Concentration exercises

Did you practise the concentration exercises? I've found the amaaaazing results they have on me. I can now concentrate better and focus on the one-thing-at-a-time task. I used to have problem following prayers in church services without getting distracted by other thoughts. With the training exercises I am trying, I can now really focus on the prayers and sermon. You may also want to start doing the exercises.


Exercise 1
Take a book and count the words in any one paragraph. Count them again to be sure that you have counted them correctly. Start with one paragraph and when it becomes easier, count the words in a whole page. Perform the counting mentally and only with your eyes, without pointing you finger at each word.

Exercise 2
Count backwards in your mind, from one hundred to one.

Exercise 3
Count in your mind from one hundred to one, skipping each three numbers, that is 100, 97, 94, etc.

Exercise 4
Choose an inspiring word, or just a simple sound, and repeat it silently in your mind for five minutes. When your mind can concentrate more easily, try to reach ten minutes of uninterrupted concentration.

Exercise 5
Take a fruit, an apple, orange, banana or any other fruit, and hold it in your hands. Examine the fruit from all its sides, while keeping your whole attention focused on it. Do not let yourself be carried away by irrelevant thoughts or associated thoughts that might arise, such as about the shop were you bought it, about how and where it was grown, its nutritive value, etc. Stay calm, while trying to ignore these thoughts and not be interested in them. Just look at the fruit, focus your attention on it without thinking about anything else, and examine its shape, smell, taste and the sensation it gives when touching and holding it.

Exercise 6
This is the same as exercise number 5, only that this time you visualize the fruit instead of looking at it. Start by looking at the fruit and examining it for about 2 minutes, just as in exercise number 5, and then do this one. Close your eyes, and try to see, smell, taste and touch the fruit in your imagination. Try to see a clear and well defined image. If the image becomes blurred, open your eyes, look at the fruit for a short while, and then close your eyes and continue the exercise. It might help if you imagine the fruit held in your hands, as in the previous exercise, or imagine it standing on a table.

Exercise 7
Take a small simple object such as a spoon, a fork, or a glass. Concentrate on one of these objects. Watch the object from all sides without any verbalization, that is, with no words in your mind. Just watch the object without thinking with words about it.

Exercise 8
After becoming proficient in the above exercises, you can come to this exercise. Draw a small geometrical figure, about three inches in size, such as a triangle, a rectangular or a circle, paint it with any color you wish, and concentrate on it. You should see only the figure, nothing else. Only the figure exists for you now, with no unrelated thoughts or any distractions. Try not to think with words during the exercise. Watch the figure in front of you and that's it. Try not to strain your eyes.

Exercise 9
The same as number 8, only this time visualize the figure with the eyes closed. As before, if you forget how the figure looks like, open your eyes for a few seconds and watch the figure and then close your eyes and continue with the exercise.

Exercise 10
The same as above in number 9 but the eyes open.

Exercise 11
Try for at least five minutes, to stay without thoughts. This exercise is to be attempted only after all the previous ones have been performed successfully. The previous exercises, if practiced correctly, will endow you with the ability to impose silence on your thoughts. In time it will become easier and easier
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Stop Procrastination不再拖延

Some say it takes 21 days to change a habit, others say 40 days, 90 days, or even 120 days. Whatever is true, it takes at least 21 days.

Let's keep doing the concentration exercises in our daily lives. Hopefully after three weeks we'll get a control of our mental ability to concentrate, our concentration span will be expanding from 30 minutes to 1, 2, 3 hours.

Now let's move on to dealing with another metal obstacle that may prevent us from doing good, i.e. our act of procrastination.

We say:

• I'll do it tomorrow!
• I'm just too tired. I'll get it done sometime tomorrow!
• I still have plenty of time, I'll leave it until tomorrow!
• It's too difficult to work on, I'll do it if I have more energy!
  

We have all kinds of excuses to procrastinate or to avoid getting our work done, even when the work is due the next day. It is quite difficult to break out of it. Yet, the procrastination will bring many bad effects on our job, relationships and mental health. In fact, it is the grave of our opportunity.

So, we must do something to get rid of the bad habit. Right?

I've found the following article with hints and steps to avoid procrastination.

Read, enjoy and take action!

Terri
---------------------------------

Here are five simple steps to take, to overcome procrastination拖延:

1. Identify what you procrastinated.
2. Know why you procrastinated. Ask yourself: Why do I procrastinate? What is the reason I put off something until tomorrow? Why haven’t I taken action?
3. Become serious. How committed are you to overcoming procrastination? What price are you willing to pay? Your desire determines the degree of victory you have in conquering the challenge. Remember, action is the only cure for procrastination.
4. Imagine how you will feel after you complete the task. Spend some time thinking about how you will feel after that task is accomplished. This will enhance your motivation to act. For example, suppose you have been procrastinating cleaning the closet. Take a moment and imagine how it would feel if that closet were clean. If you give yourself a little mental思想上的 incentive獎勵, you’ll find yourself motivated to finish the task.
5. Take Action. Have you ever heard someone say, “Tomorrow I am going to…”? Og Mandino, in his book University of Success, says, “Unfortunately there is no tomorrow. It can only be found in the calendars of fools.” When does tomorrow come? Remember, yesterday is in the tomb and tomorrow is in the womb孕育中; therefore we must live in the present, because when we reach tomorrow it will be called today! Action and procrastination cannot exist together. Either you take action or you procrastinate. Here are some techniques to taking action:

• Make a decision to live in the present. Think long-term, but take action today.Invest the time to start whatever you postponed. Take five minutes of your day and start.
• Give yourself a deadline to get it done.
• Tell someone your goal and ask him or her to hold you accountable to that deadline.
• Imagine yourself taking action. See yourself doing it.
• Eliminate the negative self-talk from your mind. Replace those negative thoughts with, “I am a person of action.” “I will do it now.” “I take action immediately.” These thoughts will become reality if you keep them in the center of your attention.
• Ask someone to take action with you. Get a partner to help you stay on track. Everyone needs support and encouragement.

Extracted from
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102746655648&s=15971&e=001Y4OL1VcBZmgXlB_MD_znK9qcBpeaxIycoyXibNQHPEltoj68CqFaCSOk0ytZ657ufieRWnKz_GcL7yBCGGw2zK6QQPPpymSfI2zRem_a72o2-fEuM5A1zAaOOB8DHc_3

Effect of Social Networking Sites on the Internet

Nowadays people are spending more and more time on social networking sites, such as facebook, twitter, MSN, and blogs.

According to the Guardian story, Greenfield told the House of Lords that children experience on social networking sites are devoid令缺乏of ‘cohesive narrative聯貫式述事能力 and long-term significance長遠洞悉力,’ leading引致 to degeneration退化of attention span專注力指標, lost empathy失去同理心, undermining逐漸損害of identity個性, sensationalism追求官能主義, and even infantilization幼稚化.

There are a lot research looking into the effects that have on our generation. Follow the link. Watch the video and see if you can write an article, expressing your viewpoints on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg8LlUME-IM

Wisdom

It's awesome...

Wisdom is presented metaphorically 以隱喻方式 in the article as a guide, protector, and friend.

He can lead, keep, and talk with us.

Are you also a wisdom to others?

Can you remember the game of concentration training?
Let's bring concentration (a total awareness醒覺) to our daily life,
use every possible opportunity to practice your concentration.
So....try not to get distracted, train your mind to really focus on the thing you're about to do....

Sit still... Get ready... You will get the real implication含意 of wisdom with concentration! Read and enjoy!

------------------------------------------

Proverbs 6:22
When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. 22 你 行 走 ， 他 必 引 導 你 ； 你 躺 臥 ， 他 必 保 守 你 ； 你 睡 醒 ， 他 必 與 你 談 論 。

Wisdom is a most valuable guide, protector, and friend, both day and night! Reader, have you bound it on your heart and tied it about your neck 繫 在 你 心 上 ， 掛 在 你 項 上 。(6:21)? As you proceed through life, wisdom will direct your choices. As you sleep in your bed, wisdom will comfort your soul, keep your thoughts right, and protect you from evil spirits. When you begin each day, wisdom will be your friend and counselor in facing the day’s events.

