1 . A great skill to have is the ability to solve problems effectively, specifically interpersonal and behavioral problems. In order to achieve this, you need to follow a few key requirements.     1    

First, you should understand “why” the problem exists.     2     If you know something about why the problem exists, you’ll have a better time to resolve the problem. Let’s take the example of a child who doesn’t want to come to school. Before you can reach a solution, it is important to find out why the child doesn’t want to come to school.

Once you have clearly identified the problem, you need to understand what you have control over and what don’t.     3     You may not control whether a child comes to school, but you are able to deal with the barrier to the child not wanting to attend school.

Don’t jump to conclusions. Once you have all of your information, analyze it carefully and look at it from various viewpoints. Be as objective as possible and don’t be quick to judge.     4     This is a time for you to use your critical thinking skills.

    5     How many options do you have? Are you sure? Which options seem reasonable? Have you weighed the pros and cons (事物的利与弊) of your options? Are there any limitations of your options? Are there any options better than others and why? Are there advantages and disadvantages you need to take into consideration?

A．Now determine your options for solutions.

B．Remain judgment-free as much as possible.

C．Ask yourself questions about what options you have.

D．That means figuring out the actual root cause of the problem.

E．Read on to find how to become a more effective problem solver.

F．The strategies in problem-solving are good lifelong skills to have.

G．Your efforts must be within the areas where you are in the driver’s seat.

2 . Questions You Must Answer to Find Your True Path in Life

Walking the path of life is no more different than exploring uncharted territories, many of us stop occasionally and ask ourselves questions such as: “Am I doing this right? How do I know this is what has to be done?     1    ” If you’d like to get to find your true path in life, here are some questions you’ll have to answer.

· Why do you want to find your true path in life?

One thing is clear that you want to bring some changes to your life. Being honest about why you want to achieve that can provide you with a powerful incentive (激励) that will drive you towards your goals. Write down the things that cross your mind when you think of your whys.     2     You are a unique person with unique needs and wishes.

·     3    

Is this your authentic (真正的) need or is it something that is trendy and you want to try it out? Ask yourself this question whenever you catch that “I’m a little bit bored right now” thought. Maybe you don’t need to bring radical changes into your life. Remember that how we approach certain obstacles can define how we feel when trying to overcome them.

·What is important to me?

You can start by writing down what is important to you.     4     Take your time. My advice is to start with simpler things, for instance, working out regularly, spending quality time with friends and family, learn to play an instrument etc. From there you can work on more sophisticated ideas, becoming more tolerant and accepting.

· Am I self-aware?

Do you value constructive criticism? Are you always honest? If your answer to these questions is no, then you need to work on your self-awareness.

    5     Finding your true path in life is a slow process. Finally, let me finish by a quote, “To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others.”

A．Is this my choice?

B．What responsibilities should you take?

C．Don’t make your list in just one sitting.

D．Your reasons should be important only for you.

E．If not, is there a guide I can read and memorize?

F．This is because it can apply to every aspect of your life

G．Don’t worry if you are unable to answer these questions right this very moment.

3 . The daily life can be busy and at times difficult. It may sometimes feel like bringing just a little more inner peace and calmness into your life is a hopeless wish.     1     Small and smart changes can make a big difference over time. Here are some tips for finding more peace and calmness in everyday life.

Set limits (限制). If your life is overfilled, you may need to set some limits. So stop doing some of the least important things, which honestly don’t matter that much. Set a limit for how many times you will check your mailbox, Instagram,Twitter etc. per day.     2    

Organise your world and your mind.     3     A tidy, clean and ordered space around you brings clarity and order to the mind. So don’t stop there. Simplify and organise your home and life to live in a more relaxing environment.

    4     Reading minds is pretty much impossible. But still we often try it and create anxiety and uncertainty for ourselves. So ask and communicate instead. It may sometimes be a bit hard at first but it can save you and the people around you so much trouble in the long run.

Solve a problem that is weighing heavily on you. Solve your problem and release (释放) all the stress that it is creating in your life. You probably already know what to do, and you are just not doing it yet.     5     So get up from your chair and get started right now.

A．Ask instead of guessing.

B．Sometimes you have a bad day.

C．But it doesn’t have to be that way.

D．And say no if you really don’t have the time.

E．Leave your work and work phone where it belongs.

F．Just take three minutes to organize the room you’re in.

G．But the longer you wait,the worse the tension (紧张) inside becomes.

4 . Cultural intelligence, or cultural quotient (CQ) is the ability to manage cultural diversity.     1     It also involves understanding and appreciating cultural differences and being able to adapt to those differences.

    2     For one thing, it can help you avoid misunderstandings and communication breakdowns with people from other cultures. For another, it enables you to build strong relationships with them. Want to improve your CQ? Try the following tips.

If you’re unfamiliar with the culture, chances are you’re not going to adapt well to it. So the first practical aspect of CQ you need to improve is your CQ drive.     3     This drive is the first step towards higher CQ that may help you be open to new possibilities. All you have to do is explore the new situation you find yourself in.

