In the Chinese history, writing tools play an important role. Among _________, the writing brush is the first one that should be paid attention to.

The beginning _________ the writing brush in China can go back to the Neolithic Age（新石器时代）, while its popularity was during the Warring States Period（战国时期）. This tool is _________ used in Chinese writing and painting.

Nowadays, calligraphy（书法）classes _________ to students at school. Teachers teach students how to use the writing brush _________ and spread traditional Chinese culture. The soft brush can create strong and powerful lines on paper. But that only comes through _________ of hard work. If you want to be an excellent writing artist and be highly praised by others, you need to keep practicing for a _________ time every day.

For many Chinese artists, the brush is more than a writing tool. “It seems in my blood. _________ I pick up the writing brush, suddenly my thoughts, ideas and even stories build a relationship with the brush,” said Liu Qinghe, _________ famous Chinese artist. With a good writing brush, when we __________ our ideas into it, we give it life.

【推荐2】Man has invented four kinds of satellites（卫星）. The first kind of satellite studies the geography（地理）of the earth. They are used ________ maps. They also help countries to see where they ________ find oil or gold.

The second kind of satellite is used to guide ________ and planes. A ship or a plane can send a message to the satellite, and the satellite can find out where the ship or ________.

The third kind studies the weather. These satellites watch clouds and strong winds ________ across the earth. They warn countries to make preparation ________ very bad weather is coming.

The last kind is used for communication. Telephone calls between countries can be sent ________ these satellites. Some can carry hundreds of calls at ________ same time. The call ________ to the satellite, then the satellite sends it to a station in the country and this country is being phoned. These satellites ________ carry pictures. They can receive and send about eight programs at a time.

Do you like the lovely monkeys in the stamps? They are the stamps for the Chinese year of monkey. China Post first sold the monkey stamp in 1980 and now it is already _________ set of monkey stamps. The 1980 monkey stamp _________ by Huang Yongyu. He is a famous artist _________ used to be a great professor in Central Academy of Fine Arts. _________ the 1980 monkey stamp cost only 8 cents when it was first sold, the price soon got much _________ and you won’t get one until you pay about 12,000 yuan for it in the post market now. _________ amazing! In 2016, he created two pieces of stamps. In one piece, we can see a male monkey picking a peach, which means long life in Chinese culture. In _________ piece, a female monkey is looking after her two baby monkeys. The four monkeys stand _________ a happy family since government opened up the two children policy in 2016. With the _________ of the Internet, few people will write letters and stamps have become less useful. However, quite a number of people would still like __________ stamps, because they can tell us quite a lot about Chinese traditional culture and history.

【推荐1】Do you have to be very smart to live a happy life? The character of Mcdull (麦兜) tells you that this is not true. He is famous for having a birthmark (胎记) on his right eye. He is not very clever, but he has a heart of gold. He is _______ happy, with lots of dreams. The piglet wants _______ the Maldives(马尔代夫). But his mother doesn’t have _______ for a trip there. So she lies to him and takes him to a place _______ Hong Kong. The place has a sign that says, “Go to the Maldives”. It makes McDull very happy. He thinks he is really excited in the Maldives!

McDull is just a common pig. He has many dreams, but they never come true. That doesn’t stop him trying. McDull lives _______ life in a simple and happy way. His idea towards life is “_______ give up”.

The cartoon pig character _______ in Hong Kong by Alice Mark and Brian Tse. McDull _______ showed up as a character in the McMug comics. McBug is _______ cartoon pig. But McDull is ________ popular than McMug with a huge number of fans everywhere.

【推荐2】Lucy, a junior high school student from Beijing, is at home every evening to watch the Japanese cartoon—“Famous Detective Conan” on TV. She said “The story is so interesting. I always want to know what happens next.”

Many students love cartoons on TV, in films and in comic books. Cartoons are especially hot. The Cartoon Festival ______ in big cities like Shanghai and Guangzhou every year. Lots of people come to visit. Many of ______ are students from junior high school. Many famous cartoon characters, like Crayon Shin-chan and Doraemon, are popular among teenagers.

Some students watch cartoons for fun. Others think they ______ learn something from cartoon characters. However, some parents and teachers ______ that cartoons and comic strips are bad for students. Students may learn bad behaviours ______ from the characters. ______ problem is that students spend too much time ______ cartoons on TV. Some even read comic strips in class. Parents want their children to work ______ on schoolwork than on other things.

Yang Xiong, ______ expert on teenage education in Shanghai said, “_______ cartoons and comic strips may be fun, students should not spend too much time on them.”

【推荐3】Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse are two of the most popular cartoon characters in the world. In the short cartoons, Tom is always trying _______ Jerry, but he never has any success. Almost every cartoon ends with Tom in trouble and Jerry _______ him. The stories are full of fun and have _______ long history.

William Hanna and Joseph Barbera both worked for MGM _______. _______ boss told them _______ funny cartoons. Together they thought _______ the idea of a cat and a mouse. They thought it would be funny if the mouse was clever and always _______ the cat into trouble.

The first Tom and Jerry cartoon _______ in cinemas in 1940. It was a great ________. Over the next 17 years, they made many Tom and Jerry cartoons. Most of them are around seven minutes ________.

In total, Hanna and Barbera made 114 Tom and Jerry cartoons. The cartoons were so good ________ they won ________ awards. The famous cat and mouse remain ________ today, ________ the cartoons are still shown on television around the world.