1 . Chinese singer Gong Linna released her new song, titled Return Home, which describes the overseas Chinese people’s longing for their homeland.

Performed in Chaoshan dialect, the song is part of Gong’s music project, which has the singer perform songs in different Chinese dialects. “It is very challenging to sing in Chaoshan dialect, which is a new language to me, and thanks to the songwriter Danny Sim and the song’s producer Wesley Tan, who speak the dialect, I received intensive training and practised very hard,” says Gong. “The beauty of dialects lies in telling stories of different places. It’s like a music al map, allowing me to explore different places through dialects.”

The idea of the song came from Qiaopi, a unique form of mail that served as both a letter and a remittance (汇款) sent by overseas Chinese people to their families in provinces of Guangdong and Fujian in the 19th and 20th centuries. At that time, many of those emigrants, particularly from Guangdong and Fujian, sent money back home to support their families, as well as communicating with their beloved ones and expressing their longing to be reunited.

“Dialects are a source of knowledge, traditions and the country’s cultural heritage. When I listen to a song performed in a dialect, I feel the local culture instantly even though I never go there and know nothing about the place,” says Sim, who wrote lyrics for the song, adding that there are a growing number of musicians in China performing in dialects, which allow listeners to get an emotional touch.

“Chaoshan dialect links people from the region. However, like many languages, it’s dying. Many young people, especially children, rarely speak the dialect, which is a sad thing.” Sim says, explaining why he is keen on writing songs by using the dialect, “I love my hometown and by writing songs in the dialect, I feel close to my home. Maybe that is, culture identity.”

Over the past month, Jiang Kedong has amassed (积累) over 2.7 million followers on Douyin, China's version of TikTok. The 38-year- old is better known as "Bingcheng Zuoyouge" or "Brother Left and Right in Ice City", and has transitioned from being a local entertainer to a widely recognized Internet celebrity, whose fame has coincided (相符) with the tourism boom this winter in Harbin, Heilongjiang province.

2012 was the year     1     Jiang became host of the Dream Stage at Harbin Ice and Snow World, which is celebrating its 25th year of operation this year. His famous "Rabbit Danc"; marked by its playful left and right foot movements, has captured his followers' hearts with its catchy simplicity. "In the winter, temperatures can get to as low as -30℃ in Harbin," he said. "My original     2     (intend) was to help tourists feel warmer in a world of ice and snow by following our instructions and pace to join the game in an     3     (order) manner."

In 2017, Jiang began posting some short dance videos on the Internet and livestreaming (网络直播) his performances at the park. His humorous style made the videos popular, and by the beginning of 2019, he had amassed 600,000 followers on Douyin.

"The popularity of Harbin is no accident. Since the beginning of 2023, we     4    (promote) Heilon giang in a multidimensional way on new media platforms, establishing numerous     5     (destination) considered by netizens     6     (be) must-visit attractions," He Jing, director of Heilongjiang's culture and tourism department, told China Central Television. "Moreover, we are also paying more attention to comments     7     (make) on online videos. "We will do our best to meet tourists' needs." she said." Some visitors said it would be better if the moon was shining when they took photos at Saint Sophia Cathedral.    8     (subsequent), we sent a drone to lift an artificial moon over the landmark. Others said it was too cold in Harbin, so we immediately built a number of small prefabricated (预制构件的) houses to warm them up. "All these details can make tourists feel comfortable and respected, and they post news of them on the Internet, receiving     9     warm response," she said. The local tourism department is also focusing on new media platforms, which play an important role     10     the development of the tourist industry.

4 . During the 19th and 20th centuries, Qi Baishi (1864-1957) was one of the best-known Chinese artists. He grew up in a poor peasant family, but this did not prevent him from pursuing his interest in painting.

Qi was schooled for less than a year due to illness, and he dropped out of school. However, he was too weak to do much of the work and this was why he became a carpenter. As a carpenter, he showed his creativity. He could carve figures of animals, woodblock prints, and sniff-boxes. At the age of 20, he taught himself to paint with Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting. He met many mentors who greatly influenced his painting skills through his painting journey, among whom are the renowned artists Zhu Da and Xu Wei. When he was 28, he became a student of the famous artist Hu Qinyuan, and he began to study Chinese painting.

