Each time Chinese New Year is approaching, preparations are underway around the world. Here are some Chinatowns for those outside of China wishing to mark the day.

London

Although it may not be as large or as long-built as others, having only become a center for the Chinese community during the 1950s, London’s Chinatown is perfectly formed little firework that knows how to see in the year with a bang. Decorated with red lanterns, previous years have seen shows with acrobatics（杂技）, martial arts（武术）,dance and opera nearby.

San Francisco

San Francisco’s Chinatown is perhaps the most famous in the United States. The city was the main entry-point for Chinese who had crossed the Pacific to the USA during the early 19th century. Between the Grant Avenue and the Stockton Street, this historic area is a local treasure, attracting more visitors per year than the Golden Gate Bridge.

Bangkok

With an about 100-year-old history, the Thai capital’s Chinatown contains complex streets offering all kinds of tasty treats, clothes, toys and antiques. Sunday market days are such a good time to get the full atmosphere of the neighborhood. The area is also known for its gold dealers, whose shops line the road.

Mauritius

Found in Port Louis, this Mauritian Chinatown shows the island nation’s rich multicultural diversity. Established in the early years of the 20^th century by settlers from China, its tiny shops and restaurants serve locals and visitors. During the Chinese Spring Festival, the most exciting sight is the Dragon Dances on Rue Royale when Chinese musicians and dancers perform the traditional lion dances through the streets.

Vincent Willem van Gogh is a great Dutch painter. In 2017 one of his paintings was sold for $81 million. 2021 seemed to be Vincent Willem van Gogh’s year. There were at least five different exhibits in nearly 40 U. S. cities regarding his works. It’s very surprising to know he sold only a few paintings in his lifetime, for only little profit (利润). How did this now-famous painter fail to escape attention after his death? It was probably thanks to a woman.

Six months after Van Gogh died, his beloved brother Theo passed away, who had expected to make his brother’s works well-known. Fortunately, Theo’s wife Johanna van Gogh-Bonge, as an English teacher at two different girls’ schools before her marriage, was left with their son and a sizable art collection. She decided to help Tneo’s wishes come true. “During her lifetime, she devoted herself to making people know more about Vincent’s art,” says Luijten, the author of Johanna’s lifetime story.

Johanna tried all her best to improve Van Gogh’s name. To do this, she chose some of his works to sell and encouraged writers and art critics to write about his paintings though she was refused many times. Johanna didn’t lose heart. She lent some pieces to well-known museums and organized countless exhibitions. “One of Johanna’s major achievements was the organization of an exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum in 1905, where she collected no less than 484 of Van Gogh’s works. A Van Gogh exhibition of this size would never again be matched,” Luijten explains. Another particular move happened in 1914 when Johanna published Van Gogh’s letters. Theo had kept hundreds of letters. “This was of great importance, as following the publication of the letters, the appreciation of Van Gogh as an artist increased further,” says Luijten.

“There’s little doubt that although Van Gogh was great, he wouldn’t be remembered to the level seen today without the influence of Johanna.” said Luijten.

All parents know that young children are always energetic, eager to run, jump and play. Turning that natural energy into competitive sports can help keep kids active and healthy as they grow. Competitive sports such as soccer， track， basketball and swimming can also help kids learn important life lessons about teamwork and fair play.     12     .

Learning How to Compete

Joining in sports teaches children and teenagers how to compete in the real world. As they grow older, they'll face competition in school, in the workforce and other areas of life. But these competitions don't have to be negative（负面的）or unhealthy.     13     .

Understanding the Value of Exercise

    14       .In addition，many children who are active in sports are encouraged to eat healthier foods，such as fruits and vegetables.

Improving Self-respect

Improved self-respect is another benefit of competitive youth sports.    15     . Even when he doesn't win, he can learn a valuable lesson: that you can't win every time.

Losing with his team can also increase self-esteem, as he learns to hold his head high and feel proud for trying his best.

    16    

Youth sports can help stop negative behavior, such as joining a gang（帮派）, because competitive sports provide a way of expressing their energy, friendship and controlled attacking behaviour. Teens who have positive influences and friends feel less of a need to join in risky behaviors.

Different cultures communicate in very different ways. In Asia, people use lots of body language, facial expressions, and silence     32     (express) meaning. For instance, in Japan, it might be     33     (normal) viewed as rude to directly object to a statement. However, in the West, speaking directly is not only normal but valued. People place     34     (much) focus on the actual words being used than on cues (暗示) of body language.

Additionally, in China, it is common for someone to smile when they don’t understand something. This could be     35     (confuse) for a Westerner who might think this means the listener understands and agrees with     36     is being said.

Another communicative feature     37     is viewed differently across the world is interruptions (插嘴). In many     38     (part) of the West, interrupting another person when they are speaking is considered to be rude. However, in some African and Latin American countries, it is viewed as a means to join and actively participate in the conversation.

Even within     39     same continent (洲), cultures can vary from country to country. For example, in the UK, it is very common to say “please” and “thank you” to someone     40     (serve) you in a shop or restaurant, but in Spain, these expressions     41    (hear) much less often and are reserved more for requesting or receiving kindness.