Michael' s birthday was coming soon, so he asked his dad for a bicycle so that he wouldn't have to walk to school anymore. Michael got a book instead but he did not complain ( 抱怨 ).
One bright and sunny day while Michael was walking past a bookstore on his way to school, he saw a big boy on a bike . The bike was too small for the boy.
The boy was a student in Michael' s school . Michael recognized him. The boy's name was William. His leg seemed to have broken. Michael picked up William' s bike which was not damaged and rode to the nearby hospital to get help. Michael rode William' s bike to school so he would not be late for class.
After school , Michael quickly rode the bicycle to William' s house with a book for him. But he had to put some medicine on his leg and stay in bed for some time.
To Michael' s surprise, William was getting a new bike for his birthday in two months so he let Michael have his old bike . Michael was overjoyed（喜出望外).
. Michael visited William every day until Williams 's leg was better.
A. Luckily, William was not seriously hurt.
B. Michael found it interesting and couldn't help laughing.
C. From then on, Michael and William became good friends
D. William gave his new bike to Michael to show his thanks.
E. However, Michael' s dad had lost his job and did not have much money.
F. As the boy was turning around a corner , the bike crashed into a tree.
G. A few minutes later, an ambulance (救护车)came and took William to the hospital .
Do you want to take time to get in touch with yourself, your feelings, your dreams, and a good, healthy life? Here are some tips:
Sometimes it seems as if our culture has begun to view the need for sleep as a sign of weakness. But your body was genetically(基因地) programmed to spend a third of its life on sleep, and this affects thinking, memory, growth, your immune(免疫的) system and even your weight.
Begin the day in thankfulness. Name each person and hold them in your thoughts. The sense of thankfulness you experience will set a peaceful tone for the entire day, and reduce a day's stress that can lead to sleeplessness that night.
Strike a balance. Think about tai chi, prayer, yoga(瑜伽)—any daily activity that allows you to develop a peaceful center and a sense of balance.
Play with friends. The "tend and be friend studies", as they are called, conducted by UCLA researcher, Shelly Taylor, Ph.D. indicate that when women are stressed, they tend to their children and play with other women.
Use guided imagination. The tone of your voice, pacing, music, and pictures will persuade your nervous system that it's time to calm down.
A. Admit the importance of sleep. B. The images of things make the brain see and think about other things. C. Emotions are the basis of good communications and healthy relationships. D. Calming down a stressed nervous system will encourage a balanced life. E. Take 10 minutes every morning to give thanks to everyone in your life. F. Recent research has also linked the importance of sleep to behavior. G. Studies reveal(揭示) that women who have healthy relationships with their children and friends actually sleep better. |
We all believe we listen well and yet many times we feel others are not listening to us. However, listening goes in both directions—you may believe you are listening well, but how often have you completely forgotten what was said to you?
Make eye contact.
when People talk, they put out visual clues that add to the conversation and meaning of their words.
Stop talking.
You can't listen, talk and at the same time completely receive the meaning of the other person's words.
React without words.
Let the other person know you are listening through physical reactions, such as head nods, smiles, frowns and eye movement.
Concentrate.
Concentrate on what the other person is saying. Clear your mind of other thoughts and emotions and focus on the conversation at hand. Be in the moment of that conversation, and don't think about what you want to say back.
Behave as an effective listener. The more you continue to behave as a listener, the more you will be an effective listener.
A. Don't break in. B. Act as a listener. C. How to say back is also important. D. Make eye contact with the person who is talking to you. E. There are a few ways to become a more effective listener. F. Wait your turn and take in what has been said to you before you make a reply. G. These may also help to let the speaker know whether you are accurately (准确地) understanding his words. |
Put a group of strangers in a room together, and they'll probably start a conversation. “Hot today, isn't it?” one might say. “You said it,” another replies.
Why do we talk so much about the weather? When we meet new people, we don't begin by telling them our life story. We start with small talk, a polite conversation about something like traffic or weather.
Research suggests that small talk can build new friendships. When we begin conversations with new people, we want to feel comfortable, and so do they. We use small talk to find common interests. Once we have a common interest, a friendship can begin.
