The first English version of the famous martial arts novel, “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” (《射雕英雄传》)     1     (schedule) to come out in the UK next year.    2     almost every Chinese person knows, the novel was written by Louis Cha, better known by his pen name, Jin Yong. London-based MacLehose Press has confirmed that the novel will come out in 12 volumes (册) with the first     3     (set) to come out on Feb. 22.

In the publisher’s promotional     4     (introduce) of the “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” the series was referred to as a Chinese version of “Game of thrones” (《权利的游戏》). The first volume has been translated by Anna Holmwood, an English publishing agent     5     (work) together with many famous Chinese writers, such as Yu Hua, and Yan Ge. Holmwood have been translating “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” since 2012, and from the second volume onwards she invited Gigi Chang to help her     6     the translation.

Louis Cha is China’s most influential martial arts author with     7     total of 15 novels. Since the 1950s. about 100 million     8     (copy) of his works have been sold around the world. But only three of them     9     （translate）for the English-speaking world so far. They are “Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain”, “The Deer and the Cauldron” and “The Book and the Sword”, Louis Cha is widely recognized as one of the most     10     (success) authors in China.

4 . Here are a few of our favorite entries so far in our “Your Life: The Reader’s Digest Version” contest. After reading these, head over to Facebook and submit your own story about a special moment or lesson that shaped your life.

“There will Always Be a John” —By Darla Boyd.

During my first year of teaching, there was a kid named John in my class. John was difficult to control and he nearly drove me crazy. While talking about him one day, an old teacher put his hand on my shoulder and said, “There will always be a John. Your job is to learn, to discover what make him different and help him grow better.” The next year, there was indeed another John. In the last 20 years, I’ve learned to enjoy all the kids like John. That advice taught me that there is something to appreciate in everyone.

“An Early Key Lesson” —By Elaine West.

Before I began my first teaching job, my mother, a teacher of 30 years, gave me a very special gift, five simple words that have had an effect on my entire life: “Make friends with the janitor.” Her wisdom taught me the respect for all types of characters and continue to enrich my life to this day. Just five little words, but what an effect they can have when you take them to heart!

“Raising Mommy” —By Jan Davis.

Being a mother can always present challenges and rewards. Someone told me early in my parenting career that “Children will teach you everything you need to know”. Being a mother is being raised. Our children become our adviser. Their dreams become our professors, as we are taking notes carefully. The sounds of their laughter and smiles on their faces are a great reward to us or bring us great joy. Their tears remind us that it is okay to fail, wipe the tears away and try again.

For thousands of years, people have told fables (寓言) in     1     attempt to teach a lesson or to pass on wisdom. Fables were part of the oral tradition of many early cultures with the well-known Aesop’s fables     2    (date) to the sixth century, B.C. Yet, the form of the fable still has values today, as Rachel Carson says in “A Fable for Tomorrow.”

Carson uses a simple, direct style common to fable. In fact, her style, as well as tone (口吻), seemingly     3    (satisfy) the children. “There was once a town in the heart of America, where all life seemed     4    (enjoy) peaceful co-existence with is surroundings.” Her fable begins, with some familiar words    5     (adapt) from many age-old fables. Behind the simple style, however, is a serious message intended for everyone.

Different from traditional    6    (approach), Carson’s story ends with an accusation instead of a moral. She reminds people     7    the environmental dangers facing society, and she delivers the lesson     8     people must take responsibility for saving their environment.

The themes of traditional fables often deal with simple truths about everyday life. However, Cason’s theme is a more weighty warning about environmental destruction.     9    is likely that a simple lyric form that has been passed down through the ages can still be     10    (benefit) today to draw attention to important truths.

Yours，

Li Hua

The animated film Chang An has become a surprise hit, earning     1     impressive 600 million yuan at the box office of the Chinese mainland within just ten days of its release. It has appealed to audiences of all ages, who     2    (enthusiastic) recite poetry alongside the characters on screen, taking them on a fantastic journey. This film not only identifies with the Chinese people but also allows the world     3    (explore) the rich tradition of Tang poetry and the “Chinese Poetry Universe.”

The story centers around the deep friendship between poet Gao Shi and the romantic poet Li Bai, offering a brief look into the glorious history of the Tang era,     4     is known for its economic prosperity and cultural advancement. The 48 Tang poems     5    (feature) in the movie present a view of the most excellent poets of that time as well as their political ambitions and ideals. These poems transport audiences     6     sandy deserts to mist-filled regions along the Yangtze River.

Chang An is undoubtedly a masterpiece that shows the unique     7    (characteristic) of Chinese culture to the world. In China, poets and their poems     8    (consider) national treasures. These poems describe not only the historical changes of a dynasty, but also     9    (people) understanding of the world. The film has raised the audiences’ awareness and enhanced their love and     10    (believe) in Chinese culture.

10 . Why do we read poetry? First obvious one: because we enjoy it.     1    But that's not why this is here.

Many of us read poetry simply because we often feel depressed and hopelessly lost, and in poetry we see how beautiful and strange everything is.     2    

There are many different kinds of poems. They are not all calming. Some poems make me anxious, angry, scared, and sad, which is why I value them.    3    I want the sweet and the bitter. Often, I read poetry when I'm already relaxed. In fact, I read more when I'm not stressed out.

Here are the main reasons I respond to poetry, as far as I can tell.     4    Usually, this is done by setting up a rhythm and then violating it or almost violating it. And then returning to it again. This satisfies my desire for order and also my desire for testing boundaries.

Poetry plays with language. It often slams words together in surprising ways, which is thrilling the way food can be when the chef has paired ingredients you never thought would taste good together but somehow do.

    5    Words mean two or three things at once and lots of suggestions are packed between the lines. This is intellectually inspiring and it allows me to read the same poem over and over, always finding new things in it.

And, of course, there's the subject matter. It interests me just as it would if the same subject was explored in a story or essay. Not all poems interest me in this way, but then not all stories and essays do, either.