For centuries, the power of Chinese emperors rose and fell with their control of the Grand Canal (京杭大运河) . Today, this important waterway is shorter than it once was, but it is _________ the longest man-made river in the world, and continues to play an important role in modern China.

Construction begins

The earliest canal system began around the year 605, when Emperor Yang _________ that—in order to feed his army—he needed a way to move food quickly from China’s southern rice-growing region to the country’s north. People worked to build the first section of the Grand Canal, which connected existing canals, lakes, and rivers. Construction took six years and was completed in 611. Over the next 500 years, the canal’s importance grew throughout China.

A nation’s lifeline

The Grand Canal was also an important cultural connection. Soldiers, businessmen, and artists transported ideas, foods, and cultural practices from one part of China to another along the country’s watery highway. According to legend (传说) , this is _________ Beijing came to have two of its best-known trademarks (招牌) : Beijing duck, a dish from Shandong Province in the south, and Beijing opera from Anhui and Hubei, also in the south.

The modern canal

For more than a thousand years, goods have been transported along the Grand Canal. Even today, the country’s watery highway plays an important _________ role in China. Boats continue to carry tons of coal food and other goods to points between Hangzhou and Jining. _________, local governments eager to increase tourism and real estate development are working to beautify areas along the canal.

This development comes at a price, though. In Yangzhou, the city has torn down almost all of the older canal-side buildings. Farther south in the cities of Zhenjiang, the _________ is similar. In Hangzhou, for example, almost all of the ancient buildings have been pulled down. In 2005, a group of citizens proposed that the historic Grand Canal be made a UNESCO World Heritage site, to protect both the waterway and the architecture around it. The hope is that the Grand Canal, one of the world’s great engineering achievements, will continue to link north and south China for centuries to come.

Home sweet home—this phrase brings back good memories and feelings. The place you call home might be a house, a flat, a tent or other places.

H    67     did you know that the condition of your living space can have an effect on your emotions (情感) and even on your mental health? By organizing your living space, you can help to achieve a more peaceful life.

Add light

It goes without saying that the lighting in your room or in your house can a    68     your mood. If the lighting is too dim (昏暗的), your mood may end up matching the dark atmosphere. Artificial (人工的) light may not do the trick, though. It is better to open your curtains because n    69     sunlight makes your whole day brighter.

Go green

To make sure you have good mental health, surround yourself with green plants. A large number of studies have shown that the presence of green plants in your home can i    70     mood.

Choose colors w    71    

The color of your environment has an active influence on your mood. Choosing colors that create a calm atmosphere (氛围) can be a type of treatment.

Clean it up

Let’s all admit it; We have trouble keeping our space clean. But it doesn’t just look terrible; it makes you feel terrible. An untidy room both shows stress and causes stress. Disorder can show that you’re too busy to keep things tidy, but then looking at a m    72     can lead to more stress.

Cleaning up doesn’t have to take all day—just take 10 or 15 minutes and put a few things away. You will be surprised how much better you’ll feel.

There is no l    73     to ways you can make your environment good for your mental health. You can put up photos of your family and friends or post encouraging notes from people that show how much they love you. Just remember: Your surroundings can make “home sweet home” much sweeter.