2 . Everyone wants to live a healthier life and be happy. Learning how to live better and feel more positive about the world around you can help you live a happy and meaningful life.

Think positively. This does not mean that you ignore the bad or unpleasant things in life. It simply means that you approach every situation in life, both good and bad, with a positive outlook and a productive mindset.     1    , try to identify the things you think negatively about, and recognize why. Or you can evaluate your thoughts and feelings throughout the day.

    2    . Determine what you value most. Everyone has things that are important in life, but what do you ultimately value above all else? Don’t think about physical, tangible things. Instead, focus on those in your life that will give your life a sense of meaning and purpose.

Manage stress in your life. You cannot avoid stressful situations, but you can find ways to relieve your stress. You can use relaxation techniques, such as meditation, visualization, tai chi, yoga, and deep breathing.     3    .

Eat a healthy diet.     4     It’s not enough to avoid bad foods. You should also be getting vitamins and nutrients from all of the major food groups, and avoiding overeating or under-eating.

Cultivate a healthy lifestyle.     5    , it’s important to live a healthy and active lifestyle. How well you care for your body in your early and middle years can greatly influence your health later in life.

A．Find purpose in your life

B．To start thinking more positively

C．Make up your mind to change

D．In addition to eating a healthy diet

E．Try to find the negative aspects of positive situations

F．What you eat can have a huge impact on how you feel

G．Try to maintain a positive attitude, even in stressful situations

3 . Since it is your birthday as an adult, you’ll want it awesome! It can be tricky to plan. Everyone will have various ideas about it. But as long as everyone has fun, the possibilities are endless. Here are some helpful tips.

Brainstorm ideas. The first thing you need to do is come up with some ideas for how you might want to celebrate your birthday. Get together with a couple of closest friends and think as many possibilities as you can.    1    .

    2    .Once you have ideas, talk with your parents. They might disappoint you by not seeming too enthusiastic about them, but work with them. They really do want you to have fun!

Decide the number of people. You might want the party small or big.    3    , but it’s good to have a rough idea of numbers before you get too far ahead in the planning.

Pick a theme.    4    , you can think about what theme you would like. Talk it over with friends and family and try to come up with something. A theme is a good way to tie the party together.

Send out invitations.    5    . You can either write out them by hand, email them, or tell in person. You could also use free services on the internet.

A．Run ideas

B．Get some entertainment

C．This is a chance to be a bit creative

D．Now you have a good idea of the size

E．Make sure everybody understands the plans

F．Which size works better will depend on what kind of party

G．They know you well, and can tell you if you have a really good idea

4 . No matter where you go, you’ll notice something strange about trees—the fact that their bottoms are painted white. Generally speaking, the purpose of whitewashing is to protect trees from heat and insects.     1    . Let’s check them out!

Blocking the sun

You might sometimes notice that some tree trunks’ surfaces get dry and crack easily.     2    . Simply put, they are exposed to the burning sun and the temperatures change wildly between day and night. Fortunately, painting a tree’s trunk white is similar to adding sunscreen, which helps block the sun.

Heat protection

    3    .White paint reflects the heat and allows trees to spend more time on transpiration (蒸腾) and growing their fruits. Additionally, when trees are cooler, they have less stress, which makes their stomata (气孔) stay open a bit longer for the exchange of gases.

Defending against pests

More often than not, a tree’s surface will crack, allowing insects to creep inside.     4    . Therefore, people whitewash trees using latex paint and water, which prevents insects from climbing up trees and entering inside through the cracks.

    5    

Last but not least, the surface of trees is painted white to make them more visible, specifically for those on the side of the road. Why is that important? Because accidents involving trees are extremely common, especially during the night, when drivers can not see them much more clearly.

A．Stopping accidents

B．Improving visibility

C．Whitewashing is a good way to solve the problem

D．The cause of this phenomenon has already been found

E．Whitewashing helps young trees remain cool in spring

F．However, there’re many other reasons for whitewashing trees

G．Bacteria will feed on the tree’s inner parts, eventually killing it

5 . You’ve just turned the final page of your book and got all sorts of thoughts and emotions. You’re dying to talk to someone about it.    1    And those who have experienced the magic of book clubs know how amazing it is to discuss your latest read with other book lovers. Looking to spread the magic? We’ve got you covered, explaining how to start a book club.

Decide the type of book club.    2    However, there are lots of creative book clubs out there, and the specificity can be what draws people to join and convinces them to stay. If you love science fiction and fantasy novels, go ahead and start that niche book club. Whatever you decide, make sure to set an intention for your book club.

    3    You can reach out to friends and co-workers personally or put up a social media post and encourage your followers to share. If these options aren’t available to you, you can also ask your local library or bookstore to put up a flyer. Don’t be discouraged if you only get a few people at first.

Pick the book. Different book clubs take different approaches. Some allow each member to take a turn picking the book, while others have voting systems in place. If you’re struggling to make a selection, look to bestselling and award-winning books.    4    

Figure out a meeting schedule. Scheduling is one of the most challenging elements you’ll encounter when learning how to start a book club. With busy work, and big life events, it can be tricky to get everyone together in the same place at the same time.    5    The book club meeting date should work with most people’s schedules.

