If you only read novels or magazines, the reading speed may not be so important to you. But if you have to read a lot for study, you will look forward to having the ability of reading more quickly. 【小题1】.

Before you open the book, make sure that you are comfortable. You need a seat which supports your back and the book should be at the right distance from your eyes. 【小题2】.

Spend a few minutes looking through the book. Look at the table of contents, the preface (前言), the title of each chapter and so on. This will help you to decide whether you really need to read the whole book or only certain parts of it. 【小题3】.

If you need to read the whole book, decide how much you can read at a time. 【小题4】. A history book which includes stories will be easier to read than one about scientific subjects. In the first one, you may be able to read a chapter. In the second one, you may only be able to read one page.

【小题5】. Make a note of any page which is of special importance. Write down the information which is important for your purpose as well as anything which leads you to further research. You don’t have to write these things in detail. It is enough to put the page number and one or two words as a reminder.

Some people learn a foreign language easily. Others may not. How can you help yourself learn English? I think there are two ways to make learning English a little easier and more interesting.

First, you should build up confidence (自信). If you believe that you can learn, you will learn. When you read or listen to something, you may not be able to understand (理解) it all. Don’t worry. You can use a dictionary to help you. You can ask your teacher or friends to help you. Do not be afraid of making mistakes. You can learn from mistakes.

Second, practise using English. For example, write a diary in English every day, and you’ll be able to write better. Speak English whenever you can. You may practise with your friends after class. Then you’ll be able to speak better.

Remember the famous saying, “Practice makes perfect.” The more you practise using English, the better you’ll learn it.

What you need:

1.25 cups of flour (面粉) 1.25 spoons of baking powder (发酵粉)

0.5 cup of milk 1/3 cup of butter

2 large eggs 0.25 spoon of salt

1 cup of sugar 0.75 spoon of vanilla (香草香精)

What to do:

1. Put butter on a cake pan (蛋糕烤盘). Cut a piece of wax paper (蜡纸) of the size of the pan and put it into the pan. Put butter on the wax paper.

2. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.

3. Mix the butter, the sugar, vanilla and the eggs. Stir (搅拌).

4. Put the mix of steps 2 and 3 together and add milk and then stir again.

5. Pour the mix into the pan.

6. Put the pan in the already hot oven for 30 minutes. Then take out the pan from the oven. Cool the cake for 10 minutes.