Small talk even helps people get a job. In order to impress at a job interview, you need to bond with the interviewer right away. Proper sma ll talk can make that first impression get you the job.
So, how can you make small talk lead to a new friendship or job? First off, find common ground. Select something around you that you share with the other person.
Next, keep the conversation going. Compliment (赞美) the other person to make him or her feel comfortable, and ask questions to show interest.
Third, keep eye contact. When you loop people in the eye, they feel you appreciate what they are saying. It makes you appear honest and build trust.
Naturally, shy people might not have enough confidence to start up conversations with strangers. Talking to someone you don't know is not the easiest thing to do! Some experts say with more practice, small take does get easier.
Some people avoid small talk because they dislike discussing things like traffic or weather. For them, they are just too small. However, when you think about it, small talk is anything but small. In fact, it is actually a very big deal!
Title | Small Talk: A Big |
Introduction | We are likely to make small talk when we meet people. |
| Small talk can help people form friendships. |
Small talk can also help people get . | |
Advice | Find some topics with the other person. |
Keep the talk going by making compliments and questions. | |
Keep eye contact in conversation to build . | |
more in order to make small talk easier. | |
Conclusion | Small talk really a lot to us. |
Caffeine myth or caffeine fact? It's not always easy to know. Chances are you have some misunderstanding about caffeine. Read on. Here are some of the most common myths about caffeine and some facts have been gathered to shed light on them.
Myth one: Caffeine is addictive
Caffeine is a stimulant(起刺激作用的食物) to the central nervous system, and regular use of caffeine does cause mild physical dependence. But caffeine doesn't threaten your physical, social, or economic health the way addictive drugs do. If you stop taking caffeine abruptly, you may have symptoms for a day or more, especially when you have been used to consuming two or more cups of coffee a day. However, caffeine does no cause the severity of withdrawal or harmful drug-seeking behaviors as drugs or alcohol. For this reason, most experts don't consider caffeine dependence a serious addiction.
Myth two: Caffeine probably causes insomnia(失眠症)
Processed mainly through the liver, caffeine has a relatively short half-life. This means you can get rid of half of it within about five to seven hours on average. After eight to ten hours, 75% of the caffeine is gone. For most people, a cup of coffee or two in the morning won't prevent them from sleeping at night. Consuming caffeine later in the day, however, can interfere with sleep. Your sleep won't be affected if you don't consume caffeine at least six hours before going to bed.
Myth three: Caffeine harms children
As of 2004, children aged 6 to 9 consumed about milligrams of caffeine per day. This is well within the recommended limit. However, energy drinks that contain a lot of caffeine are becoming increasingly popular, so this number may go up. Some kids are sensitive to caffeine, developing temporary anxiety or irritability, with a “crash” afterwards. Also, most caffeine that kids drink is in sodas, energy drinks, or sweetened teas, all of which have high sugar content. These empty calories put kids at higher risk for obesity. Even if the caffeine itself isn't harmful, caffeinated drinks are generally not good for kids.
Myth four: Caffeine has no health benefits
Caffeine has few proven health benefits. But the list of caffeine's potential benefits is interesting. Any regular coffee drinkers may tell you that caffeine improves alertness, concentration, energy and clear-headedness. Scientific studies support these subjective finding. One French study even showed a slower decline in cognitive ability among women who consumed caffeine. Other possible benefits include helping certain types of headaches. These research findings are interesting, but still need to be proven.
Title | About caffeine |
Facts | |
Caffeine if additive. | If you use caffeine , you may become physically dependent on it to some extent. Caffeine doesn't cause the severity of withdrawal or harmful drug-seekingof addictive drugs or alcohol. |
Caffeine is to cause insomnia. | Your body can 75% of the caffeine that you have consumed within eight to ten hours. Drinking one or two cups of coffee in the morning has no effect on your sleep at night. consuming caffeine at least six hours before going to bed, and your sleep won't be affected. |
Caffeine harms children. | Consuming caffeine within the limit does no harm to children. Energy drinks that contain a lot of caffeine and sugar have gained increasing among children. It is not the caffeine itself but caffeinated drinks that are generally not good for children. |
People don't benefit from caffeine. | Caffeine can help people become more alert, concentrated,, and clear-headed. Caffeine may help ease problem with . |
It's nice being nice to others; it's also great to give people a hand. However, if you start to hurt yourself by doing so, then this is not so healthy.If you fear that you might fall into this category, the following tips will help you to stand up for yourself and regain your self-confidence.
