Humans are born with the ability to communicate, but some people are better at it than others. Some people are very good at words, and find it easy to express     1     (they) well. Other people find it difficult to express their ideas to other people,     2     (especial) in public. The good news is that communication skills can     3     (learn). Here are some pieces of advice.

Look at people in the eyes when you speak     4     them. It makes you seem more honest, open and friendly, and people will find it     5     (easy) and more fun to talk to you.

Practice listening to other people. The most important part     6     communication     7       (be)listening. That is why we have two ears     8     one mouth. When you listen to people,     9     (watch) their faces and body language will help you understand     10     they mean.

Think before you open your mouth. The best communicators express their     11     (idea) in short and simple ways. If you are trying to convince(使信服) people of something, be clear and use as few words as possible.

【推荐2】DNA is the mysterious code(密码) of life. It not only decides your gender(性别) and appearance,     1     also tells you about your family history, as well as your     2    (relation) with people in other parts of the world.

Last fall, 20 students at Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy in Atlanta learned more about who they are     3     a DNA test.

During their life sciences class, the girls took samples(样本) from     4    (they) cheeks and sent them to Living DNA, a UK-based DNA testing company. From the test results, they learned about their ancestry(祖先) and made real-world connections(联系) to the topic of race.

Lizbeth Islas, 12, learned about her     5    (family) Central American roots from her mother, who is Guatemalan(危地马拉人). She expected     6     share DNA with 54 percent of Native American people, but she was surprised to find that she also shared DNA with people living in Africa and Europe.

Elianed Guzman, 13, knew little about her family except that they were from Mexico. She was surprised to learn that she also shared DNA with people in China, Japan and Korea.

The girls gathered in small groups to wait for their results. Their reactions ranged from confusion(困惑) to surprise. The 13-year-old Amariah Caudle said she learned that “the color of your skin(皮肤) can’t     7    (decide) where you are from.”

Diahan Southard,     8     manager(经理) from Living DNA, helped them understand the test results.

“Does it change how you see yourself?” Southard asked.

“Now I know I have family from everywhere,” said Jahmya Phillips, 13.

“Does it change     9     you see the girls around the table?” Southard asked.

“We are all sisters,” said Anike Akanni-Jenkins, 13.

Laura Pena, the school’s class designer, said she hopes to add DNA testing to the school’s ninth grade curriculum(课程) in the future. “This is not a lesson they     10     forget anytime soon,” she said.

Chinese relic in the British Museum goes on a homecoming journey

Brought out on Aug 30, a three-episode web series (网剧) called Escape From the British Museum《逃出大英博物馆》has become p    1     online with its touching and creative story.

The series follows the j    2     back home of a Chinese jade teapot (玉茶壶) that has come to life. She runs away from the British Museum and comes across a Chinese journalist (记者) named Zhang Yong’an who helps the artifact (文物) r    3     to China.

The web series is c    4     by Chinese vloggers Jianbing Guozai and Xiatian Meimei. The two hopes to draw people’s attention to Chinese artifacts that are kept a    5    . To get ready for the TV show, the two s    6     making their own videos for three months and went to the UK to learn about the story of the Chinese jade teapot.

Many people have been touched by the lines in the series, such as “My family, I have been lost for a long time,” and “As long as I’m with my family, I’m safe”. Also, the face of the “jade teapot” is dirty, and she is s    7     at how big the journalist’s house is because her own place, a crowded cabinet (陈列柜), is too small. Viewers say this s    8     that the British Museum doesn’t take good care of the artifacts.

In mid-August, it was reported that t    9     of artifacts from the British Museum were “missing, stolen or damaged (损坏的)”. This has caused a heated d    10     on social media in China, calling for the return of Chinese artifacts.

Niejiazhuang Village in Weifang is known for its colored clay sculpture handicraft (泥塑手工艺), which dates back to the Ming Dynasty. To improve the economic (经济的) situation of the villagers, the local government has     1     (encourage) the learning and practice of this ancient craft.

In Niejiazhuang Village, many people love clay sculpture,     2     (include) a young villager named Nie Peng. He has had a strong     3     (interesting) in this art form since he was a child and has been learning from his father. Through hard work, Nie Peng has become a skilled maker. He has realized the importance     4     clay sculpture in benefiting his village. Then he played a role in helping several young craftsmen in     5     (he) village and nearby areas. His efforts helped to improve the prosperity (繁荣) of the local community.

Colored clay sculptures often regard tigers as a popular subject. Nie Peng began     6     (learn) to make clay tigers in 2010, which was the Year of the Tiger. He has seen changes in the art form since then. At first, all the clay tigers     7     (be) small and looked similar. Now, they come in different     8     (size), with some being over two meters tall. The tigers used to be pink and green,     9     now they have more colors and look more lively.

Today, Nie Peng cares about     10     future of clay sculpture and encourages young craftsmen to create more artworks. He hopes that this craft will be passed down to the next generation.

Paper cutting is a kind of traditional Chinese art. It has a     1     history. The first and earliest paper cutting in China appeared about 1,500 years     2    . But this kind of traditional art is at the risk of disappearing now.

Luckily, Voyo Woo, a Chinese immigrant (移民) in America is trying     3     best to bring it back to life. One Saturday in 2014, Ms. Woo held a paper cutting show at a shopping centre near Washington. She hoped more people would enjoy and become interested in it.

Ms. Woo began to study the art of paper cutting when she was 14 in China. She had a deep love for it. So her teacher would like to     4     more time teaching her after class. Later, she     5     the second prize in a national painting and art competition because of her hard work. Ms. Woo went to America     6     she graduated from a college in 2008. Soon after that, she took part in     7     activity to promote (宣传) Chinese paper cutting. And then, she was invited to show the art in many important activities. “It is important to promote this kind of art to Americans or anyone who is     8     in it,” Woo said.

From the art of paper cutting, people can know more     9     Chinese cultural value, history and stories of people’s life. Ms. Woo uses it as a tool to show Chinese    10     to people. She thinks that Chinese culture should be enjoyed by people all over the world.