Baduanjin Exercise a hit among Young People in China

Baduanjin, a kind of exercise regarded as an exclusive sport among the aged,     1     (gain) popularity among the young people in China recently. More than 1,000 videos about Baduanjin can     2     (find) on Bilibili, a video platform in China. A video     3     (create) by the General Administration of Sport of China to teach the public to do the exercise has gained about 10 million views and about 6.000 comments. Most of them were from college students and the young people who attach great     4     (important) to health care.

The exercise also becomes part of PE class at a college.“Our school asked us     5     (do) this exercise and sent a video to our PE teacher," a netizen commented.

Some people even live stream and share their skills. Film stars and fitness bloggers also do this exercise,     6     has attracted a large number of followers.

Originating from the Song Dynasty (420-479), Baduajin has     7     history of more than 800 years. It consists of eight movements, using limbs to stimulate meridians inside the body. Compared with Tai Chi and Wuqinxi, a kind of     8     (tradition) Chinese exercise that imitates the movements of a bear, tiger, monkey, deer and birds, Baduanjun is more suitable     9     beginners with its simple and gentle movements. It doesn’t require much space.     10     (combine) physical and mental health, Baduanjin can enhance immunity and help people relax. It is also a very low- cost social activity for the young people in China.

3 . I had driven home to celebrate my 38th birthday with my mother. When I arrived, I found her sitting proudly at the kitchen table, a chocolate cake and two boxes wrapped in orange ribbon (丝带) in front of her. “Happy birthday!” she said, _________ at the boxes. “Open them.”

As she knows me _______ than anyone, she’d gotten me exactly what I wanted — running clothes. I hugged her and thanked her and proceeded (接着) to eat the cake.

“Too many _______,” I said, not really caring.

“You’ll run them off tomorrow,” Mom said.

Many adult children with a parent suffering from _________ memory will tell you there was one day that _______ to them that their relationship with their mother or father would be forever changed.

For me that day _______ two weeks later, when I drove back for another short _______. I came upon exactly the same _______: my mom sitting at the kitchen table; a chocolate cake resting next to two boxes wrapped in curly ribbon. The ribbon was green this time. That was the only _______. “Happy birthday!” my mom said.

I was totally confused. “What’s going on?” I asked. She smiled, “Can’t I celebrate my daughter’s birthday?”

This was no ________. This was real life, and since my mother clearly only wanted to make me ________, I pushed aside my fear and played my role as the ________ daughter. I hugged her, thanked her and ________ the clothes… I did not mention to her that we’d done all this two weeks ago.

My house is her world now. My mother and I have the ________ conversation roughly 10 times a day. ________, I consider it a pleasure, because every minute is new for her.

5 . I dropped a clay cooking pot on my feet. More accurately, I slipped down the back steps of my house on a rainy night, _______ the pot into the air. I managed to stay upright (挺直的) and _______ on my backside with my feet in front of me, but the pot also landed upright and on my feet, breaking in two. The hot juices I was trying to throw into the outdoor dustbin _______ in the air, and then rained down upon me. At the very moment, I could _______ the headline: “Woman Dies Doing the Dishes After Dinner”.

Life didn’t stop because I got _______. However, my daily routine slowed down. I _______ less urgent appointments. Though I hated the _______ in my plans, I soon realized it left me a gift: spare time. I rediscovered long-forgotten _________. I read a book just for pleasure. I caught up with friends and family members in e-mails and texts. I _______ with my watercolor set. And my ________ came alive again.

When I was forced to slow down, I realized how ________ my lifestyle used to be. So I decided something had to ________. Now I try to leave some ________ for activities and practices that bring me joy, like going for walks or enjoying a meal with friends.

Every time I cook in my new pot, I remember the ________ of slowing down. And I never ever walk down ________ stairs with a pot in my hands.

7 . “I feel unlikable, lonely and hopeless,” said Lisa, a bright teenager from a loving home. “It seems that nobody wants to become my friend. What’s wrong with me?”

Like Lisa, many of us experience loneliness. The truth is that all people, no matter what their age or character experience loneliness at least sometimes. It’s healthy and natural to want to be around people who care. We all need others in our lives.

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, explains that if we want friends, we must be friendly and reach out to others. But it has risk. Because we are often afraid of rejection (拒绝), many of us are unwilling to reach out to others. We take a safer way and wait for others to make friends with us. But if we want friends, we’ve got to get beyond this.

If making friends is your goal as well, you need to consider the following two.

Be willing to take the initiative (主动权). If you see someone whom you would like to know, don’t wait for her to make the first move. Get close to her and begin a conversation. Let her know in a non-aggressive (无攻击性的) way that you are interested in being friends with her.

Ask questions. Start your first conversation by asking this possible friend what she likes to do or asking about her family. Be sure to ask questions that cannot be replied with “yes” or “no”. For example, don’t ask “Do you have a dog?” Instead, say “So, tell me about your pets.” Avoiding asking “yes” or “no” questions makes your possible friend not end your communication with a one-word answer.

Once there was a little girl named Emily. Although her singing was very pleasant to hear, lacking of courage, she never dared to sing in front of strangers.

One summer, the neighborhood where she lived would hold a singing competition. Her best friend, Lucy, came to invite her to participate in the competition, but Emily said, “I’m afraid to take part in it.” Her mother said, “It’s okay; just do it bravely.” Emily followed her mama’s advice and decided to give herself a try. The day came. Emily and Lucy went to the competition site. But she was too timid (胆小的)to walk onto the stage. She had been waiting until others finished singing. She shakily (颤抖地)forced herself to stand on the stage. She started to sing,but her voice was so low. What’s worse, she was so nervous that she forgot the lyrics (歌词)after singing a few words. Being laughed at by others, embarrassed and shy, she ran away from the stage.

Some naughty boys ran after her and said, “Emily, coward (胆小鬼)!Emily, coward!” Emily didn’t argue with them. What she wanted was to go back home as quickly as she could. Finally, she rushed into the house, hugged her mom and cried sadly.

“Well, my poor girl, don’t cry. Tell me what happened to you,” asked her mom. Emily looked up at her mother and told her what she had experienced.

Listening to her, her mom cupped her face and said, “It doesn’t matter, girl. As long as you practice singing more in front of strangers, you will become braver little by little. So, my girl, don’t be beaten by a failure.You can go out to practice singing every day. No matter who is listening to you, go on singing and never stop. I believe there will be a harvest for you.”

Emily listened to her mother carefully and followed her mom’s suggestion.

Going on singing,she walked into the park,where many people were singing and dancing.