Testing the five-second rule
You may have seen a friend drop food on the floor, pick it up, and eat it, while declaring, “Five-second rule! ” It's said that food dropped on the floor for five seconds or less is still likely to be clean. .
Students at Britain's Aston University, led by microbiology professor Anthony Hilton, tested the rule and found it to have some scientific basis. The study's results show that food dropped for five seconds is less likely to contain bacteria than if it sits there for longer, according to Hilton.
The students also found that the type of flooring where the dropped food lands has an effect. Bacteria are most likely to transfer from tiled (铺瓷砖的) surfaces to moist food when the food has stood there for more than five seconds.
Therefore, consumers should still be cautious. “However, the findings of this study will bring some light relief to those who have been employing the five-second rule for years, despite a general consensus that it is purely a myth,” professor Hilton said in a statement.
The research team at Aston also surveyed 500 people to find out who employs the five-second rule. Of the people surveyed, 87% said they would eat food dropped on the floor, or have done so in the past. “Our study showed people are also more likely to follow the five-second rule, which our research has shown to be much more than an old wives' tale,” Hilton says.
Still, scientists say you should be careful about eating food dropped on the floor, especially if you have doubts about the cleanliness of the surface.
A. But is that true?
B. Carpeted surfaces posed the lowest risk.
C. Of those people, the majority were women.
D. We've just lost our last excuse to eat food off the floor.
E. Usually people recover from the infection in five to ten days.
F. There is still a risk of infection if certain bacteria are present on the dropped surface.
G. A biologist points out that one in six Americans get sick from food poisoning every year.
Third-Culture Kids
Did you grow up in one culture, your parents came from another, and you are now living in a totally different country? If so, then you are a third-culture kid!
The term “third-culture kid” (or TCK) was coined in the 1960s by Dr. Ruth. She first came across this phenomenon when she researched North American children living in India. Caught between two cultures, they form their very own. About 90 percent of them have a university degree, while 40 percent pursue a postgraduate or doctor degree. They usually benefit from their intercultural experience, which helps them to grow into successful academics and professionals.
In fact many hardships may arise from this phenomenon. A third-culture kid may not be able to adapt themselves completely to their new surroundings as expected. Instead, they may always remain an outsider in different host cultures. Max, for example, experienced this fundamental feeling of strangeness throughout his life as a third-culture kid. While this can be a way to create a network of friends all around the world, it can be difficult for a third-culture kid like Max to maintain close friendships and relationships.
For a third-culture kid, it is often easier to move to a new foreign country than to return to their “home” country. After living in Australia and South Korea for many years, Louis finally returned to Turkey as a teenager. But she felt out of place when she returned to the country where she was born. She did not share the same values as her friends' even years after going back home.
While a third-culture kid must let go of their identity as foreigner when he/she returns, the home country can prove to be more foreign than anything he/she came across before. The peer group they face does not match the idealized image children have of “home”.
As a part of the growing “culture”, TCKs may find it a great challenge for them to feel at home in many places.
A. Yet being a third-culture kid is not always easy.
B. In general, they often reach excellent academic results.
C. This often makes it hard for them to form their own identity.
D. However, their parents can help them see the opportunities of a mobile lifestyle.
E. Their experience abroad helps them to gain a better understanding of cultural differences.
F. Unlike other teens of her age, she didn't know anything about current TV shows or fashion trends.
G. Additionally, making new friends and saying goodbye to old ones will at some point become routine for a third-culture kid.
Abralda, one of the largest coral reefs in the world, is truly an amazing place for scientific research.
However, when we arrived there, things didn't go as smoothly as expected. It was raining so hard that we couldn't dive into the sea for research. What's worse, we didn't know how long we had to wait. We did hope it would stop raining soon.
Since we couldn't dive, we stayed on our boat that was meant to keep track of us when we were diving. We dived quickly down in depth into a warm and colourful place. Meanwhile, the boat was following us all the way.
There were various sea creatures swimming around us. Interestingly, I was joined by a turtle which stayed on ray mask for a while. And it followed me during the rest period of my dive. I was amazed and even shocked! Beautiful living coral covered nearly 100 percent of the bottom! Besides the turtle, many more sea animals passed by me closely. It was so fun. All stress, noise and troubles of life were left at the surface of the sea.
