Many people would like to change various things in their life in order to be more eco-friendly. 【小题1】 They range from changing their jobs to their vehicles and even their homes. In what follows, I am going to talk about the most energy-efficient（节能的）small green homes. Keep on reading, as this article is very useful if you would like to change your home into a more eco-friendly one.

【小题2】 This happens because a green home will contain green devices（设备）which need alternative sources of energy such as solar power and wind power. They do not pollute the atmosphere as much as the regular sources of energy. 【小题3】 The process of installing them is kind of expensive but in the long term, it will save you a lot of money.

【小题4】 It will be made out of recyclable and renewable materials. For example, the furniture will be made out of bamboo instead of materials which take years to grow. This means that there is not a risk of them to be used up as in the case of certain types of wood or other materials.

A green house will be decorated by using non-toxic（无毒的）materials. 【小题5】 They contain harmful chemicals which can be dangerous, but the most energy-efficient small green homes do not have this problem.

   How did your friendships begin?【小题1】. Asking about the homework in class or complaining about your tired legs after playing in a soccer game. Or you find your best pal by accident. The following is a four-step guide to small talk.

1. 【小题2】

Begin by talking about the surroundings, such as the weather outside or the room you are in.  The purpose is to show the other person that you are willing to make a conversation.

2. Looking for topics

At this point, you and your conversation partner need to find common ground.  This is a good time to ask questions or to refer back to things you've said or heard earlier. 【小题3】. The other person is probably just thinking of something to say at this very moment.

3. Expanding the topic

The goal is to keep the conversation going.  At every stage, you should be careful not to talk too much.  But don't let the other person dominate （支配）the conversation either. 【小题4】.

4. Ending politely

When ending a conversation, let the person know you'll be leaving soon, express your appreciation and set the stage for a future conversation.  For example, you could say, "I really must be going soon, but I had a great time chatting with you. 【小题5】.  Here's my phone number.  Call or text me if you know of any other movies you think I might enjoy. "

   Undoubtedly, the best way to prevent illnesses of the mind is to exercise the brain. Here’re some great exercises to sharpen your mind.

Never stop learning. 【小题1】 One way is to take classes online through websites like Coursera, org or Edx. org, where you can take courses from the top universities for free. Perhaps you would like to learn a new language. 【小题2】 There are wonderful language programs available through RosettaStone. com and Duolingo.com which offer many lessons to choose from.

Read something everyday. Reading itself is a wonderful brain exercise. Make a point to read something every day. It could be a newspaper, book, blog or magazine, but the more informative it is, the more of a workout it will be for your thinking cap. 【小题3】

Exercise your body. Exercising your body affects your strength, mood and fitness. Exercise excites the nervous system and causes you to perform at a higher level.

【小题4】 Communicating with others on topics of common interest is a great workout. Talking about in-depth topics like headline news and political interests exercises your ability to pay attention and focus. There are always many like-minded people who enjoy the same hobbies or share the same beliefs.

Play games. The act of solving problems and figuring out puzzles is excellent for keeping your brain in shape. 【小题5】 Solving math equations or word puzzles, and even just a quick game of Bubble Witch will do wonders for your thinking processes.

   For many，running has never been their favorite activity. But running can certainly be a great way to get fit and stay healthy.

Getting started is difficult.【小题1】 Running can be boring at times，but the effect on your body and mind is well worth that struggle of just getting up and running.

【小题2】 Every major city and many smaller cities have running communities. They are quite organized and willing to help. They will help you see your running goals through.

Start with short distances. Though the running community would love to have a new long-distance runner tomorrow，the fact is that that will not happen overnight. Try running one mile every day for the next 3 weeks. After that，add it to two miles and so on.【小题3】

Take part in a race. By signing up for a race in the near future，you will focus on a goal and be motivated（激励）to keep practicing for that event. I suggest signing up for a 5-kilometer race that will take place within one month.【小题4】

【小题5】 Motivation is a major factor in running success. Bring a friend along to push you through the times and motivate you in his own way.

   Everyone sleeps. However, taking the time to develop a sleep habit is probably the last thing on your mind and some sleep advice simply can't be forgotten. 【小题1】.

Watch TV until you fall asleep

It has nothing to do with what you watch-TV news isn't a better pre-sleep choice than TV series. 【小题2】. The bright light keeps you awake all night. So even if you nod off（in front of the TV, for example）,you probably won't stay asleep for long.

Sleep with pets

【小题3】. They get comfortable, and then they move. This goes on all night, and whether you admit it or not, it interrupts your ability to get the level of sleep needed to feel rested.