Although you may often stay silent if something is wrong or bothers you, it is better to speak your mind right away. You don't have to be rude, but you do have to be firm and direct. Don't do things for others if you don't really want to. Speak up, and soon others will be seeing you in a whole new light.
Start small.
This will allow you to practice being brave and self-confident. Tell a person who has cut in line in front of you to move to the back of the line, or tell a salesperson to do that. Before long, you will be confident enough to stand up to your friends and family members.
Judge well.
When dealing with others, you have to exercise good judgment. If a colleague isn't doing his part, you should rightfully demand that he start doing so. However, if a taxi cuts you off in traffic, just let it go.
Rome wasn't built in a day. If you want to get back again after having been a pushover(耳软心活的人), it's best to take one step at a time.
A. Express yourself.
B. Regain your confidence.
C. Start by speaking up for yourself with strangers.
D. Everyone has the right to live without being judged.
E. If you slip back into the pushover mode every once in a while, don't blame yourself.
F. Sadly, some people are so easily pushed around that they come to be seen as pushovers.
G. It's one thing to be confident, but quite another to forcefully say no to an unreasonable request.
The history of chocolate begins with a plant whose name is cacao. For centuries, people worldwide have been enjoying the rich favor of chocolate, a product made from cacaoAmericans eat an average of more than five kilograms of chocolate per person every year. The specialty shop shows the culture of chocolate and sells chocolates from different areas of the world.
Historians believe the Mayan people of Central America first learned to farm cacao plants around 2,000 years agoThen they grew them around their homes. They cooked the cacao seeds and pressed them into soft powder. They mixed the powder with water to make a delicious chocolate drink. There are often images of cacao plants on Maya buildings and art objects. The rulers drank chocolate at ceremonies
The Aztecs also valued chocolate in the Aztec culture. But the cacao plant could not grow in the area where they livedThey even used cacao seeds as a form of money to pay or give as offerings to the gods. Only the very wealthy people in Aztec societies could afford to drink chocolate because cacao was so valuable.
The explorer Christopher Columbus brought cacao seeds to Spain after his trip to Central America in 1502. The wealthy people of Spain first enjoyed the chocolate drink Nowadays, the English, Dutch and French all plant cacao trees in their own countries.
A. Chocolate is very sensitive to temperature.
B. The Mayan took the cacao trees from the rainforests.
C. Chocolate is especially popular in the United States.
D. Chocolate has been prepared as a drink for nearly all of its history.
E. So they had to exchange goods with other societies for cacao seeds.
F. Since then, the popularity of the drink has spread throughout Europe.
G. And even poorer members of Mayan society could enjoy the drink sometimes.
Nobody likes to think they are “that guy” at work.. So, what are some of the rudest things that people do at work — and why shouldn't you do them?
Behaving in an unacceptable way
The most common form of this is eating smelly foods at lunchtime. Other things alike include body smell and its opposite, the wearing of strong perfume, messy desks, or bad breath..
Checking email on your phone when you're talking to other people
A recent survey shows that 49 percent of people said their bosses checked their phones while talking with them.. If you've ever wondered why your team members are unmotivated, this may be why. In fact, when you're talking to someone at work, you should reject any non-important calls.
Do you like the sound of your own voice? Great. Perhaps it's time you learned to like the sound of other people's voices too. If you interrupt others when they speak, they'll dislike you and discount whatever you're saying. And if you routinely take up three quarters of the meeting with your monologues（独角戏）, people will turn off and, quite rightly, start checking email on their phones. However, if you listen to what others say and show interest by asking intelligent questions, they'll love you and be likely to give you their support when you speak.
