1 . Pets should not be left alone for too long during the day. But our busy lifestyles will sometimes tear us away.     1     Here are some tips to keep your pets content.

Cats don’t simply curl up and sleep when you leave.     2     If they have a friend or sibling they will create games and comfort one another but if they are alone they will need more stimuli (刺激物). Leaving the TV or radio on can help, and while you work out their favorite channel, you can’t go far wrong with classical music.

    3     They will keep your cat physically and mentally busy, which will lessen the separation anxiety. Some of the toys are also practical for your home, such as scratching posts to prevent the furniture from being scratched.

It’s not just cats that suffer from separation anxiety. Dogs also dislike being left alone and unfortunately they can’t tell whether it’s been ten minutes or ten hours: the displeasure felt is very similar.

    4     Background noise from the TV or radio can help them to feel less alone. There is even a dog TV channel designed to create happy and calm thoughts in dogs, showing idyllic scenes of fields, beaches and other dogs.

You can also gradually lengthen the distance and time of your separation until your dogs can be left alone for 20 minutes without showing their usual symptoms of sadness and stress.     5    

2 . Being fit and healthy doesn’t mean you have to work out for hours a day and eat nothing but chicken and vegetables for every meal.     1     The following are some of them.

You always complain you are too busy to go to the gym or to prepare a healthy meal.     2     You should start to put your health and fitness in the first place today. You can work out in the park and cook your favourite food after work. What you should do first is stop making excuses all the time.

You should walk more instead of driving a car when going out. The key to lifelong fitness is to simply be more active and walk more every day. Try your best to walk whenever and wherever you can —to the superstore, to the office, or go for an after-dinner walk with your family.     3    

Instead of always going to the movies or watching TV, you should take part in activities that keep you moving. You can go for a bike ride, go on a hike, or go to play sports with your family and friends, such as ping-pong and basketball.     4     Not only will you get moving, but also you will have fun.

    5     Many people underestimate the importance of a good night’s rest, but having a good rest each night is important for your health. Therefore, try to sleep seven to eight hours a night on a regular basis.

7 . We all have projects that need to be finished.     1    

Believe it or not, the location in which you plan your project plays an important role. A crowded place means distractions (分心) which certainly means that you will miss out important things which should have been included in the plan. That’s why I urge you to sit down and make this plan in a location where you can focus.     2     If you for some reason cannot, there are other locations available such as the library, your work office and so on.

Do you know well about the actual purpose of the project? It’s not uncommon that people forget to outline the exact purpose of the project in explicit terms.

    3     If the purpose isn’t well explained, it could lead to some confusions in the future as well as loss of time and money. Make sure you get it right in the beginning!

    4     You may choose one of the two ways to start your project plan, either building everything from the bottom up or starting from the top and going down. The former case is usually the more difficult way to start; it would require you to know all the details of the project before you start the plan. The latter is usually the better way to start.     5     Once you’ve done this, you can look at each individual entry and try to specify the details concerning it.

8 . What’s better: private school vs public school? Choosing which school to send your children to can be a very hard decision to make.     1    

Ask about testing scores. Students at private schools tend to outscore public school students on standardized tests, which can affect your child’s ability to get into college.     2     Researchers have used the same data to come to conflicting conclusions. Other factors like socioeconomic status, can influence student’s scores, regardless of where they are educated.

    3     In general, public schools tend to have larger class sizes than private schools. If you need a school that can give more attention to individual students, you might consider a private school or a smaller public school.

Tour the school. Before you even begin to choose between a public or private one, you’ll need to schedule a tour of the school you’re interested in. Do the students look happy and engaged? Are the learning spaces bright and clean?     4     Taking your children along gives the them chance to see the school and decide if it feels like a comfortable environment to them.

Don’t put too much stock in online ratings.     5     But they could also have fantastic teachers and principals. Talking to others help you figure out if this is true. Therefore, don’t write a school off just because its ratings are a little low.

In a word, knowing what matters to you in terms of the differences between public and private education can make your decision a little easier.

9 . To prepare for an exam, as a student you have to start early. It is easier when it comes to getting serious about preparing for an exam.

As to how to go about it, the first thing you need is a plan.     1    . That is the first day to start studying for real. Plan out how many hours you will spend each day studying until the exam. Make a schedule and stick to it.

    2    . This helps to develop a big-picture overview of the material. Start with big topics and leave room for subtopics. Fill in the information as best as you can. Once you see all the units of information in front of you, it will be easier to organize your studying.

To find out if you understand what you have been studying, try working with someone else who will ask you questions about the material. If you can answer and explain without too much effort then you are prepared.     3    .

On the night before the exam, make sure you get eight hours of sleep. On the morning of the exam, wake up about thirty minutes earlier so that you can do a quick refresher of some of the main points from your exam review. These last thirty minutes keep the information fresh in your mind without wearing you out.     4     . You need to be healthy and careful to do your exam well. Make sure you arrive early so that you are not rushing around right before the exam starts.

By following these guidelines, you are better prepared for an exam. You will feel more confident and in control.     5    , you are more likely to do better in the exam.

10 . The oral exam (口试) is a long-held tradition in many schools and subjects.     1     Students must then answer properly, using materials they have learned in preparation for the exam. Showing plentiful knowledge of the subject results in passing the exam or an excellent grade.

    2     As part of the completion of a program at the undergraduate or graduate levels, students might need to prove their knowledge and understanding of a subject area. Many science majors finish Bachelor’s studies with oral exams, or a particular program may require oral and written exams that show how a student has taken in all the materials learned in a four-year period. Usually study guides are available for these exams.     3    

One valuable tip for students to succeed is to practice before the exam.     4     But by answering questions classmates or family ask them students can do as many practices as possible. On the day of the exam, students should dress plainly but respectfully, and in keeping with any dress requirements.

Students taking these exams should remember how much they have learned, which is hopefully quite a lot.     5     When waiting outside the test room, taking a deep breath and reminding themselves that the oral exam is a nice way to show off how much knowledge has been learned from teachers can help overcome stressful moments. Also, any other relaxation techniques that help can be used.