Many people cherish the magic of Father Christmas. That is the reason     1     Letters from Father Christmas could be the perfect book for those who regard Christmas     2     a special time of year. The man who wrote these letters is one of the     3    (famous) names in English literature — J.R.R. Tolkien.

Every Christmas, an envelope with a North Pole stamp     4    (address) to Tolkien’s children. Each letter took Tolkien a long time     5    (complete). The letters told wonderful stories about Father Christmas’s life and adventures at the North Pole. The letters did, however, change as Tolkien’s children got     6    (old). The book tells us that as well as     7    (enjoy) the adventures of Father Christmas, Polar Bear and other     8    (character) at the North Pole, we can all share the true spirit of     9    (give) at Christmas time. By expressing love for his children     10     such a special way, Tolkien may indeed have been the real Father Christmas.

Poetry is never far away from our daily life. Many of us grew up reciting classic poems, learning to enjoy this beautiful art form that’s able to use just a few lines     1    (convey) such rich meanings. 

The Shijing, which dates back to the Western Zhou, has a     2    (long) history than the Homeric epics. Even today, classic poems     3    (appreciate) by a lot of people. 

To recognize the unique     4    (able) of poetry and capture its creative spirit, World Poetry Day is decided by the United Nations on March 21 each year to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression. 

The Chinese Poetry Congress featuring classic poetry is     5    (extreme) popular. The competition saw over 100 hopeful participants taking part in     6    number of challenges. The participants,     7    ages range from 7 to 70, including students, farmers, teachers and foreign competitors have an interest     8    Chinese literature. 

And even TV series involving poetry are very     9    (success). For example, in Empresses in the Palace, one of its most moving songs was adapted from a poem     10    (write) by Wen Tingyun of the Tang Dynasty.

How to read a poem

Poetry is a combination of "sound" and "sense". More than any other type of literature, it usually implies a deeper meaning     1     the words on the page. So, how to reveal this hidden dimension?

First, follow your ears. While you may ask "What does it mean?" as you begin reading a poem, it is     2     (good) to ask "How does it sound?" Even if its true meaning appears to be your grasp, you can always say something about     3     the poem sounds when you read it aloud.

Second, approach the poem as if you     4     (be) an explorer in an unfamiliar landscape. As you explore the poem, you will begin to see images in your mind. As you     5     (slow) explore your surroundings, you will start to dig up clues that give you     6     greater understanding of the poem.

Third, if you are still struggling     7    (interpret) the meaning of a poem even with much painstaking effort, just have some patience. You cannot really understand a poem that you have only read once.

Finally, remember that you do not have to fully understand a poem to appreciate     8    . You might need to abandon logical thinking to discover its true inner beauty.

Poetry's combination of "sound" and "sense"     9     (make) you see the world in a new way and allows you to go beyond normal     10     (real) for the everlasting beauty.