Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Talk to friends who are adopted. Contact family friends or neighbors. Join an adoption support group in your area. Have a DNA test done. Understand how DNA testing works. Register with a reputable adoption reunion registry. Contact a private investigator who specializes in adoption cases.

Answer: Chances are, you know someone who was adopted. Talking with them can help you understand how they learned they were adopted and what they did afterward. Friends may also be able to offer you advice on how to bring your questions to your family. Thanks to social media, it is now very easy to get in touch with people from your past even if you can’t visit your childhood home in person. Understand, though, that people may not feel comfortable discussing their knowledge of your family with you. Explain to them why you want to know, but don’t press them for information if they seem reluctant. Many people go through the process of discovering that they’re adopted and dealing with that information every year. A support group of other adoptees may be able to offer you advice and resources for your own search, as well as help you handle the process emotionally. DNA sampling can track your genetic markers and compare them to those of other family members. You can visit a genetic specialist, or you can use a mail-order test like the “Family Finder” test. For this option, though, you will need to get another close relative (a parent, sibling, or first cousin) to agree to have a test done so that you have a point of comparison. If you buy a DNA test online, go with a reputable provider. The three biggest providers of online DNA testing are Ancestry.com, 23 and me, and FamilyTreeDNA. These companies also often maintain large databases of other individuals who have had these tests and can compare your DNA to theirs. A DNA test can offer you clues to your genetic identity, but it is often limited in its effectiveness without a large pool for comparison. If you are having a DNA test done without the participation of another family member, your information may be less useful.  There are 3 basic kinds of DNA tests: mitochondrial (inherited maternal DNA), Y-line (inherited paternal DNA, but only works for males), and autosomal (inherited relations to others such as cousins). Autosomal DNA tests may be the best option for adoptees, as they can connect your genetics to a wider network of people. A DNA test can verify whether or not you are biologically related to your immediate family, usually through mitochondrial DNA. However, it is less likely to be able to connect you to another family if your genetics don’t match your own family’s. The International Soundex Reunion Registry and Adoption.com are both considered reputable, reliable registries for individuals who are seeking to reunite with their biological families. This option can be very expensive, so it is usually reserved for once you know you've been adopted but can't locate your birth parents or information about them. Look for an investigator in your hometown as they are probably familiar with the town's record archives.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Time your meal. Stop eating when you're satisfied, not full. Eat more vegetables.

Answer: It should take you at least 20 minutes to complete your meal.  It takes this amount of time for your brain to signal satisfaction and fullness.  If you eat faster than this, you may end up consuming a lot more food than necessary to make you feel satisfied.  Set a stop watch or timer for 20 minutes so you can clock yourself throughout your meal. Practice putting your fork down between bites, taking a sip of water or talking to friends/family while you eat. Take a deep breath and try to mentally center yourself before you eat.  Stress and busy schedules can rush you through meals.  Take time to really enjoy your meal time. Understanding the difference between satisfied, full and stuffed is important.  An appropriate, small portion size should leave you feeling just satisfied.  Satisfaction typically means you're no longer hunger.  You may also notice you lose interest in your meal or are just beginning to feel a very faint stretching sensation in your stomach. Another way to think of satisfied is to think of your stomach as a gas tank.  Aim to "fill" your stomach about 70% of the way up with food - not 100%. Sometimes it can be hard to follow a smaller portion size.  If you feel like you really need something else, eat more vegetables.  They are low in calories and high in nutrients like fiber and vitamins.  A few extra servings of veggies won't hurt.  Try having a salad along with your meals.  It's light, satisfying and can help make you feel a little more full if you need to. Double up on your veggie sides.  Instead of having a starch (like rice or potatoes) and a vegetable, cook up two different types of veggies!  Again, going back for seconds or doubling up on these low-calorie foods is OK. Pack more vegetables into your recipes.  If you're making pasta or a stir fry, double the amount of vegetables the recipe calls for.  It won't hurt to have a slightly bigger portion if  most of your meal consists of vegetables.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Sauté the onions for 7 to 8 minutes. Stir in ground crayfish and cook the mixture for 1 minute. Stir in vegetables and seasonings. Fry the vegetables in the seasoning for 2 to 5 minutes.

