Jan Tchamani, an English teacher in Birmingham, UK, suddenly developed a serious illness and had to quit her job. At age 50, she found herself out of work and     1     (stick) at home with only her computer to keep her company. After     2    while, she discovered that     3     (surf) the Internet could help her feel less lonely and bored. She could listen to music, watch films, play games, and explore the world. She also joined an online group     4     she could talk about her problems and get support and advice from others. She realised that one of the greatest benefits of the Internet was its     5     (able) to remove the distance that usually exists between people.

She was so inspired by the people she       6     (meet) online that she decided to start an IT club to teach older people how to use computers and the Internet. She and her friends now organise events and collect money to pay for private teachers. Many people have been helped by the club. A 59-year-old man learnt how to apply for work online and found a great job. Now that he works and can take care of     7     (him), his daughter has time to study at university. A 61-year-old woman who was living alone has started a small online company together     8     two friends. She no longer feels lonely, and her company has become quite successful.

Jan’s life has been     9     (great) improved by the Internet. “When you go through tough times, you meet others who are facing similar challenges,” Jan says. “Thinking about other people’s situations inspired me     10     (offer) help.”

The animated film Chang An has become a surprise hit, earning     1     impressive 600 million yuan at the box office of the Chinese mainland within just ten days of its release. It has appealed to audiences of all ages, who     2     (enthusiastic) recite poetry alongside the characters on screen, taking them on a fantastic journey. This film not only identifies with the Chinese people but also allows the world     3     (explore) the rich tradition of Tang poetry and the “Chinese Poetry Universe”.

The story centers around the deep friendship between poet Gao Shi and the romantic poet Li Bai     4       (offer) a brief look into the glorious history of the Tang era,     5       is known for its economic prosperity and cultural advancement. The 48 Tang poems     6       (feature) in the movie present a view of the most excellent poets of that time as well as their political ambitions and ideals. These poems transport audiences     7     sandy deserts to mist-filled regions along the Yangtze River.

Chang An is undoubtedly a masterpiece that shows the unique characteristics of Chinese culture to the world. In China, poets and their poems     8     (consider) national treasures. These poems describe not only the historical changes of a dynasty, but also     9       (people) understanding of the world. The film has raised the audiences’     10       (aware) and enhanced their love and belief in Chinese culture.

Today I went to a conference,     1     two students had a debate about the strengths and weaknesses of the Internet.

The first speaker talked about the positive     2     (affect) of the Internet on our lives. The first is its value for people who     3     (look) for information now. For example, with the touch of a button or the click of a mouse, a student will find enough information     4     his or her command. The second is our ability     5     (relate) to others through the Internet and it is especially important for disabled people     6     can’t leave their homes. The     7     (two) speaker talked about the negative effects of the Internet on our lives. For example, some experts think that the outcome of spending too much time on the Internet has difficulty in     8     (form) social bonds. They were also quite explicit (明确的) about how heavy Internet users spend     9     (much) time with their Internet friends than their real-life friends from school and work.

Both sides presented lots of statistics to support their arguments. My own judgment is that though the Internet is beneficial, we should use our     10    (intelligent) and not be a slave to it!

The Confucian Analects or The Analects (论语) is a collection of the sayings and teachings of Confucius and his disciples (门徒). It     1     (make) in the early Warring States Period, over 70 years after the death of Confucius, from the notes that his disciples took according to the answers     2     their questions.

The present-day analects is based on the Lu version compiled during the Han Dynasty and contains     3     Confucian concept of ren or humanity or benevolence. Ren is rich in content, and varied in form. The core of the concept is “The benevolent love of others” or universal love,     4     is the basic virtue of a gentleman of noble character. Confucius believes that being benevolent does not mean     5     (be) without principles. One should be clear about what     6     (love) or hate. Ren comes from learning and self-cultivation: it can be seen from a person’s appearance. To be sure, li or rites and yue or music are important.     7    , ren is the No.1 principle of being a decent man. It is actually the essence of li and yue. Without ren, li or yue would be     8     (meaning).

Apart from ren, Confucius put forward another concept, which is yi or righteousness. Yi is the codes of conduct under the     9     (guide) of ren, “The virtuous man cherishes a respect for the law,    10     the vile (邪恶的) man cherishes generous treatment,.”

Living Heritage: Guqin

Wandering sounds, irregular rhythms and a carrier of gentle emotions. This is the musical language of guqin, a seven string instrument     1       (create) in ancient China.

The earliest piece of guqin in China, unearthed in Hubei province in 2016,     2     (date) back to the Zhou Dynasty. The body of a guqin is made     3     painted wood and the strings of twisted silk. Unlike its seemingly simple appearance, making a guqin is     4     (extreme) demanding. An outstanding piece can take anywhere from two to several decades to craft. It is a crystallization of art and time.

The guqin     5     (favor) by the literati (文人) in ancient China. The most renowned guqin     6     (music) was Yu Boya in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. As he played his guqin in the mountains, a woodcutter named Zhong Ziqi heard the music and understood exactly     7     Yu wanted to express. This deep understanding formed a strong bond between them, and they became close friends. This is     8     famous tale behind the guqin masterpiece, Flowing Water, High Mountains. The piece has been passed down through generations and is considered one of the most famous and important     9     (composition) in Chinese guqin music.

This graceful dialogue,     10       (flow) from brushed fingertips and travelling for thousands of years, is continuing to this day.

Yu Rong, a Chinese artist, thinks of a new way to introduce     1     ancient story of Hua Mulan in her picture book. In the book, I Am Hua Mulan, she tells the story by     2     (combine) Chinese paper-cutting with international artistic styles. She places Shaanxi papercuts over western-style pencil sketches (素描)    3     (create) typical presentation of Chineseelements (要素), which turns out to be a     4     (success) and impressive breakthrough.

Hua Mulan,     5     story has been told by generations in China, was a fighter from the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534). As a devoted daughter, she dressed herself as a man to serve in the army     6     place of her father. Mulan’s character, such as courage, kindness and a disinterested attitude towards fame and fortune, made     7     (she) one of the most respected historical Chinese heroines. Mulan’s story has been adapted     8     (frequent) in modern media. For example, in 1998, Disney produced a film named Mulan, which     9     (consider) a great success by critics and the public right after its release.

To better tell the story, Yu Rong takes inspiration from her several     10     (visit) to sites of ancient battles and Henan Province’s Yu Opera. After years of preparation she finally makes this extraordinary work.