Scientists in Japan have developed electric chopsticks    1    are designed to help people cut down on salt.     2    human bodies need salt, many people eat far too much of it, which is unhealthy. The special chopsticks use a tiny bit of electricity to make food seem    3    (salty) than it is.

Kirin, a Japanese company that    4    (sell) foods and drinks, worked with researchers at Miyashita Laboratory to develop the chopsticks. The chopsticks have a battery pack that can be worn on the wrist. When the tips of the chopsticks    5    (put) in the mouth, a very light electric current (电流)-too small to be felt as a shock-changes the way the tongue tastes certain chemicals.

Experiments showed that    6    the chopsticks, food could have up to 30% less salt and still taste just as salty. So far Kirin hasn’t made plans to sell the chopsticks, but it is looking into    7    (way) the technology could be used with other eating tools, including spoons.

The electric chopsticks may have particular relevance (相关性) in Japan, where the    8    (tradition) diet prefers salty tastes. The average Japanese adult uses about 10 grams of salt per day, double the standard suggested by the World Health Organization.

Too much salt intake is related to increased chance of high blood pressure, stroke and other diseases. “    9    (prevent) these diseases, we need to reduce the salt we take,” said Kirin Miyashita and Kirin are improving    10    (they) chopstick design and they hope to commercialize (商业化) them as early as next year.

Some designers on an island in southern Japan have tried to put regenerative architecture (再生式建筑) into effect. It’s the idea that houses can     1     (build) in such a way that they support and benefit the environment where they stand.

    2     (situate) on Yakushima Island, the project, which is called Sumu, is surrounded by mountains and a river that runs into the nearby ocean. Therefore, the designers     3     (want) to show nature in the build as much as possible. With this in mind, they started with wood     4     was produced from the local trees.

The buildings themselves were     5     (careful) placed to offer benefits to the nearby water and ongoing air flow. Buildings were designed around existing trees and are lifted     6     (reduce) their effect on the building site. They took full advantage of the surrounding views to encourage a     7     (connect) with nature. This idea is also shown with outdoor walkways between sleeping bedrooms     8     the common areas.

Moreover, Sumu is powered by renewable energy. It’s equipped with solar power and relies on local firewood     9     heat. Green design elements give some tips on how to save energy through     10     tight envelope and strong insulation (绝缘体).

Chinese acrobatic (杂技) dates back to the Neolithic, when ancient people developed it from daily life for enjoyment and celebration. The use of daily items such as tables, chairs, bowls and plates     1     (be) common in their performances. By the time of the Han Dynasty, the art of acrobatics     2     (achieve) great progress in both content and variety. There were wonderful acrobatic performances     3     background music on the stage. During the Tang Dynasty, the number of acrobats greatly increased and their skills improved a great deal.

    4     (regard) as part of the national heritage, Chinese acrobatics features the ability     5     (maintain) balance in performance movements. For example,     6     experienced acrobat can walk on 3-meter-high poles while juggling 7 bowls. Acrobats can act like fish swimming     7     (smooth) in the water, birds flying through trees and butterflies dancing among flowers, showcasing wonderful skills     8     require years of hard training. And the performances reflect humans’spirit of braving hardships and dangers while seeking     9     (perfect).

Modern Chinese acrobatics has set up a designing and directing system. It is aimed at creating beautiful stage images and     10     (harmony) effects of music, clothing, props, and lighting to bring about a fully developed stage art.