1 . The discovery of the ruined palace in the Mosul Dam reservoir on the banks of the Tigris River inspired an archeological dig that would improve understanding of the Mittani Empire, one of the least-researched empires of the ancient Near East, a team of German researchers said. “The find is one of the most important archeological discoveries in the region in recent decades,” Kurdish archeologist(考古学家) Hasan Qasim said.

The palace would have originally stood just 65 feet from the river on a terrace(梯田). A terrace wall of mud bricks was later added to make the building stable. Ivana Puljiz, an archeologist from the University of Tübingen’s Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Studies, describes the palace, known as Kemune, as a carefully designed building with mud-brick walls up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) thick.

The team also found wall paintings in shades of red and blue, which were probably a common feature of palaces at the time but have rarely been found preserved. “Discovering wall paintings in Kemune is an archeological sensation,” Puljiz said in a press release, “Kemune is only the second site in the region where wall paintings of the Mittani period have been discovered.”

Ten clay tablets covered in cuneiform, an ancient system of writing, were also discovered and have been sent to Germany for translation. “From the texts we hope to gain information on the inner structure of the Mitani Empire, its economic organization, and the relationship of the Mittani capital with the administrative centers in the neighboring regions,” Puljiz added.

Archeologists first became aware of the site in 2010 when water levels in the reservoir were low, but this is the first time they have been able to dig. However, the site was submerged(淹没) shortly after the dig, Puljiz said, adding“It is unclear when it will come out of water again”.

I had just passed the bridge on the left side of our school when I saw a young man passing out in front of me. He fell face down onto the steps outside a store, which broke his mouth and left his face covered with blood. Passersby helped him sit up and wanted to know how he was doing by asking him questions, but he made no response.

Some suggested his losing consciousness might be caused by low blood sugar. A woman fetched a bowl of sugar water for the young man and helped him drink it. I bought a pack of paper tissue and a bottle of water to wash clean his face and hands. Some else called 911 for an ambulance.

Two minutes after the kind-hearted passerby called 911, a hospital called back, saying they would charge 200 dollars for sending out the ambulance and wanted to know who was going to pay the money. This added unexpected trouble to the caller. She just wanted to help, but she didn't want to end up paying for the poor man's treatment, so she hung up and quietly walked away.

I was busy cleaning the young man's broken face the whole time. When I finished, I was surprised to hear that the ambulance was not coming. At this time, the young man had got better and was beginning to talk. I asked him if he had any family, relatives or friends who could take care of him, yet his answers were hard to make sense of. A search of his pockets merely revealed a packet of cigarettes and a broken cellphone which was impossible to make a phone call with.

With his face getting cleaned up, the young man's consciousness and speech ability seemed to gradually return. He was able to give short answers to passersby’s inquiries, yet he didn't mention what caused his passing out on the street. He looked skinny and pale, like a cancer patient or a drug addict. His eyes shifted focus when he spoke as if he couldn't look at a person in the eye.

Despite moderate box office gains since its opening on Dec 17, Chinese animation comedy “I Am What I Am” continues to hit headlines and receive wide     1     ( applaud )

It has been praised not only for bringing " lion dance,"a folk art belonging to China’s intangible cultural heritage, to the big screen but also     2     its realistic, worldly approach.

Unfolding from a brief introduction to lion dance, a centuries-old Chinese folk dance mostly     3     (perform) to celebrate Lunar New Year, the movie follows an underdog teenager in Guangoong southern China, as he makes every effort    4     (pursue) a dream — becoming the best lion dance performer.

Rao Shuguang, President of the China Film Critics Association, in an interview with Xinhua, said     5     “down-to-earth” film may signal a change of direction in Chinese animated filmmaking by drawing more inspiration from ordinary people struggling to make miracles happen in daily life, instead of gods in mythology    6    (story ).

The film has integrated the lion dance culture into a story of teenagers’ dream pursuit,    7    reflects the charm of Chinese culture and represents the spirit of the nation, says a comment by state broadcaster CCTV.

So far, discussion about the importance of “I Am What I Am” in injecting new vitality into Chinese animated films    8     (run) high on social media platforms.

"     9     it's a huge commercial success or not, this film represents a great attempt into exploring reality-themed Chinese animated film production,” reads a Weibo post.

The comedy     10    (current) boasts a rating of 8. 4 out of 10 on review platform Douban.

6 . 24 Solar Terms: 5 things about Major Snow

Major Snow, the 21st solar term of the year, which falls on Dec 7 this year. During Major Snow, the snow becomes heavy and begins to accumulate on the ground. The temperature drops significantly. Here are 5 things you should know about Major Snow.

