2 . Small talks are the short conversations we have at parties, at family events or at work. These small talks can open doors that lead to larger, more meaningful conversations.     1    . Here are some tips for them to improve their small-talking ability.

Have some conversation starters ready. If you have seen a really good movie or have read a really good book, you can talk about that. You can also talk about something that both of you are interested in.     2    , it will be a very good conversation starter. Or you simply notice and comment on what’s going on around you. If you are at a party and a song comes on that you like or that reminds you of something, you can talk about that.

    3    . Nobody knows everything. So, if someone brings up something about which you know nothing, just tell them! This lets the other person become the teacher. They feel good about sharing their knowledge and you get to learn something. It’s a win-win situation.

Ask open-ended questions.     4    . If you ask questions that need more details to answer, the conversation will go on longer. For example, if you are at a summer pool party, don’t ask a person if they like summer.     5    .

A．Become a student

B．Be a knowledgeable person

C．If you can reach an agreement beneficial to both of you

D．However, many people are not good at such random chats

E．Instead, ask them what they like or dislike about summer

F．These types of questions require more than a single-word answer

G．For example, if you have the same hobby or experience with someone

5 . Eggs-perimenting with eggs

What can you do with eggs other than eat them?

Naked Eggs

What does an egg look like without its shell? You may be picturing the white and yolk in a bowl after cracking it, but that isn’t the only way to remove the shell.

Materials: an egg, white vinegar, a bowl, a spoon

Directions: Fill a bowl with one cup of vinegar. Add the egg to the bowl, and wait at least 24 hours. When you check it after a day, you’ll notice some bubbles on the egg and a residue (残留物) in the water. Use the spoon to gently remove the egg from the bowl. Dump out the old vinegar, and add a cup of fresh vinegar. Return the egg to the bowl, and wait another 24 hours. When you remove the egg this time, the shell should be completely dissolved. What remains will be the contents of the egg.

Walking on Eggshells

Can Eggs hold the weight of your entire body?

Materials: six cartons (硬纸盒) of eggs, a garbage bag

Directions: Place the garbage bag on the floor to make any necessary clean up easier. Place the cartons of eggs into two rows of three. Make sure all the eggs are pointing in the same direction— either all pointy end up or all rounded end up. Step onto the first carton of eggs carefully. Make sure your foot is as flat as possible and that you are distributing your weight evenly. If you’re careful, you will succeed. Eggs are actually incredibly strong. The arch shape at the top and the bottom of the egg allows pressure to be distributed evenly over the egg. If you were to place the eggs on their sides instead, you’d be likely to wind up with a gooey (胶粘的) mess.

1. In the first experiment, what causes the eggshell to dissolve?

A．Vinegar.

B．Water.

C．Bubbles.

D．Residue

2. What makes the eggs strong enough to walk across?

A．The position of eggs.	B．The number of eggs.
C．The weight of eggs.	D．The distribution of eggs.

3. What was the author’s purpose in writing this text?

A．To persuade readers to use eggs in new ways.

B．To entertain readers with funny use for eggs.

C．To tell readers some ways to experiment with eggs.

D．To inspire readers to conduct experiments carefully.

6 . Unlike other natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes are very hard to see coming, even for scientists.    1    Thus, specific practices for earthquake preparedness are necessary. Here are four steps you can take to prepare yourself in advance.

Drop, cover and hold

If you feel the ground start to shake, drop, take cover under as table piece of furniture, and hold on. You can hide under something like a desk or table, with one arm holding on to a leg of the table and your other arm protecting your neck and head.    2    In modern homes, it is no stronger than any other part of the house and will not protect you from injury.

Make a family plan

    3    Create a meeting point—somewhere easy for everyone to remember, or you could also meet at home. Whatever plan you decide on, don’t rely on your phone as your main form of communication. Technology fails all the time in disasters. A major earthquake in California, for example, damaged cell towers and knocked out communication services for days.

