Many of us try to change bad habits quickly, and if we are not successful straight away, we often become pessimistic and give up. In fact, the     1    (successful) way to change is not suddenly, but over a period of time.     2     the Chinese philosopher Lao Zi wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles     3    (begin) with a single step.” One step seems small, but it is essential.     4    (reach) the goal of change, a person must show some discipline and     5    (repeated) take many small     6    (step). After all,     7     is not easy to break bad habits.

For young people, there is plenty of time to change bad habits. However, there is no “magic pill” or delete button     8     will help you; you have to think about your bad habits and decide     9     some changes. You have the power to build     10     happy and healthy life full of good habits!

Long ago, there lived in Greece     1     learned man. He was     2     well-known for his knowledge of almost everything that lots of people from all over the country came to learn from him. The great man taught his students whole-heartedly and answered their questions with great     3    (patient). One day, a student asked him, “My dear teacher, didn’t you say you yourself have many more questions about things than we do?     4     I think we students have far more than you.” With a smile on his face, the teacher     5    (draw) two circles, one as large as big cake, the other smaller. Then he said, “Of course, I have learned much more. But     6     is wrong to think a teacher has fewer questions than his students. Now, look at these two circles. The inside of the bigger one is my knowledge of things, and the inside of the smaller one is     7    (you). Out of the circles is what is still unknown to us. Since mine is larger, I have     8    (use) the longer line to draw the bigger circle. That     9    (mean) I have more opportunities to face what is still unknown. And that’s why I myself have more questions than you do. The     10    (much) you learn, the more questions you have. You will never learn enough, you know.”

In the 1950s, a family that owned a farm near Beulah, Michigan kept a bull chained to an elm (榆树). The bull paced     1     the tree, dragging the heavy iron chain,     2     led to a groove (槽) in the bark (树皮). The groove     3     (deep)over the years. However, for whatever reason, it just did not kill the tree.

After some years, the family took their bull away. They cut the chain, leaving the loop around the tree and one link     4     (hang) down.

Then one year, one of the most historically serious agricultural     5     (catastrophe) struck Michigan in the form of Dutch elm disease. All of the elms lining the road leading to the farm became withered and died due to the     6     (infect) disease, which made people panic as well. Everyone thought that the old elm would be the next. The farm owner considered going the safe thing: pulling it out and chopping it up into firewood before it died.

    7     (amaze), the tree did not die. Nobody could understand why     8     was the only elm still standing in the county. It is said that     9     doesn’t kill you will make you     10     (strong). Or, as a plant pathologists (病理学家) put it, “Life breaks us all, but afterwards, many of us are strongest at the broken places.”

I’ m the only daughter of my    1    (parent). So they are     2    (worry) about everything I do. For example, when I ride my bike, my parents won’t want me    3    (ride) by myself. They are afraid I might fall off     4    (I) bike and hurt myself. My father     5    (take) great trouble to support the bike, with my mother even carrying    6    first-aid box. I’m not free to ride and I often say    7    (angry), “Why not let me ride alone?”

Now, most families have one child. Parents want to do everything     8    their children. This does no good. Too much love from parents may prevent children from    9    (be) independent. In my opinion, parents should let their children do    10    they should do alone.

To Be Joyful, To Be Young

What really works to make sustainable changes in diet and lifestyle? It’s probably not what you think. In the past 30 years of conducting clinical research, I     1    (learn) that real keys are pleasure, joy and freedom. Why? Because life is to be enjoyed. There’s no point     2    (abandon) something you enjoy unless you get something back that’s even better, and quickly. When people eat more healthfully, quit smoking, and manage stress better, they find they feel so much better, so quickly.     3     you exercise and eat right, your brain     4     (receive) more blood flow and oxygen, so you become smarter, have more energy, and need less sleep. Two studies showed just walking for three hours per week for only three months caused so many neurons     5     (grow) that it actually increased     6     size of people’s brains! Your face receives more blood flow, so your skin glows more and wrinkles less. You look younger and     7     attractive. In contrast, an     8    (health) diet and smoking speeds up aging because nicotine contributes     9     your blood vessel becoming narrower,     10    decreases blood flow to your face and makes it wrinkle prematurely.

I have a degree in business. However, it was my father's decision for me to pursue a business major. Nevertheless, even if my college     1     (experience) were fantastic, I still had no interest in any field of commerce, let alone having a long-term career     2     a businesswoman.

After I     3     (graduate), I worked as a marketing     4     (plan) at a computer company. My pay and working environment were great; however, I still didn’t feel happy     5     (do) something I wasn’t interested in. After two months of working there, I made up my mind     6     (quit) and decided to do     7     I love, namely teaching English. I have now been an English teacher for over twenty years. I love my job and love being with my students.

If you are in a place     8    you don’t love what you are learning or doing, please ask yourself what you are really passionate for, and what you     9     (true) want for your life. Don’t rush to get yourself a quick answer. Take some time to think about what career could make you happy. The important thing is that you are happy and then you will be able to bring happiness to people around you. There is a quote that says, "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." If you love what you are doing, you will be     10     (success).