Snowy winter

The snow in North China may last a whole day, breaking tree branches and blocking the road. In the south, snowflakes fall and the world turns white. A proverb about the snow says, "A timely snow promises a good harvest".     1    

    2    

The red plum blossoms (梅花) in contrast with the white snowy world is a feast for the eyes and have inspired many great poems. The plum blossom, which originated in China, is respected in Chinese culture for its bravery against severe winters.

Eating lamb

Lamb is a favorite food for Chinese people during Major Snow.     3     People in Chongqing like to have potted lamb soup with their families and friends. Nanjing residents like to stew lamb with some plants to make it more nutritious.

Making sausages

During Major Snow, people in southern China make sausages, an important part of preparation for the Spring Festival.    4    . The sausage should be dried in the shade, and is edible after a week.

Preventing respiratory (呼吸道的) illness

During this period, Chinese people watch for outbreaks of respiratory illness, which can be prevented by wearing a warm scarf to protect the neck and properly drinking water.    5    . At the same time, don't drink cold water after exercise.

7 . The ancient Babylonians （巴比伦人）are thought to have been the first people to set New Year's resolutions. They made promises to gods that they would return any objects they had borrowed from others. If they did this, then it was said that gods would protect them in the year ahead. Since then, resolutions have changed from promises to gods to promises to ourselves and others. That could be starting a new hobby, trying to be healthier or learning a new language. Given the difficulties that any people have in keeping their New Years resolutions, though, should people wait a little longer before deciding what they'll be? Is January the right time to set New Years resolutions?

Yes — it gets the year off to a good start. They're called New Year's resolutions, not Half-Year resolutions. The whole point of setting New Year's resolutions is that it's done at the start of the year.Waiting longer just defeats the purpose of it. New Year's resolutions are a fun tradition to discuss with family and friends. You won't be able to talk about it in the same way if you're all setting them at different times. Besides, the more you put it off, the less likely it is that you'll ever decide on what your resolutions are going to be. You can always set new ones, or change your goals, but it's important to start off with something. By the time you've decided on some resolutions, you'll have less time to do them — which only increases your chances of failure.

No — January isn't the right time. January is a cold and dark month. Why would you want to start something new then? During the winter months, most people just want to stay nice and warm indoors, rather than try something new. People should make resolutions to lead happier, healthier lives whenever they want, not just on 1 January. Waiting longer means that you'll have more time to plan and will have a better idea of what you want to do in the year ahead. This will result in better resolutions, which have a stronger chance of success. One study found that by 6 January, one in five people had failed to stick to their resolutions. By not rushing into it, you're less likely to get discouraged and give up if you haven't succeeded right away.

Now that you've read a bit more about it, tell us what you think by voting in our poll at theweekjunior. co. uk/polls.

8 . Please don't feel singled out, special, or view yourself as a chosen one. She bites everyone. This is just the nature of the beast. There is absolutely no truth to the persistent myths that mosquitoes fancy females over males; that they prefer blondes and redheads over those with darker hair；or that the darker or rougher your skin, the safer you are from her bite. It is true, however, that she does play favorites and feasts on some more than others.

Blood type O seems to be the choice over types A and B or AB. People with blood type O get bitten twice as often as those with type A, with type B falling somewhere in between.

Those who have higher natural levels of certain chemicals in their skin, particularly lactic acid （乳酸），also seem to be more attractive. From these elements, she can analyze which blood type you are. These are the same chemicals that determine an individual’s level of skin bacteria and unique body smell.

Mosquitoes are also attracted by perfumes, soaps, and other applied fragrances. While this may seem unfair to many of you, she also has a desire for beer drinkers.

Wearing bright colors is also not a wise choice, since she hunts by both sight and smell, the latter depending chiefly on the amount of carbon dioxide sent out by the potential target. So she can smell carbon dioxide from over 200 feet away. When you exercise, for example, you emit more carbon dioxide through both breath and output. You also sweat, releasing those appetizing chemicals, primarily lactic acid, that invites the mosquito's attention.

Lastly, your body temperature rises, which is an easily identifiable heat signature. On average, pregnant women suffer twice as many bites, as they have a slightly raised body temperature.

Please don't go on a shower, exercise or give up your beloved beer and bright T-shirts just yet. Unfortunately, 85% of what makes you attractive to mosquitoes is fixed in advance in your genetic circuit board （电路板）.At the end of the day, she will find blood from any exposed target of opportunity.