The singular pronoun “it” refers to the law of God as taught by godly parents (6:20-21). If parents train and teach their children correctly, the father’s commandment and the mother’s law, though plural nouns from two different parties, is one body of wisdom and truth – the law of God. Because it is the nurture培育 and admonition勸告 of the Lord – the singular doctrine教義 of God (Deut 12:32; Josh 1:7-9; Eph 6:4)! Parents, unite today on God’s word!

Can wisdom lead you, as you go through life? Yes! Indeed! Wisdom is the power of right judgment – the ability to discern 分辨 a situation and know what to do. Life has many choices and decisions, many of which have serious consequences and are presented deceitfully偽裝by the world. You cannot even trust your own heart (Jer 17:9). When you are ready to turn out of the way, wisdom will say, “This is the way, walk ye in it” (Is 30:21). Wisdom will guide you in making these decisions that destroy many (4:5-9; 8:1-21; 22:3; Eccl 10:10)!

Can wisdom keep you, when you sleep at night? Yes! Indeed! Wisdom will deliver you from fear and guilt to sleep peacefully (3:24; Ps 41:1-4). Wisdom can teach you in the night (Job 33:14-18; Ps 63:6). Wisdom will keep you from遠離 earning God’s chastening 懲罰or fainting under it (3:11-12; Ps 32:1-5). Wisdom will protect you from the fears that plague 折磨others (Ps 34:7; Is 26:3-4). Wisdom will keep you from overworking and worrying about things that God will do for you (Ps 127:1-2; Phil 4:6-7). Lay hold of wisdom today!

Can wisdom talk with you, when you awake? Yes! Indeed! Wisdom is the knowledge of God and His will for your life. When you awake to the challenges, opportunities, and fears of a day, you will have a gentle companion to reassure you and direct you. Instead of being intimidated受到恐嚇 and overwhelmed壓倒, you can be courageous and excited. Instead of being hopeless as others, you can rejoice in the future! Wisdom will give you confidence and strength to live joyfully and victoriously (14:26; 21:22; 28:1; Ps 104:34; Rom 15:13).

Get wisdom! Where? It is freely offered in the fear of the Lord and the Bible (9:10; Ps 19:7). Parents, teach it to your children. Children, learn it from your parents. Parents and children, love the preaching of it (Jer 3:15; Mal 2:7; Acts 10:33; Col 1:28; I Thess 5:20).

Extracted from
http://www.letgodbetrue.com/proverbs/06_22.htm

Power of Concentration專注力‏

The key to successful work roots in the enhancement 加強 of the concentration power.
Our children's restlessness坐立不安 in their studies is mainly due to a lack of training on concentration power.

So, whaaat? 教自己腦聽話/做事情? Self Control?

Now let's try the little trick. Just focus on reading the article to follow. Focus your eyes and mind on the words, and not to think of anything disconnected with the message or the article. Ignore outside noises and any irrelevant thoughts.

Get reaaady! Reeead and enjooooy!

----------------------------

The Power of Concentration -
By Remez Sasson

When I was a child, I saw how a magnifying glass could burn a piece of paper, when the rays of the sun were focused through it. The fire could start only when the sun's rays were concentrated to a small point. When the magnifying glass was moved too far away or too close to the paper, the rays were not focused enough and nothing happened. This experience describes vividly the power of concentration.

This power can be described as focused attention. It is the ability to direct the attention to one single thought or subject, to the exclusion of everything else.

When our mind is focused, our energies are not dissipated不閒遊 on irrelevant activities or thoughts. This is why developing concentration is essential to anyone who aspires to take charge of his or her life. This skill is essential for every kind of success. Without it, our efforts力量 get scattered分散, but with it, we can accomplish完成 great things.

Concentration has many uses and benefits. It assists in studying and understanding faster, improves the memory, and helps in focusing on any task, job, activity or goal, and achieving it more easily and efficiently. It is also required for developing psychic心靈 powers, and is a powerful tool for the efficient use of creative visualization.

When this ability is developed, the mind obeys us more readily and does not engage in futile, negative thoughts or worries. We gain mental mastery and we experience true peace of mind.

This ability also plays an important role in meditation. Without it, the mind just jumps restlessly from one thought to another, not allowing us to meditate properly.


Do you now realize, why it is very important and worthwhile to develop and improve the ability to concentrate?

To develop this power you need to train and exercise it. Forget all your excuses about not having the time or being too busy. Do not say that the circumstances are not appropriate or that you cannot find a quiet place to exercise. With a little planning, desire and motivation you can always find the time to exercise each day, no matter how busy you are.

The Restless Mind
Thoughts claim our attention incessantly, and waste our time and energy on unimportant and useless matters. They actually rule our life. We have become so used to this slavery, that we take it for granted, and have become unconscious of this habit, except on certain occasions.

It is the same with thinking. We become conscious of the constant onslaught of our thoughts, and of our inability to calm them down, only when we need to concentrate, solve a problem or study. We are also acutely aware of them when we have worries or fears.

Look at the following familiar situation. You need to study something for your job or for an exam. You sit comfortably on the sofa with the book in your hands and start reading. After a while you feel hungry and go to the kitchen to eat something.

You return to read, and then hear people talking outside. You listen to them for several moments and then bring your attention back to the book.

After a while you feel restless and switch on the radio to listen to some music. You continue to read for a little while, and then remember something that happened yesterday, and you start thinking about it.

When you look at your watch, you are amazed to find out that one complete hour has passed and you have hardly read anything.

This is what happens when one lacks concentration. Imagine what you could have accomplished, if you could control your attention and focus your mind!

Work that requires physical strength, such as carrying heavy loads for example, develops physical strength. Yet, it is not as exercising daily to the gym in a systematic manner. It is the same with concentration. Reading, studying and trying to pay attention to what we do, develop some of this ability, but practicing exercises diligently each day is something else, it is like training in a gym.

Inner resistance to developing concentration (Why do children reject the concentration work?)

Parents and teachers expect children to study, do their homework and get good grades. This brings up in the children a feeling of being coerced 迫使 and forced to do something they don't like doing. When they are too often told that they are not concentrating good enough, they develop a loathing反感 for concentration, and often for studying too. These become associated with coercion, lack of freedom, doing something they do not like to do, and which is against their will. When they grow up, it is no wonder that their powers of concentration are weak, and they have no desire to strain their minds.

Though most people acknowledge the fact that good concentration is a great asset, yet most of them do nothing to strengthen it, mostly because they don't know how. Reading and thinking about its benefits, and about the reasons why it should be cultivated, can help to change the attitude toward it.

Concentration can be fun if approached in the right way. It should be practiced with joy, fun, optimism樂觀心態, and understanding of its great possibilities. It has to be approached in a positive manner and then success dawns.

The benefits of developing concentration
Here is the list that you can gain by developing this power:

• Control of your thoughts.
• The ability to focus your mind.
• Peace of mind.
• Freedom from futile and annoying thoughts.
• The ability to choose your thoughts.
• Better memory.
• Self-confidence.
• Inner strength.
• Will power.
• Decisiveness.
• The ability to study and comprehend more quickly.
• Inner happiness.
• Enhanced capability to develop psychic abilities.
• More powerful and efficient use of creative visualization.
• Enhanced ability to meditate.
• And much more...

Sometimes you can find strong powers of concentration in yourself. When you really and earnestly want to excel in your studies, pass an important exam or solve a problem, this power becomes available to you. In such cases, it appears because of some need or desire, but developing it in a systematic way brings it under your control, and grants you the ability to use it intentionally, whenever you need it. To do so, you need to practice special exercises on a daily basis.

Seems too good to be true? Develop the power of concentration and find out for yourself!

Here are a few suggestions for developing and strengthening the power of attention.