Secure your furniture

Those hanging shelves above your bed could be a danger during an earthquake. People often get injured from “flying or falling objects” like furniture or glass during earthquakes. So examine your home and ask yourself, “What could be a potential danger to my safety?”    4    

Make digital copies of important documents

Important documents may get destroyed during earthquakes. Therefore, scan or take photos of your important documents, such as your license, financial records and insurance policy information.    5    This step can help ensure your documents will be available even if your computer is lost in a quake.

A．Then send them to your e-mail.

B．These are all important personal documents.

C．Make sure your household has a plan of action.

D．Whatever you do, do not stand in a doorframe.

E．If you find the answer, you need to runaway immediately.

F．Nowadays early detection systems can only give seconds of warming ahead.

G．If possible, remove those heavy and big objects above your bed immediately.

7 . THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS

It takes hard work to guarantee your college application stands out. Make it rise to the top of the pile by becoming familiar with the application process and getting organized.

HOW MANY SCHOOLS TO APPLY TO

There are a ton of schools out there, but applying to too many colleges is a common mistake. Submitting your application to between five and eight colleges is suggested. Of that list, you should include a variety of dream schools, safety schools and possible schools.

EARLY DECISION AND EARLY ACTION

Early Decision and Early Action are options that allow you to apply to a college early and receive the admissions department’s decision in advance of traditional applicants. However, there are also restrictions that are important to understand. Early Decision, for example, is binding; if you submit Early Decision to a college and they accept, you must attend that college. You will also not be able to apply for more financial aid after this point. Early Action, on the other hand, is not binding; you can submit Early Action to a college, get accepted and have until the following spring to decide whether or not you want to attend.

WRITING A COLLEGE ESSAY

A good college essay is a critical part of the application process. A college essay is really just a way for admissions advisors to get to know you more, hear your perspective and relate to you on a personal level. This is one area you know a lot about, so just remember to infuse as much of “you” as possible into your essay.

NAILING YOUR COLLEGE INTERVIEW

A college interview is an opportunity for you to make a personal impression on an admissions officer and increase your chances of acceptance into a college. It’s a way for you to differentiate yourself from others and show your personality in a way that you can’t on a piece of paper. Practice and preparation will help you do well during your college interview.

1. Who is the text intended for?

A．College freshmen.	B．Educational institutions.
C．High school students.	D．General public.

2. What can you do after the college accepts your Early Decision?

A．Apply for another safety school.	B．Apply for more economic support.
C．Start to prepare for your college.	D．Start to prepare your college essay.

3. How can you stand out in the application process?

A．By applying to as many colleges as possible.

B．By submitting Early Decision or Early Action.

C．By praising the target colleges in the essay.

D．By showing your personalities in the interview.

8 . We all deal with stress, which may arise from our jobs, family life, a relationship problem, or finances. The following methods can be tried before stress ruins your health.

Reframe (重构) your thoughts

Sometimes, a stressful situation is just a matter of perspective (思考方法).     1     . For example, you may think to yourself, “I’ll never finish all my work.” Change this thought by: “If I work at a steady pace and take regular breaks, I can knock this work out in two hours.”

Keep a journal

    2    . It is a safe, judgment-free place to get out all your worries, emotions, thoughts, and feelings. Once your thoughts are down on paper, they will no longer be taking up space i your brain.

Learn to say “no”

You cannot do everything you are asked, so why keep pretending that you can? Be assertive (坚定自信的) and learn to say “no” politely, but firmly.     3    

Listen to some music

    4    . Calm yourself down by listening to your favorite music. Keeping music playing in the background while you work or study is a great way to subconsciously shift your stress levels.

    5    

If making little changes isn’t enough to cheer you up, try moving to a completely new place, such as a cozy coffee shop. Having a new environment will give you a chance to breathe and recover from your anxiety.

A．Move to a new house.

B．Change your environment.

C．When you feel down, pay attention to your thoughts.

D．When you feel huge pressure, write about it in your journal.

E．Instead of focusing on the negatives, concentrate on the positives.

F．Music has shown to have a very strong effect on mood and mental state.

G．You’d better clearly admit when you do not have the time to take on extra tasks.