Xuan paper is known as the “Paper of Ages”. The term Xuan paper first appeared in a book     1    (title) On Famous Paintings through the Ages,    2     Zhang Yanyuan, a scholar in Tang Dynasty, described Xuan paper as an ideal carrier for calligraphy and painting. Handmade Xuan paper from Jing County, East China’s Anhui Province,     3    (list) as a tribute (贡品) to the royal court for its perfect quality during the period.

The traditional skill of making Xuan paper is    4    (extreme) demanding. The bark of the sandalwood (檀香木), a tree species native    5    southern China, goes through 108 procedures together with rice straw over the course of three years before it can transform into some fine Xuan paper. Making Xuan paper contained    6    complex procedures that even the most skilled worker can only master limited number of steps.

The flow of ink, both guided and resisted by water, determines the output of Chinese art, and Xuan paper outshines others with its excellent ability    7    (give) full play to ink. Different percents of bark to straw during the papermaking process can create different painting paper for artistic     8    (express) in paintings or calligraphy.

Xuan paper has accompanied the     9    (significance) works of the Chinese artists for thousands of years. Unlike other forms of paper, it is very resistant to damage brought by time,    10    (make) the preservation of many valuable works from ancient China possible.

Anyone can take part in a virtual choir (唱诗班) from     1     (somewhere). All you need is a video camera and     2     Internet connection. You do not even need a studio. A virtual choir helps connect ordinary people together. Many people do not have close friends or contacts who have the same interest in music. Many others do not have the chance     3     (join) a local choir. A virtual choir     4     (enable) them to add their voices to those of other individuals and become part of the     5     (globally) community. It has proved to be a positive influence     6     the lives of many people. As one virtual choir member said, “Music helps me to forget my problems. With music, I become someone else.”

Customs play a significant role in festivals, but sometimes they can change over time. With the     7     (develop) of modern society and the spread of new ideas, some traditions may fade away and others may     8     (establish). One example is the typical Chinese Spring Festival custom of     9     (light) firecrackers to drive away the evil spirits and celebrate the new year. Nowadays, many big cities have given up this custom in order to avoid air pollution. Another example is Halloween,     10     slowly became an exciting festival for children, in spite of its religious origins.