• When reading a book, focus your eyes and mind on the words, and do not to think of anything not connected with what you are reading. Ignore outside noises and any irrelevant thoughts.
• Dress up, and at the same time put your whole attention on your movements.
  While having a shower, pay attention to every part of the body that you are soaping and washing.
• When you clean the house, mow the grass or cook, concentrate on each act and movement, without daydreaming or thinking about something else.
• While working, focus your mind on what you are doing, as if it is the only important thing in the world, even if you do not like your job.
• While working up, walking or engaging in any kind of physical activity, don't daydream or think on whatever enters your mind. Instead, focus your attention on what you are doing.
• While conversing, listen attentively to what people are saying.
• While eating, focus your mind or your food and on enjoying it.
• Always do one thing at a time.
  
  Extracted from the link:
  http://www.successconsciousness.com/index_000004.htm
  
  

Letter Writing Practice

Write a letter to your friend in Australia. Tell him what you know and feel about the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of China.

You may want to read a sample task below before you write.

Dear John,

Have you watched the TV progromme on the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of China? I think it is a great show. It showcases China in terms of her military capabilities, the rule of communist party, and the social and economic development and progress of China.

As for the aspect of military achievements, I was impressed by the well-performed marching of the troops, they were totally robotic. I like their uniforms and the way they marched. The large number of fighter jets flying over the city is also impressive. The display of the high-tech weaponry, such as ballistic missiles clearly indicates China’s military capability.

As for the successful rule of the communist party, president Hu Jintao reported the successful work of the communist party. He made us feel proud of China because of the achievement brought by the socialism and Marxism.

As for the social and economic development and progress of China, the parade showcased some of the social and economic accomplishments China made in the past 60 years through the reform and opening-up policy.

I hope you've seen the programme. If not, you must try to see the related programme if you can. You will be impressed, too.

Yours

Annie

Reading Comprehension

Read the news article entitled, "China Celebrates 60 Years of Achievement Under Communist Rule" extracted from the link:
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-10-01-voa8.cfm?renderforprint=1
and "China Loud and Proud" from the link:
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=10&art_id=88655&sid=25571469&con_type=3

China has showcased its military capabilities, as well as its economic and social progress, in a huge parade to mark the 60th anniversary of the Communist state.

A troop of young women sang "Happy Birthday" to their homeland, in honor of the 60th anniversary of the day Chairman Mao Zedong declared the founding of modern China from Tiananmen Gate.

China's current leader, Hu Jintao, wore what has come to be called a Mao suit. His colleagues, and past leaders, all dressed in Western suits.

President Hu stood in an open-topped Red Flag limousine to review the troops. Then, he stood in the same place as Mao on the Tiananmen Gate, to pay tribute to all the achievements that brought China to where it is today.

Mr. Hu says "long live the great People's Republic of China, the great Chinese Communist Party and the great Chinese people.

"He also adds that China will maintain a policy of peace and develop friendly cooperation with all nations.

His words were meant to allay any fears conjured up by Thursday's hour-long show of China's military strength. After Mr. Hu's speech, thousands of soldiers marched past - many of them escorting military hardware.

The highlights were several new missiles, including a ballistic missile that can carry a nuclear warhead and another one that has been nicknamed the "aircraft carrier killer." China also showcased new mobile radar units, unmanned drones and helicopters - equipment state-run TV announcers said would be useful for the "new information-based environment.

"Floats celebrating developments in areas such as agriculture, industry and science followed the military procession. Each of China's provinces, autonomous regions and special administrative regions contributed a float. There was even a float to represent Taiwan, a separately governed island that China claims as its territory.

Tens of thousands of people, waving brightly colored fans or flowers, surrounded the floats or marched on their own. Performers wearing ethnic costumes danced and sang to show harmony. Thousands of children came at the end of the parade, to represent hopes for China's future.

Bride and groom on China's 60th Anniversary, 1 Oct 2009Across Beijing, residents tried to carry on with their lives, despite the parade's extensive disruptions to traffic. Twenty-two year-old groom Shen Wei said it is more joyful to have his wedding on this day.Shen says he and his bride, Tan Yue, especially picked the date because it is China's National Day.

Official media say there are tens of thousands of couples around the country who are taking advantage of the auspicious date to get married.

And for all Thursday's celebrations - big and small - the skies in Beijing were clear and blue, a striking departure from the heavy fog of a day earlier.

China loud and proud
Friday, October 02, 2009

China has celebrated 60 years of communist rule with a massive military parade and elaborate pageantry on Beijing's Tiananmen Square showcasing the nation's revival as a global power.
Thousands of troops marched in tight formations, fighter jets flew over the city and the world's largest military displayed an array of high-tech weaponry including intercontinental ballistic missiles in a patriotic show of force.

President Hu Jintao extolled the country's Communist Party-led rebirth in a speech to the invitation-only crowd from Tiananmen gate, where Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic on October 1, 1949.

"The development and progress of the new China over the past 60 years fully proved that only socialism can save China, and only reform and opening up can ensure the development of China, socialism and Marxism," Hu told the crowd.

The nation typically holds grand celebrations every 10 years to commemorate Mao's pronouncement, but authorities promised that this year's festivities would top those in the past - and outdo last year's Olympic opening ceremony.

The government wants to send a clear message: that China, the world's third- largest economy and with a population of 1.3 billion, has re-emerged as a proud and undeniable global force. Hu, in a high-collared Mao-style tunic, underlined this confidence in his speech before a packed square festooned in the nation's red and yellow. "Today a socialist China that faces the future is standing
tall and firm in the East."

An estimated 200,000 people took part in the lavish morning festivities, which unfolded under clear blue skies.

Flexing its growing muscle, Beijing paraded long-range nuclear missiles capable of striking the heart of the United States and other homegrown weaponry signaling that a nation once bullied by foreign powers is a pushover no more.

The military show was followed by a colorful parade, with tens of thousands marching and singing in unison in a testament to China's ability to harness its vast manpower on a massive scale.

Besides goose-stepping troops, squads of pink-clad women "volunteers" dubbed the "iron roses" marched in go- go boots, while thousands of other participants danced around waving flowing fans, pompoms and bouquets of flowers.

National sports heroes such as hurdler Liu Xiang and former Olympic gymnastics champion Li Ning rode on one of a series of brightly decorated floats lauding the country's achievements over six decades.

Giant portraits of leaders from Mao to Hu were paraded past the square, which was filled with 80,000 children flipping hand-held cards spelling out messages such as "Socialism is Good" and "Long Live China."

Despite the burst of pride, official insecurity has also been on clear display - authorities have imposed draconian security in a bid to prevent an array of perceived threats from spoiling the party. As a result, most of Beijing's 17 million citizens were relegated to watching the pageant in their hometown on television like the rest of China.

The show ended around midday but authorities kept central Beijing shut down ahead of another mass performance at the square last night punctuated by what state media said was the world's biggest fireworks display.

The Mao-led 1949 communist takeover ended years of foreign domination and war, while three decades of economic reforms initiated by late leader Deng Xiaoping enriched China and propelled it back into the ranks of world powers.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Richael's Rocket

Rachael rides a rocket to Rome on a race.
Does Rachael ride a rocket to Rome on a race?
If Rachael rides a rocket to Rome on a race,
where is the rocket Rachael rides?

Rachael rode a rocket to Rome on a race.
Did Rachael ride a rocket to Rome on a race?
If Rachael rode a rocket to Rome on a race,
where was the rocket Rachael rode?

Rachael will ride a rocket to Rome on a race.
Will Rachael ride a rocket to Rome on a race?
If Rachael rides a rocket to Rome on a race,
where will be the rocket Rachael rides?

Synonym and Antonym

Read the following passage and find the synonym and antonym words.

The leading causes of amnesia健忘症 are either physical or psychological.

In antergrade amnesia, the subject is unable to recall the events that occur after a shock or an injury to the brain; however, past memories will not be lost.

In retrograde amnesia, the patient is capable of recalling events that occur after the trauma; interestingly enough, the information stored before the shock, is lost and cannot be retrieved.

In paraamnesia, established memories are contorted. In psychogenic fugue, the subject may venture into a new lifestyle, trying to repress memories which lead to trepidation. The events happening during psychogenic fugue are non-retrievable. Nonetheless, the experiences that happened before the onset can be recovered.

