Yue opera,     1     originated in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, is often referred to as “the Eastern Opera” or “the Oriental Opera” and up to now, Yue opera has gained     2     (recognize) at home and abroad.

Yue opera combines various art forms such as singing, acting, and acrobatics,     3     (make) it a comprehensive and highly entertaining stage performance. The singing in Yue opera is usually in a high-pitched, melodious style, accompanied by traditional Chinese musical     4     (instrument), such as erhu. The performers demonstrate exceptional vocal control and use distinctive techniques     5     (express) emotions and tell stories.

Yue opera     6     (include) adaptations of ancient Chinese literature, historical events, folk tales, and contemporary plays. The stories often revolve (围绕) around themes of love, loyalty, and retribution. The characters     7     (describe) in great depth, and the performers’ facial expressions and body language bring the characters to life.

The costumes in Yue opera are known     8     their attention to detail. The makeup is equally elaborate (精致的) and enhances the character’s features and emotions.

Yue opera has a rich history and a strong cultural significance in China. It holds a special place in the hearts of the people     9     has been highly appreciated.

In recent years, efforts have been made to promote Yue opera     10     (international), showcasing its unique charm and preserving its traditions for future generations.

A shorter work week was found to promote employees’ happiness.

Findings from a pilot program     1     (publish) after 61 British companies were enrolled in a trial four-day work week, with employees working an average of 34 hours per week between June and December 2022 without pay cuts.

The program has been considered as     2     great success in the past two months, as employees reported improved well-being and a     3     (major) of participating companies said they would keep the change.

The companies     4     adopted a four-day work week were from a wide range of sizes and were permitted     5     (design) a policy according to their own needs, with the only conditions being that pay was not cut and employees were given a “meaningful” reduction in work time. The employees surveyed said they     6     (feel) less anxious, less tired and were sleeping     7     (well), but the benefits were not limited to workers. Data also showed staff losses dropped     8     57 percent in the trial period.

At the end of the six-month trial, 56 of those companies decided to stick with a four-day work week, and 18 did so     9     (permanent). Charlotte Lockhart, co-founder and managing director of 4 Day Week Global, said the results were     10     (inspire) and findings from similar programs around the globe would be coming.

Have you ever noticed when ordering takeaway food     1     there is an additional cost on top of the delivery fee? That is the packaging fee (包装费).

This fee is uneasy     2     (notice) because it is usually small and people acknowledge its value because takeaway food     3     (need) proper packaging.

Now,     4     , some shops have been found to be adding unrelated costs     5     it,     6     (give) consumers unpleasant surprises. Some     7     (shop) apply individual packaging fees for each ingredient of milk tea, each kebab in a barbecue, and even for choosing the flavor of     8     hot-pot meal. With all these charges stacking up, sometimes the     9     (seem) insignificant (微不足道的) outsourcing fees can account for half of the cost of a takeout order.

The Shanghai Consumer Protection Commission in Tune     10     (call) for rules on standardized and transparent packaging fees for takeaways in June, 2023.

Confucianism is a major belief system that started in ancient China,     1     was developed by a thinker     2     (name) Confucius. It’s not a religion     3     the typical sense, but a set of moral, ethical, and social guidelines.

Confucianism emphasizes respect for elders,     4     (devote) to family, and social harmony. It also highly values education and promotes personal growth. Central to Confucianism is the idea that human beings are fundamentally good and     5     they can improve through self-cultivation and self-creation.

Another key concept in Confucianism is “Li”, which means “proper behavior”. It’s about behaving     6     (correct) in every social situation to maintain harmony and balance.

In addition, Confucianism promotes the idea of “Ren”, or “humaneness”. It suggests that individuals should be     7     (sympathy) and kind towards others, with a strong sense of duty and care for people in their community.

Confucianism has shaped the culture, social structures, and history of China and other East Asian countries. It has played a huge role in the development of their education systems, family structures, and government systems. Today, it     8     (continue) to have a deep influence,     9     (guide) the behaviors and values of many people. In essence, Confucianism is a powerful philosophy that encourages respect, compassion, learning, and harmony in society. It’s a way of life that     10     (touch) countless lives over centuries.

Plogging     1     (refer) to the act of picking up trash while jogging. Ploggers collect trash, such as plastic bottles, waste paper and cans from parks, beaches, and other outdoor areas when they exercise.

