Would you like to buy food or drinks for a stranger? Do you know what "paying it forward" means? It's to do something nice for another person for no reason. Then that person does something nice for someone else. You might think that this doesn't seem like much. But the kind act can spread really fast.
One day in December, 2015, an American woman was buying a meal. She also bought a meal for the person standing in line behind her. That person did the same thing, and the next person did, too. Soon, 250 people bought meals for another!
But you don't have to spend money to pay it forward. There are examples of paying it forward every day like giving food to the homeless or doing something extra nice for someone around you.
Have a try and bring happiness to others. All you can do is look for little things you could do to make a person's day. Then, ask them to do three kind things for someone else. And when someone does something nice for you, don't forget to do the same!
As the weather changes from day to day, sometimes it's impossible to avoid catching a cold or the flu. However, that doesn't mean we have to suffer terribly. Since the only way to get better from a cold is to go through the process, many natural remedies (疗法) have helped to reduce the symptom (症状) of the common cold.
If you feel the cold, you should drink something warm. Add honey and lemon to hot water or tea. You will keep warm while you're drinking tea. In traditional Chinese medicine, ginger (姜) has been used for over two thousand years. A cup of ginger tea helps to increase the blood move and make you sweat through your body.
Garlic (大蒜) is a super food. Garlic helps to fight off germs (细菌) when eaten daily. It can reduce the number of colds you get each year and shorten cold symptoms. If you don't mind eating uncooked garlic, it's best to eat a few pieces every three to four hours when you feel the first signs of a cold.
It's no secret that salt gets rid of germs. For a sore throat, mix about half a teaspoon of salt into warm water and use as a mouthwash. Whether it's for breakfast, lunch or dinner, the Japanese enjoy umeboshi, sour and salty apricots (杏子) that help keep the doctor away. Using a neti pot is an old practice from India that helps people breathe better. As a mixture of salt and water pours into the nose, the germs are cleared away.
Although cutting an onion can make you cry, it's good for a blocked nose. People in Mexico and Spain eat hot peppers to get their sense of smell back temporarily during a cold. Of course, you'd better be ready to experience a wave of heat! In Korea, kimchi is a popular side dish that keeps people healthy.
It's made from pickle vegetables, red hot sauce and sometimes garlic and ginger.
It is common to have a cold, and Mother Nature's remedies will be there for you to lower your pain when you need to fight against that cold!
①The growth in tall buildings worldwide, most of which have large glass panes, has led to a great need for window washers. Though the job, which earns workers as much as $35 an hour, can be lucrative, accidents are not uncommon. However, the dangerous chore may soon be done by Ozmo, an intelligent window cleaning robot, with humans controlling from the safety of the ground.
②Much like humans, Ozmo, hanging off the sides of the building, uses its arms and brushes to clean the dirt on the glass panes. A 3-D map of the building programmed into its system allows the robot to skillfully move up and down. Computer vision and touch sensors(传感器) enable it to move out of the way in case of unexpected events, such as the sudden opening of a window. And the robot will self-correct and move around it so as not to break a window.
③Unlike other window washers, the robot cleaner does not require soap or Windex to clean the glass. Instead, it uses purified water and a process called reverse osmosis(反渗透) to do the job. It is environmentally friendly.
④While it takes three cleaners 480 hours each to clean the windows of a 40-story glass building, the robot will single-handedly complete the task in just 80 hours. However, unlike other robots, Ozmo will not take the place of human workers, only making their jobs safer. Human workers will control the robot from below.
⑤Whether Ozmo, which is still being tested, does as good a job as humans remains to be seen. Past efforts to use a robot to do this dangerous job have not been successful, because the machines do not have the same eye as humans and often miss the soot(烟垢) collected on window corners.
Do you find yourself studying the same page for 15 minutes? Are you thinking of a TV show while doing your homework? If so, you may have a concentration problem.
Concentration is the ability to focus on a task at hand. Luckily, concentration can be improved through training. Start by creating a space that's well lit, quiet, and comfortable. Take away your smartphone, TV or something like that. Instead, have everything you need at your desk. This area is your concentration zone, and you should use it only for working. After a while, your brain will automatically switch to concentration mode as soon as you sit down.
Physical health also plays a part in concentration. Healthy food, enough sleep, and regular exercise help your mind stay sharp. When stress gets in the way, try meditation(冥想). It will help you relax and practice concentration.
American communication and creativity expert Sam Horn provides more tips for improving your "FOCUS".
F=Five More Rule. When you think you can't work anymore, just do five more minutes.
O=One "Think" at a Time. Stop dealing with lots of things at the same time in your head. Instead, set a time for thinking about a single task.
C=Conquer Procrastination(克服拖延症). Sometimes we don't feel like concentrating, so we put off work. Just ask yourself, "Will it get easier later?" Then you'll probably want to get it over with.
