【推荐1】Chinese communities around the world welcomed the Year of the Pig     1     February 5th. Celebrations took place across the globe, ranging from Southeast Asia’s centuries-old Chinese communities to the more recently     2     (establish) Chinatowns. In the streets of several European     3     (city), performances of dragon dances and lion dances drew huge crowds of people. Celebrations in London are expected     4     (last) a month with series of activities,     5     is the biggest Chinese New Year celebration outside Asia.

The annual Water Splashing Festival of the Dai ethnic minority falls during the New Year period of the Dai Calendar. It is the most important festival    1     (observe) by the Dai ethnic people of Xishuangbanna Prefecture.

The festival lasts for three days . The first two days'    2    ( activity ) are concentrated on the banks of the Lancang River. On the first day, a grand    3    (celebrate) marks the beginning of the festival.

An outdoor market is set up    4    locals go for New Year shopping . Artists create sand carvings on open space close to the market. A dragon boat race    5     (hold) on Lancang River     6     (ring) out the old year in the afternoon. At night, the banks of the river are    7     (colorful) lit, and locals float river lanterns on the river.

The third day, the climax of the festival, is reserved for water splashing. On that day, the Dai put on their    8     (new) and best clothes , and then assemble at the local temple . Water is regarded by the Dai as a symbol of goodwill among people . Therefore , splashing a fellow human being with water during the Water Splashing Festival ,    9    a close neighbor or a fellow villager , or even a stranger , is    10    expression of the desire for good luck and prosperity to that person.

【推荐1】Winter break was fast approaching. All Scott wanted to do was to go snowboarding.     1     (fortunately), Scott’s parents had different plans. They had booked a weeklong trip to Hawaii. Scott hated warm weather and asked     2     he could just stay at his best friend’s house so that he could snowboard every day. His parents didn’t want to hear anything of it. He kept     3     (debate) with them about the topic, but they would not change their minds. Family time was important to them, and it was a tradition that they spent winter break together.

My time here in China is going well. I love my new school and     1     (classmate). Over the October holiday,     2     (I) parents and I are planning to go to Xi’an to see the Terracotta Army. I’ve heard that it is     3     amazing sight, and I can’t wait to go. To me, the story of the Terracotta Army     4     (be) almost unbelievable. It’s wonderful that there are more than 8,000 statues, and no one in modern times     5     (know) about them until the 1970s.

We’re also planning     6     (visit) several other places in Xi’an. My dad and I are both looking forward to     7     (go) to the Shaanxi History Museum because my dad loves history and I have heard that this museum is known     8     a “Chinese treasure house”! We’re also going to the Xi’an City Wall     9     a few other famous sights.

We’re taking the train, leaving the day before the October holiday begins. We’re arriving at 9: 30 a. m. and will start sightseeing right away, so I     10     (real) hope that we sleep well on the train!

I guess that’s all for now! I’ll write again soon and send photos! Do you have any plans for the coming holiday? Hope to hear from you soon.

Your friend,

Richard

It was the first time that I     1    (visit）Yunnan. My sister Wang Wei and I were very     2    (interest) in cycling. We bought expensive mountain bikes and dreamed of     3    (take）a great bike trip one day. Last year ,Wang Wei went to Kunming to visit our cousins. Perhaps it was then     4     my sister first had the idea of cycling along the whole Mekong River. After graduating from college, my sister made up her mind     5    (plan) our schedule for this great trip.

However, I was a little worried, because the river begins in Qinghai Province at     6    altitude of more than 5000 meters, where the air is thin and it is hard to breathe. But Wang Wei had decided it,     7    (say) that the trip would be very interesting and exciting. I knew how stubborn my sister was and     8    (final) I had to give in. During the following months, we prepared     9    (our）for the trip. Having had a detailed knowledge     10    the great river, we felt ready for the great trip.