1 . Accents are an important part of our identity. An accent gives clues about who we are, and the community we belong to or wish to belong to.     1    

What is the difference between accents and pronunciation?

Accents are about localized ways of speaking a language. A French person may speak English flawlessly (完美无瑕地), just with a French accent.     2     However, pronunciation is something that — as a learner— you can get right or wrong. If your pronunciation is correct, you can communicate effectively with others whatever your accent is.

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If you think back historically people were much more localized with generation after generation of families living in the same small villages and few people traveled out of that area during their lifetimes. So over many generations differences in accent emerged and became very distinct to particular areas. Mountainous villages that are not easily accessible often develop very strong and distinctive accents.

How important is it to get an accent right?

If you’re moving to a certain part of a country, you might want to integrate better with your new community.     4     That’s because it shows a sense of belonging to the community you are trying to fit in with.

How to improve your accent?

    5     And then learners should consider which sounds exist in the language you’re learning and then spend some time in front of the mirror practicing moving your tongue and mouth to get those new and different sounds. And learners should be aware of stress and tone, which can sometimes even change the meaning of words.

2 . 24 Solar Terms: 5 things about Major Snow

Major Snow, the 21st solar term of the year, which falls on Dec 7 this year. During Major Snow, the snow becomes heavy and begins to accumulate on the ground. The temperature drops significantly. Here are 5 things you should know about Major Snow.

Snowy winter

The snow in North China may last a whole day, breaking tree branches and blocking the road. In the south, snowflakes fall and the world turns white. A proverb about the snow says, "A timely snow promises a good harvest".     1    

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The red plum blossoms (梅花) in contrast with the white snowy world is a feast for the eyes and have inspired many great poems. The plum blossom, which originated in China, is respected in Chinese culture for its bravery against severe winters.

Eating lamb

Lamb is a favorite food for Chinese people during Major Snow.     3     People in Chongqing like to have potted lamb soup with their families and friends. Nanjing residents like to stew lamb with some plants to make it more nutritious.

Making sausages

During Major Snow, people in southern China make sausages, an important part of preparation for the Spring Festival.    4    . The sausage should be dried in the shade, and is edible after a week.

Preventing respiratory (呼吸道的) illness

During this period, Chinese people watch for outbreaks of respiratory illness, which can be prevented by wearing a warm scarf to protect the neck and properly drinking water.    5    . At the same time, don't drink cold water after exercise.

3 . For most people, life has become a burden on their shoulders, and its weight is growing heavier and heavier, until one day they can’t carry it anymore. So how can we design a life that is less complex and more meaningful? With minimalism (极简主义).     1     The following ways will assist you in your journey to living a simper yet fuller life.

    2     Most people’s living space is filled with things that are never used and don’t contribute to their well-being. Separate the ones you do need from the ones you don’t, and throw the latter right into the dustin — or better, give them away to people who might actually benefit from them.

Appreciate all the amazing things you already have. We constantly compare ourselves to others who seem happier, more beautiful and more important than us. We try our best to imitate those we envy.     3     We need to stop comparing and accept ourselves for who we are, with all our imperfections. Take a moment to appreciate what you have.

Do one thing at a time. Minimalist living actually means making the most out of each and every moment. We’re usually carrying out different tasks at the same time. So whatever we are doing, our mind is partly wondering somewhere else.     4    

Develop mindfulness.     5     Thus you need to develop mindfulness. Mindfulness means fully attending to what’s happening in the present. There are many ways one can do so. Perhaps the most common way is to sit for about 30 minutes somewhere comfortably with your upper back straight and pay full attention to your breath as it’s coming in and out through your nose. In this way, you won’t be distracted by your thoughts.

4 . “Your playful days are over,” my brother said to me when he knew I was going to be a Senior One student. Then he continued telling me that senior school life was boring because I had to do a large amount of homework every day. The subjects were much more difficult than those of junior school.

I stepped into the school gate with a nervous heart. However, I was surprised to find what I experienced there was completely different from what my brother had told me.