Showing off how much you earn
. If you show off your income to someone and then discover you get less than them, you'll look like a fool. If you earn more, they'll feel tired of you. So keep them guessing and hide your earning power in quiet ways — like always paying for the team coffees.
A. Talking all the time
B. Being a good listener
C. Team-working can never be ignored
D. All these things will become part of your personal brand
E. It's better to be modest when you talk about your incomes
F. Bad behavior at work is common — and often we do it without thinking
G. An interesting email is more valuable than the person you are actually talking to
Have you ever had the following experience? You have been given the task of organizing a conference, which includes a must-do list about a mile long. There is the conference site, the guest list, the materials, the technology and even the food and drink to think about and plan. If you are beginning to feel the stress, slow down and take a breath. .
Write down your goals. You will need to clearly define what you hope to accomplish with this conference because this will shape the rest of your decisions. .
Develop your budget. . Then break that budget into different parts such as conference site, materials and speakers' fees. Stick to your budget, and make sure your assistants are keeping their monetary limits as well.
. When searching for locations, keep in mind the number of participants, the convenience of the location, parking and closeness to public transportation, airports and hotels. Your goal in finding a place to hold the conference should be making it as easy as possible for participants to attend.
Seek help from the staff of the conference site. If you have chosen a site that is known for holding conferences, you can seek help from the staff there as organizing meetings is what they do every day. . They should be able to answer any questions or concern and provide advice when needed.
Of course, full preparations also include a walk-through. Go to the site and meet with the staff the day before to be certain that everything is in place and to take care of any small details.
A. Decide on a schedule for the meeting
B. Choose your conference site
C. Read the following skills to figure out how to organize a conference
D. Knowing what you want to achieve can ease your stress
E. Make full use of this important resource
F. You can do nothing without knowing how much money you have to spend
G. Turn a blind eye to it
Good learners can inspire students or anybody to learn well. Here are some characteristics of good learners.
Good learners are curious. They wonder about all sorts of things, often about knowledge beyond their areas of expertise(专长). Finding out about something they didn't know satisfies them for the moment, but their curiosity is addictive.
Good learners don't give up easily. A few things may come easily to learners but most knowledge arrives after effort. They try to search out new information. They read, analyze, and evaluate the information they've found. Then they study more and work at what they don't understand.
Good learners know that a lot of learning isn't fun. The journey to understanding generally isn't all that exciting. Others need a tiresome attention to detail, and still others need periods of intense mental focus. Your backs hurt, your arms and legs get tired, and your coffee gets cold.
There's always more to know. Good learners are never satisfied with how much they know about anything. They are pulled around by questions—the ones they still can't answer, or the ones without very good answers. Those questions follow them like day follows night with the answers bringing daylight.
Good learners share what they've learned. Good learners are teachers committed to sharing with others what they've learned. Good learners can also explain what they know in ways that make sense to others. They are connected to the knowledge passed on to them and committed to leaving what they've learned with others.
A. Some learning tasks require boring repetition.
B. Good learners are willing to put in the time.
C. Some knowledge can broaden our views.
D. Good learners stay positive.
E. They write about it, and talk about it.
F. They love the discovery part of learning.
G. Good learners never run out of questions.
Nowhere To Hide: What Machines Can Tell From Your Face
The human face is a remarkable piece of work. So is the face's ability to send emotional signals, whether through the unconscious shame or the trick of a false smile. People spend much of their waking lives, in the office and the courtroom as well as the bar and the bedroom, reading faces, for signs of attraction, hostility, trust and deceit. They also spend plenty of time trying to hide their feelings, intentions or nature.
In America facial recognition is used by churches to track worshippers' attendance; in Britain, by retailers to spot past shoplifters. This year Welsh police used it to arrest a suspect outside a football game. In China it confirms the identities of ride-hailing drivers, permits tourists to enter attractions and lets people pay for things with a smile. Apple's new iPhone is expected to use it to unlock the homescreen
Set against human skills, such applications might seem enhancive. Some breakthroughs, such as flight or the internet, obviously transform human abilities. Although faces are peculiar to individuals, they are also public, so technology does not, at first sight, intrude on something that is private. And yet the ability to record, store and analyse images of faces cheaply, quickly and on a vast scale promises one day to bring about fundamental changes to notions of privacy, fairness and trust.
