Email helps workers to communicate at any time, from any place. Email is an important tool, but it can also lead to a waste of time. How can workers make sure that email is tool and not time-waster-? Here are some simple tips to follow. They can help you use email more efficiently(高效地)at work.

    First of all, turn off the sound in your computer that tells you that you have a new email message. That "You've got mail!" sound is like a telephone or a doorbell. It interrupts your work. When you hear it, you will want to check your messages. And it will take you at least a few minutes to get back to work after that. Can you imagine how much time you waste because of that little sound?

    Second, limit how often you check your email. Try checking it only three times a day, for example, at 9:00, 12:00 and 16:00.Also, limit the time you spend reading and answering email each time. Fifteen minutes is usually long enough.

    Third, use a separate email account for work and personal life. Do not give your work address to friends or family, and do not give your personal address to people at work. If you are working on several projects at one time, use a separate email account for each one. So you can focus on the most important project.

    Fourth, you won't have to read all the email messages every time you open your email. You can look quickly at the subject lines and then decide which messages to answer right away. You can read the others later.

    Finally, do not always use "reply to all" to answer email. Only send the message to people who need to read your answer. That way you won't fill your workmates' inboxes with messages that they don't need. And they won't waste time reading them.

    If you follow these simple steps, you will be a more efficient worker. Best of all, you will be able to leave the office earlier.

— Thanks a lot.

— Oh, I am sorry. I ________ dinner at that time in my friend's home.

A Little Holiday Magic

    Christmas Eve has always been my favourite day of the year. December 24, 2010, I decided to 1 a little last-minute shopping before joining my family at my mother's.

    I bought large basket of cheese and bottle of wine. On my way down, the elevator(电梯)stopped at the third floor, where everybody but an older couple and me got off-and where tall, handsome man 2. We started down again then suddenly, the elevator stopped. We were stuck-on Christmas Eve!

    3 there was a phone, and the old man called someone in maintenance(维修), who told us that we had to be in for a long wait.

    At that point, we-the older couple, Mr and Mrs Phillips: John, the handsome man; and I-sat down on the floor and began 4 Christmas memories. An hour passed, then two: we found ourselves so involved in the conversation that we forgot we were stuck. I shared my basket of cheese and wine with them. I didn't realize at the time we were creating another special Christmas 5.

    After five hours, the elevator finally moved. When the doors opened, the worried store manager was surprised to find us in such 6 spirits. Saying our goodbyes, the four of us ex- changed addresses and promised to send holiday greetings to each other in the years to come.

    I got to my mother's for our traditional family Christmas-a bit late, 7 I got there.

    On Christmas evening I returned to my apartment. Waiting for me was a single red rose and a message: I really miss the cheese basket, John. At the bottom was his phone number...

    John and I were married the following Christmas Eve. And we are 8 exchanging Christmas greetings with Mr and Mrs Phillips. And I still wake up every Christmas Eve morn- ing filled with excitement at the magic of the day.

    Have you ever heard of "Survival Holidays"? It is for children to go into the lonely place for exciting activities. Now about 1,100 companies are allowed to take children into the great outdoors without their parents.

    The reason why people like "Survival Holidays" is that they think being close to nature is good for children. Many children in big cities spend all time watching TV and playing computer games. "Survival Holidays" gives them an important change.

    Is "Survival Holidays" a wonderful idea? Maybe it is. Children need more free time to play. They need to be left on their own, without adults disturbing(干扰)them. Parents care too much about their children. They like to see the children being busy with activities that are controlled(控制)by adults, which causes many problems. Children don't know what to do when they are in danger. Even something like crossing a small river seems to be a hard challenge. Children are not comfortable with danger. Even slight danger like getting their feet wet or falling down seems very terrible to them.

    Many people think the survival activities are good for children. Even years later, they will still remember what they have learned. Some have learned to stay calm in dangerous times. Some have learned how to keep safe. Others have learned how to work in a team. All these skills will help them a lot in their lives.