The teachers gave excellent lessons in their own special way. They talked with me in a natural and fair way, as if I was an adult. All of them are so knowledgeable (学识渊博) and they not only explained the contents of textbooks but also provided extra information from other sources. Every word they said in classes made me so excited and interested that I had a strong desire to take in as much as I could.

In fact, my playful days were not over at all in senior school. There were many kinds of activities I could take part in. For example, sports meetings, the art festival, English corner, outing and so on. Best of all, generally, students organized the activities rather than teachers. Through this process, I improved my leadership abilities and communication skills. I've become mature (成熟的). I am not a kid any more.

Now if anyone asks me: “Through your process of growing up, which part is most impressive up till now?” Well, the answer will absolutely be my “senior high school life”.

5 . Taking notes is a useful way for students to improve their learning. Good notes can help students finish their homework more quickly and get better grades in exams.     1     Here are some suggestions to solve the problem.

The most important thing you need to do before a class is to prepare for the lesson.     2     And it can give you an idea of how to organize the information in your notebook. Besides, if there is something too difficult to understand, you will know to take more specific（具体的）notes about it.

    3     No matter which style you use, your notes should be clear at first sight!     4     Instead, write down the most important information, for example, main ideas and examples discussed in class.

To remember the information as much as possible, you’d better review your notes within 24 hours after your class. And at the end of your notes for each class, write a summary（总结）.     5    

Try to do better in taking notes, and then it will help you study better!

6 . Give with Love

Choosing a charity to support isn't as easy as picking one out of a hat.    1     . Here are a few things to consider to help you choose.

What cause do you want to support?

Typically, the first thing that people think about when choosing a charity to support is the cause. There are children’s charities, animal charities and charities that raise money and awareness for a wide range of illnesses, disabilities and issues.     2    .

Do you want to support a large or small charity?

There are big name charities such as the Red Cross, SPCA and Barnardos.    3    , some of which work at a local level. Decide whether you want to contribute to a large and potentially powerful charily that will be making big waves but will have high running costs, or whether you want to support and contribute to a smaller charily that might only help a few people al a lime but will be fighting to get noticed and raise funds.

Find your reason

Once you have decided that you would like to give some of your time or money to help others, you need to make some decisions. For instance, volunteering.    4    , while others want to meet new people, Perhaps you have been affected by a particular charity supports, such as cancer or child abuse. Or perhaps you want to add your support to your local school which relies on parents and other members of the community to help children with their reading and maths.

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Think about your existing skills: do you prefer hands-on work, are you good with people, do you have a background in administration or secretarial work? Charities need a wide variety of skills, such as working in shops, organising fundraising events, driving vehicles or. in the case of animal charities, walking dogs or checking out foster homes.

7 . Natural Ways to Improve Your Memory

Everyone has moments of forgetfulness from time to time, especially when life gets busy. Genetics plays a role in memory loss.     1    . Here are some evidence-based ways to improve your memory naturally.

Try a fish oil supplement

Fish and fish oil supplements are rich in the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.     2    . One study of 36 older adults with mild cognitive (认知的) impairment (损伤) found that short-term and working memory scores improved significantly after they took fish oil supplements for 12 months.

Maintain a healthy weight

Maintaining a healthy body weight is essential for well-being and is one of the best ways to keep your body and mind in top condition.

Several studies have established overweight as a risk factor for cognitive decline.     3    . Maintaining a healthy weight may help you avoid a host of issues associated with overweight, including a poorer memory.

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Exercising your cognitive skills by playing brain games is a fun and effective way to improve your memory.

Crosswords, word-recall games and even mobile apps dedicated to memory training are excellent ways to strengthen memory. Games that may help you strengthen your memory may even reduce the risk of dementia (痴呆).

Get your vitamin D levels tested

Vitamin D is an important nutrient that plays many vital roles in the body. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to a host of health issues, including a reduction in cognitive function.

Vitamin-D deficiency (缺乏) is very common, especially in colder climates and has been associated with age-related cognitive decline and dementia. If you think you might have low levels of vitamin D, ask your doctor for a blood test.

Exercise more

Exercise is important for overall physical and mental health. Research has established that it’s beneficial for the brain and may help improve memory in people of all ages, from children to older adults.

There are many fun and simple ways to improve your memory.     5    .