The panda population in the wild     1    (rise) in the last 20 years, which reflects the pandas’ improved living conditions and China’s efforts in keeping their habitats integrated. Now, it’s time     2    (release) the cubs into the wild. 

A gene exchange between captive (被圈养的) and wild pandas aimed at     3    (protect) genetic diversity is a major project at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, according to He Shengshan, a guardian and expert at the center. He said wild pandas live in     4     wide range of areas, so the population is divided into 33 groups     5    (base) on their location. 

“This is similar     6     human villages or tribes. Some large groups in the wild may have     7    (hundred) of pandas, while smaller groups may have just a few dozen. After investigation, we found that of the 33 communities, 22 communities had     8    (few) than 30 giant pandas,” said He Shengshan. “Because pandas have a poor ability to travel and there are mountains, human activities, highways and railway tracks, giant panda groups can’t communicate with each other, and those with small populations are still at risk of     9    (extinct) over time.” 

The training for release is a long process     10     starts before a cub is born. And usually it is divided into two stages. The first lasts from the mother’s pregnancy till the cub is about 1 year old, while the second stage runs from the cub to a panda about 1 to 2 years old.

More than 1,000 elephants face     1     (starve) in Thailand because of the coronavirus crisis. An almost total absence of visitors     2     (mean) that many caretakers are struggling to afford food for Thailand’s 4,000 captive elephants. The animals can eat up     3     200kg of food a day.

Lek Chailert,       4     (found) of the Save Elephant Foundation, told the BBC:   “If there is no support     5     (keep) them safe, these elephants, some of whom are pregnant, will     6     starve to death or may be put on to the streets to beg.” Some elephants may be sold to zoos or they may     7     (return) to the illegal logging business, which     8     (official) banned the use of elephants in 1989.

“It’s a very hopeless outlook     9     some financial help is received immediately,” Lek Chailert adds. It’s a challenge to keep the animals fed and healthy at     10     best of times but now it’s the dry season, which make the situation even worse.

Paper cutting was recognized as our national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. According to experts, paper cutting conveys the culture shared between China     1     foreign countries to wish for family reunions and maintain links with loved ones, alive or dead.

In the movie Coco, for instance, the 12­year­old Miguel and his family dance and sing to celebrate a     2    (tradition) festival in Mexico, when colorful paper cuttings are hung on the street. Chinese people also cut images of small figures     3     (commemorate) their family who have passed away. The difference is that most Chinese paper cuttings are red, while those in other countries     4    (be) often made in many other colors.

The fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen liked to cut     5    (character), such as princesses, out of paper while     6    (tell) stories to children. In China, female friends and family members used to chat and make paper cuttings together.

“    7     the patterns and colors may be different, paper cuttings share the same function of maintaining emotional ties among people,” says Yang Huizi,     8     art teacher at Beijing Union University.

Yang     9    (study) and performed the art for over a decade. Besides routine university courses, she also organizes nonprofit paper cutting activities     10     are open to the public in Beijing to promote basic knowledge of paper cutting.

Every year in April, the Water Festival    1    (celebrate) among the Dai people in Xishuangbanna. During this festival, water is splashed (泼洒) everywhere    2    (wash) away the old and welcome the new. Buckets (桶) of water are carried around the street and people splash each other with water. Tourists are told that they are welcome to join in but they cannot splash old people, small children and police on duty! For people    3    love traditions and waterfront fun, the Water Festival is the best choice!

China is well known as the Kingdom of Bamboo. Bamboo culture has already been rooted     1     Chinese minds through the long history. To the Chinese people, bamboo is the symbol of virtue,     2     (reflect) people’s soul and emotion. Bamboo has the title of “the gentleman of plants”.     3     (it) deep root symbolizes determination and its straight and hollow pole represents straightness and modesty. Bamboo culture always     4     (play) a positive role in encouraging Chinese people to hold on when facing tough situations.