you can really dig into every word. They cover topics from fairytales, to science, to current news articles. There's even a "karaoke" feature where you can read along to audio, which helps you match up the English pronunciation with the English spellings.

Tandem

Tandem is a language exchange app which connects learners from all over the world. It can help you find a native English speaker who is trying to learn your native language, so you can swap language skills. If you only have five minutes to spare, you can simply exchange messages with a native English speaker. If you have more time, you can have a longer, digital language exchange" by sharing voice notes, or using video chat. It's a great way to test your English skills out with real people.

4 . Decision hard

From the moment we wake up each day, we’re faced with a continuous stream of choices.    1    , when there are too many options. This is decision fatigue (疲劳), a state of mental overload that can impede (妨碍) our ability to make additional decisions.

When decision fatigue kicks in, you may feel like you just don’t have the mental bandwidth to deal with more decisions.     2    . As a result, you avoid making certain choices entirely, go with the default option or make ones that aren’t in line with your goals or values, experts say.

Here’s how to minimize or manage this phenomenon:

    3    . Some easy ways to do this: When you go grocery shopping, use a master list that has the same staples, and buy the same brands each time.    4    . And if you’re trying to exercise regularly, devote a consistent amount of time for it every day.

Tune into how you’re feeling. Be watchful of signs of decision fatigue and act accordingly: If you’ve had a demanding day that was filled with lots of decisions, put off making another one if you can. If things that wouldn’t normally upset you start bothering you, consider that a sign that you may not be in the best state of mind to make a major decision. “People may not realize that they’re experiencing decision fatigue,” Baumeister, a professor of psychology at the University of Queensland in Australia, says. “    5    .”

5 . Matt Haig, the best-selling author of the novel “The Midnight”, recommends some books that offer wisdom or comfort in difficult times.

Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Rilke (1929). This is the ultimate comfort read. The book is what the title suggests: letters from an older poet to a younger one. The great thing about Rilke’s advice is that it acknowledges the darkness and suffering of existence, yet manages despite that—or maybe even because of that—to inspire.

When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chödrön(1996). I read this book during the first lockdown, and it was the perfect read for uncertain times. Chödrön is a Buddhist, but the advice and philosophy in these relatively few pages speaks universally. It’s a great book about embracing life in its totality, about seeing hope and suffering as part of a whole.

The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne(1928). The Winnie-the-Pooh stories really speak to people going through tough times. In many ways, each of the characters reflects a different mental state: Eeyore is depressed, Tigger is hyper-active, Piglet is anxious, and Pooh reflects a hope and optimism much needed in recovery. I reread this book when I was ill with a panic disorder, and it soothed me.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott (1994). In my opinion, this is the greatest book about writing ever written. But like Rilke, Lamott is offering far more than writing advice. She is offering wisdom on life and how to embrace its imperfect nature.

I have a neighbor we call "Happy". I have never seen her angry at anything and never heard her say a harsh (苛刻) word to anyone or about anyone. They always have a positive attitude     1     other people and the society.

Happy and her husband Ben. 70, have a huge garden on which they spent many happy hours together working. Most of the neighbors watched interestingly as Ben doubled the size of     2     (they) garden. As the cost of food climbed faster, we all wished we also had such a large garden.

One day last month was the time     3     Happy and Ben asked most of the neighbors to go for an “all-day food feast". The place where we     4     (invite) to go was their house. They said to us, "Please bring gloves and arrive very early in the morning, will you?" We didn't know the reason why they asked us to do that. Neither did we know what     5     (take) place the next morning.

By 9:00 am, there were nine of us in the garden picking     6     (variety) kinds of vegetables such as tomatoes, beans, okra, and squash. By 10：00 am, there was lots of laughter. We didn't need to pretend     7     (be)like others and we were ourselves. We shared a lot of stories. By five o'clock. everyone was a little drunk from the wine and beer. After dinner, we played games. We were     8     (extreme) happy. As we were leaving, Happy and Ben handed each of us a shopping bag that was filled with the bounty (收成) of the day. What a delightful gift!

Well, in     9     (summarize)the point wasn't so much about the food. The true gift was a day of friends enjoying one another's company, wasn't     10    ? None of it would have happened if it had been for Happy and Ben's garden.

9 . Developing strong study skills as a high school student not only allows you to earn better grades in high school, but also to prepare you for college. The sooner you start to build your study skills, the more good habits you’ll create for your future study.     1     Here are several study skills you should know.

1. Boost brain power

    2     Healthy, brain-fueling food and adequate rest is a foundation（基础）for all the other study skills. It will help you be more focused and productive the next day. It will also help to give you the energy you need to complete tasks you may think you are not capable of.

2. Develop concentration

Set focused study time for nothing but school work. Create a quiet study zone that includes a phone-free environment for studying.     3     That way you will keep highly focused and not be distracted（分心）by other things not related to study.

3. Develop organizational skills

Find a convenient location for putting all your school learning papers, books, and homework assignments in place. That way you’ll be better prepared for the coming lectures and thus better follow the teachers.     4    

4.     5    

Be sure to effeciently write down what you listen to in class. You don’t need to write down everything said, just the important points. You may have to take down keywords, dates, names and fill in the details later if you are having trouble getting down enough. Learning to organize and denote（表示）things in a clear visual way is also very helpful in taking good notes.