1. What is the topic of the passage?

2.What are the synonyms or antonym of the following words you will find in the passage.
a. subject ________________________
b. injury ________________________
c. amnesia _______________________
d. unable ________________________
e. happen ________________________
f. however _______________________

The Knight

The Knight was a knave (奸詐的人).
The knave needed a new knife.
The knife was near the knight's knee.
The knight needed the knife for the night.
The knight knew the knife's name.
The knight named the knife the knight.


Can you identify the homonym words?

Be careful! when you read, make sure you do not add the k-sound before the "kn" words.

Synonym and Homonym

Synonym is the word that means the same as another word.

joyful, merry, happy.

1. I wish you a happy birthday.
2. I wish you a merry Christmas.
3. I wish you a joyful vacation.

Homonyms are the words that pronounced or spelled the same way but have different meanings.

Sentence, Sentence

The former president of Taiwan was sentenced to life in prison.
He wrote long sentences to the court.

Life, Life

Life is beautiful and created by God.
Mr Chen would spend his life time in prison.

Homonym 同字異義

sentence (句子, 判決)
The former president, Chen Shui Bian was sentenced to life in prison yesterday.
This is a long sentence.

life (終身, 生命)
life is the experience of being alive.
The judges sentenced Mr Chen to life in prison.

charge, charge
I charge my students $XXX per lesson.
The Taiwan ex-president was convicted of a total of six charges.

fine, fine
I am fine, thank you.
The ex-president was fined $6 millions.

demonstrate, demonstrate
I use the power point to demonstrate the findings.
The supporters of Mr Chen demonstrated near the court.

frequent, frequent
He likes to frequent the bar.
Mr Chen frequently clashed with Chinese leaders by asserting Taiwan's independence.

Homonym Words

Write a story with the following three pairs of homonyms.
left, left (左,離開)
row, row (一列, 划船)
bear, bear (熊,承受)

Shirley and Karen were good friends. They always sat together on the first row of their classroom. They left school and worked for a Teddy Bear House in Tsim Sha Tsiu when they were sixteen. Shirley wrote with her left hand but rowed boat with her right hand. Karen wrote and rowed with her right hand. Both of them have their own boats which could bear heavy loads.

Homonymy of English Words

homonym 同音異義詞
Homonyms are words that are pronounced or spelled the same way but have different meanings since they come from different origins. Homonymy is the state of being homonym.

Examples of homonyms are stalk (which as a noun can mean part of a plant, and, as a verb, to follow/harass a person), bear (animal) and bear (carry), left (opposite of right) and left (past tense of leave). Some sources also consider the following trio of words to be homonyms, but others designate them as "only" homophones: to, too and two (actually, to, to, too, too and two, being "for the purpose of" as in "to make it easier", the opposite of "from", also, excessively, and "two", respectively).

Extracted and adapted from Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homonym

19 Life Skills

I read an article from the following website that provides information and ideas for enhancing life skills adapted from the website entitled The Life Model .

Skill 1 - Share Joy
Mutual amplification of joy through nonverbal facial expressions and voice tone conveys, “We are glad to be together.” This capacity allows us to bond and grow strong brains as well.

Skill 2 - Soothe Ourself
Lowering the energy level so we can rest after both joyful and upsetting emotions, as we need to and on our own, makes us feel stable. This self-soothing capacity is the strongest predictor of good mental health for the lifetime.

Skill 3 -Form Bonds for Two
The essence of a secure bond is the ability to synchronize our attachment centers so that we can move closer or farther apart at moments that satisfy us both. Synchronized attachment centers provide the basis for smooth transfer of brain skills and learned characteristics.

Skill 4 - Create Appreciation

High levels of the emotional state of appreciation closely match the healthy balanced state of the brain and nervous system. Creating a strong feeling of appreciation in yourself or others relieves unpleasant states and stress. Appreciation is very similar to the let down reflex that produces milk flow when nursing and the warm contented feeling that follows for mother and child.

Skill 5 - Form Family Bonds
Family bonds allow us to feel joy when we have a good relationship with each other. We experience what they feel and understand how they see.

Skill 6 - Identify Heart Values From Suffering
Everyone has issues that particularly hurt or bother him/her and always have been the way he/she is likely to get hurt. Looking at these lifelong issues helps identify the core values for each person’s unique identity. We hurt more as we care more. Because of how much pain our deepest values have caused, most people see these characteristics as liabilities not treasures.

Skill 7 - Tell Synchronized Stories
When our brain is well trained, our capacity is high and we are not triggered by the past, our whole brain works together. Telling stories in a way that requires all the brain to work together is a simple test of how our brain is working as well as a method to train the brain.

Skill 8 - Identify Maturity Levels

We need to know our ideal maturity level so we know if our development is impaired. Knowing our immediate maturity level from moment to moment lets us know if we have been triggered into reactivity by something that just happened or have encountered a “hole” in our development that needs remedial attention. Watching when our maturity level is slipping also tells us when emotional capacity has been drained in us or others.

Skill 9 - Take a Breather
Sustained closeness and trust requires us to stop and rest before people become overwhelmed and when they are tired. These short pauses to quiet and recharge take only seconds. Those who read the nonverbal cues and let others rest are rewarded with trust and love.

Skill 10 - Tell Nonverbal Stories

When we want to strengthen relationships, resolve conflicts, bridge generations or cultures we get much farther with the nonverbal parts of our stories than with words.

Skill 11 - Return to Joy from the Big Six Feelings

Although we live most of our lives in joy and peace we need to learn how to stay in relationship and quiet our distress when things go wrong. When we take good care of our relationships, even when we are upset, the upset does not last long or drive people away. We quickly resolve our “not glad to be together” moments.

Skill 12 - Recall the harmonious moment

Part of maintaining our relationships when we are upset is learning to act like the same person we were when we had joy to be together. A lack of training or bad examples causes us to damage or withdraw from the relationships we value when we get angry, afraid, sad, disgusted, ashamed or hopeless.

Skill 13 - See What God Sees
Hope and direction come from seeing situations, ourselves and others they way they were meant to be instead of only seeing what went wrong. This spiritual vision guides our training and restoration. Even forgiveness flows from seeing people’s purpose as more important than their malfunctions and makes us a restorative community instead of an accusing one. Through our hearts we see the spiritual vision God sees.

Skill 14 - Stop the Sark

This Greek word (also rendered sarx) refers to seeing life according to our view of who people are and how things should be. This conviction, that I know or can determine the right thing to do or be, is the opposite of heartsight in skill 13. For the sark, people become what they have done (the sum of their mistakes) or what we want them to become for us. Blame, accusations, condemnation, gossip, resentment, legalism, self-justification and self-righteousness are signs of the sark.

Skill 15 - Quiet Interactively

Facial cues, particularly of fear, help us to know when we are pushing others too hard. Sometimes we need and want to maintain a high-energy state without “going over the top,” like knowing when to stop tickling so it stays fun. Fast recognition and response to facial cues means optimum interactions and energy.

Skill 16 - Recognize High and Low Energy Response Styles
Many characteristic responses to emotions and relationships are strongly shaped by our tendency toward high or low energy reactions. Recognizing who tends to respond with high energy (adrenalin based emotions) and who would rather withdraw helps us match minds with others and bring more helpful variety to our own response tendencies.

Skill 17 - Identify Attachment Styles

How well we synchronize our attachments (Skill 3) early in life leaves the most enduring pattern in our personality. These patterns change the way we experience reality. At one end we may give almost no importance to our feelings or relationships and at the other we may feel hurt almost constantly and think of nothing but feelings and people. We may also become afraid of the very people we need. All these factors distort our reality but feel real to us at the time. Knowing how to spot these distortions helps us compensate.

Skill 18 - Intervene Where the Brain is Stuck
By recognizing the characteristic pain at each of the brain’s five levels we can pinpoint trouble and find a solution if someone gets stuck. The type of pain gives us a good idea of the kind of solution we will need when someone is not “keeping it together,” “falling apart,” or “stuck” as we commonly call these losses of synchronization.