After you’ve motivated yourself to get a bit more familiar with the culture, it’s time to go one step further.     4     Of course, this doesn’t mean you need to become an expert in the said culture. Simply, you should try to get to know the ways in which that culture forms and influences its people’s values and behavior.

Lastly, you need to use what you have learned and come up with a strategy that will help you improve your CQ. You can expose yourself to various media. This is a useful and easily accessible way to learn about how culture affects behavior. Again, it helps if you learn the language of the culture. This may open a whole new world for you.     5    

A．You should broaden your CQ knowledge.

B．There are many benefits of having high CQ.

C．To be culturally intelligent is no easy matter.

D．This means your motivation to learn about a different culture.

E．Seek out opportunities to interact with people from other cultures.

F．This ability is not limited to your cultural sensitivity and awareness.

G．It can help you better understand people from other cultures as well.

5 . Always late? Here are some tips to break the habit

We’ve all run late before, whether it was because of a missed alarm, failing to find the right outfit, or getting stuck in traffic. It can turn into a routine for some, and if you’re constantly finding yourself on the later side of a deadline, consider these tips to break the habit.

Stop snoozing (小睡)

It’s so easy to keep on pressing that snooze button in the morning. We tell ourselves “    1     ,” but most of the time that isn’t the case, and we end up late and stressed. Just put your alarm across the room to force yourself out of bed, or go to bed earlier.

    2    

A busy lifestyle means a busy to-do list. When a random task comes into your mind, like replying to an email or unloading the dishwasher, say no to the urge. Chances are that it will still be there later.

Take transition activities into account

If you take a bus to school every morning, you probably have to walk to the bus station and then wait for a few minutes.     3    . These activities can regularly slip our minds when assessing time, but they add up!

Reframe your thinking about being early

Earliness is not a waste of time.     4    . Giving yourself those minutes of calm allows you to re-center your mind. Plus, you may even have time to leisurely complete some tasks like replying to emails, reading a book or making a to-do list.

Think and prepare ahead

Consider which activities from your morning routine take up most of your time and tackle them the night before.     5    . Whatever frees up some important time for you the next day is okay.

A．In fact, it’s quite the opposite

B．I’ll just do everything else faster

C．Besides, there may be a traffic jam

D．Resist doing just “one more thing”

E．Realize how long things actually take

F．You could lay your clothes out, for example

G．Just allow yourself extra time to complete it

6 . Skills you need for future work

Creativity

    1     Robots currently can’t compete with humans on creativity. The future workplace is going to demand new ways of thinking, and human creativity will be the key to it.

Emotional intelligence (EQ)

You exhibit high emotional intelligence if you have empathy (同感) and work well with others. A machine can’t easily replace a human’s ability to connect with another human being.     2    

Critical thinking

A person with critical thinking skills can suggest innovative solutions and ideas and solve complex problems using reasoning and logic.     3     After observing, someone who is a strong analytical thinker will rely on logical reasoning rather than emotion, collect the pros and cons (利与弊) of a situation and be open-minded to the best possible solution.

Technology skills

The 4th industrial revolution (革命) is fueled by technological innovations. This means that everyone will need a certain level of comfort around technology.     4     This requires some technical skills. Everyone needs to be able to understand the potential impact of new technologies on their industry, business, and job.

    5    

Due to the speed of change in the future workplace, people will have to be agile (机敏的) and able to embrace and celebrate change. Not only will our brains need to be flexible, but we’ll also need to be adaptable as we are required to adjust to shifting workplaces, expectations, and skill sets. A skill needed for the future will be the ability to see change as a chance to grow.

A．Active learning.

B．Accepting change.

C．So those who have high EQs will be in demand.

D．People should understand and respect others despite differences in culture.

E．Most employees will be required to access data and determine how to act on it.

F．The first step in critical thinking is to analyze information from various resources.

G．Human workers need to be creative to fully realize the benefits of all the new things in the future.

7 . When you hear that your friend has passed an exam that you failed earlier, how do you react? Do you share in her happiness? If you do, congratulations!     1     Studies have shown that experiencing Freudenfreude can lead to acts of kindness, such as helping others. By celebrating the victories of others, we can bring more success into our own lives.

    2     Sometimes, the disappointment of our own failure can make it difficult to feel happy for others. If we were raised in an environment where winning was strongly associated with self-worth, we may mistakenly interpret someone else’s success as our own failure. Our mental health and overall well being can also affect our ability to share in someone else’s joy.     3    

One method to evoke positive feelings for others is through asking questions. We don’t have to wait for someone else’s good news to practice Freudenfreude. By inviting others to share their victories and genuinely listening to their stories, we can cultivate joy.     4    

Since emotions are contagious (有感染力的), expressing appreciation can also enhance Freudenfreude. We can think of Freudenfreude as something that can be shared when we are experiencing personal happiness.     5     Starting by sharing our own achievements and expressing gratitude can create a sense of shared joy, enhancing Freudenfreude for both parties involved.

