Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Do your research in advance. Prove to your parents that you are a safe driver. Show your parents that you can make good choices. Call your parents often.

Answer: Depending on how elaborate your lie is, you may need to do some research to make sure you don’t get caught. The best option is always to keep the lie simple, such as “we’re going to the mall” or “I’m staying late after school to catch up with Nicholas!” No matter what your story is, be sure that it will hold up even if your parents do research. For example, make sure that the mall is open when you say you’ll be there, and don’t say you’re staying at a friend’s house if your parents have that friend’s parents’ phone number. Let them ride in the car with you and show that you are a responsible driver. Doing this may help your parents to be less strict and to worry less when you are out. If you don’t drive, then this step won’t apply to you. If you are having a friend pick you up, have them pick you up at school or at the end of your block instead of at your house. While some parents are going to be strict no matter what, sometimes a parent just wants to know that you have a good head on your shoulders. You can build trust with your parents by coming home at your curfew, completing chores on time, getting good grades, and introducing your parents to your friends.  Another way to build trust is by talking with your parents about select personal issues, like a boy or girl that you like or a struggle you’re having with a friend. This can promote closeness and may make your parent give you a bit more freedom.  If you know your parents won't like your friend, then introducing them could backfire. Use your judgment to decide if introducing a friend to your parents would help you build trust. Specifically, call your parents to check in when you arrive at a place that they can know about. This will ease their fears and help build trust. Tell them you’ll also call them when you’re on your way home. Try to avoid calling them when you are at the place where you’re not supposed to be. That way, you won’t be explicitly lying, and you reduce the chance of them hearing a background noise that doesn’t match where they think you are. Give your parents an estimated time frame of how long you’ll be gone. When you tell them, be prepared to explain why what you’re doing will take a long time. For example, you could say, “Mike and I are getting dinner. It might be a few hours because he is going through some difficult stuff that he wants to talk about. Is it okay if I get home at ______? I’ll call you when I’m on my way home.”


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Put on your protective gear. Work in a well ventilated area. Choose a dark or bold color shirt.

Answer: Bleach is caustic and it can cause irritation to your eyes, skin, and lungs. It can also discolor your clothes, carpet, furniture, and other surfaces. Make sure that you put on goggles, gloves, and some old clothes before you begin.   Also, make sure to put down some old newspaper or paper towels to protect your floors and other surfaces. If you work outside, then you will not have to worry about getting bleach on the ground. Inhaling bleach fumes can irritate your lungs and may even give you a headache. Open a couple of windows and turn on a fan for ventilation if you will be working indoors. You may even consider working outside since it is well ventilated. It is important to use a colored t-shirt for this project because bleaching a while t-shirt will only make it look whiter. The darker the color of your shirt is, the more dramatic your results will be.  Stick with bold and dark colors, such as black, blue, red, purple, orange, green, etc. Steer clear of lighter shades and pastels, such as lavender, powder blue, light pink, cream, and light grey.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Hear what the person is saying. Remember it's often not about you. Give them the benefit of the doubt. Call the person out. Prove that you are capable.

Answer: Some people are just condescending. They don't necessarily mean to be, but it may come across to you like they're treating you like a child or a novice in the field. One way to combat this type of person is to actually listen to what they're saying, as well as listen to what's under the words.  Listening to what the other person is trying to convey and then helping them know that you've truly heard that can open the door to more fruitful conversations. One way you can show you're listening is to ask insightful questions that are relevant to what the other person is saying. You can also nod and use your body language to show you are hearing what the other person is saying. In many cases, any advice they may be giving you or the way they treat you may be about them. In other words, the things they say to you in a patronizing tone are really meant for themselves. When you find you're being treated like a child, try to take a step back. Take a deep breath and ask yourself if what they're saying has some merit or if it's more about the other person's strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes, tone is hard to convey, especially in an email or text message. If you feel like someone is being condescending, consider whether it could be taken another way. If it can, maybe let it slide this time. Try to push for communication in person. That way, you're less likely to misinterpret the person's tone. At work, this step can be tricky, but if the person you're communicating with is generally amenable, you can give it a try. The person may not even be aware that they are doing it, so calling them out gives them a chance to fix their actions.  Be polite and unemotional. Address what you think the issue is without trying to blame the other person. For example, you could say, "I appreciate you explaining that to me, but I already know how to do it." Another way you could confront the issue is to say, "I don't like wasting time, and since I already know how to do that, can we move on?" or "Thanks for the email. You've explained that to me in the past, so I understand perfectly." Another way to move past people who treat you like a child is to prove your maturity. In a job, that means proving that you are one hundred percent capable of getting the job done well and on time. In other situations, it may just mean ignoring the person treating you badly and then dealing with the task at hand.  That means learning the skills you need to learn, even if you must put in extra hours. It also means being on time to work and being on time when turning in your work. In other situations, such as volunteer situations or at school meetings for you kid, you may need to just ignore the person and do what you need to do.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Turn off the water and empty the water out of the tank. Locate the bolts in the tank that connect the tank to the bowl. Use an adjustable wrench and screwdriver to tighten these bolts. Refill the tank and check for leaks coming from the bolts.

Answer:
Turn the water supply valve behind the toilet clockwise to turn off the water supply. Once the water’s been turned off, flush the toilet to empty out the tank. You can also use a cup or a shop vac to get the water out of the tank. These are the 2 or 3 bolt heads surrounding the flapper in the bottom of the tank. You’ll recognize the bolts by the rubber washers underneath them. Use a flathead screwdriver to hold the bolts in place. Then, with the adjustable wrench, turn the bolts clockwise underneath the tank to tighten them. Tightening the bolts should prevent water from seeping out from underneath the tank. Turn the water supply back on to allow the tank to refill. Wait a few minutes, then look underneath the tank to see if it’s still leaking. If there’s no more leak, the gasket has been fixed. If there is still a leak, the washers underneath the bolts in the tank will need to be replaced.