Masking true feelings helps fix the wheels of daily life. If your partner can spot every prohibited yawn, and your boss every hint of annoyance, marriages and working relationships will be more truthful, but less harmonious. The basis of social interactions might change, too, from a set of commitments founded on trust to calculations of risk and reward derived from the information a computer attaches to someone's face. Relationships might become more reasonable, but also transactional.
A. However, facial recognition seems merely to encode them.
B. Research show that artificial intelligence can reconstruct the facial structures of people.
C. Anyone with a phone can take a picture for facial-recognition programs to use.
D. Technology is rapidly catching up with the human ability to read faces.
E. Continuous facial recording that paints computerized data onto the real world might change the texture of social interactions.
F. The astonishing variety of facial features helps people recognize each other and is crucial to the formation of complex societies.
If you want to keep fit, please refer to the following;
Move More
Make it a rule to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs instead of taking the elevator. Walk your dog; play with your kids. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute dance class. But that's great when you're up to it. At the same time, move more.
Quit Smoking
Ever since 1960 when it was announced that smoking was harmful to health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products. Just recently, we've seen more and more teens smoking. Could it be the Hollywood influence?
Take care! Warn your children against smoking.
While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day can help protect against heart disease, more than can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney (肝肾) disease and cancer.
Reduce Stress
Easier said than done, stress comes in many ways. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like such as walking on the beach or in a park, read a good book, visit a friend, listen to relaxing music, and watch a funny movie.
Protect Yourself From Pollution
If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good.
A. Avoid Excessive Drinking
B. There are many things you can do to move your arms and legs.
C. Think carefully about what you will do.
D. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low.
E. It seems that the stars in every movie smoke cigarettes.
F. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook.
G. Some techniques given by experts are to think positive thoughts.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting. I left my cell phone at home, so I went hack to get it,” Adam said as he apologized to Vicky after arriving an hour late for their first date. Vicky tried to be polite, so she forced a smile and replied, “It's all right. Let's order something to eat.” While they were waiting for their food. Vicky discovered that Adam had been checking his cell phone. Just as she got the chance to talk to him Adam's cell phone rang and he answered it without delay. He talked continuously and totally ignored his date, who was sitting right next to him. Twenty minutes later, when Adam finally hung up and turned hack to Vicky, he saw nothing but an angry face. “Why don't you date your cell phone?” said Vicky. Then, she stood up and shouted, “Don't ever call me again!”
We can understand why Vicky was so angry at Adam. In fact, like Adam, many people in modern society can't stand to be separated from their cell phones. With their cell phones, they talk to others, listen to music, check e-mall, and download applications as well as photos. Their dependence on this technological device has become so great that the cell phone is now often considered a necessity rather than a luxury (奢侈品). Some people cannot even imagine life without their cell phones. As a result, a psychological(心理学的) phrase known as "disconnect anxiety" was born.
According to psychologists, when these people are not using their phones, they may start to feel uneasy. Some feel socially separated without their cell phone. Others worry about not being able to respond to emergencies in time. Still others are so psychologically influenced by their cell phones that they often believe their phones have been ringing without their knowledge. Those who suffer from disconnect anxiety frequently check their cell phones for any missed calls or messages. In addition, they like to keep in touch with their friends-even just to kill time. What's more, if these heavy cell phone users discover that they have forgotten to bring their cell phones along with them, they will insist on returning home to get their "cells".
It's nice to have a cell phone, and it makes sense, of course, to enjoy all the advantages this clever product has brought. However, we need to use it wisely. For example, when we are doing something important, we should turn off our cell phones to concentrate on our work. As for Adam, he had better leave his cell phone at home on his next date with Vicky-if he gets another chance to go out with her!
Decades of research has demonstrated how junior employees benefit from being mentored (指导). Guidance from senior colleagues has also been shown to enhance mentees' job performance and satisfaction.