Skill 19 - Recover From Complex Emotions
Once we can return to joy and act like ourselves with the six big negative feelings taken one at a time, we can begin to learn how to return to joy and act like ourselves when the six are combined in various combinations. Shame and anger combine to form humiliation. Fear and hopelessness (with almost any other feeling as well) form dread. These combination feelings can be very draining and difficult to quiet.

http://www.lifemodel.org/videowmp.php?file=thriveOverview_02.wmv

Tutankhamun

16 August, 2009

King Tut Exhibition

More than 3,000 years after his reign, and 30 years after the original exhibition opened in San Francisco, Tutankhamun, ancient Egypt’s celebrated “boy king,” returns to the de Young Museum. In the summer of 2009 the de Young presents Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, a glorious exhibition of over 130 outstanding works from the tomb of Tutankhamun, as well as those of his royal predecessors, his family, and court officials.

On view from June 27, 2009, through March 28, 2010 at the de Young, Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs provides insight into the life of Tutankhamun and other royals of the 18th Dynasty (1555–1305 BC). All of the treasures in the exhibition are more than 3,000 years old.

Tutankhamun was one of the last kings of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty and ruled during a crucial, turmoil-filled period of Egyptian history. The boy king died under mysterious circumstances at the age of 18 or 19, in the ninth year of his reign (1322 BC). Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings was filled with magnificent treasures meant to ensure his divine immortality. Many objects belonging to the young king—exquisite personal items used in his daily life—were placed in it.

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs offers glimpses of that critical period in Egyptian history. On display will be 50 of Tutankhamun’s burial objects, including one of the gold and precious stone inlaid canopic coffinettes that contained his mummified internal organs. Also included are many of the day-to-day objects enjoyed by the young king including a finely crafted child’s chair and an inlaid game board, one of four in the tomb, clearly representing an activity enjoyed by the king.

New to the encore tour of the exhibition are two nested coffinettes that contained the remains of two fetuses that are now undergoing DNA testing to reveal their relationship to King Tut. Also new to the exhibition from Tutankhamun’s tomb is a beautiful scarab bracelet featuring a central image of a beetle representing the sun god. An elaborate pectoral, a masterpiece of jewelry making, contains a rare, yellow-green glass stone carved in the shape of a scarab beetle that some scientists believe to be a fragment of an ancient meteorite.

More than 80 additional objects from tombs of 18th Dynasty royals, as well the possessions of elite individuals with close connections to the royal family also will be exhibited. These stone, faience and wooden pieces from burial sites before Tut’s reign will give visitors a sense of what the burials of both royalty and the elite may have been like and what the Egyptians of that time considered essential for the afterlife.

King Tut’s Gold Mask (or "Funerary Mask" or "Death Mask") resides at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The Mask is a very popular object that traveled in the 1970s exhibition and many individuals have fond memories of it. However, in the 1980s the Egyptian government declared it a national treasure and too fragile to travel. As such, it will not leave Egypt again and does not appear in Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs.

Tutankhamun’s mummy, the outermost of the three coffins in which he was buried, and his quartzite sarcophagus are still located in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. The two additional coffins—the innermost solid-gold coffin and second coffin—are in the collection of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. King Tut’s mummy, coffins, and sarcophagus have never traveled outside of Egypt.

Exploratorium

5 August, 2009

We visited Exploratorium on 5 August, 2009. It is a well known museum in San Francisco. It is a hands-on museum of science, art, and human perception. It has been called both the best science museum in the world and the grandfather of experimental and hands-on museums.

It is designed to spark curiosity. Visitors can touch, pick up, and tinker with hundreds of exhibits. Their curiosity will guide them to discover knowledge of the physical and biological world through the processes of discovering and validating.

There are a number of online activities on the link, http://www.exploratorium.edu/explore/online.html. Try if you are interested to know more about them.

One of the event, I enjoyed during my visit is the activities that you can access at:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/reflections/

Bonfante Gardens - Gilroy Family Theme Park

3rd August, 2009 (Monday)

We visited the Gilroy Family Theme Park on 3rd August, 2009. There were a number of interesting rides for us.

Jelly Belly Factory Tour

1st August, 2009 (Saturday)

Jelly Belly Factory Tour

We visited Jelly Belly Factory on 1st August, 2009. It was located in Fairfield, California about an hour's drive north of San Francisco.

We arrived there at about 4 o'clock. Luckily we could join the last tour that lasted for about 40 minutes. During the tour, the tour guide explained to us how the jelly beans were made. It took about four to five days to make the jelly beans. All visitors got a bag of jelly bean as a free gift from the company.

I bought five bags of jelly beans. They looked and tasted really great.

Terri's Vacation

Terri is on vacation to the States from 25 July to 17 August, 2009.
The photo was taken on the plane on 25 July. It's so nice to have a break spending time with my dearest family members.

Fluency Training

What is fluency and how can you achieve fluency in your speech?

Fluency is the ability to communicate your thoughts and feelings and to say what you want to say without fear and hesitation. The foundation of fluency is the urge to express yourself adequately in various circumstances; such as social, academic, or work place settings.

Now, you can start working to find ways to enhance your speech ability by using the technique of reading aloud. There are steps you need to follow:
1. phrasing - words go together in groups - identifying thought/ intonation groups
2.pausing – with rhythm and phrasing – pauses should be left between thought groups
3.linking - joining sounds into words and words into phrases and sentences

Understanding the rhythm of English speech is important for learners. You will realise that any long segments of connected speech are made up of certain patterns, known as tone units. To speak effectively and comprehensively, we need to divide our speech into tone units for each thought group.
The tone unit is a part of the sentence in which there is a significant pitch pattern. Within it there will be some prominent/ stressed syllables. Stress is one the main tools in English to convey word and sentence meaning. It is important for you to control the stress system if you want to be able to speak English clearly.

Introduction to the IELTS Test

Introduction to the IELTS Test

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a test of English language proficiency, developed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate. IELTS is now accepted as evidence of a prospective student’s level of English by most universities in English speaking countries.

There are two different IELTS tests that you can do: Academic and General. IELTS is not a test that you can pass or fail. Your assessment will be reported according to a scale from bands one to nine. You will need to contact the university you wish to enter to find out the IELTS score they require for entry into your chosen course. Band one indicates that you have virtually no English at all. Band nine is native speaker proficiency. Universities in Australia typically require a band score of between 6 and 7. The test questions and tasks have been designed to reflect the general interests of people from an educated background. You will therefore not be required to have any specialist knowledge.

The test has four components – Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking. You will receive a band score for each component as well as a global band score.

The modules are always taken in the same order: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.

1. Listening: [Time: 30 minutes; 4 sections; 40 items]
Candidates listen to a number of recorded texts, which increase in difficulty as the test progresses. These include a mixture of conversations and dialogues and feature a variety of English accents and dialects. The recording is heard only once, but candidates are given time to read the questions and record their answers.

2. Reading: [Time: 60 minutes; 3 sections; 40 items]
Academic Reading: There are three reading passages with tasks. Texts are taken from books, magazines, journals and newspapers, all written for a non-specialist audience. At least one of the texts contain a detailed argument.
(or) General Training Reading: The texts are based on the type of material candidate would be expected to encounter on a daily basis in an English speaking country. They are taken from sources such as newspapers, advertisements, instruction manuals and books, and test the candidate's ability to understand and use information. The test include one longer text, which is descriptive rather than argumentative.

3. Writing: [Time: 60 minutes; 2 tasks - 150 & 250 words]
Academic Writing: For the first task, candidates write a report of around 150 words based on material found in a table or diagram, demonstrating their ability to describe and explain data. For the second task candidates write a short essay of around 250 words in response to an opinion or a problem. They are expected to demonstrate an ability to discuss issues, construct an argument and use the appropriate tone and register.

(or) General Training Writing: The format of the test is the same as the equivalent Academic module. The fist task requires candidates to write a letter either asking for information or explaining a situation. The second task is a short essay of around 250 words, and is written in response to a given point of view or problem. Candidates are expected to be able to present their own ideas and challenge other ideas, using the appropriate tone and register.

