Self-confidence is defined as a feeling of trust in one’s abilities, qualities, and   judgment. 【小题1】 Whether you apply for a promotion in work or sign up for a cooking class, believing in yourself is the key to putting yourself out there. However, not all people are born confident.【小题2】

Stop comparing yourself to others. Whether you compare how you look to your friends on Facebook or you compare your salary to your friend’s income, comparisons aren’t healthy. Researchers found that people who compared themselves to others, experienced envy.【小题3】 It can be a terrible cycle. When you notice you are drawing comparisons, remind yourself that doing so isn’t helpful. Everyone is running their own race and life isn’t a competition.

【小题4】 . It’s hard to feel good about yourself if you’re abusing your body. Skimping on sleep, eating an unhealthy diet, and lacking exercise will do harm to your well-being. Studies consistently show physical activity boosts confidence. A 2016 study published in Neuropsychiatric Disease   and   Treatment found   that regular physical activity improved participants’ body image. And when their body image improved, they felt more confident.

Embrace (拥抱) self-doubt. Sometimes, people put off doing things—like inviting someone on a date or applying for a promotion—until they feel more confident. But sometimes, the best way to gain confidence is by doing.【小题5】. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare or practice, of course. If you have a big speech coming up, practice in front of your friends and family so you’ll gain some confidence. But don’t wait until you feel 100 percent confident before you proceed. You might never get there.

When you start gardening, you could visit a garden centre and buy all kinds of fancy products to fight against different garden diseases. One of them is cinnamon (肉桂皮). And the great thing about cinnamon is that it’s pretty cheap. 【小题1】. It couldn’t be easier! So, have we got you curious about what good this spice (香料) can do to your garden? Keep reading, because we’ve made a list!

● It keeps ants away. Have you got ants in your garden and do you want to get rid of them? Sprinkle (撒) some cinnamon on a spot that’s popular with the ants. It can cause the ants to choke when they breathe it in. Plus, the smell makes it impossible for them to smell any food. And the nice thing about cinnamon? 【小题2】

● It protects seedlings against diseases. Seasoned gardeners will know that growing new plants out of seeds doesn’t always go the way you want it to. 【小题3】. Like we mentioned, it has antifungal (抗菌的) features. This helps the seedlings to keep growing without becoming sick!

● It keeps mosquitoes out of your garden. Sprinkle some cinnamon around your plants and you’ll see that mosquitoes will stop coming anywhere near them. Mosquitoes, and other insects as well, absolutely hate the spice. 【小题4】, which will cause them to stay away from your garden.

● 【小题5】 Have you been a bit clumsy and have you damaged one of your plants? Is there a tear in a leaf or stalk? You can speed up the healing process by applying some cinnamon to the plant.

How to ask good questions

Effective communication is vital for all relationship. Learning what questions to ask can improve how you work with team members, your leadership skills, and how you communicate with loved ones. 【小题1】

Be a good listener. When someone gives you an answer or explains something to you, pay attention. 【小题2】 By focusing on listening, you’ll avoid asking a general question that you should probably know the answer to. When someone else is speaking, make eye contact and use body language such as nodding to show you understand.

Don’t be afraid of your questions. 【小题3】 Maybe it’s your first time doing a task, and you want to do it properly. Wrong questions don’t exist —especially if you’ve never done this before. Think about it this way: If you don’t ask your question, you may make some easily avoidable mistakes.

【小题4】 Question asking isn’t supposed to be a fast-paced conversation. Pausing to listen between answers gives you time to think about what was said and ask better follow-up questions. Don’t feel pressured to respond quickly. Fast responses can mess with the conversation’s flow. You don’t want to feel rushed or rush others, so learn to give yourself time to think.

Keep your questions short. A long question shows a lack of self-awareness. 【小题5】 You may want to provide enough detail in your question, but not too much. The person you’re asking should only have to hear your question once, not three or four times. Focusing on asking open-ended questions in one sentence can still set up a good conversation.