Qi arrived in Beijing in 1917. While he was in Beijing, he stayed devoted to painting. Most of his paintings represented Chinese tradition. Qi’s works are now found in several famous museums, including National Gallery Prague and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. His works now are the most expensive ever sold at auctions.

Qi got noticed by many institutions, one of which is the Ministry of Culture. In 1954 he was selected as the representative of the Chinese people. Also, in 1956, he was awarded the World Peace Prize by World Peace Council. A college was also named after him, the Baishi School of Art in Hunan University of Science Technology.

Tu You you,     1     84 year-old scientist, became the first female Chinese     2     (win) a Nobel Prize in science on Oct, 5. She was born     3     30 December, 1930 in Zhejiang Province. In 1969, she     4     (choose) to establish a team to find a cure for malaria, but the lab     5     they worked in had poor air quality.

She first tried the medicine on herself, because she     6     (want) to make sure that it was safe. “As the head of the group, I had the responsibility.” The scientist spoke to CCTV about her work. Artemisinin is a gift for the world people. It has saved many people’s     7     (life). It comes from Chinese traditional medicine and now is a good way to treat malaria. Tu Youyou     8     (expect) Chinese medicine to help more people all over the world.

We can learn a lot from Tu Youyou. We should do something useful for people. If we want to be     9     (success), we should keep on     10     (work) hard with our group and never give up.

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, with the development of production, astronomy attained many achievements. The Ganshi Star Classic,     1    (write) between 375-350 BC, is the earliest astronomical work in the world. 

Gan De and Shi Shen respectively conducted astronomical observations in their own aspects     2     published their works to the world. They had     3     (systematic) observed the movements of the five planets, namely, gold, wood, water, fire and earth, and had     4     grasp of the laws of the movements of these planets for the first time. They recorded the names of 800 stars, and determined the positions of 121. Later     5    (generation)called the records of Gan De and Shi Shen’s determination of stars ”Ganshi Star Classic“. The Ganshi Star Classic is the earliest star table in the world, about 200 years earlier than the first     6     (Europe) star table created by a Greek astronomer. To date, their achievements     7     (recognise) internationally. Shi Shen was referred to     8    one of the outstanding contributors to world astronomy, after     9     the largest crater (环形山) on the back of the moon was named. Many later astronomers use the data in the ”Ganshi Star Classic“ when     10     (measure) the position and motion of the sun, moon and planets. Therefore, the ”Ganshi Star Classic“ occupies an important position in the history of astronomy in China and the world.

7 . Serena Williams and Ruby Bridges will be chosen into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in March next year. The American organization in Seneca Falls, New York made the announcement Thursday.

The tennis superstar and the human rights leader were added to the list to be honored during Women’s History Month in March. Eight other winners were announced in the spring.

The 42-year-old Williams has won main events in tennis, called Grand Slam events, 23 times. She holds the record for the longest ranking (排名) as the top competitor. She retired from tennis last year. Earlier this month, Williams became the first athlete to win the Fashion Icon award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

The 69-year-old Bridges was six years old when she became the first black student at a Louisiana public school, where non-whites had been refused. The event took place in 1960. In 1963, painter Norman Rockwell recreated the event in his painting, The Problem We All Live With. Bridges built the Ruby Bridges Foundation in 1999. It offers educational programs and resources to guide and support the younger toward a peaceful future.

For the first time, the ceremony (典礼) will be broadcast (播出) nationally in the best time from New York City, the Hall of Fame said. The past 30 ceremonies have taken place in places around Seneca Falls, New York. The town was the site of the first Women’s Rights Convention and is home to the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

“The 2024 new numbers are scientists, activists, performers, and athletes who are changemakers of today and inspiration for the women of tomorrow,” said National Women’s Hall of Fame leader, Jennifer Gabriel.

The American public chooses women to be considered for the Hall of Fame. A group of experts examines them and makes the final decision.