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   Friendships can be difficult because often people aren’t as honest and open as they should be. Sometimes, people finally get hurt.

Most problems with friendships come up because people are just too selfish to care about the things that their friends need. They care about their own needs much more, which makes it hard for friendships to work. However, being selfish is part of human nature. A person is put together in order to take care of himself and his own needs, not necessarily those needs of other people. Even though being selfish is something that all humans are born with, it is something that everyone should be against.

The best thing to remember when you are a friend to anyone is that you need to treat your friends the same way that you’d like to be treated (对待). This is wonderful advice for a friendship, because it is really the only way to make sure that you are giving your friends everything you would want to be given in a friendship. Whenever you have a question about how you should treat a friend, it is easy to find an answer simply by asking yourself what you would like your friend to do for you, if he or she is in your shoes.

Even if you’re al ways thinking about how you’d like to be treated, and your friends are too, there are problems that come up from time to time in each friendship, and it is important to understand how to deal with these problems so that you can build stronger and healthier friendships. Problems like friends getting boyfriends or girlfriends and not spending enough time with their friends, or even friends finding new friends and leaving old friends behind are problems that will probably come up with one or more of your friendships. It is important to know how to deal with these friend problems so that you can keep your friends and make new ones. No one wants to have a broken friendship.

   In the fall of 1985, I was a bright-eyed girl heading off to Howard University, aiming at a legal career and dreaming of sitting on a Supreme Court bench somewhere. Twenty-one years later I am still a bright-eyed dreamer and one with quite a different tale to tell.

My grandma, an amazing woman, graduated from college at the age of 65. She was the first in our family to reach that goal. But one year after I started college, she developed cancer. I made the choice to withdraw from college to care for her. It meant that school and my personal dream would have to wait.

Then I got married with another dream: building my family with a combination of adopted and biological children. In 1999, we adopted our first son. To lay eyes on him was fantastic and very emotional. A year later came our second adopted boy. Then followed son No. 3. In 2003, I gave birth to another boy.

You can imagine how fully occupied I became, raising four boys under the age of 8! Our home was a complete zoo— a joyous zoo. Not surprising. I never did make it back to college full-time. But I never gave up on the dream either. I had only one choice: to find a way. That meant taking as few as one class each semester.

The hardest part was feeling guilty about the time I spent away from the boys. They often wanted me to stay home with them. There certainly were times I wanted to quit, but I knew I should set an example for them to follow through the rest of their lives.

In 2007, I graduated from the University of North Carolina. It took me over 21 years to get my college degree! I am not special, just single-minded. It always struck me that when you’re looking at a big challenge from the outside it looks huge, but when you’re in the midst of it, it just seems normal. Everything you want won’t arrive in your life on one day. It’s a process. Remember little steps add up to big dreams.

   Americans are proud of their variety and individuality, yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform (制服), whether it is the uniform of an elevator operator or the uniform of a five-star general. Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?

Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian (百姓的) clothes. People have become conditioned to expect superior quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears uniform tends to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform. What easier way is there for a nurse, a policeman, a barber, or a waiter to lose professional identity (身份) than to step out of uniform?

Uniforms also have many practical benefits. They save on other clothes. They save on laundry bills. They are tax- deductible (可减税的). They are often more comfortable and more durable than civilian clothes.

Primary among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the consequent loss of individuality (个人) experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it, without change, until retirement. When people look alike, they tend to think, speak, and act similarly, on the job at least.

Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are long-lasting, often their initial (最初的) expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes. Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain, requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with many types of civilian clothes.

   As you grow rapidly through your teenage years, you will experience a lot of changes. The changes may seem difficult. 【小题1】 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. 【小题2】 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 present itself to you.

Young adulthood means greater freedom and more choices. 【小题3】 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, 【小题4】 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. 【小题5】 So making the right choices will be important to you. Life is for living. Enjoy your life wisely!

   Shyness can be an unhappy feeling. But the good news is, you’re not alone. Scientists say that more than 40 percent of teenagers and adults consider _______ shy. Shyness is feeling a little nervous or as if you want to hide when you re around other people or in a new situation.

What _______ people shy?

Scientists say such things as genetics (遗传基因), life experiences, and environment can influence whether a person is shy. For example, in some families, everybody seems _______ shy.

What happens _______ you are shy? Well, being shy _______ cause you to avoid or miss opportunities you would enjoy.

How do people overcome (克服) shyness? This is what Gilbert tells us. “When I started off trying to get over being shy, I decided to do little steps at a time, including practicing _______ and saying hi to people. And it worked for me.”

But shyness is not the kind of thing _______ most people can get over overnight. Overcoming shyness takes time and needs practice.

Here are some tips given _______ scientists.

Think of _______ to talk about before you leave home. Prepare things to talk about before you’re in a social situation. For example, if you know your classmates are ________ in an upcoming event, learn about it so you can join in the conversations.

Let people know you’re shy. If you’re shy, just show it Instead of letting people guess, ________ them the truth. Explain that you are shy and feel nervous ________ enjoy talking to people.

Make things easy for the other person. Remember, you’re not ________ only shy person around. Do what you think might help others feel good — for example, say hello or smile.

Pick one social skill to practice at a time Start simply. For example, smile or be ________ person to say hi. Choose skills you feel ________ with to practice for a day, a week, a month, or even a year.

   When I was in primary school, I had a big argument with a boy in my class. I can’t ________ what it was about, but I have never forgotten the ________ I learned that day.

I was sure that I was right and he was wrong. However, he ________ believed that I was wrong and he was right. The teacher decided to teach us a lesson. She came up with a good idea. She brought both of us to the front of the class and placed him on one side of her grey desk and me on the other. In the middle of the desk was a large, round object. It was ________ for me to see that it was black. She asked the boy what color the object was. “White!” he answered in a loud voice.

I couldn’t ________ that the object was white, considering that it was certainly black! One more argument started between the boy and me, this time about the ________ of the object.

The teacher told me to go stand where the boy was standing and told him to come stand where I had been. We changed ________ and then she asked me what the color of the object was. I had to answer, “White.” It was then that I knew what was wrong. It was an object with two ________ colored sides, and from his side it was white. Only from my side was it black.

My teacher taught me a very important lesson that day: You must ________ in other person’s position and look at the ________ through their eyes in order to truly understand their ideas.

How to Deal With the Exam Stress?

As a student, everyone will face the exam stress.

If you suffer from too much stress. ____________________________________________________________