Like other big cities, Paris has also a traffic problem: lots of cars, traffic jams and traffic pollution. So since 2007, the city     1    (start) a plan to improve the situation.

Under a project, people can take a bicycle, use it as long as they want, and then leave it at the same or another bicycle station. The first half-hour is free,     2     if you don’t return it after 30 minutes, you have to pay. It’s only $1 or $29 a year. The bicycles are as heavy as 25 kilograms, and they’re all grey and have baskets. There’re a large number of     3    (they) in the city, and the bicycle stations are more than the subway stations!

Paris isn’t the first city to operate a project like this. One Parisian said, “These bicycles are only suitable for short     4    (journey). If people want to travel across the city, they won’t use a bicycle — they’ll still use their cars.”

A city spokesman said, “The bicycle project won’t solve all our traffic problems, but it might work in     5    (reduce) air pollution. Traffic, together with factory fumes,     6    (be) a big problem. Everyone knows about global warming and dramatic climate changes — we know this is partly because rainforests are     7    (gradual) disappearing. And it’s also because there’s so much pollution. There aren’t any simple answers     8     traffic problems and pollution in cities, but the bicycles might help people lead     9     healthier life. Unless we do something now, there’ll be more traffic jams and temperatures will continue to rise, so the problems in our environment will get even     10    (bad).”

China’s ancient civilisation has continued into modern times, despite the many ups and downs in its history. One of the main factors     1    (be) the Chinese writing system.

    2     (date) back several thousand years to longgu, the Chinese writing system was a picture-based language. At that time, people carved some symbols on animal bones and shells. By the Shang Dynasty, it     3     (become) a highly developed system. Later, there was a time when the Chinese people were divided     4     (geographical), leading to many     5    (vary) of dialects and characters. The Chinese writing system began to develop     6     one direction from the Qin Dynasty, when Emperor Qinshihuang united the seven major states into one unified country.

The writing system is not only of great     7     (important) in uniting the Chinese people and culture, but also an important way in which China’s present is connected with its past. Today, we can read the classic works which     8    (write) by Chinese in ancient times. Now, Chinese calligraphy, as    9    art form, has become an important part of Chinese culture.

With China playing a greater role in global affairs, an increasing number of international students are beginning to learn Chinese     10     (appreciate) China’s culture and history.

【推荐3】The Silk Road is in fact     1     relatively recent term. These ancient roads had no particular name until in the mid - nineteenth century; Baron Ferdinand von Richthoften named the trade and communication network the Silk Road. Since then the term     2     （accept）globally.

In the nineteenth century, a new type of travelers stepped onto the Silk Road: archaeologists and geographers, enthusiastic explorers who were eager     3    （look）for adventure.

Researchers who came from many countries traveled through the Taklamakan Desert,     4     is now in Xinjiang, to explore ancient sites along the Silk Road,     5    （lead）to many discoveries and studies, and most of all, a renewed interest     6    the history of these routes.

Today, many historic     7    （build） and monuments still stand, marking the passage of the Silk Road through hotels, ports and cities. What’s more, the long - standing legacy （遗产） of this     8     （remark）network is reflected in a large number of cultures, languages, customs and religions that have developed for many years along these routes. The passage of merchants and travelers of many different nationalities resulted not only in commercial exchange     9     in a widespread and continual process of cultural interaction.     10    （obvious）, it has become a driving force in the formation（形成）of diverse societies.