It’s great fun to explore new places, and it may be like an adventure, even when you know you’re not the first to have been there. But to make sure not to get lost or waste time going round in circles, the following tips may be helpful.

• Do the map reading if you’re being driven somewhere. It’ll be easier if you keep the map following the direction you’re traveling in. Keep looking ahead so that you can give the driver lots of warning before having to make a turn or you’ll have to move to the back seat.

• Get a group of friends together and go exploring. You’ll need a good map, a compass, a raincoat, a cell phone to call for help in case you get lost, and a bit of cash for emergencies. Tell someone where you’re going before you set out and let him know what time you expect to be back. The purpose of the activity is in not getting lost, not in seeing how fast you can go, so always stick together, waiting for slower friends to catch up.

• See if your school or a club organizes orienteering (越野识途比赛), in which you need a map and a compass to find your way. This can be done as a sport, with teams trying to find the way from A to B (and B to C, etc.) in the fastest time, or simply as a spare-time activity. It enables you to be familiar with the use of maps and compasses and gain some practical skills. In some way, it’s not only good fun, but also a great way to keep fit.

No matter which way you choose, it’s not only good fun, but a great way to keep fit.

   Do you like to learn about what is in the world around you？Do you often notice things that your friends don't notice？When you become interested in something，do you ask people about it and read books about it？Do you sometimes do experiments to find answers？If so，then you think in much the same way that a scientist thinks.

In school and at home no doubt you will read about scientific discoveries. Are there any good ways to help you read science then？Let's consider each of the four rules that you should follow.

1. KEEP YOUR MIND ON WHAT YOU ARE READING. Surely no one can successfully read a science article or a science textbook while thinking of other things. Many a car has run through a stop light because a careless driver was thinking of something besides his driving. The same thing is true of reading. If you think of nothing else while you are reading，you will become a better reader.

2. KNOW WHY YOU READ. The chapter titles and subtitles in science articles are usually worded in such a way that they attract your curiosity（好奇心）and make you want to read. They often tell you what you are going to read about and why you should read. The questions found at the beginning of the chapters guide you toward the information you want. Knowing why you read will help you become a better reader in science.

3. KNOW THE MEANING AND THE PRONUNCIATION OF EVERY WORD. Through the context，word structure rules and the glossary（词汇表）in your science book，you can discover the meaning and the pronunciation of most words in the articles. If a word is not in the glossary，use the dictionary.

4. FIT YOUR SPEED TO YOUR NEED. To get all the important information from your science book，you must read by degrees and carefully. Directions for experiments demand especially careful reading. If you misread them，the experiment may fail and you may reach wrong conclusions.

Habits to Be a Highly Effective Student

Some students are able to get straight A’s and at the same time serve as the president of three clubs. However, some students struggle to keep their GPA (Grade-Point Average) above a 3.0. 【小题1】Although it’s true that everyone’s IQ is different, good study habits are very important. Here  are several habits you should adopt to get good grades.

【小题2】 If you haven’t had a planner (规划薄), get one. Many people use their computers and smartphones to make a schedule. The problem with that approach is that they are major distractions. Instead, get an old-fashioned paper and pen planner.

Create a weekly schedule. 【小题3】 Include time that will be spent eating, sleeping and doing anything not related to school work. That way you know exactly how much you can accomplish each day.

Take frequent, short breaks. Taking a break from studying for 15 minutes every hour will help keep you refreshed. 【小题4】 If you don’t take a break, you may find yourself daydreaming or even falling asleep. Take some time for some water, a snack or a quick chat with a friend.

Take care of yourself. During final exam week, it is common for students to fall behind on sleep and meals. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep and have regular meals. Studying while hungry or sleepy is ineffective and will slow you down in the long run. Also try to make time for friends and family. 【小题5】

Planning is good as it decides in details how we do what we want to do it. However, a plan bears no fruit without being actual carried out. My experience in the English speech contest last month was a case in point. A month before the event, I spent hours work out a schedule with my goals and practical steps. After that, I set out read widely for an inspired topic , wrote a speech, and practised my pronunciation with good public speech skills. I finally stood out as a first prize winner. I know why I achieved my success. It came from good planning but better practice.

   "Keeping the body in good health is a duty，otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear." This saying by Buddha is a life motto of highly healthy people. 【小题1】The following four habits will significantly improve your health.

They are organized and disciplined.

If you want to be healthy，you should try to become organized. 【小题2】It will help you succeed in everything and do things on time.

【小题3】

In our busy lives，it's very easy to ignore the healthy habits that keep us feeling great and eating right. Highly healthy people usually have a habit to prioritize（优先考虑）their health. They are particular about their nutrition. They always avoid fast food because they find it very harmful.

They have an exercise schedule.

Exercise and other physical activities are not only good for you，but they are also a fun way to spend time. 【小题4】That's why they set aside time for exercise in the mornings or evenings. Due to the high level of self-organization，they easily stick to the exercise schedule. They think that active lifestyle and regular sports will help them live longer.

They get enough sleep.

Sleep plays an important role in immune（有免疫力）function，memory，learning and other important functions. 【小题5】 It is very important to wake up and go to sleep at the same time，because your body works according to a certain rule.