I dived for as long as I could that day. This was how I felt about Abralda—I loved it and never wanted to leave. In fact, we are already planning another diving research in Abralda.
A. It made us disappointed and upset.
B. We were dissatisfied and decided to leave there.
C. However, we had to do research on wildlife there.
D. I looked around to explore the fantastic underwater world.
E. Exploring so well underwater, I was unwilling to leave the sea.
F. Luckily, the rain stopped on the fourth day，and we went diving.
G. Therefore, we went to study and record the wildlife there months ago.
Healthy eating begins with learning how to eat smart—it's not just what you eat, but how you eat. Your food choices can reduce your risk of illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, as well as defend against bad mood. Moreover, learning the habits of healthy eating can increase your energy, sharpen your memory and stabilize(稳定)your mind.
Healthy eating is about more than the food on your plate. Healthy eating habits can be learned and it is important to slow down and think about the food as nourishment rather than just something to gulp down between meetings or on the way to your school.
Eat with others whenever possible.
Eating with other people has a lot of benefit—particularly for children—and allows you to follow healthy eating habits.
Take time to chew your food and enjoy mealtimes.
Chew your food slowly and taste every bite. We always tend to rush through our meals, forgetting to taste and feel the food in our mouth. Reconnect with the joy of eating.
Ask yourself if you are really hungry, or have a glass of water to see if you are thirsty instead of hungry. It actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body that it has had enough food, so eat slowly.
Eat breakfast and smaller meals throughout the day.
And eating small, healthy meals throughout the day(rather than the standard three large meals)keeps your energy up and your metabolism(新陈代谢)going.
A. It is also about how you think about the food.
B. Eating in front of the TV or computer often leads to mindless overeating.
C. Listen to your body.
D. During a meal, stop eating before you feel full.
E. A healthy breakfast can start your metabolism,
F. It is about where you eat your food.
G. Drink more water when you are hungry.
How to Recognize a True Friend
Sometimes it can be hard to recognize a true friend. Hopefully this article will help you recognize which friends are the keepers.
Be able to trust your friends. You should be able to trust true friends and they should return this trust. Do your friends tell you secrets that no one else knows? Ask you for advice? However, if your friends hide things from you and act secretly, then this is a sign that they may not trust you.
Think about it. How comfortable are your friends when they are around you? Are they being themselves around you? Are they acting fake or perhaps hiding something? True friendships can take a while to develop, but if your friends are true they should feel comfortable around you, and vice versa (You with them)
Think about loyalty(忠诚). If you are in need of a helping hand, your true friends should be there to offer it to you. True friends don't try to get one another into trouble. A true friend will always be loyal to you and will not reveal secrets.
Think about nicknames. A lot of true friends love to give each other nicknames！ If your friend is giving you nicknames, then this is a great sign. Think of the nickname your friend has given you, does it suit you well?
Look at how you fight. Nearly all best friends fight. True friends will find their way through a fight, no matter what the size is. True friends will remain “faithful” to each other even during a fight. They will not tell each others' secrets, and they still care about each other.
A. Consider comfort.
B. Choose your friends carefully.
C. True friends are always there for one another.
D. Both are sure signs that your friend trusts you.
E. If so, this shows your friend must know you quite well.
F. So if you and your friend have a little argument, don't worry!
G. An inside joke shows that you share a special connection with your friend.
Sports Fans and Identity
Many people are crazy about a particular sports team. They are big fans and seem to connect their own identity to their chosen team.
Identity consists of things like gender (性别), personality, abilities, and social groups. The groups we belong to shape our identity. Related to this is the theory developed by Henri Tajfel and John Turner. In knowing who we are, we may more closely identify with our social group than with our gender group. We also decide which group we belong to, based on different aspects of our identity. According to the theory, our self-esteem—how we feel about ourselves—is reflected in the group we belong to. For example, we naturally protect the group we belong to, while making other groups less important. We think highly of the team we support, while we may add negative comments about an opposing team.