We were especially interested in understanding how mentoring might help mentors who work in stressful occupations. Mental health is a growing concern within occupations that play important social roles, such as medical professionals, firefighters, and police officers. And because policing is one of the most stressful occupations, with high levels of mental health and well-being difficulties, we conducted a study of a formal mentoring program in an English police force.
It was designed to support the development of junior officers by giving them a way to discuss concerns and receive guidance. Our study involved two parts. First, we conducted a field experiment: we compared the mental health of 17 mentor-mentee pairs to a control group of 18 pairs of senior and junior officers that did not participate in the program. Second, we interviewed both the mentees and their mentors separately.
Our experiment results showed that people who served as mentors experienced lower levels of anxiety, and described their job as more meaningful, than those who did not mentor. We learned from our interviews that mentoring afforded senior officers, as well as junior officers, a chance to discuss and reflect on concerns. By acknowledging that these anxieties were common, both mentees and mentors grew more comfortable in discussing them and in sharing different coping mechanisms.
Why does mentoring have this impact on mentors? Despite the pressures that comes with their roles — including abuse, difficult decision making, and the risk of death — police officers tend not to seek support from other officers, including more senior colleagues. This is to avoid negative stigma, a shameful reputation, associated with mental health disorders. Mentoring thereby offered a way to build trust within a relationship that laid a foundation for open and honest communication of sensitive topics.
A. We believe it offers a way to receive support that is often lacking.
B. The mentoring program was launched in 2013 in one of the police forces in England and Wales.
C. Formal mentoring programs provide an opportunity to encourage the discussion of difficult and sensitive topics.
D. However, what we are wondering is why mentoring has such great impact on mentors as well as mentees.
E. Mentors heard their mentees' accounts of anxiety and realized these feelings — which they also shared — were common.
F. We know far less, however, about how mentoring might benefit mentors themselves.
What Does Teamwork Really Mean?
We often hear the word "teamwork". But are you a team player? Understanding the question can surely promote team spirit as well as individual development. In many job interviews, a common question is whether the interviewee is a "team player". More often than not, he or she will say "yes". But what does being a team player really mean?
On the most basic level, a team player is someone who can work within a group of people. This group is a number of people greater than one. Therefore it is an essential requirement of any employment that any potential employee is a team player.
On a deeper level, a team player is someone who can play a role in the team, to achieve and support the goals set and agreed upon by the team. The simplest analogy（类似）to the corporate team would be a sports team.
There are two main aims of the football team. One is to score goals and the other is to prevent the opposition team from scoring. In football, there are eleven players per side, and almost the same number of players in reserve. There are also other vital members of the team in the background, such as the coach, the doctor, etc.
Every member of the team has a very specific role - as a captain, goalkeeper. Every member of the team is vital to the success of the team. If one player does not perform to the best of his or her ability, the team is handicapped(阻碍，妨碍).
Similarly in the corporate world, each company has its clearly defined goals. Every member of the corporate team should have specific roles and responsibilities in view of achieving these goals.
Being a team player does not mean you should always agree with the rest of the team. There are times when your vision may differ from the vision of the company, the leader or the rest of the team. It may be a valid vision and if you believe in it strongly enough, you should share it with the rest of the team. If the leader is a competent one, he or she will assess it on its merits and not let ego(自我，自负) get in the way. However, if the team should not agree with your vision, don't take it personally.
They may find the idea inappropriate, not YOU personally. Don't take it as a sign of personal rejection. If your leader or team members see that you can handle rejection of your ideas in a mature manner, it is only to your own credit.
So, don't be afraid to offer new ideas even seemingly crazy ones. Everyone in the team should feel free to offer ideas and not worry about them being dismissed.
The pleasure of working in an environment where every member of the team is a team player is unparalleled. If you are not enjoying your working environment, chances are high that your team is also not working well. Ask yourself this:
Are your team objectives in line with those of the company? If not, why not?