A．They’re always a great choice.

B．Find your book club members.

C．Many book clubs keep it general.

D．It may be a little awkward at first.

E．All book lovers know this feeling.

F．Decide on a regular date for get-togethers.

G．Pick discussion questions to inspire your members.

6 . The pandemic changed the way couples live together. Most of the time, people say they are feeling stressed. New studies are showing how things can work out for the better. A lot of folks said that life together has improved. The improvement was that they learned to talk and act in new ways.

Experts say the following are some ways to improve life together.

Keep Track of the Good Stuff

Positive words and actions work much better than negative ones. Laughing, smiling, touching, and saying nice things make disagreements easier to get past. They may not solve every problem but may help couples get through hard times. Being generous also is good. An expert said there is a virtue in “giving good things to one’s spouse freely and abundantly.” Examples include making coffee, showing affection, and forgiving.

Hold Hands

Research shows that holding hands takes some stress away from the person in pain. When partners take our hand, they take some of the emotional burdens. Think about how it feels to touch your partner. Hold hands when you head out the door or watch television. Spend hand-holding time talking about things that are on your mind. It may be things like money, kids, or work.

Share Your Perfect Day

Think about your best day. Share the details with your partner. Include your likes, dislikes, hopes, and dreams. Try to plan a version of a perfect day together.

These questions and details help people get to know each other better. Talking about your perfect day is a way of telling your partner about yourself. It is a way to make a deeper connection between you.

1. According to the text, what is the primary basis for life improvements?

A．People should live together.

B．The pandemic made people feel stressed.

C．Things can work out for better.

D．People should learn to talk and act in new ways.

2. Why can holding hands improve couples’ life together?

A．Because holding hands is a good way to connect.

B．Because hand-holding lowers stress.

C．Because holding hands belongs to positive actions.

D．Because hand-holding shows affection.

3. Sharing the details of your likes, dislikes, hopes and dreams with your partner helps ________.

A．deepen the connection between you

B．think about your best day

C．plan a version of a perfect day

D．know yourself better

7 . Direct flights are wonderful, but sometimes there isn’t a direct flight to your destination available. If you need to change planes for a connecting flight, this article will walk you through everything you need to know to ensure you make it on the plane!

Plan in Advance.

Find an airport map. Most airport websites have a printable map.     1     Also in-flight magazines usually have some airport maps printed near the back. You should also estimate the connection time. You can sometimes find this information on the airport website or from your travel agent. When transferring from a domestic to domestic (国内) flight, allow 60 minutes.     2    

Find your gate number.

    3     Do not assume the gate number on your boarding pass is correct, as fights often change gates. Instead, find the flight number listed on your boarding pass, and write down the gate number.

Pick up your luggage if necessary.

You usually do not need to pick up your checked luggage unless you have just made an international flight, or if you purchased the two tickets separately.     4     The baggage claim is often on the other side of security, so it can take a long time to pick it up and get back in.

Find your gate.

Even if you have plenty of time, walk to your gate right away.     5     You can turn to an information desk, or any airport staff. If you are transferring from an international to a domestic fight or vice versa, you will probably change terminals. If this involves a shuttle ride, it might take as long as 10-20 minutes.

A．Download a smartphone app.

B．Don’t be afraid to ask directions.

C．Contact the airline to arrange this.

D．Allow at least 2 hours if landing in another country.

E．If you’re certain you need to pick it up, do so as fast as possible.

F．Put this in your luggage to save yourself time looking for your gate.

G．After getting off the plane, you should first find your next gate number.

8 . Most students hate tests. The fear of failing them is really unpleasant.     1     Give these four study tips a try and see how much better you feel during your next exam.

1. Survey your textbook before you read.

Take a couple of minutes to find the word-list, index, questions and other important information. Then, when you sit down to study, you’ll know where to find the answers you are looking for.     2    .These questions let you know what you can probably expect in any upcoming tests.

2.     3    

As you read, summarize each section of the chapter on a post-it note. After you have read the entire chapter, go back and review the notes. It is an easy and efficient way to review information. And you can easily find the information you need.

3. Make your own practice test.

After you finish reading, pretend you are a professor writing a test for the chapter. Review the material you just read and make up your own practice test. Include all vocabulary words, study questions, and highlighted words you can find, as well as any other important information.     4       If not, go back and study some more.

4. Create visual flashcards.

Flashcards will help you remember important terms, people, places and dates. On the front of the card, write down the term or the question. This will help ensure that you grasp the study material.    5     Review these cards and quiz yourself before the actual test.

A．Use sticky notes.

B．Prepare a note book.

C．Take the test to see if you remember the information.

D．If all the questions are included, there is no need to worry.

E．But there are a few tricks you can learn how to avoid the worry.

F．On the back write down the definition or the answer.

G．Make sure you read any study questions before you read the chapter.