Researchers have studied language used by sports fans. By using pronouns like “we”, fans show that they feel connected with the team when it is winning. “We really killed that team. They couldn't get the ball past us.” However, when their team didn't do well, the fans would distance themselves from the team, using different pronouns. “They didn't know what they were doing. They had no planning.”
They have found those fans have more self-confidence and feel more competent. They are quite sure they have the ability to deal with situations successfully or do things to a satisfactory standard. These people will perform better at work and earn and spend more money, so experts suggest that a winning team may have a positive influence on the economy of a city.
A. They suggested that we naturally classify people into groups.
B. That causes increased competitions between different groups of sports fans.
C. It is probably because the victory reflects well on their personal sense of identity.
D. Comments from group members certainly have a strong influence on our behavior.
E. When their team did well, the fans would closely identify themselves with the team.
F. That leads to the fact that we want our group to be seen more positively than other groups.
G. Social scientists have also studied the effect of winning a championship on the fans of the winning team.
Most people actually do not know how to do basic first aid on mild burns. It is normally taken for granted since most people think that soaking (浸泡) the burn with water is the way to go.
Once the burn appears, you will surely feel much pain on the actual burned skin. Technically, this is the time to stay calm.Finding a source of running water is recommended. However, if there is none, any source will do. If there is running water, simply place the burned area under it and allow it to soak the water for about 5 to 10 minutes.If you have access to ice or a cold compress（冷敷布）, you can use that as well. You can place the ice or cold compress on the affected area and leave it there about 15 to 30 minutes. The ice will numb the pain and will also stop more injury on the skin.
After soaking in water or cooling the area with ice, remove from the water source and allow the moisture to dry naturally. You may also consider patting it down dry with a towel or napkin, however, this could damage the burnt skin even more.
As soon as the area dries up completely, get a bandage or a strip of cloth.This will protect that area from infection caused by outside dirt and dust getting into the open burn.
A. Call a doctor may as well help in most burn cases.
B. The thing is that treating a mild burn goes more than just soaking the affected part in water.
C. It is best to dry it naturally instead.
D. Wrap it around the burn to cover the open area of skin.
E. The truth is that soaking is the last thing to do to deal with mild burn.
F. The first thing you will need to do will be to find a clean water source.
G. This will relieve some of the pain, cool down the skin, and stop additional burning.
The winter vacation during the senior year of high school can be a stressful time for students. They may also be feeling sad that time with family and friends having a relaxation. Here are some wise ways to spend the last winter vacation of high school.
Start practicing responsibilities. After you enter college, you have to do a lot of things on your own. Although some may just want to spend winter break sleeping and relaxing, it's the right time for you to begin taking on some household tasks. You should start doing laundry and more things on your own. In this way, you can learn to become responsible.
For students who haven't decided on a major, the last winter vacation of high school can be an opportunity to explore their interests. Students are often told they'll have time to decide on a major once they get to college. However, the last winter break might be the freest time they'll have for a while.
Besides a major, you also need to decide on a school. This is a great time to go on more campus visits. Take another visit to ensure you're making the right choice. Sometimes, seeing the school in different seasons can help you decide if it is truly where you belong.
Some students agree they should take advantage of time at home with family and friends while they still can. But most students don't realize how important family is until they've moved away. As you get more into college life, you will probably not be returning home as often, so take this opportunity. Enjoy your friends and family, as it will all change once you enter college.
A. Enjoy quality time at home.
B. Don't visit a campus just once.
C. Spend more time with your friends.
D. Ask your parents what major you can study.
E. So find out what you really like to learn in college.
F. And you'll be independent and responsible for yourself.
G. They may be dealing with pressure to choose a school.
Recently, I've been following a simple rule that is helping me crush procrastination（拖延症）and making it easier for me to stick to good habits at the same time. There are two parts to the 2-Minute Rule…
Part 1 -- If it takes less than two minutes, then do it now. For example, washing your dishes immediately after your meal, tossing the laundry in the washing machine, taking out the garbage, sending that email, and so on.
If a task takes less than two minutes to complete, then follow the rule and do it right now.
Part 2 -- When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do.
Can all of your goals be accomplished in less than two minutes? Obviously not. But, every goal can be started in 2 minutes or less.