What Does Teamwork Really Mean?
|
Introduction |
●When asked the question whether the interviewee is a "team player", he/she will say "yes". |
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The essence of a team player |
●, a team player is one who can work within a group of people. |
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●Deeply, a team player is one who can play a role in the team. |
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In a football team ●There are two aims of the football team—to score goals and prevent the opponents from scoring. ●Every member has a specific role and plays a(n) role in the success of the team. |
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In the corporate world ●Each company has its clearly defined goals. ●Every member of the team should their responsibility for their goals. |
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●You should have your own idea when your vision with that of the company, the leader or the rest of the team. |
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●When others find the idea inappropriate, don't take the rejection personally and you should handle it . |
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●Although seeming crazy, new ideas should be offered and freely. |
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Conclusion |
●If you are not happy in your working environment, it is that your team is not working well. |
If you seek happiness, then you need to know what happiness is for you. I don't believe there is one universal definition of happiness. Happiness is a very subjective emotion, according to me. Put two people in identical situations: same amount of money, life experiences. etc. and you can be pretty sure that they both wouldn't feel equally happy or equally sad. I believe this is so because there are two kinds of happiness. There is one kind of happiness, which is kind of universal and then there is the other kind, which is very individual to each one of us. It is this kind of happiness that I find more interesting.
The second kind of happiness that I talk about comes from our expectations out of our lives, which vary from person to person. For example, a person who expects a lot out of his or her life may find that happiness is hard to find. They are constantly in search of these things in life, which always seem to elude (逃避) them. Those things may be money or fame or power or any of the other pursuits (追求) that humans have, but it would be likely that such people are less likely to be happy, if their goals are not met. In most cases, even after their goals are met, they don't find happiness, because they seek more— new goals, new wish lists, and it's a seemingly never- ending process for them!
On the other hand, a person who takes life as it comes along and makes the best of each day is more likely to be happy every day. They have no pressure or goals to occupy their minds and they can achieve happiness from the simple pleasures of everyday life, finding love, making time for the family and kids, seeing their kids grow, etc. Of course, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't have any expectations at all. You should keep those expectations reasonable and manageable.
There was a man named Ken Nwadike who wanted desperately to run this year's Boston Marathon. But the Boston Marathon is different from most marathons: you have to qualify in order to enter it. Namely, you have to have completed your previous marathon in a certain amount of time, depending on your age category.
Well, the man in question was 23 seconds short of the qualifying time he needed in order to enter the marathon. He had a number of options. He could get angry. He could blame someone. He could get depressed. Any of them could easily have led to his turning tail(逃走) and going home, angry or depressed.
Instead, Ken Nwadike attended the Boston Marathon in his own way. He made a " Free Hugs" sign, and with that had a camera on a tripod (三脚架), he gave out hugs and smiles to the runners that passed him by, his way of encouraging and supporting them. From that humble beginning, Ken began his widely acclaimed Free Hugs Campaign, which states its purpose as follows: "continuing the movement of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the mission of the Free Hugs Project is to spread love, inspire change and raise awareness of social issues." His campaign, which quickly became a huge success, got the widespread compliments.
When things go wrong in our lives, as they do from time to time — sometimes seemingly all the time — we have a choice. We need to take a deep breath, judge the situation, and find a positive direction in which we should go. Whether it's something relatively small, like missing a marathon, or large, like losing a loved one, let Ken's story inspire you to take that breath, re-orient(重新调整)yourself, and move on to doing something worthwhile with the experience.
"My work is done." Those words were some of the last penned by George Eastman. He included them in his suicide note. They mark an ignoble end to a noble life, the leave taking of a truly great man. The same words could now be said for the company he left behind. Actually, the Eastman Kodak Company is through. It has been mismanaged financially, technologically and competitively. One of America's bedrock brands is about to disappear, the Kodak moment has passed.
But George Eastman is not how he died, and the Eastman Kodak Company is not how it is being killed. Though the ends are needless and premature, they must not be allowed to overshadow the greatness that came before. Few companies have done so much good for so many people, or defined and lifted so profoundly the spirit of a nation and perhaps the world.
