Q: Ask your parent about the reason for the stubbornness. Be sure to ask in a polite manner. You could try saying something like "I think I would be much less upset if you could let me know your side of the story. Why is it that you are saying no to this?" If this causes your parent to become angry, consider letting it go and moving on or trying again once your parent as calmed down. Sometimes it just isn't worth fighting even if you think you're right. If you assess that this is the case, then try apologizing. You don't have to lie and be sorry for disagreeing with your parent's opinion (which might well be legitimate), but you can still sincerely apologize for fighting with your parent. There are a number of ways to apologize:  I was angry and I shouldn't have called you that bad name, I'm sorry if I hurt you." I wasn't thinking about things from your perspective, I'm sorry for fighting with you." I'm really sorry about saying that mean thing." If you are in the middle of a fight and want it to end, try to slow down the tempo of the situation and your own reaction to it. You can do this by taking some deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose, counting to five, hold for two seconds and then exhale through your mouth. One way to end a fight is to leave the situation. Let both tempers dissipate by taking some time away from each other. Be sure to be polite when you excuse yourself from the conversation or it may backfire and escalate the fight.  For example, you could say "I think we will just keep fighting if I stay here, I'll have to excuse myself, let's try talking again later, please, once I'm more calmed down."  Avoid putting the blame on your stubborn parent or this may just cause him to dig his feet in more firmly as a defensive reaction to your accusations. A stubborn parent in a fight is more likely to be calmed down if you yourself remain calm. You will be more likely to end the fight if you stay cool headed rather than getting stubborn and upset yourself. Although it can be difficult to remain level-headed in a fight when you are likely upset, try your best. It may help if you don't fight on an empty stomach, when you are already feeling crummy and may have less self-control.
A: Assess the reason for the stubbornness. Apologize. Take slow deep breaths. Excuse yourself. Remain level-headed.

Article: Figure out what specifically is causing you trouble. Once you know what the problem is you can create a detailed plan for improvement. It may help to sit down with a parent, teacher, or friend to look over your exams and see if there are any consistencies.  For example, are you not getting to the last few math problems every time? This could mean you need to learn time management skills for test-taking. Are you having trouble remembering the order of certain historical events? You may benefit from mnemonic devices. It’s easy to think of all the bad things that might happen if you don’t do well on your next test, or to start thinking you’ll never do well on a test again. But this sort of thinking will only serve to distract you. Instead think to yourself, “I didn’t do so well last time, but I’m doing my best to improve for next time.” It’s easy to talk yourself out of studying or convince yourself you’ll get to it in a few minutes, but these types of thoughts typically snowball until you’ve avoided studying altogether and are out of time. If you’re finding it difficult to get motivated to study, try scheduling study sessions as short as thirty minutes so that it doesn’t seem so daunting. Don’t beat yourself up when your mind starts to wander while studying. That’s a sign that you need a break, so take fifteen minutes to walk around the block, grab a snack, or listen to your favorite song. Try switching subjects when you return. It’s okay to be sick of math and need to switch to English for awhile.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Identify the problem. Think positively, not catastrophically. Cut out procrastination behavior. Give your mind a break.

Problem: Article: Your cat's reaction to catnip should happen very quickly after it smells it (one or two sniffs of catnip is sometimes enough to evoke a "high" in your pet). Note that sensitivity to catnip is hereditary, and approximately 1 in 2 cats won't react to the herb at all.  If your cat does react, you will observe it:  Sniffing Purring Licking and chewing the catnip Rubbing its chin and cheek Rubbing its body against things (e.g. the carpet) If you offer a cat catnip too often, the effects can wear off completely. Opt to offer catnip to your pet only once a week to maintain the "high" it experiences from the herb, which generally lasts for about 5-15 minutes. It may take up to two hours for your cat's behavior to completely return to normal, during which your cat will not be susceptible to the effects of catnip. In some cases, rationing will not matter. About 30% of all cats do not react to catnip, and kittens do not usually react to catnip until after they are 12 weeks old. If your cat has the bad habit of scratching furniture and other important household items, use catnip to train it out of this behavior. Purchase a catnip spray (from your local pet store, or online) and spray a scratching post for your cat. When your cat feels the overwhelming need to scratch, it will opt for the alluring surface of the scratching post instead of the couch or kitchen table.
Summary: Observe your cat's reaction. Ration catnip for your cat. Use catnip for training.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Write in print rather than cursive if you’re writing the return address by hand. Using all capital letters will prevent the mail service from misreading the address and returning the package or letter to the wrong place. Cursive may confuse some postal workers and cause them to return the letter to the wrong place. If you’re using a label or printing the return address out, use at least size 10 font. If you can, make the address even larger if it fits on the label or envelope. Don't use a font that's hard to read when writing the return address. Priority mail requires that you include a return address. Priority mail also comes with its own benefits, like being able to track the package.

SUMMARY: Use large, capital letters if you’re writing the letter by hand. Use a simple, size 10 font if you’re typing the return address. Use a return address when sending something via priority mail.

Q: Use a spading fork to very carefully break up the compacted topsoil between the surface roots. Take care not to damage the roots themselves, and go no deeper than 1 inch (2.5 cm). Add garden soil to your newly broken-up topsoil layer, being very careful not to layer on more than 2 inches (5 cm) of new soil. If you add too much new soil, your tree’s roots will suffocate, and the tree will eventually die. While you may need to replenish the new soil each year, do not add more than 2 inches (5 cm) of soil to the base of your tree per year. Adding some fertilizer will help keep your tree healthy and prevent the ground cover plants from using up too many valuable nutrients. Following the package directions, sprinkle a little 15-5-10 or 13-13-13 NPK fertilizer over the exposed root area. Pick a hearty plant that doesn’t need a lot of sunlight or moisture. In general, the best times to plant ground cover plants are early spring and late fall. A few good options include:  Wild violets Ajuga Periwinkle (vinca) Asiatic jasmine Monkey grass
A:
Break up the top 1 inch (2.5 cm) layer of soil around the roots. Spread no more than 2 inches (5 cm) of garden soil over the topsoil. Add a light application of general-purpose granular fertilizer. Plant a shade-loving ground cover plant around the base of the tree.