When I was nine years old, I loved to go fishing with my dad. But the only thing that wasn't very fun about it was that he could catch many fish while I couldn't catch anything. I usually got pretty upset and kept asking him why. He always answered, "Son, if you want to catch a fish, you have to think like a fish." I remember being even more upset then because "I'm not a fish!" I didn't know how to think like a fish. Besides, I reasoned, "How could what I think influence what a fish does?"
As I got a little older I began to understand what my dad really meant. So, I read some books on fish. And I even joined the local fishing club and started attending the monthly meetings. I learned that a fish is a cold-blooded animal and therefore is very sensitive to water temperature. That is why fish prefer shallow water to deep water—the former is warmer. Besides, water is usually warmer in direct sunlight than in the shade. Yet, fish don't have any eyelids and the sun hurts their eyes. The more I understood fish, the more I became effective in finding and catching them.
When I grew up and entered the business world, I remember hearing my first boss say, "We all need to think like sales people." But it didn't completely make sense. My dad never once said, "If you want to catch a fish you need to think like a fisherman." What he said was, "You need to think like a fish." Years later, with great efforts to promote long-term services to people much older and richer than me, I gradually learned what we all need was to think more like customers. It is not an easy job. I will show you how in the following chapters.
Surfing the Internet for fun will make you a better employee, according to an Australian study.
The University of Melbourne study shows that people who use the Internet for their own reasons at work are about 9 percent more productive (有效率的) than those who do not. Study author Brent Coker said "Surfing the Internet at times helps increase an employee's attention."
"People need to relax for a bit to get back their attention," Coker said on the university's website." Having a short break, such as a quick surfing of the Internet, helps the mind to rest itself, leading to a higher total Internet attention for a day's work, and as a result, increase productivity (生产效率)," he said.
According to the study of 300 workers, 70 percent of people who use the Internet at work surf the Internet for their own reasons during office hours. Among the most popular surfing activities are searching for information about products, reading online news, playing online games and watching videos." Firms spend a lot of money on software to block their employees from watching video, using social networking sites or shopping online," said Coker. "That's not always a good idea."
However, Coker said the study looked at people who surfed the Internet in moderation (适度), or were on the Internet for less than 20 percent of their total time in the office. "Those who spend too much time surfing the Internet will have a lower productivity than those without." he said.
3D printing is becoming more and more popular. We are now able to print things such as clothing, musical instruments and model cars. People and businesses are able to create the things they need very quickly and easily using 3D printers.
But can you imagine printing food? Some scientists are trying to create a new dining experience by doing this. They hope that having a 3D printer in the kitchen will become as common as the microwave or the fridge. Scientists say that they are easy to use: you simply have to choose what you want to eat and put the uncooked food ‘inks' into the printer. You can also change the instructions to make the food exactly how you want it. This means that it would be very quick and easy to create tasty and healthy meals.
Using 3D printers to create your meals would also be saving the environment. There would be less need for traditional growing and transporting as food production would be much simpler. Printing food could also help people who are experiencing the swallowing disorder. They could make the printer to print softer foods so that they would not have trouble swallowing them.
However, some people think that a future of 3D-printed food would cause many problems. It could take away many jobs, including those for growing and transporting food. Likewise, traditional cafés and restaurants might lose business. Also, people are worrying about whether the printed food is nutritious: Is it really possible to get the nutrients we need from foodbased inks? What's more, cooking and eating together with family and friends has long been a traditional and enjoyable activity. It is hard to imagine a world where the pastime of cooking is dead and meals can be created at the touch of a button.
Electronic media such as email, instant messaging, video games, and television, has influenced almost every aspect of our daily lives. While some media exposure can be useful and informative (增进知识的), too much screen time takes away from other activities.
Screen time becomes a particularly important issue when discussing children's use of media. Experts now recommend children's screen time should be limited to no more than 2 hours per day, including television and non—school related computer usage.
Unfortunately, it appears that this recommendation is not followed in most families. One recent study found that children between the ages of 8 and 18 spend nearly 45 hours per week watching television, playing video games, and surfing the Internet. Besides, much of the electronic media that makes up children's screen time is filled with inappropriate (不合适的) contents.
First, never allow televisions and computers in your child's bedroom. Avoid using television, video games, and computer time as a reward for good behavior. Provide plenty of other recreational activities for your child to enjoy and set a good example for your child with regard to your own media usage.
It's important to serve as a model of healthy electronics use for your children. Keeping the TV on for background noise all the time and scrolling (滚屏) through your phone any time will teach your child bad habits.
A．Most children know more about electronics than adults do.
B．Kids easily grow dependent on technology for entertainment.
C．Parents should think of ways to manage their children's screen time.
D．This is more time than they spend doing homework, or reading for pleasure.
E.However, the effect of being all the time in front of a screen is not entirely positive.
F.So before you watch your favorite TV series, remember to set a good example.
G.Children under the age of 2 are generally encouraged to have no screen time at all.
You may have heard the saying "One good turn deserves another." It means that when someone 1 you in a much needed situation, you should also give back when you get the right 2 .
Lanre and his wife had two children. Lanre was educated but 3 . He went for many 4 but ended up getting unsatisfying results. He was always told to 5 his contact number and wait for the future spare position.
One day, Lanre's children were sent home for not 6 school fees (费用). On the way to their house, the two kids saw a man 7 on the ground in pain. "He might be a drunk," they thought. They were too 8 to get close to the man, so they went home 9 and told their parents about that. Lanre and his wife were led to the man and saw the man in such pain, so they 10 to help him.
Being given first aid, the man felt much better and then 11 the sudden disease. He only told Lanre and his wife he was living in the city and went on a trip alone. 12 , the man was the CEO of Badmus Group of Companies!
Later, the man wanted to 13 Lanre's home but failed to find his house. One day, he was reading the information of those who had been interviewed when he saw the 14 of Lanre. He recognized him at once.
The man 15 Lanre so much that he gave Lanre a position as General Manager of his company. Lanre became well off and his children rejoined the school.
Much has been written about the wonders of the World Wide Web. There are countless articles (tell) us how the Internet has made our lives more convenient. But the Internet has done a lot (much) for people than simply make life more convenient. People's lives (change) by online communities and social networks so far.
Take Jan for example, who developed a serious illness that made her (stick) at home with only her computer to keep (she) company. She joined an online group she could share problems, support and advice with others. She considered the ability to remove the distance between people as one of the greatest _(benefit).
She was so inspired she started an IT club in which many people have been helped. She has started to learn more about how to use the Internet to make society better. Her next goal is to start a charity website to raise money children in poor countries.
Jan's life has been (great) improved by the Internet.