U=Use Your Hands as Blinkers. Cup your hands and only pay attention to what you are reading.
S=See As If for the First Time. Look at each moment like it is the first or last time you'll see or experience it.
Concentration can help you get ahead in life. Use the tips and find out for yourself!
Questions about the "main idea" of a passage are popular on reading comprehension tests. Sometimes those questions are pretty difficult to answer. Many students are not completely sure they understand what the main idea really is. Finding the main idea of a passage is one of the most important reading skills to master. Try these tips to find the main idea of a passage.
Read the passage through completely, then try to identify the topic. Who or what is the paragraph about? This part is just figuring out a topic like "cause of World War I". Don't worry about deciding what argument the passage is making about this topic.
After reading the passage, summarize it in your own words in one sentence. If you have just ten to twelve words to tell someone what the passage is about--what would you say?
Authors often put the main idea in or near either the first or last sentence of the paragraph or article. Be careful: sometimes the author will use words like but, however, in contrast, etc. that show the second sentence is actually the main idea. If you see one of these words, that is a clue(线索) that the second sentence is the main idea.
If you read through a passage and you have no idea how to summarize it because there is so much information, start looking for repeated words, phrases, or related ideas. Sometimes an author does not state the main idea directly. This requires the reader to look closely at specific words or sentences that are used and repeated--to infer what the author is communicating.
A. It will need those details to support the argument. B. Look for repetition(重复) of ideas C. Identify(确认) the topic D. Look at the first and last sentences of the passage E. How to find the main idea Summarize the passage |
I was now five, and still showed no much interest in things but with my toes (脚趾). My father took care of me. I couldn't look after 1, so I used to lie on my back all the time in the kitchen. I felt 2 because I was imprisoned (监禁) in a world of my own, not able to communicate with 3.
Then, 4 it happened on the afternoon of a cold December day. All the family were gathered round the big kitchen fire. Mona and Paddy were drawing funny animals, using bright piece of yellow chalk. It was the chalk that 5 me so much because I had never seen anything like it before.
Suddenly, I wanted to do 6 my sister was doing. Then without thinking or knowing exactly what I was doing. I 7 out with my left foot and took the chalk out of my sister's hand. It was a puzzle to many people as well as to me. I held the 8 tightly between my toes and made a wild scribble (乱涂) with it on the board. Next moment I stopped not knowing what to do with the chalk next, 9 knowing how it got there. Then I looked up and realized that everyone was looking at me 10. My mother came in. Her eyes looked from my face down to my 11, then she took another piece of chalk from Mona and drew the single letter "A" on the floor in front of me. "Copy that, Christy." she said, I tried to do the same action, but I 12. "Try again, Christy." she whispered in my ear. I tried another two more times, I drew one side of the letter, then the other. It looked ugly, 13 I managed to make it finally. I had done it! True! I couldn't speak with my mouth, but now I would speak through something more lasting 14 spoken words. That one letter was my 15 to a new world, my key to metal (精神的) freedom.
Spring starts on different dates in different places.
For most (country) in the Northern Hemisphere (北半球), such as China and the US, spring begins in March and ends in May. While, September, October and November are spring months in many (south) Hemisphere countries like Australia and New Zealand.
Spring refers not only to the season the idea of rebirth. Therefore, most countries have special traditions (celebrate) the arrival of this beautiful season.
Chinese people often eat spring pancakes on the day called lichun. This tradition means bite-the-spring (咬春) in Chinese. In the past, people (believe) this would lead to a good harvest year.
In Japan, families and friends celebrate spring by gathering in the parks to enjoy the beauty of cherry blossoms. It is a (tradition) custom known as "hanami", meaning "watching flowers", which usually lasts from late March to early May. People hold parties or picnics under the cherry trees. Food, drink and even dancing (be) all part of "hanami".
In the US, groundhog (土拨鼠) helps to tell the coming of spring. There's even a special day, Groundhog Day, on every February second. a groundhog sees his shadow (影子) when he comes out, people can expect six more weeks of winter. If there's no shadow, spring is the way! But the groundhog isn't always right. Its forecasts are only 39 percent right, according to National Climate Data Center of the US.
— Certainly.
From: Asia Games Organizing Committee (亚运会组委会) |
Dear students, We are now in great need of volunteers for the coming Asian Games, please send us your personal information including your name, gender (性别), age, hobbies, E-mail address and so on. Also, in order to provide the best service for the athletes in the games, what kind of language can you speak? What can you do for them in Hangzhou? We welcome your application and look forward to you becoming part of our members! Best Wishes! Asia Games Organizing Committee |
要求:1. 词数80左右,回复邮件必须包含邀请函中的要点问题,并可适当增加,使行文通顺连贯;
2. 回复邮件不得使用真实的人名、校名;
To: Asia Games Organizing Committee |
Subject: Application for a volunteer |
Dear Sir / Madam, …… Yours, Li Ping |