【推荐1】Ancient Chinese people had Hot Pot as early as the Shang Dynasty.     1     that time, people boiled foods and soups in bronze cauldrons (青铜鼎). The cauldron had two parts—one was the pot to cook foods in soup, the other part was a layer or a space inside the cauldron to hold firewood. But at that time, the cauldron was only for one person to eat from. During the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), people divided a pot into several parts to enjoy     2     flavors.

In the Tang Dynasty, having Hot Pot was a     3     thing. If people held a big family feast (宴席), they would prepare a     4     Hot Pot. People of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) had Hot Pot to welcome winter.

Huoguo, the Chinese name for Hot Pot, was mentioned by Yuan Mei, a poet and foodie in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), in a book about all kinds of food. At that time, Hot Pot was more popular than many other dishes. People put all kinds of       5     and vegetables into pots. People love     6     most because it can make people warm in winter.

Hot Pot also became     7     famous royal (宫廷的) dish, called reguo. It’s said that Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty loved Hot Pot so much that he had     8     for almost every meal. He once held a big Hot Pot feast, inviting more than 5, 000 people to enjoy about 1, 550 Hot Pots.

My favorite food is Chinese dumplings. They are a kind of     1     (tradition) Chinese food in North China. And they’re also popular during Chinese holidays and festivals. I like     2     (eat) dumplings not because I’m from North China but because they’re     3     (real) delicious. My family usually eat dumplings when all the members get together. Making dumplings with my family is     4     (happy) thing for me. Chinese dumplings are one of the most important foods during the Spring Festival. On     5    (one) day of a new year, breakfast is very important.

Once upon a time, there was no tea at all in England. People there used     1     (drink) a light beer (啤酒). No coffee or milk but large glasses of beer     2     (stand) on the breakfast table!

When tea was     3     (one) brought to England, an old couple got some as a special treat.     4    they did not know how it should be used. They cooked the    5       (leaf) in hot water, and spread them on a piece of bacon (熏肉) which they were going to have for dinner. They ate the leaves, and threw the tea away! However, tea is becoming    6     popular as coffee and milk in England today.

Tea is the leaf of a plant which grows     7     (wide) in China, Japan and some other countries. Tea farmers usually grow a great many tea plants on a large piece of land. When the tea leaves     8     (pick), it is the busiest time for tea farmers in a year. They pull off the leaves and dry     9     (they). In their spare time, they pick out the     10     (good) leaves and get them ready for market. In China, whenever a visitor comes into a house, he is served with a cup of tea.

I’m glad to know your mum is coming to China. I h    1     she can stay in Beijing for some time. It is in the n    2     of China. She can visit the great Wall and the Summer Palace there. Shanghai is also an interesting big c    3    . It is in the east of China. She can visit the Bund, the Yu Garden and the City God Temple. I’m s    4     she will love the snacks there, too.

Guilin is in the south of China. She can see beautiful rivers and m    5     there. I hope she can also go to Lhasa. It is in the west of China. She can visit the Potala Palace and see snow-capped (积雪覆盖的) mountains.

Yours,

Yaoyao

My name is Li Ming. My home is in Changshou. Do you know it? It is in Chongqing. Changshou is not a big city,     1     it is very nice and clean. There is a lake (湖) in Changshou. Its name is Changshou Lake.

Our house is near Changshou Lake. Behind our house there is     2     big old tree. My grandparent tells me that the tree is very, very old. There are many birds     3     the tree. We call it a “bird tree”. Our house is near the lake. The lake is big and blue. There     4     a lot of fish in the lake. After school, I go there and catch fish     5     my friends. It is very interesting. I like fish and I also like catching fish.