4. Speaking: [Time: 10 - 15 minutes] The test takes the form of a face to face interview between one candidate and one examiner. Candidates are assessed on their use of spoken English to answer short questions, speak at length on a familiar topic, and also to ask questions and interact with the examiner.

Total testing time: 165 minutes ( 2 Hours and 45 minutes). All modules are usually taken on the same day, but in some cases the Speaking test may be taken up to two days after the other modules.

HKCEE Speaking Practice Task 2

Part A - Group Discussion ( Swine Flu)
Your group is working on a presentation topic regarding the measures to prevent a further worsening of the outbreak of the swine flu in Hong Kong. You will talk about the problem, and discuss possible methods to deal with the problem.

Spend three minutes writing down the ideas you have regarding the health issue. You may want to talk about:

• what the Hong Kong government has done to prevent the problem
• how Hong Kong health department can help individuals to deal with the outbreak of H1N1
• how Hong Kong schools can do to control the spread of H1N1 virus
  
• problems that Hong Kong may face if all schools have to be closed due to the outbreak
  

Try to imagine you are participating in the small group discussion which will last for about six minutes. Make sure you have a keen interest in expressing your viewpoint. But remember you must take a position so you'll have a stronger mood to contribute in the discussion.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part B Individual Response

Each individual candidate will be asked to response to a question based on the items discussed. You need to think of ideas for a one-minute response speech after the group discussion.
Possible questions are:

1. What has the Hong Kong government done to stop the spread of H1N1 virus in Hong Kong?
2. Should all people wear masks in public areas? Why/ Why not?
3. What can you do to help prevent the spreading of the swine flu?
4. What do you think schools should do to cooperate with Hong Kong health department to prevent the outbreak of the Swine flu?

Good luck and enjoy your preparation for the coming exams!
By the way, you may want to go to the link below to see the official movie for the HKCEE Oral Exam for more information.

http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/DocLibrary/HKCEE/CE_Eng_Speaking_Exam_2008_final.wmv

HKCEE Speaking Task 2

Part A - Group Discussion ( Children Left Home Alone )

Your group is working on a presentation topic on a recent social issue regarding the children being left home alone without supervision by adults. You will talk about the problem, and discuss possible causes and solutions.

Spend three minutes writing down the ideas you have regarding the social issue. You may want to talk about:

* possible causes of the problems: why do you think it is a problem to the society in Hong Kong?
* ways to solve the problem
* Things to do to help the parents and children
* anything else you think is important

Try to imagine you are participating in the small group discussion which will last for about five minutes. Make sure you have a keen interest in helping one of the parties that may invovle in the social issue. Take a position. In other words, you'll discuss the question from the viewpoint of: parents, children, government, or the general public. So, you won't get lost in the discussion.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part B Individual Response

Each individual candidate will be asked to response to a question based on the items discussed. You need to think of ideas for a one-minute response speech after the group discussion.

Possible questions are:

1. Apart from money, what other helps do parents need?
2. Who do you think are responsible for the problem? What should they do to help solve the problem?
3. What are the possible reasons for parents leaving their children alone at home?
4. How can people in Hong Kong help to ease the problem?

Good luck and enjoy your preparation for the coming exams!

By the way, you may want to go to the link below to see the official movie for the HKCEE Oral Exam for more information.

http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/DocLibrary/HKCEE/CE_Eng_Speaking_Exam_2008_final.wmv

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Language that may help you with the discussion.

Asking for an Opinion
What do you think of .........?
How do you feel about .....?
What’s your opinion of ........?

Giving an Opinion
In my opinion, .........
Personally, I think that ........
It seems to me .........
As far as I’m concerned, .........

Agreeing

(a) That’s right. (b) You’re right. (c) I think so, too. (d) I agree with you.
(e) I definitely agree. (f) I completely agree with you.

Expressing Reservations
Yes, but.....
Possibly. but.....
Yes, but the problem is....

Disagreeing
I don’t really agree with you.
I’m not sure I agree with you. The reason is that.....
Yes, that may be true, but.....

Getting Attention
To indicate that you want to speak, you can use nonverbal signals such as leaning forward or raising your hand. You can also gain the attention of the group members during a pause by saying :
May (could) I ask a question?
May (could) I say something here?
May (could I make a suggestion?
or :
I have a question I’d like to ask.
I have a point I’d like to make.

Interrupting
If you feel that a interruption would be appropriate, you can wait for a pause in the conversation and then say :
Excuse me, but........
Pardon me, but........
Excuse me for interrupting, but.......
Sorry to interrupt, but........

Keeping Your Turn
Excuse me, I’d just like to finish this point.
If you could wait for a second, I’m just about to finish my point.
Could I please just finish my point?

Continuing after an Interruption
Anyway, .......
As I was saying, ........
In any case, .......
Going back to what I was saying,......
As I was saying, .........


Emphasizing a Point
It seems to me that the real issue is.......
I think the basic cause is......
As far as I can see, the main problem is......
In my opinion, the basic problem is......
in my opinion, the main thing is.....
As I see it, the most important point is....
I feel that the most important consideration is.....

HKCEE Speaking Practice Task

Part A - Group Discussion (School Sports)

Your school wants to do something to promote sport activities and your group has been asked to design a poster by the principal.

Discuss with your group what you will suggest and why.

You may want to collect ideas on:

• different kinds of student's favourite sports
• how you can collect ideas and find out what the students want
• how the poster will attract the reader
• anything else you think is important

Try to imagine you are participating in the small group discussion which will last for about six minutes. Make sure you have a keen interest in expressing your viewpoint. But remember you must take a position so you'll have a stronger mood to contribute in the discussion.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part B Individual Response

Each individual candidate will be asked to response to a question based on the items discussed. You need to think of ideas for a one-minute response speech after the group discussion. Possible questions are:

1. What kinds of sports do you think you would definitely want to include it in the poster? Why?
2. Is it better to have more pictures or words? Why?
3. What do you think is the most popular sport among Hong Kong teenagers? Support your opinion with evidents.
4. When do you think is the best time of the year to promote sport activities to students? Why?

Good luck and enjoy your preparation for the coming exams!By the way, you may want to go to the link below to see the official movie for the HKCEE Oral Exam for more information.http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/files/wmv/ce07_eng_p4_video.wmv

Boost Health by Eating Right Fruit

Blood, circulatory system, heart diseases:
Anemia ─ grapes, oranges, tomatoes, apples, strawberries, cherries
─ mangosteen high cholesterol, walnut
Hypertension ─ Avocado, banana, watermelon, grapes, oranges, tomatoes, apples, walnuts, persimmons, pears, peaches
Arteriosclerosis, vascular ─ fat of apple, avocado, walnuts, oranges, tomatoes, strawberries, banana
Stroke ─ apple, persimmon, pineapple, kiwi
Heart ─ Apple, Avocado, kiwi, pears, watermelon, pineapple, walnuts, bananas
Diabetes ─ Avocado, pears, tomatoes, guava, loquat, peach, watermelon

Respiratory system, trachea, lung disease:
Bronchitis ─ grapes, apples, strawberries, cherries, pears, pineapple, loquat, persimmon
Asthma ─ grapes, peaches
Tuberculosis ─ pears, peaches, loquat, papaya

Digestive system, gastrointestinal and liver diseases:
Ulcer ─ Avocado, bananas, pears
Gastritis ─ Avocado, apples, grapes
Enteritis ─ pineapple, bananas, apples, grapes, tomatoes, guava
Diarrhea ─ Apple
Stomach ─ papaya
Indigestion ─ pears, strawberry, loquat
Hemorrhoids ─ apples, persimmons, peaches, bananas, figs
Liver ─ strawberries, plums, apples, grapes, bananas, oranges
Urinary system diseases:
─ cystitis watermelon, peaches
Urethral calculi ─ watermelon, kiwi
Incontinence ─ peaches, plums
Urethritis ─ peaches, grapes
Kidney disease ─ watermelon, apples, pears, grapes, pineapple, oranges, cantaloupe, strawberries, peaches, kiwi,
Avocado
Endocrine system diseases:
Hyperthyroidism ─ persimmon, apple
Endocrine disorders ─ avocado, apples, kiwi, grapes, peaches, cantaloupe, papaya
Eyes, ears and throat diseases:
Tinnitus ─ mangosteen
Tonsils ─ pears
─ hoarseness grapes, loquat
Night blindness ─ Orange

