The Spring Festival is the most important holiday for Chinese people. 　(1)　 The arrangements they have to make for family reunions, buying necessities and preparing food keep them busy throughout the holiday. With the country's economic development and globalization, as it is celebrated today, the Spring Festival has undergone many changes. 

　(2)　 People could not get good food they desired in earlier times, but three decades of economic growth has ensured that most people in China can enjoy good meals whenever they want to. Some people suffer from obesity and other health problems associated with extreme eating. 

In the past, the Spring Festival celebrations were limited to events, such as songs and dances, dragon or lion dances or fireworks. 　(3)　 But economic development and urbanization (城市化) seems to have weakened the social links among people. Many, especially those living in cities, are not interested in celebrating the festival with people they hardly know. 

　(4)　 In the past, people used to visit relatives and friends with gifts and lots of good wishes. Today, many people especially the youth, use their cellphones or the Internet to send their good wishes and even “gifts”. Some may say this is sign that people have become less caring about their near and dear ones, but we should see this development as a time- and energy-saving exercise brought by the information age. 

Also we can see, some people have started praying to God or the Buddha for a career promotion or more chances instead of for a long life or a fortune of their family. However, the number of such people is decreasing now. 　(5) 

Getting your children to study can be a little like getting them to eat their vegetables.

  (1)  Make a study time and have it at the same time every day. This will help your kids to learn to schedule their day and will give them a sense of control over how they spend their time.

Allow them to study in blocks of time, such as for half an hour with a five-minute break in the middle.   (2)  Ideal (理想的) study times are after dinner or right after school before dinner.

Never allow your children to study in front of the television, as that will encourage passive activity.   (3)  

You’ll also need to help your kids find the right place to study. After you’ve set up a good study time for little learners, set up a good place where they can get those creative juices flowing.

  (4)  Make sure there is a table or a desk and a comfortable chair.

  (5)  This includes helping them out with their homework sometimes and being there for them with the answers to any questions. The input you give your children during study periods will help form a bond and help make studying enjoyable.

Choosingtherightpathtobea“better”person

Life is a constant exercise in self-improvement. In the rush to achieve, the idea of being “better” can become lost sometimes. You may always wonder how to improve yourself and fulfill your dreams in an easier way. 　(1)　  

Explore your talents.

Everybody has some outstanding skills or interests. So it's often necessary to be patient and try many things before you find one that suits you.

　(2)　 For example, people loving adventure may not be interested in the quiet chess club, but someone who enjoys other quiet activities might be. Determining who you enjoy being around may help you know what you'll enjoy. 

　(3)　  

No matter how much money you make, you will not be happy if you spend your entire life doing something you hate. It's important to at least devote some of your time to what makes you happy.

If you're particularly unhappy at your job, consider why. 　(4)　 If you feel your job isn't meaningful, or isn't in line with your values, consider finding another job. 

Experience something new.

Research has shown that when we're in our comfort zone, we aren't as productive as we are when we step just beyond it. 　(5)　 It's important to seek out new experiences and interactions with others, even when those are a little scary. Doing so can help you achieve more. 

Many people think of guys as being carefree when it comes to their appearance.But in fact, a lot of guys spend plenty of time in front of the mirror. They care just as much as girls do about their body image.

Body image is a personˈs opinions and feelings about his or her own body and physical appearance.__  (1)  __.You appreciate your body for its capabilities(能力) and accept its imperfections.

__  (2)  __Here are some ideas：

Recognize your strengths.Different body types are good for different things. What does your body do well? Maybe your speed, strength, or coordination (协调性) makes you better than others at a certain sport. That may be basketball, table tennis, mountain biking, dancing, or even running. Or perhaps you have non-sports skills, like drawing, painting, singing, playing a musical instrument, writing, or acting.__  (3)  __

Exercise regularly. Exercise can help you look good and feel good about yourself. Good physiques (体形) donˈt just happen.__  (4)  __.A healthy habit can be as simple as exercising 20 minutes to 1 hour three days a week. Working out can also lift your spirits.

Respect your body! Practicing good habits regular showering; taking care of your teeth, hair, and skin; wearing clean clothes, and so on—can help you build a positive body image.

__  (5)  __Your body is just one part of who you are. Your talent for comedy，a quickwit (智慧), and all the other things make you unique. So try not to let small imperfections take over.

As most of us know, talking and listening don’t go smoothly every time. Will parents take you seriously, believe what you say, listen to and respect your opinions?  (1)   But some of what happens depends on you, too. Since communication is a two-way street, the way you talk can influence how well a parent listens and understands you. So here are some guidelines to consider when talking to parents:

˜Be clear and direct. Be as clear as you can about what you think, feel, and want.  (2)   They can listen better or be more helpful if they understand what you mean and what’s really going on.

˜Be honest. If you’re always honest, a parent will be likely to believe what you say. If you sometimes hide the truth or add too much drama, parents will have a harder time believing what you tell them. If you lie, they’ll find it hard to trust you.

