Chinese pastries (糕点) have a rich and divers history that spans thousands of years. Traditional Chinese pastries are popular     1     their beautiful shapes, delicate flavors and cultural symbolism.

The origins of Chinese pastries can be traced back to ancient times when they were primarily made for     2     (religion) ceremonies and special occasions. Over centuries of evolution, Chinese pastries    3     (develop), combining various regional flavors and techniques.

During the Tang dynasty, Chinese pastries experienced a significant     4     (grow) in popularity. The Tang dynasty emperors were known for their love of desserts and pastries,     5     led to the development of numerous delicate and complicated pastry recipes.

It was during this time     6     many symbolic pastries were created, and the art of pastry-making reached new heights.

Mooncakes, closely     7     (associate) with the Mid-autumn Festival, are among the most famous Chinese pastries. Mooncakes have a history     8     (date) back over 1,000 years. They were    9     (original) used as an offering     10     (honour) the moon goddess during the harvest season. Mooncakes are often imprinted with amazing designs and symbols that represent good luck and prosperity.

       Each region in China has its own pastries with distinct flavors, ingredients and making methods. Chinese pastries are an essential part of Chinese cuisine and cultural traditions.

The Qiang New Year Festival is the most important traditional festival for the Qiang ethnic group     1     (appreciate) nature, celebrate prosperity and show respect for their ancestors. It falls     2     the first day of the tenth lunar month on the Chinese calendar.And several celebrations are held by the Qiang people     3     (live) in Sichuan Province.

The celebration lasts from three to five days. During the festival, Qiang people wear beautiful traditional costumes to celebrate this grand occasion through a range of folk activities such as dragon dance performances, bonfire (篝火) parties, music and shows, ritual sacrifice     4     (ceremony) and other events. In the evening, Qiang women dress up in elegant clothes and accessories to attend a grand occasion around a central bonfire,     5     forms the heart of the celebrations.    6     (inspire) by the passions of the flames and music, dancers circle and sway to the rhythms to create     7     joyous atmosphere.

It is also an occasion for the Qiang ethnic group to celebrate the harvest of the year. A series of rituals are held to show their     8     (harmony) and respectful relationship with nature as well as strengthen the solid bonds within their community.

The festival was listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009 due to its     9    (high) valuable cultural significance. From generation to generation, Qiang people     10     (devote) their time to inheriting their own culture and keeping it alive after promising development in recent years.

Even native English speakers have trouble    1     (understand) the New Zealand accent (口音)sometimes!

English is one of the official languages of New Zealand. However, the way Kiwis (新西兰人)speak English sounds very different to the way it    2     (speak) in the USA or the UK. The New Zealand accent is     3     (particular) special. Some people mistake it for the Australian accent but it’s not quite the same.

Vowels (元音) can sound very different in New Zealand English compared    5    American English or British English. For example, the word“kit“ in New Zealand English sounds more like ”cut”.

The “r” sound is often very soft when Kiwis speak and sometimes     6    is hard to hear it at all! For example, the word “farm” sounds more like “faahm”. This can be confusing for people    7    have learned American English where the “r” sound is very clear.

Kiwis often speak with a rising tone (音调) at the end of     8     (they) sentences making it sound like they are asking a question.

If you’re talking to someone and you’ re not sure what they’ re saying, don’t be afraid to ask them    9     (repeat) themselves slowly. Remember, Kiwis are very     10     (friend) and are happy to help.

The Start of Summer    1    originated at the end of the Warring States Period (239BC) is a crucial time for the harvest of summer crops. Ancient Chinese emperors in different dynasties attached great    2    (important) to the Start of Summer.    3    was believed that a round egg symbolized a happy life and that    4    (eat)eggs on the day of Start of Summer was a prayer for good health. They put leftover tea into boiled water together with eggs so the original “tea egg”     5     (create). Today tea eggs    6    (become) a traditional snack in China.

As an old Chinese saying goes, “hanging an egg on children’s chest can prevent them     7     getting summer diseases”. Parents will prepare boiled eggs and put them in a knitted bag before hanging them on their children’s chest.

According to Chinese traditional medicine, Start of Summer is    8    key time moisten the heart. When the weather grows    9    (hot), dampness and heat can affect human health. Food rich in vitamins and cool in nature is     10     (high)recommended. Fruits that include watermelons, pears and strawberries and vegetables, such as cucumbers and tomatoes are top recommendations.

Sime Darrin,     1    overseas student in Kaifeng, Henan Province, said learning Chinese opera has helped him understand Chinese culture. Majoring in traditional ethnic sports at Henan University, Sime came to China in 2017. “I came to learn Chinese martial arts     2     it was the opera that attracted me in the end,” he said.

By chance, Sime was taking a walk in a local park     3     the performance of a Yuju Opera called Huamulan caught his attention. He    4     (immediate) fell in love with the play and its music. Originating in Henan Province, Yuju Opera is one of the country’s major opera     5     (type). “It’s not only a kind of play with music. I felt much     6     (close) to Chinese culture by learning and playing it.” His teacher Li Shujian was a famous Yuju artist     7     had a deep influence on Sime. What’s more, Sime believed that to learn the opera, one must learn Chinese well, so he also took part     8     a Chinese language class.