It might sound like this strategy is too basic for grand life goals, but I beg to differ. The 2-Minute Rule works for big goals as well as small goals because of the inertia(惯性)of life. I love the 2-Minute Rule because it embraces the idea that all sorts of good things happen once you get started.
The most important part of any new habit is getting started -- not just the first time, but each time. It's not about performance, it's about consistently taking action.
I can't ensure whether or not the 2-Minute Rule will work for you. Anyone can spare the next 120 seconds. Use this time to get one thing done. Go.
A. I call this little strategy the "2-Minute Rule".
B. And that's the purpose behind this little rule.
C. Here's what you need to know to stop procrastinating.
D. Once you start doing something, it's easier to continue doing it.
E. But, I can ensure that it will never work if you never try it.
F. The goal is to make it easier for you to get started on the things you should be doing.
G. It's surprising how many things we put off that we could get done in two minutes or less.
I just counted how many foreign languages I've studied so far in my life and it's been twelve!
I always follow my interests and find ways to put my language learning into things I'm already interested in. I like to read blogs(博客)in other languages. . For the most part, bloggers tend to write the same way they speak, so I don't have to worry much about adopting strange terms that are only used in writing.
Movies are also a really good tool, especially if you can find subtitles in the language you're learning. , they will still keep your brain listening and reading in the same language. Music is another way to start listening to things in your new language. Personally, I'm so bad at understanding lyrics(歌词)even in English, so this one doesn't really work for me, but I have friends who learn a language through lyrics. Games are of course also an excellent way of studying a new language. A lot of language learning computer programs include games. I'm super competitive and if I play any of them, I can be hooked for hours..
When the initial excitement of learning a new language begins to fade, it can be hard to stick with it. The hardest bit for me is when I'm comfortable enough with a language to understand most things and make myself understood. I'm actually stuck at this stage in Norwegian. . Ideally I should sign up to take a big language exam. Each time I start getting self-satisfied, it's time to take a new course or sign up for online lessons, or take up some sort of challenge that will require me to level up my skills.
. The best language class I've ever taken was my beginner's Russian course at university where my professor never used any English. It got to the point where I would kind of just forget about English while in Russian class, which helped me to really immerse myself in the Russian language and do a whole lot with the limited Russian I had.
A. That's really uncomfortable
B. Whatever languages they're translated into
C. I also try to think in the language I'm learning
D. It's time well spent if I'm learning the language
E. Computer games always make me feel worn out
F. Though they don't always exactly match what's being said
G. I found them the perfect learning tool because they're usually written in oral language
How to Be a Good Listener to Your Family
Communication is important for strong family relationships, Working on your listening skills can help you communicate better and form stronger bonds.
Listen actively. When listening to a family member, do not let your mind wander to other things. It's important to family member feel heard and valued. Put your phone away and give them your full attention. Never think about other things when someone is talking.
Repeat what has been said. Briefly summarizing what the speaker has said can go a long way towards effective communication. Everyone wants to feel valued and heard, so repeating a family members' point can show you were listening. It can really allow you and your family to communicate better as well.
Interrupting can put breaks on effective conversation. Always allow a few seconds of silence after someone finishes talking before offering your response. This allows you to make sure the speaker has finished talking. Do not talk over someone either. No matter how curious you feel about a subject, do not start talking until the other person has finished.
Avoid hurrying the speaker. Do not break in before the speaker is finished just to hurry the speaker along. Never say things like, "Can you get to the point?" This will make it seem like you're not interested in the conversation.
A. Do not interrupt.
B. Never rush the person talking.
C. Instead, focus on what's being said.
D. People tend to pause when they speak.
E. It can help you make sure you understood the speaker.
F. When someone finishes talking, ask questions if necessary.
G. However, if you don't truly listen to others, it can be difficult to communicate.
I dislike making school lunches. Each morning, I am in a hurry busy slicing cucumbers, washing berries, and filling water bottles, all the while feeling annoyed and even slightly angry. The lunches aren't particularly challenging to prepare. My daughters are content with the food in their lunch box. There's no good reason for my annoyance.
