A strong memory depends on the health and vitality（生命力）of your brain. They say that you can't teach an old dog new tricks，but when it comes to the brain，scientists have discovered that this old saying simply isn't true. 【小题1】

Give your brain a workout. Memory, like muscular strength, requires you to“use it or lose it”. The more you work out your brain, the better you' ll be able to process and remember information. 【小题2】

Don't skip the physical exercise. While mental exercise is important to brain health, that doesn't mean you never need to break a sweat. Physical exercise helps your brain stay sharp. It increases oxygen to your brain and reduces the risk of disorders that lead to memory loss.

Get enough sleep. There is a big difference between the amount of sleep you can get now and the amount you need to function at your best. 【小题3】

Keep stress in check. Stress is one of the brain's worst enemies. Over time, stress destroys brain cells. Studies have also linked stress to memory loss.

Have a laugh. 【小题4】 That holds true for the brain and the memory, as well as the body. Unlike emotional responses, which are limited to specific areas of the brain, laughter involves multiple regions across the whole brain.

【小题5】 Just as the body needs fuel, so does the brain. You probably already know that a diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains,“healthy”fats and lean protein will provide lots of health benefits, but such a diet can also improve memory. For brain health, though, it's not just what you eat — it's also what you don't eat.

   The holidays can be one of the happiest times of the year. However, all of that holiday happiness comes with high costs. The good news? 【小题1】 Here are some ideas to get you started.

♦ Book your flight early and on “off” days.

The price of travel during the holiday season increases. However, strategically (战略性地) booking your flight can help save big on your airfare. 【小题2】 For Christmas, aim to fly on Dec. 17 or 18. This might allow you to escape the high fares.

♦ Make DIY gifts that people will actually like.

It’s possible to make gifts that are inexpensive but valuable. Homemade gifts offer a personal touch that a store-bought item can’t.【小题3】 Maybe you have an uncle who loves golf and you love to paint. You could paint him a portrait (画像) of his favourite golf course.

♦【小题4】

Instead of flying, you can use many other cheaper ways of travelling. One idea is to take a train back to your hometown, which offers both beautiful views and low prices. You can also make friends along the way with other locals who are heading for your hometown !

♦ Find other ways to celebrate.

【小题5】 You can find tree lighting ceremonies, Christmas light displays, free concerts, and perhaps charities where you can donate your time. There’s nothing like volunteering to help you to experience the real meaning of the holiday.

   So let’s say that you’re sitting at a restaurant and when your food arrives, you take one bite and decide that something is preventing you from taking a second bite. No matter what the reason is, this dish is going back to the kitchen, and now it’s up to you to find a way to send it back politely.

First of all, the single most important thing to do when you’re sending something back is to do it immediately. If you eat half the dish before sending it back, the server and kitchen will believe that you really don’t need to send it back.

If a dish is too salty that it cannot be eaten, you should first let the server know what the situation is, and they’ll take it back to the kitchen and bring you a new one. Remember that it is not the server’s fault, so don’t take it out on them. Also, don’t be afraid that they’ll get angry at you, or someone will spit (吐) in your food. It’s their job to make sure that you’re satisfied, and if the kitchen clearly makes a mistake the server will be frustrated with the kitchen, not with the diner who has been served an inedible meal. A new dish will be cooked, and nobody’s going to spit in it.

There is, however, one example when you are sending back a dish which will really annoy both the server and the kitchen. If you order a pasta dish that contains pancetta but then send it back to the kitchen because you’re a vegetarian (素食者) and don’t know what pancetta is, and then congratulations because you’re one of the most unbearable types of customers a restaurant can have. A perfectly good plate of food is just thrown out because you don’t ask what pancetta is before ordering.

So the bottom line: Use common sense if you think that you need to send your dish back. If the kitchen do something wrong, then they’re on the hook for a new plate of food. If you do something wrong, then hopefully you’ve learned a lesson.

   Having a roommate can be one of the best experiences in college or, easily, one of the worst. It all depends on whether you have a good relationship with your roommate or not. Follow the advice to avoid the common mistakes that turn good roommate relationships bad.

◇ 【小题1】

Communication is key. If something happens, sit down with your roommate and have a face-to-face conversation. I’ve seen roommate relationships fall apart because something happens and instead of talking to each other, the two start complaining about their roommates behind their backs. 【小题2】

◇ Don’t expect to be best friends.

Some roommates become the best friends, and some don’t. Don’t put pressure on yourself or your roommate, especially when you first meet. 【小题3】 And if your roommate doesn’t end up being your best friend, don’t worry.

◇ Ask before you take.

This applies (适用) to food, clothes and anything else. If you want to keep a relationship going, show your roommate that you have respect for what is his or hers by asking first. 【小题4】

◇ Clean up after yourself.

This should be done without saying. Don’t be lazy. Or, at least, don’t bury your roommate in your clothes and garbage. Most people I’ve come across in college are dirty and untidy. 【小题5】 But putting your stuff in order will help you avoid conflict.

   You may become both excited and afraid when you are going to a senior high school for the first time. 【小题1】 You are afraid that you can't be used to the new environment. Knowing what to do in senior high school can help you a lot.

★ Set goals early in senior high school.

It is important for you to set goals in life，whether you are young or old. You can have both small dreams and life dreams. If you are not sure what you want to do in the future，don't be afraid to ask for help. 【小题2】

★ Make friends with people you get along well with.

You can make friends with those who have the same interests as you. 【小题3】 If a friend makes you feel uncomfortable，he/she is not your true friend.

★ 【小题4】

When you ask questions, you are thinking about your life and your study. The more questions you ask, the more knowledge you' ll get. Knowledge is power. With more knowledge, you can become more confident in your life.

★ Try one club or sport every term.

【小题5】 In your spare time you can join a club or a sport team according to your interest. You shouldn't join too many clubs or sport teams, or you will have no time to learn subjects well.