1 . If you have a big test coming up or want to do well in class, studying is one of the best things you can do. Here are some tips on forming the best study habits so you can do your best in class.

Study in 1-hour blocks.     1     Set aside an hour for each of your subjects so you have time to review them completely. During each block, only focus on 1 subject at a time so you don’t get information mixed up between classes.

Plan regular breaks. Since studying takes up a lot of energy and brain power, it’s a good idea to schedule 5-10 minutes of relaxation every hour.     2     Listen to music, take a walk, or go get a snack to give yourself some space from your schoolwork.

    3     Working with your classmates can help keep you motivated (有动力). Ask other students that you’re in class with if they want to review with you. Try quizzing (测验) each other on concepts (概念).     4     Try teaching other people in your study group the concepts you’re learning. That way, you’ll be able to learn easier and more effectively.

Rewrite your notes in your own words. Organizing your notes helps you remember information a lot easier.     5     Rewrite them on a separate page so all of the similar information is organized and easy to read.

2 . Today, most researchers describe sleep as occurring in two main phases: rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep. Non-REM sleep comprises three stages, known as N 1, N 2 and N 3, which are characterized by specific brainwave patterns that reflect neural (神经的) activity.     1     , and people who sleep well typically experience four to six cycles every night.

    2    , their brain shows a mixture of high frequencies in which a lot of neurons (神经元) are firing, but not in a completely consistent way. Then, as the person starts to go into a light sleep, or the N l stage, those frequencies slow down into a pattern called theta waves. This stage typically lasts for one to ten minutes.

During the second phase of sleep, N 2, body temperatures drop, heart rates and breathing slow down and muscles relax. Brainwave frequencies now keep changing between slower wave sand short bursts of neural activity.     3    , but gets progressively longer in later cycles, ultimately comprising about half of a person's sleep time each night.

Slow-wave sleep occurs in the N 3 stage, which is characterized by slow, high waves called delta waves. This 20-40-minute phase makes up about one-quarter of a person's sleep time. Some evidence suggests that slow-wave sleep plays a crucial part in restoring energy levels, repairing and growing tissues, clearing waste and boosting the immune (免疫) system.     4    .

Neural activity picks up when the body enters REM sleep, which is when dreaming occurs. In this phase, which comprises one-quarter of sleep time each night, the brainwaves follow a beta-wave pattern. As the night progresses, the periods of slow-wave sleep shorten and REM sleep increases.     5    , such as emotional regulation, memory and creative problem-solving.

3 . If you’re looking for meaningful yet easy ways to volunteer from home, then you’ll love this list of opportunities for remote volunteers.     1    , there are also ways to make a difference without leaving home. Below is a list of virtual volunteer opportunities that allow you to have a positive impact while sitting on your couch.

    2    . NRDC is on a mission to protect the earth, and you can help them through virtual volunteering by joining their Activist Network, which is linked on this page along with current online opportunities. Some sample actions might be contacting congress, opposing bills that are harmful to the environment, and sharing important messages on social media.

Use your voice to protect the earth. Friends of the Earth is committed to changing economic and political policies and systems that lead to injustice and that harm nature.     3    , you can tell congress to save the bees and contact food companies to demand natural ingredients. Friends of the Earth makes it easy to add your voice to a cause, too, as each campaign features a form with a built-in message that you can edit if you’d like and send with one click.

Virtually mentor high school kids. iCloudBe’s mission is -to empower at-risk middle and high school students to stay in school and reach their goals with the help of an online community of mentors.     4    , which entails mentoring a student and helping them prepare for their dream career for one hour per week during the school year.

Scan & proofread books to make reading accessible to all. Bookshare, an e-book library devoted to making reading easier for all, is always on the lookout for remote volunteers to scan and proofread books for their collection.     5    .

4 . How to Avoid Internet Addiction

Internet addiction is a common problem that can be just as damaging as any other form of addiction. Maybe you are concerned that you are too dependent on the Internet and feel very upset.     1    

Reach out to friends and family to build more in-person connections If you desire social interaction, call up a friend and make plans to do something fun.     2     If you don’t have friends or family who you can turn to, look into a special interest group you can join. Attend in-person meetings to connect with other people who share your interests and make new friends.

    3    . Exercising, reading a book, writing, studying and doing crossword puzzles are all better alternatives to mindlessly surfing the Internet. If you want to cut back on how often you are using the fnernet but aren’t sure what to do with the extra time, identify a few activities that you enjoy and pick one to do instead when you’re feeling the urge to go online.

