2 . After returing from his job as a cultural relics protection worker 10 years ago, Wang Yongxian kept his love for ancient Chinese architecture (建筑) through teaching.

Now aged 73, he still teaches a course named “Conservation and Restoration of Ancient Chinese Buildings” at a University in Shanxi province. His main interest is Dougong, a construction method that uses interlocking (紧密连接的) wooden pieces to form structures. The method is one of the most important features of ancient Chinese architecture.

Wang also started online classes to better explain Dougong to those who showed a strong interest in his course. Following a suggestion from his students, he became a vlogger using the account name “Dougong class”. The account is regularly updated with short video clips Wang produces himself. He is surprised that his classes are so popular on social media. The first six lectures on ancient Chinese buildings that he uploaded over a six-month period have received 1.6 million views.

To make it easier for newcomers to the subject to understand, Wang made a wooden Dougong model. Each part is marked with a number or name, and the model can be taken apart and put together, a process that Wang filmed and put online. Some viewers said that they had long been puzzled by Dougong structures, but finally understood how they work after watching the video of “Dougong grandpa”.

Wang said when he was young, the beautiful ancient temples in his hometown had ignited his interest in ancient wooden buildings and finally led him to turn his interest into a lifelong career. What makes him happy today is not only that the government set aside more money for the research and protection of cultural relics, but also that society is more aware of the importance of such work.

To his surprise, about 90 percent of his more than 100,000 viewers online are below age 30. That fact makes him more confident that as long as the story of Chinese ancient architecture is told in the right way, it can attract more people.

3 . At the age of 104, Dorothy Hoffner achieved what few would dare — she _________ a Guinness World Record by skydiving from 13,500 feet From Chicago. Dorothy first tried skydiving at 100. This week, she beat herself, leaving her walker on the ground，_________ out of a plane, and _________ gracefully in Ottawa, Illinois.

Since her youth, Dorothy had taken up _________, even driving across the country on her own. Her _________ and love for life were obvious in her decision to take to the skies in her golden years.

When asked about her amazing achievement, Dorothy didn’t make a big deal about it and simply said, “Age doesn’t really matter.” Her words really showed the _________ and energy she had. Dorothy had faced many challenges throughout her long and _________ life. For example, she _________ the Spanish flu and other pandemics, and she never let those things get her down. She always had this unbelievable _________ that made her want to __________ herself and try new things.

As news of Dorothy’s __________ achievement spread, she became a __________ of hope and inspiration worldwide. Her story particularity awoke the passions (激情) of those facing their own challenges, __________ them to embrace life’s adventures despite their situations. Dorothy serves as a living example of the famous saying, “It’s never too late,” inspiring us all to __________ our passions and __________ regardless of our age.

4 . Four ideas for the best Easter holidays

When the kids breakup from school it can be difficult to choose what to do. With the Easter holidays just around the comer, here are four different ideas to inspire you to make the most of the break, whatever your age.

York

Bursting with museums, attractions, and events for everyone, York is the perfect Easter holiday destination. Going with grandparents? They’ll love walking the cobbled streets for sweet treats or stopping for an afternoon tea at one of the many historic hotels. Or learn about the diverse history of this amazing city at one of the museums. There really is something for everyone in this attractive city.

Botany Bay

Botany Bay is a great spot to spend a day relaxing and playing on the sands. Located in Kent and with lifeguards on duty, it’s a great spot for surfing, exploring the rockpools, and hunting for fossils. For a longer stay, why not hire a car for the Easter holiday and take a road trip along the Kentish coast British seaside break?

Bristol

Travel to the southwest to explore bustling (熙熙攘攘的) Bristol. Bristol is full of amazing restaurants housed in warehouses that remind you of the city’s maritime history. There are also wonderful museums, amazing parks for picnics and games, and even a surf centre nearby. Shop. eat, play — whatever you fancy doing, Bristol has it all.

Snowdonla

Head to North Wales if you’re after some wild adventures. There are plenty of hills, lakes, rivers, and benches to explore, but if your kids have a lot of energy to burn, then Mount Snowdon should be your choice. Standing 1,085 metres tall, it’s sure to provide an exciting adventure for the whole family. Local guides are available to lead you to the top, if you wish.

Shortly after dawn, the 680-year-old Lion Grove Garden(狮子林) wakes up to the sound of birds. First     1     (construct) by a group of monks, this amazing garden     2     (attract) a constant stream of celebrity guests since the the Yuan Dynasty.

    3     (cover) an area of about 2.7 acres, Lion Grove Garden is     4     ideal sightseeing site as it has richly ornamental pavilions and towers in different styles. As a must-visit attraction for travelers to Suzhou, the Lion Grove Garden was added     5     the World Heritage List in 2000. “Visiting a garden is like unrolling a traditional Chinese landscape painting. Though being artificial, they seemed like     6     (nature) wonders,” says He Fengchun, director of the Suzhou Institute of Landscape Architecture Design.

Zhenqu Ting (True Delight Pavilion) is certainly the most magnificent one of all the buildings in the garden due to     7     (it) royal design with an inscription authored by Emperor Qianlong     8     visited the garden several times.

Lion Grove Garden also     9     (house) many rare and precious plaques, steles, and paintings. More than 60 rare rubbings of inscriptions of the works of famous calligraphers from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) such as Sushi, Huang Tingjian and Mifu can     10     (find) on the walls of the passageways of Lion Grove Garden.

6 . Organic farming(有机耕作) is a farming method that uses the natural techniques to grow crops and raise farm animals. This approach avoids the use of synthetic(合成的) chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers, and instead relies on natural methods to promote healthy soil and crop growth.