Kodak served mankind through entertainment, science, national defense and the stockpiling of family memories. Kodak took us to the top of Mount Suribachi and to the Sea of Tranquility. It introduced us to the merry old Land of Oz and to stars from Charlie Chaplin to John Wayne, and Elizabeth Taylor to Tom Hanks.When that sailor kissed the nurse, and when the spy planes saw missiles in Cuba, Kodak was the eyes of a nation. From the deck of the Missouri to the grandeur of Monument Valley, Kodak took us there. Virtually every significant image of the 20th Century is a gift to generation from the Eastman Kodak Company. Yes, there were photographers, and for relatively large sums of money they would take unnatural pictures in studios and formal settings. But most people couldn't afford photographs, and so all they had to remember distant loved ones, or earlier times of their lives, was memory. Children could not know what their parents had looked like as young people, grandparents far away might never learn what their grandchildren looked like. Eastman Kodak allowed memory to move from the uncertainty of recollection, to the permanence of a photograph. But it wasn't just people whose features were savable; it was events, the precious times that families cherish. The Kodak moment, was humanity's moment.
A. It showed us the shot that killed President Kennedy, and his brother bleeding out on a kitchen floor.
B. George Eastman was not only interested in commercial profits, but also in the improvement of other people's lives.
C. In an era of easy digital photography, when we can take a picture of anything at any time, we cannot imagine what life was like before George Eastman brought photography to people.
D. For 20 years, its leaders have foolishly spent down the patrimony (祖传的财物) of a century's prosperity.
E. Before George Eastman brought photography to people, painting was the only way for people to keep a record of their ancestors.
F. It is impossible to understand the 20th Century without recognizing the role of the Eastman Kodak Company.
How often do you eat chocolate? If you answered "every day", you may be addicted to choco- late.
Eating too much chocolate is often thought to be the cause of tooth decay, weight gain, head- aches, and skin problems such as acne (粉刺). Eating chocolate releases a distinctive flavor that gives us a pleasant, positive feeling. What is it that causes this feeling?
Chocolate contains over three hundred known chemicals. Like a drug, these chemicals stimulate areas of the brain that enables us to feel pleasure. The most well known chemical is caffeine, which is also found in coffee, tea, and some types of soda.
The popular opinion of chocolate is that it is a fattening food that gives you spots, and contains no nutritional qualities. The fact is, chocolate does contain saturated fat. . On the other hand, scientists at the university of California have discovered that chocolate also contains high level of chemicals called phenolics (酚化物), also found in red wine, coffee, and tea. Some phenolics, if consumed in small amounts, are believed to lower the risk of heart disease.
Consumption of cocoa around the world now amounts to almost three million tons a year. That is equivalent to 500 grams of cocoa for every person on earth! .
A. However, does eating too much chocolate cause any real health risks?
B. No one has ever died of eating too much chocolate, so this is one addiction that might be okay to have.
C. This type of fat can contribute to heart disease by increasing levels of bad cholesterol (胆固醇) in the blood.
D. But is this addiction damaging your health?
E. On the other hand, chocolate is known to make people feel happier.
F. Chocolate contains chemicals that slow the brain.
G. The cocoa butter in chocolate forms a coating over teeth that may help to protect our teeth.
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A. Monster, Coca-Cola's energy drink partner, isn't excited with the plan. B. Pretty much every drink category is experimenting with making full use of energy sections. C. Coke recognized the importance of energy drinks when it struck a deal with Monster in 2014. D. By using natural ingredients and its recognizable brand, Coke may be going after consumers who wouldn't reach for a Monster drink. E. Recently, consumers have been looking for functional ingredients — like caffeine for energy — in everything from sparkling water to juice. |
Coca-Cola Launched Coke-branded Energy Drinks
Coca-Cola recently said it was considering adding a new drink, Coca-Cola Energy, to its list of Coke products.
Both companies have said that they value the relationship, but Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey is pushing for aggressive growth, and he's not afraid to upset some feathers.
The energy drink is one of the fastest-growing parts of the drink industry, and it's highly profitable because consumers are used to paying more for energy drinks than soft drinks. Plus, some people already drink Coke for caffeine. It's a natural brand extension.
That means that energy drinks compete with other types of drinks, and that people who may not seek out an energy drink may still be looking for an energy boost.
In that way, the new drink could serve as addition, rather than competitor, to Monster.