The     2     (found) of plogging was Erik Ahlstrom. He used to live in a small town, but later he moved to Stockholm,     3     capital city of Sweden. He could hardly believe     4     he saw there—garbage filled every corner of the city. So, he decided to do something     5     (change) the situation. Every time he went jogging, he would invite some friends to pick up trash with him. This gradually became a habit and inspired more and more people to join in the activity. Some famous sports brands even began to provide     6     (run) shoes for plogging enthusiasts (爱好者). Since then, plogging     7     (become) increasingly popular around the world.

Now, plogging is widely recognized as an     8     (effect) and eco-friendly way to keep healthy and contribute to the environment. Whether you are a fitness enthusiast     9     simply want to do your part to protect the environment, plogging will be a great choice. So, why not give it a try? You might find a new way to stay connected to nature and make the Earth a     10     (good) place to live on.

Every year thousands of tourists flock to China. They come to see the grand sights of the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, but     1     leaves the strongest impression is the ancient Chinese architecture     2     (feature) the hutongs. Nowadays, the word “hutong” has come to mean more than just the alleys that connect the courtyards. It also refers to the courtyards     3     (they) and even to the communities that live there.

The majority of Beijing’s hutongs     4     (build) during the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. To help them keep control over the city, the Emperors placed guards at the     5     (enter) of hutongs, which made it easier to keep an eye on people’s movements.

By connecting people’s homes, the hutongs in fact connected people’s lives,     6     the lives of the rich or the lives of the ordinary citizens. Because of the hutongs, courtyards were joined together for miles around,     7     created a network of people working, playing and living together — a real community.

Hutongs are still an important part of Beijing’s life and it is not surprising that tourists love the hutongs. They can walk up Sanmiao Street — a     8     (historic) significant street in central Beijing. The hutongs not only link Beijing’s streets and communities, but also its past and present, showing that Beijing is truly     9     ancient yet modern city. Thanks to the increasing importance     10     (attach) to cultural heritage protection in recent years, the tourists have the chance to feel connected to the past.

One sunny day in the late spring of 353, a party took place with 40-some poets, scholars, and artists     1     (play) a drinking game by a river in Lanting, or the “Orchid Pavilion”, a hilly southwestern suburb of Shaoxing. They floated cups of wine in the flow of the stream.     2     the cup stopped in front of a guest, he had to compose a poem.

A total of 37 poems     3     (write) that day, but it was the foreword to the poetry collection by famed calligrapher Wang Xizhi, titled “Preface to the Poems Collected from the Orchid Pavilion”, that made this party one of the best     4     (know) in Chinese literary history. In 324 words, Wang described the event while expressing his passion     5     life. The naturally-flowing strokes, a product of his outstanding skills and the     6     (inspire) of the moment have led the “Preface” to be regarded     7     (wide) as the best semi-cursive calligraphy(行书) work ever.

Today, visitors can go to the “Orchid Pavilion” area,     8     elegant garden complex on the former site of the party,     9     includes a calligraphy museum, a pavilion, and a pond, all     10     (surround) by thick bamboo forests. In downtown Shaoxing-a world of alleyways, green canals, ancient bridges and graying whitewashed houses, one can also visit a number of scenery sites connected with Wang’s stories from his time there.

Nowadays, the word “hutong ” has come to mean more     1     just the alleys that connect the courtyards. It also refers to the courtyards     2     (they) and even to the communities that live there.

To help them keep control over the city, the Emperors during these Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasty    3    (arrange) different areas of Beijing in neat blocks of houses established around courtyards. They were then able to place guards at the     4    (enter) of the various hutongs, which made it easier     5    (keep) an eye on people’s movements.   

By connecting people’s homes, the hutongs in fact connected people’s lives,     6     the lives of the rich or the lives of the ordinary citizens.

Towards the end of the Qing Dynasty, the conditions in Beijing’s hutongs went down as the political situation cast a dark cloud on China’s economy. Many new hutongs were quickly built to house the     7    (increase) population but these new hutongs    8    (make) poorly.     

Hutongs are still     9     important part of Beijing’s life and it is not surprising that tourists love the hutongs. They can walk up Sanmiao Street,     10    (date) back 900 years.