Use relaxation techniques to reduce stress and anxiety. Yoga, meditation, muscle relaxation, and deep breathing are all great ways to relax when you’re feeling stressed.     4     Instead, try going out for a walk in nature or engaging in a favorite hobby.

Watch for signs of Internet addiction and seek help if you notice them. If you are concerned about becoming addicted to the Internet, staying aware of the signs of Internet addiction may help you know when to seek help. Be on the lookout for any signs that you may have become addicted.     5     If this strategy to overcome Internet addiction doesn’t work for you, talk with your doctor for help.

5 . Some people can begin a conversation with anyone ——even complete strangers.     1    . This can be particularly stressful if you have social anxiety disorder (SAD). But even if social small talk is hard for you, possibilities exist to improve your conversational skills and make you feel more comfortable talking with strangers.     2    .

A great way to start a conversation with the people around you is to simply comment on your shared surroundings.     3    . For example, if you are sitting in a lecture hall and notice that your professor looks familiar, you could say to the person next to you, “Doesn’t he look a bit like Harry Potter?”

Keep your comments positive——never mean-spirited or critical. You want the other person to feel comfortable getting in on the joke with you. You could follow up on your previous comment about your professor with something like, “I wonder where Hedwig is?”

    4    , which means using this method to start a conversation can be risky. However, if you do find someone who shares your sense of humor, it can be the start of a great friendship.

If you don’t receive a positive response from one person, the method might work with someone else.     5    . With time, you’ll become more confident and won’t need to rely on tricks to get a conversation started and keep it going.

9 . How Can Volunteering Help You Get a Good Job?

Sometimes, by giving just a little, you can get a lot back in return. This couldn’t ring more true for volunteering. Here are just some of the things volunteering can do for your employ ability.

    1    

Employers like to see evidence of practical work experience on your CV (简历) — it tells them that you have the soft skills needed to work as part of a team and are able to handle responsibility. So, if the “work experience” section of your CV is: looking a little bare, volunteering is a great way to flesh it out. Even if the role isn’t super relevant to the job you want after university, so long as there are transferable (可迁移的) skills, it will be valuable for your CV.

Introduce you to new people

If you are volunteering in the sector you want to eventually work in, it will be a great way for you to network with people who have already broken into the field.     2    . They’d also make great references to refer future employers to.

Help you develop valuable skills

    3    , but getting hands-on experience is key to really being able to transition into employment smoothly. Lectures and seminars can’t really teach you personal skills like leadership, time management, how to best communicate with colleagues or how to act in a professional manner, which are all valuable to employers.     4    

Boost your confidence

You’ll experience so many personal benefits from helping the community or lending a hand for a worthwhile project.     5    . All of this-as well as the practical experience itself-will boost your confidence, meaning you can approach job applications and interviews with renewed courage and belief in yourself.

10 . China’s growing excellence in scientific and medical research is playing a major role in the global war on pathogens (病原体) and infectious diseases, according to Alain Merieux, chairman and CEO of French Conglomerate Institute Merieux.     1     Merieux has made a massive contribution to improving China’s public health over the past 40 years, initially by providing vaccines, and then through medical diagnostics and immunotherapy.

He first visited the country in April 1978, several months before the central government launched its transformative reform and opening-up policy. Since then, he has spent decades dedicated to cooperation in the health sector, eventually leading to the opening of China’s first P4—photolithographic pattern plated probe—laboratory in 2015. The lab, which is based in Wuhan, Hubei Province, has the highest biosafety standards in the world, allowing researchers to study the most dangerous viruses, including Ebola.     2    

“In the health field, which is the one I know best, China has been able to address major issues over the past 40 years,” Merieux said, “providing access to healthcare for everyone in an enormous country; fighting against the major threats represented by pathogens, respiratory diseases and cancer; and preventing food-borne health risks.”

    3     “China has made exceptional progress that commands respect,” he said. “The country has accomplished in 40 years what other countries took a century to do, and has been able to assert (评估) itself as a leading global power.” In four decades, “China has rediscovered its pride and strength,” Merieux added.

“The country has particularly excelled in terms of infrastructure (基础设施), as the creation of highways, airports and high-speed trains has completely changed the country,” he said.     4     Merieux called for greater international cooperation with China to help in the prevention and control of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (肺结核).     5