Bones, arthritis, skin diseases:
Post-operative wound healing ─ strawberry fast
Back pain, low back pain ─ kiwi, watermelon, pears, citrus
Shoulder peach ─
─ grape fracture
Arthritis ─ grapes, loquat
Gout ─ kiwi, pineapple
Bonesetter ─ papaya contusion
Skin ─ papaya, strawberries, apples, tomatoes, walnuts

Oral diseases:
Oral inflammation ─ pears, oranges, pomegranates
Dental disease ─ strawberries, oranges, plums

Others:
Cancer ─ kiwifruit, papaya, lemon, pineapple, grapes
─ cold strawberries, mango, pineapple, loquat, lemon, orange
Pregnant women ─ antiemetic pears, apples, persimmons
Pregnant women after childbirth to restore ─ Avocado, apples, walnuts
To increase strength, prevent aging ─ Apple, Avocado, bananas, walnuts
─ grape poor appetite
The promotion of growth ─ Avocado, apples, pears, bananas, strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon

Apple Juice Apple
Juice: gastrointestinal conditioning, and promote kidney function, prevention of hypertension
Grapefruit juice Grapefruit
Juice: lower cholesterol, prevent colds and gingival bleeding
Strange Fruit Kiwi Fruit
Juice: rich in vitamins C, Qingre Sheng Jin, only吐泻
Mango mango juice
Juice: to help digestion and to prevent seasickness and vomiting sore throat
Pineapple Pineapple juice
Juice: swelling wet and scared, help digestion, relieve sore throat
Papaya Juice: Moistening Lung Xiaozhi to help digest protein
Watermelon Juice Water Melon Juice: heat diuretic, lowering blood pressure
Carrot carrot juice
Juice: stimulating bile secretion, and cholesterol, increased flexibility in the intestinal wall, to appease nervous celery juice Celery Juice: added strength, relieve anxiety, stress
Banana Banana juice Juice: to increase energy, strong muscles, nourishing lung intestines, blood flow
Grape juice Juice: regulation of heart rate, blood and soothe the nerves, strengthen the kidneys, liver function, helps digestion

Lemon juice Lemon Juice: rich vitamin C, cough phlegm, toxins will help rule out the possibility
Orange Juice orange juice : Nourishing the stomach, strengthening blood vessels, can prevent heart disease, stroke, colds, flu and bruises

Hami melon juice Cantaloup Juice: dry cooling solution,生津止渴
Strawberry Juice Strawberry Juice : Zhixie diuretic, strong nerves, blood added
Pear juice Pear Juice : To maintain the heart, the normal operation of vessels to remove toxins
Coconut juice Coconut Juice : The prevention of heart disease, arthritis and cancer, a strong skin, moisture Zhike

Loving family, on the first of their health!!
Asparagus is a great treasure-house of folic acid】 girls should eat more!!
Asparagus dishes Westerners in Japan,
To get on the good versus the cost of the asparagus will allow us to imagine
To the point of a high-end restaurants off Kobe steak,
To one of the excellent fresh asparagus,
Really enjoy life. Perhaps you do not know,
In addition to delicious, asparagus, where the nutritional value?
Would like to begin with folic acid
In recent years the study of folic acid caused a lot of attention to the medical profession,
For example, women who plan to become pregnant, eat more folic acid to prevent neural tube birth defects in babies. It was also found that it can prevent heart disease, cancer,
"Became the very high-profile nutrients asparagus contains very rich folic acid,
5 asparagus contains approximately 100mcg Of folic acid, has already reached the daily recommended amount of 1 / 4, So we can eat more asparagus to add folic acid to achieve the effect of gestational age is not only women should eat more, Most people can eat asparagus anti-cancer anti-aging anti-cardiovascular disease.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang delivered his policy address on 10 October, 2007. He declared an offer of 12-year free education for all children. Classes will also become smaller, with fewer students.

Write an article of about 250 words for your school magazine. Write and discuss what you think about the 12-year free education and the smaller class policy implemented in Hong Kong.

Dear Editor,

I would like to express my opinions regarding the 12-year free education and the smaller class policy implemented in Hong Kong.

I agree with our Chief Executive, Mr Tsang, who delivered his policy address on 10 October, 2007. He declared an offer of 12-year free education for children and the smaller Classes. I think this policy can improve our education system and will be beneficial to Hong Kong students. The main reasons are as follows.

The 12-year free education can reduce the pressure of the high study cost to the low-income families. There is a chance for their children to continue their study in the school without a financial problem. For the low-income families, their children can’t always receive the higher education because of their financial problem. The 12-year free education also encourages people to keep studying in the school to increase their own competitiveness in their future.

Smaller Classes is a great idea for taking care of the specific students who need to deal with their study problems. With the smaller classes, teacher can easily recognize his students and he has sufficient time to solve their problems during the lessons. Because smaller classes give teachers more quiet time to focus on helping weaker students. They will have more times helping them to improve their study level.

However, this offer of 12-year free education and the implementation of the smaller classes will increase the financial burden our government. If someone doesn’t treasure the education opportunity, it will waste our tax money and the policy will become a failure.

In my conclusion, I believe that free education can ensure that children would gain more knowledge, thus they become more competitive for taking the jobs. They can also learn better and study more from the teachers in smaller classes.

Practice Paper - Set 6

To: Mr Chan, Chief Executive Officer
From: Mary Wong, Managing Director of Hong Kong Amusement Park
Date: 4 May, 2008
Subject: Service of Hong Kong Amusement Park

Introduction
I am writing in response to your request for a report on the management of the service of Hong Kong Amusement Park . I have also included my suggestions for improvements.

Findings
A questionnaire survey was conducted in April, 2008 to collect guests' opinions on the service of the park. 500 questionnaires were sent out to the respondents, of which 400 were returned. Site visits were paid to 4 theme parks between 20 and 27 of April, 2008 to collect opinions. The major findings are listed below.

Respondents
Nearly two thirds (65%) of the respondents had visited the park twice this year. One fifth (20%) of them had visited the park more than twice this year. The remaining 15% of them had visited the park once this year.

Results
Questionnaires
As for the problems of the service of the park, nearly three quarters (70%) of the respondents reported that the admission fees was expensive. There were no discounts for students. More than a half (55%) of the respondents noticed that there were inadequate washrooms. Two-fifths of them said that there were too many visitors, and there were long queues. Nearly one third (33%) of the respondents said that there was a lack of cartoon characters. A quarter of them said that there were not enough restaurants.

Site Visits
During the site visits of the four theme parks, it was found that the parade was fantastic. Staff was well-trained. However, the area was too small. The price was too high.

Conclusion
It is obvious that the service of the park is inadequate. Thus, suggestions for improvement are needed.

Recommendation
I would like to make the following recommendations for your consideration.

• We should reduce the admission fee and provide discounts for students.
  
• We should increase the washrooms.
• We should make more cartoon characters.
• We should restrict the number of people entering the park because there are always long queues
  
• We should also increase the number of restaurants.
  

I would be grateful if the above recommendations could be considered.

Regards

Raymond
Raymond Chien
Leisure Activities Officer

Practice Paper – Set 5

To: Ms Liao, Manager
From: Raymond Chien, Leisure Activities Officer
Date: 2 October, 2007
Subject: Management of Public Swimming Pools

Introduction
I am writing in response to your request for a report on the management of the public swimming pools. I have also included my suggestions for improvements.

Findings
A questionnaire survey was conducted in August, 2007 to collect citizens' opinions on the management of the public swimming pools. 1000 questionnaire were sent out to the respondents, of which 880 were returned. The major findings are listed below.