And then one morning a thought suddenly came into my mind — I am so lucky.
Within seconds, those four words bloomed throughout my awareness. I am so lucky to live in a home with electricity, running water, and a functional refrigerator. I am so lucky to live near a grocery store with a plentiful selection of fresh food and snacks and so lucky to have enough money to afford them. I am so lucky to have two daughters who are healthy enough to eat and digest the food I send with them.
I can't tell you where this sudden burst of gratitude came from, but I do know this: that small shift immediately made my morning lunch routine extremely easier. Rather than feeling impatient and annoyed, I felt calm and pleased. Rather than mentally complaining through the whole morning, I was able to appreciate my situation.
I am so grateful for peanut butter. Thank goodness for this magical source of protein that my daughters will actually eat. And jelly, sweet, sweet, jelly. I can't forget sliced bread — oh, the magic of sliced bread! Imagine if I had to cut those slices myself each morning.
Don't get me wrong — I still don't enjoy making lunches. It gives me just enough space from my bad temper to choose a different response to whatever is going on.
A. Even so, I can't stand it.
B. What a mess that would be!
C. My husband also likes my breakfast.
D. All I could think about was how fortunate I am.
E. I found the cure for my bad feelings that morning.
F. I am so lucky to have a job and to have so many good workmates.
G. But the process doesn't feel like such a struggle when I remember to be grateful.
Having good communication skills is important. They can help you with performances in class, during the job hunting, having arguments and in a variety of other situations.
1 Understanding the basics of communication skills.
Communication is the process (过程) of delivering signals or messages between a sender and a receiver through various methods.
2 Trying to attract the attention of your audience.
Whether you are speaking or listening, looking into the eyes of the person with whom you are having a conversation with can make the communication more successful. Eye-contact expresses interest and encourages your partner to be interested in you in return.
You can use gestures to help. Make your whole body talk. Use smaller gestures for individuals and small groups. The gestures should get larger as the group that one is talking to increases in size.
3
People will think of you as nervous and unsure of yourself if you talk fast. However, be careful not to slow down to the point where people begin to finish the sentence just to help you finish.
People will judge your ability through your vocabulary. Improve your vocabulary by reading new words regularly. Look in the dictionary to help you learn how to pronounce a new word.
Communication increases happiness and love and makes you more popular. When you improve how you talk and present yourself, you will build your confidence, self-esteem (自尊) and social life.
A. Using your words.
B. These include gestures with hands and face.
C. Learning to get in the mood for conversation.
D. If you aren't sure of how to say a word, don't use it.
E. It is also the skill we use to build and keep relationships.
F. If you do that, you'll make conversations far more interesting.
G. Here are some tricks you can use to improve your communication skills.
Tips for Procrastinators (拖延者)
You manage to finish and hand the project in on time, but you feel exhausted. Then, your teacher says, "Get ready. We will start the test in 5 minutes."
Many of us are guilty of delaying doing what we should do. At the same time, we might risk missing a deadline and not getting a good mark. It is also very stressful. Here are some tips for procrastinators on how to get your work done ahead of time.
Create a to-do list. Creating a list will help organize your work and ideas while keeping you on track. Keep it up to date by checking off completed tasks as you go along. This will keep you focused and orderly.
Chances are, you won't be able to get a lot of work done when you're tired. Finding a time of day when you are full of energy will get you to be more productive.
Choose reliable study partners. Working with study partners will encourage you to complete the task at hand and ensure that you remain focused.
Divide the work into smaller parts. Procrastination is often a reaction to feeling overwhelmed (无法对付的). Dividing work into smaller parts will make it easy to handle. You will find your ability and be more likely to finish what you need to do.
Hopefully these tips will help you do away with the stressful, last-minute efforts of a procrastinator.
A. Work when you're feeling energetic.
B. Remind yourself to turn off all the devices.
C. You forgot that there's also an examination today.
D. Try to encourage yourself to stick to your work plan.
E. Deal with your tasks a bit at a time instead of wasting time wondering where to start.
F. Put the tasks that you feel less confident about or are likely to avoid on the top of the list.
G. You know that others are relying on you and they think that you deserve trust and are responsible.
What does it mean to be green?" Green" is more than just a color. It also means taking special steps to protect the environment. Why green? Plants are green, and without them the Earth wouldn't be such a lovely home for us human beings. What can we do?