˜Try to understand their point of view. If you have a disagreement, can you see your parents’ side?  (3)   Telling parents you understand their views and feelings helps them be willing to see yours, too.

˜Try not to argue or complain. Using a tone that’s friendly and respectful makes it more likely parents will listen and take what you say seriously.  (4)   If you think your emotions might get the better of you, do something to blow off steam before talking: Go for a run. Cry.  (5)   Do whatever it takes to sound calm when you need to.

SELF STUDY TIPS

However difficult you find it to arrange your time，it will pay off in the long run if you set aside a certain part of the day for studying—and stick to it，__  (1)  __.But donˈt forget to make sure that you have enough time left for recreational activities or simply to be “with”yourself：reading a novel or watching a television programme.

As part of your weekly schedule，it is also advisable to consider exactly what you have to do in that week，and make sure that you handle the most significant tasks first.__  (2)  __.

On a physical level，make sure you have an area or space for studying.__  (3)  __.If you always study in the same place，preferably a room of your own，you will find it easier to adjust mentally to the activity when you enter that area.You should have everything that you might need at hand.

Make sure that all the physical equipment that you use，such as a desk，a chair is at good height for you.If you use a personal computer，there are plenty of guidelines available from the movement on angles，lighting and the like.__  (4)  __.

If you are working on topic your teacher has set，but finding it hard to concentrate，it may be that you actually need to take your mind right off it for a period of time.__  (5)  __.After a period away from the test，having not thought about it at all，you may return to it refreshed and full of ideas.

Personally, I believe that the female brain is mainly built for empathy—the ability to understand other people—and the male brain for building systems.  (1)  For example, women are more likely to read magazines on fashion and parenting, while men will choose magazines featuring computers and sports.  

You may think that these preferences are influenced by the way people are taught to behave when growing up. However, this is not the case. A new study carried out at the University of Cambridge shows that newborn girls look longer at a face, and newborn boys look longer at a mobile.   (2)   It has also been observed that girls are better at noticing signs of changes in other people's feelings. Boys, however, seem to enjoy building toy towers and playing with toys having clear functions.  (3)  People whose jobs are in the construction industries are almost male. Maths and engineering, which require high levels of systems thinking, are also male-chosen disciplines. Why do men and women have the difference? Actually women have four times as many brain neurons that connect the right and left part of their brains. Because of it, women have a better ability to multitask than men.  (4)   Men tend to focus on a limited number of problems at a time. They will separate themselves from problems and view tasks as independent from one another. 

Some people may worry that I am suggesting one gender is better than the other, but this is not the case. My theory says that males and females differ in the kinds of things that they find easy, but that both genders have their strengths and weaknesses.   (5)   It is not true. The study simply looks at males and females as two groups, and asks what differences exist and why they are there.  

Successisontheothersideoffailure

Everybody wants success. Some people aim for it; others just talk about it. 　(1)　 But the truth is that it's closer than you think. It's just on the other side. You have to want it enough, and be willing enough to get it. 

It is on the other side of fear. Fear is your biggest obstacle(障碍). It will cause you to make decisions that may seem “right” at the time. 　(2)　  

It is on the other side of excuses. You either get it or you don't. The minute you find a reason not to take another step towards success is the moment you stop being successful. In the symphony of success, excuses are just noise.

It is on the other side of obstacles. Everyone faces challenges—different ones at different times. We all handle the same challenges differently; we all have different results. It's how you handle each one and what you do with the results that count. 　(3) Remember, you've got to pass obstacles in order to succeed. 

　(4) They call it a ladder of success for a reason. You need to climb it in order to get somewhere. It's not an escalator(自动扶梯). You can't stand there and let it do the work for you. 　(5) It's going to take determination and commitment on your part to get up and over that wall. 

Laughter and tears are part of living. But do you find enough time for laughter? I am not asking if you experience lots of good times. Of course we should laugh during the happy times.   (1)  

Erma Bombeck is known for her humorous books, but she wrote one that covered a more serious topic：cancer in children.  Erma talks with lots of children with cancer and learns “important life lessons from them  (2)  

She tells the experience of 15-year-old Jessica from Burlington. Jessicaˈs leg was amputated (锯掉) at the knee because of cancer. Jessica tells about playing soccer. She kicked the ball hard and it flew off in one direction while her artificial leg flew another way. Then “The tall, pretty person that I am，” she said, “sat on the floor in laughter.”

Jessica may not have laughed about her cancer, but she laughed about dealing with its results.  (3)  

Then there is the story of 17-year-old Betsy.  She made her way to the radiation room (放射室) for her regular radiation therapy. As usual, she dropped her hospital gown and, wearing only her birthday suit, climbed onto the table and waited. After a couple of moments she began to realize something disturbing: the extra people in the room were not the medical students she had thought, but rather painters giving an estimate on painting!  (4)  And like Jessica,  her ability to laugh helped her to deal with one of the most difficult things a young person can endure (忍受)  －cancer.

There is a time to weep and a time to laugh  (5)   And youˈll smile at the end.