A．To better understand Freudenfreude, it is important to realize that it is a win-win.

B．According to social scientists, finding pleasure in another person’s success is what they call Freudenfreude.

C．However, experiencing Freudenfreude is not always easy.

D．Despite these challenges, generating Freudenfreude is valuable, and there are ways to cultivate this feeling.

E．You might ask: “What’s the best thing that happened to you this week?”

F．It is a term that describes the joy we feel when someone else succeeds.

G．To do this, we can give credit to others for their support and acknowledge their contribution to our success.

8 . Friendships can end. You may be feeling sad about your friend moving away.     1     There are many reasons that a friendship may come to an end. Whatever the reason is, here are some ways to cope with your loss.

    2     There is no need to blame yourself or the other person for your friendship ending, unless you want to hang onto the pain of losing your friend for the rest of your life. Blame, anger, and regret are traps that keep you from moving on after a relationship ends.

Create new habits and routines. When a friendship ends, old habits die hard sometimes.     3     You can try to find new social activities, hobbies, and sports activities. They can keep your mind occupied, improve your mental and physical health and create new social connections.

    4     One of the most important things to do when you’re letting go of someone you care about is to give yourself — as well as the other person — time and space to deal with the grief of a lost friendship. You both will need time and space to figure out how to live independently and find new interests and activities.

Set new personal goals. Set some goals that you want to reach and then make a plan to achieve each of those new goals. However, make sure that the goals you set are for you and you alone. Goals set just to spite (怨恨) someone else won’t help you move past the pain of the relationship ending.     5    

A．Give yourself time and space

B．Avoid playing the blame game.

C．Avoid feeling sad about losing a friend.

D．You need new habits to replace your old ones.

E．Or perhaps you were the one who moved away.

F．So don’t set a self-improvement goal just to get back at your friend.

G．However, constant reminders of your old friendship can make letting go really hard.

9 . Anxious Animals

Our pets can get stressed by many things such as new places, changes in routine, new people, new additions like a baby or another pet to the home, and loud noises such as fireworks.     1     which can lead to behaviour or health issues in the pet. Experts at national pet charity Blue Cross have put together some top tips on spotting whether your pet is feeling anxious or stressed.

    2    :

• Yawning
• Panting—with a curled tongue
• Pacing back and forth
• Licking their lips
• Ears pinned back
• Dilated pupils or red around eyes
• Whites of eyes showing (whale eye)
• Loss of appetite
• Backing away from someone
• Tail tucked between their legs
• Cowering (shrinking or crouching)
• Diarrhoea or more toileting
• Shivering (not cold or excited)
• Growling, flashing teeth, snapping or biting.     3    .

HOW TO HELP:

Give your pet time away

Avoiding or removing your dog from a stressful situation will help. Create a space away from children or a bed for them where they won’t get disturbed.

Exercise your dog

    4     Not only are they good for their physical health but walks will help your dog’s mental well being too by having lots of things to sniff, look at and enjoy.

Stay nice and calm

Many dogs are very sensitive to their owner’s emotions and react to them. If your dog is stressed, keep calm and don’t panic or raise your voice as this might add to your pet’s stress levels.

    5    

This can help keep their mind focused and distracted from things they find stressful.

A．How to tell if your dog is stressed and what to do

B．Keep your dog entertained

C．Signs a dog might be feeling stressed or anxious include

D．The signs can be easily missed or misunderstood by the animal’s owner

E．These mean they urgently want something to stop

F．As dogs have a strong sense of smell, changes to the smell of their home can concern them as well.

G．Dogs love their walks!

10 . Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, every trip needs a little planning. Things like flights and hotels have to be booked in advance.     1     As long as you allow yourself plenty of time to look around, compare prices, and make sure you have everything you need before you leave, you can plan a great travel experience.

Start planning 3-6 months in advance.     2     International trips can take months to plan properly. Likewise, trips during high seasons, such as summer or over the holidays, need to be booked further out than trips during low seasons.

    3     Before you do anything, you need to know how much money you will have at your disposal. It’s easy to overspend when you’re traveling if you don’t plan ahead, so start your planning by breaking down how much you want to spend on transportation, food, lodging, sightseeing, nightlife, and any other activities you hope to include in your trip.

Pick a vacation destination that you will enjoy. If you’re traveling for pleasure, look for a destination that will be enjoyable for everyone going. Think about your interests and the interests of the people traveling with you, and consider destinations that work for everyone.     4     If you’re bringing kids, look for a destination that has kid-friendly activities.

Make meal plans before you go. You don’t need a restaurant reservation for every meal when you’re gone, but you should think about meal plans before you go. Think about what meals may be included with your accommodations. Does your hotel offer free breakfast?     5    

A．Set a travel budget.

B．Make an emergency kit.

C．Consider the age groups traveling with you.

D．Travel planning doesn’t have to be stressful, though.

E．If not, you may need to adjust your budget to include breakfast.

F．The further away you want to go, the sooner you should start planning.

G．No matter where you’re going, there are some things that are essential to pack.