After a year of learning and practice, Sime    9     (get) a chance to play on TV on a locally famous Yuju program. “    10     (gain) the chance to act, I feel delighted to make more foreigners better understand Yuju opera,” he said.

Baoning sweet steamed bun is a     1     (tradition) staple food of Langzhong ancient city (formerly known as Baoning) in Nanchong, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. With     2     history of more than 200 years, the special bun is without doubt a proof of the     3     (creative) and skill of Chinese cuisine.

For hundreds of years, the bun     4     (produce) under 21 complete procedures, and finished with a red stamp proving the authenticity. As white as snow with a pleasant and sweet flavor, the specialty is     5     (true) incredible—it’s soft and non-sticky when     6     (eat) hot and turns crispy and refreshing when it cools. The buns can also be shaped into various forms and shapes     7     (give) all kinds of visually impressive appearances.

After being passed down for generations, Baoning sweet steamed buns have become a representative food of Langzhong     8     is loved by locals and tourists from around the country. In 2006, it was recognized     9    one of the first group of “China Time-honored Brands”. And in 2013, the technique for     10     (make) Baoning sweet steamed buns was listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Nanchong city.

Dim sum (点心) must be one of the best breakfasts on Earth. Originally from Guangzhou in southern China, this Cantonese breakfast tradition has since spread all over China     1     the rest of the world. Today, there     2     (be) over a thousand dim sum dishes     3     (cover) every ingredient and cooking style imaginable.

While you can find a great dim sum dish almost anywhere in China, the     4     (great) still comes from the south, where it is known as Yum Cha (morning tea). Dim sum     5     (enjoy) with tea, Chinese style without milk or sugar.

“Breakfast tapas” is     6     (possible) the best description of dim sum. Most dishes are steamed and served in round bamboo baskets,     7    makes it easy to stack (撂) them on top of each other to save space on the table. Each basket typically contains three     8     (beauty) bite-sized dishes.

Dim sum is the core (核心) of every Cantonese family, and the best way     9     (have) it is to order many different dishes to share. According     10     Cantonese etiquette (礼仪), one dish per person should be ordered plus two dishes for the table, all of which are shared.

Celebrate National Day

China’s National Day is celebrated on October 1st every year     1     (mark) the formation of the People’s Republic of China. It is also known as National Day and National Golden Week.

The founding ceremony of New China     2     (hold) in Tian’anmen Square in Beijing on Oct. 1,1949,    3    the Government declared October 1st as National Day every year from 1950 onward.

As a great day in China, it represents     4     (independent), strength, and national confidence. The military parade has been     5     important part of the National Day ceremony. From 1949     6     the present, there are a total of fifteen National Day parades held. The number of representatives of the army, navy, and air force on parade    7    (be) generally around 10,000.     8     (usual), there is also a mass parade behind the military parade. In 2019, more than 100,000 people from all walks of life took part in it. The entire parade is broadcast live on all major TV stations.

On National Day, the national flag rises at 6:10 am in Tian’anmen Square. There are always people     9    (travel) long distances to watch the ceremony. There are also some other     10     (activity) like firework displays, light shows, and flowerbed exhibitions.

As the weather turns warmer and air becomes     1     (dry), it is recommended that people eat fresh vegetables and juicy fruits to keep     2     (them) hydrated (保持水分). Bamboo shoots are among the best foods for this season. Bamboo shoots, a root vegetable with few calories but lots of fiber, are     3     (wide) harvested and eaten in Zhejiang and Sichuan provinces     4     the climate is ideal for bamboo growth. There are many ways     5     (enjoy) spring bamboo shoots, from nutritious soups to fun snacks. Now, we’ll take a look at some crowd-pleasing bamboo shoot dishes.

Dishes with bamboo shoots are enjoyed in almost every household in eastern China in springtime. An all-time favorite dish and symbol of springtime in Zhejiang is Yan Du Xian, a delicious soup     6     (make) with fresh spring bamboo shoots, cured pork and fresh pork. In Shanghai, there’s also a famous snack known     7     Xiasha Shaomai, a steamed dumpling from Nanhui in the Pudong New Area.     8     (cook) use spring bamboo shoots and fresh pork as fillings of it. In the Tianmu Mountain region, there’s     9     appealing local dish called hand-peeled bamboo (手剥笋) shoots, which are cooked in salty water and then cooled and packaged as a snack. The hand-peeled bamboo shoots     10     (serve) as a cold appetizer, which are fun to eat.

Nanchong High School,     1     (establish) in 1927, enjoys a long and     2     (glory) history. It is located on the bank of the Jialing River and beside the Lianchi Lake,     3     students study with great efforts and fight for their dreams.

In the past 95 years, tens of thousands of students     4     (graduate) from Nanchong High School, most of whom were admitted to prestigious     5     (university) such as Peking University and Tsinghua University. Every summer, lively students step out of the schoolyard with a broad smile and appreciation of their teachers’ help. The spirit of Nangao, which is short    6     Nanchong High School, has been     7     (deep) rooted in their minds and will never be forgotten.

As the school motto     8     (say), “advocating honesty and courage while pursuing excellence and brilliance”, Nanchong High School is making     9     contribution to the development of education and the prosperity of Nanchong. Under the school’s cultivation, the students know how     10     (distinguish) honor and disgrace, master etiquette, be grateful and become outstanding in the future.