Respondents
Nearly three quarters (74%) of the respondents went swimming once a week. About a quarter (23%) went swimming two to six times in a week. Only a small number (3%) went swimming almost everyday between May and September in the public swimming pool.

Results
Nearly all (94%) of the respondents found that the admission fees were reasonable. As for the hygienic standard, more than a half (58%) of the respondents were satisfied with the hygienic standard in pool deck area; while 42% of them were satisfied with the hygienic standard in changing room.

As for the areas that need to be improved, about two-thirds (62%) of the respondents said that there were insufficient leisure pools. one fifth of them reported that the beach chairs were rusty. A minority (13%) said that there was no kiosk. Very few (5%) reported that life guards were not around.

Conclusion
It is obvious that the management of the public swimming pools is inadequate. Thus, suggestions for improvement are needed.

Recommendation
I would like to make the following recommendations for your consideration.

• We should build more leisure pools
  
• We should increase the hygienic standards in both changing room and pool deck area.
• We should also replace the beach chairs with the plastic chairs.
• We should build kiosks in some public swimming pools
• We should make sure there are life guards in the swimming pools all the time.
  

I would be grateful if the above recommendations could be considered.

Regards

Raymond
Raymond Chien
Leisure Activities Officer

Practice Paper – Set 4

To: Mr Peterson, Chief Executive Officer
From: Charles Wong, Public Relations Officer of KCR
Date: 28 May, 2008
Subject: Design of Train Compartments

Introduction
I am writing in response to your request for the report on the design of train compartments. I have also included my suggestions for improvements.

Findings
A questionnaire survey was conducted in April, 2008 to collect passengers' opinions on the design of all the train compartments. 2000 questionnaire were sent out to the respondents, of which 1800 were returned. Site visits were also made to 2 British-made compartments to collect further data about the design. The major findings are listed below.

Respondents
About three quarters (76%) of the respondents took KCR daily. A small number (14%) of the respondents took KCR twice a week and the remaining 10% of the respondents took KCR once a week.

Results
About four fifths of the respondents said that KCR was fast and stable. About three quarters of them reported that the KCR fare was reasonable.

As for the areas to be improved, three quarters of the respondents said that the train compartments were too bright. More than half (60%) said that the ventilation was poor. It was hot and stuffy in summer. Two fifths of the respondents said that the ventilation was poor. It was hot and stuffy in summer. Two fifths of them reported that the seats were uncomfortable. A quarter of the respondents said that the compartments were noisy when traveling at high speed.

Three problems were found during the site visits. The floor was slippery. The TV system was too noisy. The route map was user-unfriendly.

Conclusion
To conclude, a majority of respondents are satisfied with the design of KCR compartments. However, some improvements can still be made.

Recommendation
I would like to make the following recommendations for your consideration.

• As it is too bright in the train compartments, we must reduce the brightness of the lights.
  
• We should also improve the ventilation and adjust the temperature in summer.
  
• We should redesign the seats and make them more comfortable.
• We should reduce the volume of the TV system.
• We should make the route maps more user-friendly.
  

I would be grateful if the above recommendations could be considered.

Regards

Charles
Charles Wong
Public Relations Officer of KCR

Practice Paper – Set 3

To: Mr Wong, Chief Executive Officer
From: Richard Leung, Academic Director of ZAFT Tutorial Center
Date: 2 May, 2007
Subject: Daily Operation of ZAFT Tutorial Centers

Introduction
I am writing in response to your request for the report on the daily operation of ZAFT Tutorial Center. I have also included my suggestions for improvements.

Findings
A questionnaire survey was conducted in March, 2008 to collect students' opinions on the daily operation of ZAFT Tutorial Centers. 1000 questionnaire were sent out to the respondents, of which 865 were returned. Center visits were also made to all ZAFT tutorial centers to collect further opinions about the service. The major findings are listed below.

Respondents
Nearly three quarters (70%) of the respondents had been studying in ZAFT Tutorial Center for half a year. One fifth of the students had been studying there for more than a year. A small number (10%) had been studying with us for only a month.

Results
Majority (80%) of the respondents said that they liked the teaching equipment, it was of high-tech. Half of the respondents said that the promotion was persuasive and attractive. Two fifths of the respondents liked their tutors and said that they were professional and stylish.

As for the areas that need to be improved, majority of the respondents said that the class size was too big. There were 80 students per class. About three thirds of them reported that there were not enough assignments. Nearly half (45%) said the promotion staff was impolite. Nearly one third (30%) of the students reported that the school was too high.

Conclusion
To conclude, a majority of respondents are satisfied with the tutorial centers. However, some improvements can still be made.

Recommendation
I would like to make the following recommendations for your consideration.

• We should reduce the class size from 80 to 50 per class
• We should provide more assignments for students
• We may consider reducing the school fee next year.

I would be grateful if the above recommendations could be considered.

Regards

Richard
Richard Leung,
Academic Director of ZAFT Tutorial Center

Practice Paper – Set 2

To: Mr Fung, English Teacher
From: Tony Chan, Chairperson of Student Union
Date: 26 April, 2008
Subject: Service of School Canteen

Introduction
I am writing in response to your request for a report on the service of the school canteen. I would also like to make recommendation for improvement.

Findings
A questionnaire survey was conducted in February, 2008 to collect students' opinions on the service of the school canteen. 700 questionnaire were sent out to the respondents, of which 600 were returned. Interviews were also made with 50 students to collect further opinions about the canteen. The major findings are listed below.

Respondents
Half of the respondents were studying Business Service and Management. The other half were studying Information and Communications Technology. Among them, two thirds were students of Year 1, and one third were students of Year 2.

Problems
About three quarters of the students reported that there were not enough food choices. There were no nutritious food and vegetarian menu. Slightly more than half (55%) of students said there were insufficient tables and chairs. Nearly half of the students said the service was poor and there were long lines for food orders. One fifth of the students said the standards of hygiene were low.

During the interviews students said that the canteen was too crowded in lunch time. There was rubbish everywhere.

Conclusion
It seems obvious that the school canteen service is inadequate. Thus suggestions for improvement are needed.

Recommendations
To improve the situation, the following recommendations are made for your consideration.

• School canteen should increase food choices, they should add some nutritious food and vegetarian menu.
• They should provide more tables and chairs
• They should also shorten the waiting time for food order.
• They should improve the standards of hygiene and collect rubbish more frequently.

I would be grateful if the above recommendation could be accepted.

Regards

Tony

Tony Chan
Chairperson, SU

Practice Task - Set 1 Key

To: Mr Ricky Chan, Manager
From: Winnie Wong, Assistant Manager
Date: 15 April, 2008
Subject: Service of the QQ Supermarket

Introduction
I am writing in response to your request for a report on the service of the supermarket. I have included some recommendations for improvement.

Findings
A survey was conducted進行in mid-March 2008 to collect customers’ opinions on the service of the supermarket. 300 questionnaires were distributed to the customers分發300問卷, of which其中260 were returned 260人交回. The major findings 主要結果are listed below.

More than a half of the customers said they spent $500 to $1000. About a quarter of them spent less than $ 500. The remaining customers spent more than $1000 in our supermarket each month.

Two fifths of the customers thought that checkouts were always busy. They had to wait for long time to pay for goods. More than half of the customers (58%) reported that they never have a trolley to use during rush hours. About two thirds (66%) said they couldn’t get goods on top shelves. A quarter of the customers (25%) complained that the floor was wet, and tissues were on the floor. A small number of (9%) of the customers said there were no telephones.

Conclusion
To conclude, it is obvious the service of QQ Supermarket was inadequate. Thus, suggestions for improvement are needed.

Recommendations
To improve the situation, the following recommendations are made for your consideration.
-We should increase the number of checkout counters, so customers will not wait for a long time to pay.
- We should also buy some more trolleys to use during the rush hours.
- We should lower the top shelves, so customer can easily reach the top shelves for goods.
- We should keep the floor dry and clean.

I would be grateful if the above recommendations could be accepted.

Regards
Winnie Wong
Assistant Manager