One of the key benefits of organic farming is its sustainability(可持续性). By avoiding the use of harmful substances, organic farmers are able to reduce their impact on the environment and protect the health of both the soil and local ecosystems. This also means that organic farming has a smaller carbon footprint than traditional farming methods, making it a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly option.

In addition to its environmental benefits, organic farming also has important health benefits. By avoiding the use of pesticides and fertilizers, organic farmers are able to produce crops that are free from harmful chemicals. This can lead to a healthier diet and reduced risk of exposure to harmful substances.

Moreover, organic farming can also have positive economic impacts. By supporting local farmers and promoting sustainable agriculture, organic farming can help to create more jobs and support local communities. Additionally, organic produce (农产品) is often sold at a higher price, which can provide financial benefits for farmers and help to promote sustainable agriculture as a good business model.

However, there are also challenges associated with organic farming. Because organic farming relies on natural methods to control pests and promote growth, it requires more workers and demand more time than traditional farming methods. Additionally, organic farming may not always be as productive or efficient as traditional farming methods, which can make it more difficult for farmers to meet demand.

Despite these challenges, many farmers and consumers are using organic farming as a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly way. As more people become aware of the environmental and health benefits of organic farming, it is likely that demand for organic produce will continue to grow. This, in turn, may help to promote the growth of sustainable agriculture and support the health of both people and the planet.

7 . COVID-19 is just one example of a disease that has jumped from a wild animal to people. In hopes of preventing future outbreaks, scientists are working to understand what led to the jump, also known as a spillover event. A group working in Australia thinks it may have one answer: Keep wildlife well-fed.

All animals carry germs. Some viruses don’t harm the animals in which they are typically found. That’s because the host species has encountered this virus so often that its immune system(免疫系统) has developed a way to keep the germ under control. But if this virus later finds its way into a new species, it may cause serious disease.

From 1996 to 2020, Peel and her group tracked where bats spent their time. For the first six years, there were no spillover events. But starting in 2003, the team noticed the bats’ ecosystem was changing. Soon after, spillovers started to show up. Peel’s group linked these events to periods when the bats couldn’t find enough food.

This happened in years that followed strong El Niño events. This climate event causes trees that normally flower in spring may now fail to do so. Hungry bats will then leave their forests in search of food. Some may end up near farms where they can infect horses and they may stay there until the following winter.

But some spillovers happened even during non-El Niño years. The researchers suspect this might be due to changes in tree cover. Over the course of the study, large sections of forest were cut down for farming and housing. This reduced the number of trees that flower in winter. Without their main food source, hungry flying foxes shifted their behavior. Just as they did after El Niño years, they now spent more time near farms in search of food. It was after this shift that spillover events occurred.

8 . Every auntie I know has a kitchen drawer containing a carefully maintained collection of yoghurt dabbas. Dabba is Indian word for ‘box,’ but it refers to all manner of containers, too. Dabbas are saved and reused again and again most of the time.

When I was a kid, my mother cut no corners when it came to food, sparing no effort to cook the meals—after a full day at the office. The leftovers would inevitably(必然地) find their way into yoghurt dabbas.

But just as every auntie cherished her dabbas, every uncle hated them. My own father, a generally easy-going man, carefully avoided the drawer of dabbas. When he felt annoyed at the dabbas, my mother would shoot him a look that would surely have killed a weaker man and place her dabba carefully back in its drawer. Occasionally my father would get fed up with the overflowing drawer and clear all the dabbas. But my mother would simply start the process of collecting them again.

When I went away to university, my mom used to cook food and send it back with me with strict instructions to wash the dabbas and bring them home. But when I did so, I felt embarrassed with the eyes of my roommates on me. Eventually, I found my way to a big company and had a family of my own. Like my mother before me, I’m also the proud owner of an extensive dabba collection.

They truly are the most useful of objects, with uses ranging from food storage to toys for my children. It is a source of a strange and indescribable comfort. When I married my husband, my mother was concerned. “You know, you come from very different backgrounds,” she said. Dealing with cultural differences is surely an adventure. But the other night, I heard my husband yelling in the kitchen, and the next morning, I found my dabbas in the recycling bin. I narrowed my eyes a little as I fished them out, washed them up and replaced them in their drawer. I was practising my mother’s death stare.

9 . The national parks of Russia are attracting many tourists. To make the selection of the popular parks easy for you, we prepared a few national parks worth visiting.

◎ Elk Island, Moscow

Elk (麋鹿) Island is the very first national park of Russia. It was established in the year 1983. The park is located to the north of the Capital City. If you are a true love of nature, then here you can enjoy riding a bicycle in the park. The entrance of this park is near the Belokamennaya station and no entry fee is there. If you are willing to visit the elks, then you need to take a bus directly from the metro station.

◎ Pleshcheyevo Lake, Yaroslavl

It is located on the golden rule tourist route, and here you will get the feeling of ancient Rus. Travelers here love the picturesque view of the Sunset. The ancient city Pereslavl-Zalessky is surrounded by this park. You can get a bus directly from the Moscow Central Station.

◎ Sochi National Park, Moscow

This park was also started in the year 1983. This park is situated 1000 miles south of Moscow. It is quite impressive to notice that since 2007, Caucasian leopards have been introduced again in this park. Waterfalls, caves, and canyons altogether make the atmosphere really enjoyable and you can also take pleasure swimming in the warm black sea.

◎ Land of the Leopard, Vladivostok

If you are desirous to watch leopards, then Vladivostok is definitely the best place to visit. This place is situated 5600 miles away from east Moscow and here you will be able to get a glimpse of the wild cats — leopards. This region is spread from the Amur Bay. There is one single tourist route to enter the park.