Answer: Pour 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of vegetable oil into a large skillet or wok and turn the heat to medium. Once the oil is hot and shimmers, stir in 1/2 cup (75 g) of chopped onion. Stir and cook the onion until it becomes soft and almost clear. You can leave the onion in large chunks or dice it finely according to your preferences. Add 3 tablespoons (24 g) of ground crayfish to the sautéed onions and stir until they're combined. Cook the mixture over medium heat until the crayfish is fragrant. If you can't find ground crayfish, you can leave it out but the rice won't be as colorful. Add 1 1/2 cups (230 g) of diced mixed vegetables into the skillet and stir in 1/2 teaspoon (0.5 g) of ground pepper, 1 teaspoon (2 g) of Nigerian or Jamaican curry powder, and 1 to 3 stock cubes (such as Maggi or Knorr). You can use frozen mixed vegetables and add them to the skillet while they're still frozen. If you prefer, chop and dice your own mixed vegetables. Try carrots, corn, green beans, and peas. Stir and cook the vegetable mixture over medium heat until the vegetables are heated throughout. If you used frozen vegetables, this will take closer to 5 minutes.  Avoid overcooking the vegetables or they'll lose their shape and their color will dull. If the vegetables stick to the skillet, pour in another 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of cooking oil.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Use the first paragraph to explain why you’re writing. Market yourself and your qualifications in the second paragraph. Avoid cliches. Use the third paragraph to conclude your letter and provide contact information. Close the letter with a thank you. Keep the letter to a page or less. Proofread the letter.

Answer:
Whether the company has requested a letter of interest with your resume or you’re sending a more exploratory inquiry letter, you should use the introductory paragraph to explain why you’re writing. This includes explaining who you are and what has sparked your interest in the company.  Refer to any recent media coverage, interviews, company press releases, or other information that shows you’ve done your homework regarding the company and what they do.  Highlight the position or types of positions you are interested in within the first few sentences. If a particular position is available, include the department or division of the company and indicate the source from which you learned about the position. Try to avoid starting the first sentence of the first paragraph with “I.” The majority of the letters the person who reads them receives will start this way, so avoid it to immediately set yourself apart. For example, “Your company’s CEO (use his or her name here as well) expressed some truly innovative ideas during a recent TED Talk. I’d love to be a part of what the company is working on, and I’ve written to inquire about any openings on the Production team.” Now that you’ve established your interest in the company, use the second paragraph to connect your skill set to the prospective employer. Use this space to highlight a few specific examples of what will truly make you an asset to the company.  Address specific criteria or requirements listed in the job advertisement or description. Match your skills and qualifications to the job's required qualifications. Do not simply repeat the information that the employer will find in your resume. Instead, take the opportunity to expand and contextualize select pieces of that information that communicate your potential value to the organization. For example, “During my two years with Company X, I worked as a Senior Producer, coordinating multiple teams of programmers and artists to help deliver content to clients on time. My teams never missed a milestone, and I think these are the organizational skills that can help your company’s next project succeed.” The point of the letter of interest is to set you apart, which you can’t do while using cliche language. The second paragraph is where you will most likely find yourself tempted to use self-marketing cliches, so be especially mindful of them as you compose this paragraph. Do not, for instance, write that you “think outside the box.” This isn’t only a cliche, but it also lacks concrete detail. Instead, write about a specific instance where you updated a process in a novel way that saved a previous company time and/or money. This concretely illustrates the idea without resorting to a cliche. Once you’ve explained what makes you the perfect candidate for the company, concisely conclude your letter with contact information and an explanation of any additional documents you’ve included, if applicable. Ensure that you provide both your telephone number and email address to give the recipient a way to reach out to you.  You may also choose to specify a time when you will contact the person’s office as a follow-up to your letter of interest.  For instance, “You will find both my resume and a breakdown of projects I produced for Company X attached. I would love the opportunity to discuss my qualifications with you further. You can reach me at…” Show gratitude for the recipient's time and consideration as you finish the letter. Establishing yourself as respectful and professional can help you in the future, even if there are no positions available with the company presently. While longer than a cover letter, you should still keep a letter of interest to a page or less. Always remember that the person reading the letter likely has a busy schedule, and concision shows that you both respect the recipient’s time and know how to get to the point. If you’ve gone over a page, review the first two paragraphs closely to find spots where you can pare down the language. Go over your letter before sending it while keeping in mind that simple is always a better approach. Take this opportunity to remove passive verbs in favor of clearer, active ones, and remove any language that comes across as too flowery or exaggerated. This is also the time to use a fine-tooth comb on the letter to find any typos, misspellings, run-on sentences (comma splices especially), sentence fragments, or anything else that could immediately send your resume to the “pass” pile.