Article: Before you get a ferret, you will need to spend a great deal of time setting up. You will have to run many errands gathering supplies, and then take an afternoon to assemble them in your home. In the event you move, you will have to repeat the process. Be honest with yourself about whether you have time for ferret proofing.  You will have to fill in any holes or gaps in furniture or walls, ferrets love to crawl and hide in such areas. You will also have to hide heavier objects, like stereos and speakers, in cupboards. Ferrets love to climb, and can knock such objects over and get hurt.  Staircases need to be blocked off, and household furniture made of products like wood will need protection. Ferrets will chew such objects. Cleaning and upkeep of your home will be more timely when you have a ferret. Ferrets will chew almost anything, and can get hurt if they chew or swallow the wrong object. Therefore, you will have to keep your home very clean if you're housing a ferret. Ferrets are social animals. They will not be happy if they don't have time to play with a human companion. A ferret is, by no means, a hands off pet, so make sure you can dedicate adequate time to playing with your ferret.  Ferrets do sleep a lot. They tend to be sleeping for about 18 hours a day. However, during times when they are awake, they are very active and need a lot of stimulation. Do not leave a ferret in a shelter or cage for the entire day. You will need to spend several hours a day playing with your ferret to keep it healthy and happy. Litter training is important for a ferret, as you don't want a ferret having accidents around the home. Also, ferrets must be taught proper behavior. You will need to dedicate time to training your ferret not to bite and scratch. Ferrets are intelligent and highly trainable. However, like any animal, training takes time and persistence. You will have to train your ferret over the course of several weeks, and always punish negative behaviors like biting. This can be time consuming, so you should not adopt a ferret if you don't feel you have time to train it. Ferrets have a litter box that must be changed daily, like a cat's litter box. You will also need to periodically clean their cage. While these are small chores that do not usually take long, keep them in mind when thinking about time. Every core needed to keep a ferret adds up, and you should not adopt a pet unless you can commit to all aspects of its care. This is especially important if you're purchasing a younger ferret. Ferrets don't live as long as some pets, like smaller dogs and cats, but their lifespan is not brief. Ferrets live between 6 to 10 years. You do not want to adopt a ferret if you will potentially have to give it up in a few years.  Think about the stability of your living situation. If you're going to be moving from year to year, it can be difficult to find places that allow ferrets. Unlike dogs and cats, there may be specific rules against ferrets or similar animals in certain places due to their odor. Consider other factors. Are you going to start a new career, finish a school program, travel, or make any other big changes? If so, it may be difficult to keep your ferret in the long term. If you want a ferret, but worry your life is too unsettled, you can always consider adopting an older ferret rather than a baby.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Think about the time commitment of ferret-proofing your home. See if you have enough time to play with a ferret. Remember that ferrets require training. Keep cleaning time in mind. Remember a ferret's lifespan.
Article: People can't get to know you if you never say anything. Don't be afraid to introduce yourself or speak up in class or meetings. Start by saying hello to the people near you in class before the bell rings. You could say, "Hi, I'm Jess. I'm excited about it being the first day of school, but I'm a little nervous, too. What about you?" When you find people you like, ask if you can join them. For instance, say you see someone at lunch that you have a class with. Ask if you can sit with them. For instance, you could say, "Hey, we have math together, right? Do you mind if I sit here?" People like hearing nice things about themselves. When you give someone a compliment, it opens the door for conversation. It makes them feel good, and it will make you feel good, too. The best compliments are specific. For example, rather than saying, "I think you're smart," you could say, "It's amazing how quickly you pick up what Mr. Roberts is saying in math. It's like you're a math wizard!" One way to start turning people into friends is to learn about the person. That is, get him or her to talk about themselves. People like to talk about themselves, so asking them questions can get them talking. For instance, ask about their favorite school subjects or what they like to do outside of school. As an example, you could ask, "So what do you like to do for fun?" or "Do you have a favorite video game?" One tried-and-true way to make friends is to be nice to people. You like it when people are nice to you, right? Well, so does everyone else. Try bringing a treat to share with a new friend or helping someone pick up their books in the hallway when they drop them. These little acts of kindness go a long way to helping you to make friends and belong. Just like you want to fit in, so do other people. It can be tempting to exclude people who aren't like you, but then you're doing the thing you're trying to avoid from other people. In other words, you're making the problem worse. No one's perfect. You have to accept people as they are. That doesn't mean you need to be friends with people who are mean to you or who bully you. Rather, it means that you shouldn't try to exclude someone from being your friend just because you think he or she is a little weird.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Introduce yourself. Try to hang out with people you like. Tell people what you like about them. Talk to other teens. Show kindness. Welcome other people as they are.
Article: If you don’t have a hose at home, go to a local carwash and use theirs. Spray down the surface of all your tires. If you notice any tough dirt spots, move the hose closer to the tire so the stream of water is more powerful. Use a store-bought cleaner designed specifically for rubber tires. You can make your own using water, a few drops of dish soap, and a spray bottle. Spray all over the surface of your tires so they’re completely covered with the cleaning mixture. Don’t worry if you get some cleaner on the rims. If you don’t have a spray bottle, mix your cleaning solution in a bucket and apply it with a rag. Bring the brush back and forth over surface of the tires. Press firmly over any dirt or grime patches so they come off. If the bristles of the brush accumulate a lot of dirt, rinse the brush off. Microfiber towels are better at picking up particles than regular towels, but you can use a regular towel if that’s all you have. Wipe the towel over the whole surface of your tires to remove any leftover cleaner and pick up lingering dirt and grime. When you’re finished, your tires should be nearly dry.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Rinse off caked-on dirt on your tires using a hose. Spray the surface of your tires with a cleaner. Use a hard-bristled scrub brush to brush the cleaner into your tires. Wipe down your tires with a dry microfiber towel.