Reduce It!
For instance, a shorter shower means you use less water and less fuel since your house uses to run the heater that warms up the water.
Reuse It!
Sometimes people call ours a" throwaway society". It means that we're a little too willing to throw away old stuff (东西) and buy new stuff. For instance, if your baby brother becomes older and loses interest in his plastic basketball hoop (篮圈), why not give it to another family who has a little kid?
Recycle It!
Recycling has never been easier. Many communities will pick it up right in front of your house and some towns even require it. Recycled goods go to a recycling center, where they can be turned into new cans, bottles, and paper.
Enjoy It!
It's true that rubbish and pollution are problems, but the Earth remains a huge and beautiful place that's ready for you to explore. Go for a hike, visit local nature centers and gardens, and climb mountains.
But before you travel the globe, take a look at your own backyard. Is there a spot where you could plant a tree or put in a little fruit or vegetable garden?
A. Here's a fourstep guide to being green.
B. Many times, even if you no longer need something, someone else just might.
C. You can start locally by visiting the naturally beautiful spots in your city.
D. Turn off the water when you're brushing your teeth.
E. Get out there and get your hands dirty.
F. You can watch with pride as your tree takes root and your garden plants grow.
G. When you use less of something, you do a good thing for the Earth.
Improving your family life can help make your family members closer and prevent conflicts from getting in the way of everyone's happiness. But at times it seems difficult. Here are some concrete steps to make your life more enjoyable.
Do household chores (杂务) together. However, sharing household responsibilities can help everyone in your family feel happy. Try to make it as fun as possible, such as by playing music or having contests. Besides, divide chores up into age-appropriate categories. After dinner, the youngest could wipe the table, the oldest could fill the dishwasher, and you could put away leftovers.
When someone expresses an opinion, don't interrupt them before they can finish speaking. Maintaining respectful communication channels will strengthen your bond.
Express love and appreciation frequently. Little verbal (口头的) and nonverbal gestures of affection go a long way. If your sibling is doing their homework and there's an empty glass on their desk, ask them, "Hey, can I get you more water?"
Respect your parents' need to protect you. While children need increasing degrees of freedom as they get older, remember that your parents are in charge. Their job is to keep you safe and give you the tools you'll need to take care of yourself when you're an adult. If your parent doesn't allow you to go out without an adult or makes you go to bed early, remember that they have your best interests in mind.
A. Why do you feel so?
B. Where do you start?
C. Few people actually enjoy that.
D. Chores mean more responsibilities.
E. Respect what your family members say.
F. Don't yell to get your way if they say no!
G. Find small ways to show you care for each other.
Ways to Get Your Kids into Nature
Being in nature for kids has tremendous health benefits. There are many ways you can incorporate nature into your children's lives, even if you live in the city.
Inspire curiosity by being curious yourself. A parent's excitement can be spread to the children, and when you show respect for nature, your children follow suit. . "I don't know! Let's find out together." is a wonderful way to get the ball rolling. Be open to a mutual adventure and allow your curious inner child to come out while you explore nature with your children.
. If you have to carpool (拼车) in the morning, turn off the devices instead and encourage your children to look out of the window. The early morning fall skies are beautiful with color and migrating birds. After all, even views of nature from the car window are calming and beneficial.
Stop thinking about nature time as leisure time. Time in nature is an essential investment in your children's health and well-being. If you view nature time as essential to good health, you will be more likely to engage in it. , nurturing creativity and wonder are part of your responsibility as parents.
Look at the stars. Visit your local observatory, and then drive out of the city some morning or evening for your own stargazing (天体观察) with a blanket and telescope. Observing the stars offers a deeper and wider understanding of the universe. .
Plant a small garden. . Bean and pea plants grow quickly and can be eaten when mature, so teach your children about food and the wonder of growth.
A. Limit electronic devices while driving
B. Encourage questions you don't know the answers to
C. If you want to raise your healthy, well-balanced children
D. If you have the space, help your children plant a few vegetables
E. It will teach teamwork, pride in the community, and family togetherness
F. If your child is interested, encourage him to get involved in the community
G. Allow yourself to think about it, and talk to your children about that wonder
Tips on Young Adult Life
As you grow rapidly through your teenage years, you will experience a lot of changes. The changes may seem difficult. Don't panic! You will deal successfully with them! You are a young adult now!
With more responsibility, you will find more freedom to make your own choices. This is a time to be well informed about making choices. In this way you can make healthy balanced decisions. You may already know your career path or you may have no idea at all what you want to do. Both situations are fine! Work hard and the right opportunity will show itself to you.
Young adulthood means greater freedom and more choices. But try not to shut your family out of your life. You should learn to think of others even though you are old enough to look after yourself.
It is also perfectly natural at this time for you to spend more time with your friends than your family. A true friend will stand by you no matter what happens.
This period is a part of the life cycle. There are some people who will be with you throughout life's journey. There will be some people with whom you part and go separate ways. Leaving school can be hard. The reality is that you may not even see all of your classmates again.
You are a young adult. It is your life. No one can live it for you. So making the right choices will be important to you. Life is for living. Enjoy your life wisely!
A. Choose your friends wisely.
B. They may seem to happen quickly.
C. They will help shape the future.
D. You may appreciate what you have in your own life.
E. You will probably want to be independent.
F. The choices that you make from now on will be your choices.
G. Your family has been with you since you came into this world.
When watching a soccer game or basketball match, you might hear people encouraging their favorite team by shouting things like "come on" or "go for it". Could the Chinese phrase "add oil" also become a frequent cheer at sporting events?
Last month, "add oil", a direct translation of "jiayou", was added to the online Oxford English Dictionary (OED). It is believed to have originated as a cheer at the Macao Grand Prix(汽车大奖赛）during the 1960s.
"OED is recognizing the legitimacy (合法性）of our English and its potential to be relevant to the Anglophone (英语为母语者）world" Wee Lian-hee, professor of language studies at Baptist University's English Department, told the South China Morning Post. We can certainly reach out and communicate with the world without having to give up on being ourselves."
So how does a word get into the OED? New words are also required to have been used over a "reasonable amount of before being added. The process of adding words can be long and painstaking.
Let's take a look.
Hongbao: A traditional gift of money presented in a red envelope.
Jiaozi: A crescent-shaped (新月形的) dumpling made of thin pastry.
Wuxia:
A. Chinese people are excited that Chinglish phrases like these are gaining recognition.
B. According to Oxford University Press, words can be added as long as they are understood by readers without the need for an explanation of its meaning.
C. Below are some other Chinese words that nave been added to the OED.
D. OED is becoming more and more popular in the world.
E. The phrase refers to adding fuel into a vehicle.
F. Chinese slang is causing jokes in our life.
G. A type of fiction or cinema featuring ancient Chinese warriors (勇士).
Five steps to better handwriting
Some kids love handwriting, but others hate it when it's time to put pen to paper. Maybe they are worried about their handwriting. Are you one of them? Here are five steps that really work!
Get a great grasp
Try this — hold your pencil at the top and try to write your name. Pretty hard? But when you hold your pencil the correct way, writing is much easier. Hold it in place with your thumb(拇指), and your index and middle fingers.
Let the lines be your guide
Lined paper is your friend! Those lines can help you create letters that are of the right size and proportion (比例). Also be sure to fill up the lined space completely. Those capital letters should be from the bottom line to the top one.
Slow down
If your writing is hard to read, try slowing down a little. If you rush, it's hard to control where you stop and start your letters.
Lower the pressure (压力)
That makes it harder to make the smooth lines. Try relaxing and don't hold the pencil too hard.
Lots of games need you to write or draw pictures. So even though it's not schoolwork, you're still using the skills you need to control your pencil better.
A. Play games
B. Ask for advice
C. You've been writing since you were a little kid.
D. So "a" should be half the height of a capital "A".
E. Some kids press down really hard when they write.
F. The best way to hold a pencil is to rest it next to the base of your thumb.
G. The good news is that just about everyone can improve their handwriting.
