As a distinctive visual art symbol of China, Chinese paper cutting, has been around for centuries. With     1     (simple) a piece of paper and a pair of scissors, diverse patterns ranging from portraits to animal zodiacs     2     (create) with delicate designs.

Due to their     3     (culture) value and low cost, Chinese paper cut-outs are popular ornaments used to decorate windows and mirrors. When light shines through the negative spaces of the cut-outs,     4     elegant pattern is formed indoors.     5     (refer) to as ‘window flowers’, the pretty cuts outs decorating windows are significant in Chinese traditional culture.

The oldest     6     (survive) paper cut-out is a symmetrical (对称的) circle from the 6th century found in Xinjiang, China. The art of Chinese paper cutting is believed     7     (originate) in China even before the invention of paper by Cai Lun in 105 CE. There have been documentaries     8     record the Chinese using other thin materials such as leaves, silk, and leather to carve hollowed patterns. It was found that during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046–771 BC), people had already cut tree leaves into various art forms     9     given them out as presents. They created paper-cuts to depict beautiful things, worship, and express good     10     (wish) .

We’ve all heard the advice to “get out of your comfort zone” by taking on a new challenge. A recent study goes a step further: Make discomfort a direct goal. That’s more likely to motivate you than if you focus on     1     you hope to learn.

In the first of five experiments, the researchers assigned several hundred students training at Second City Chicago     2     (participate) in a small-group improvisation (即兴) exercise, and then instructed half of the group that their goal during the session was “to feel awkward and     3     (comfortable).” The rest, those in the control group,     4     (tell) to “feel yourself developing new skills.” Members of the first group kept at the exercise longer than the others did and took     5     (great) risks. Experiments involving other dimensions of personal     6     (grow) — engaging in expressive writing, learning about gun violence, and hearing about opposing political beliefs —     7     (produce) similar results.

Reframing anxiety as excitement has been proven a way to improve singing in front of strangers, and     8     (think) of stress as a means to boost achievement a demonstrated stress-management technique.

“When people reinterpret negative experiences as functional, they are more willing to engage     9     tasks that call forth those experiences,” the researchers explain. “Instead of seeing discomfort as unrelated to the goal     10     a signal to stop, they will start perceiving it as a sign of progress toward their goal. ”

A blogger from Sichuan, nicknamed “AI Crazy House,”     1     (release) an AI-generated animated short film of “Journey to the West”     2     the Internet. The film shocked netizens with its visual effects and opened up new     3     (possibility) for presenting classic works in film and television.

Through deep learning and innovative techniques, AI reinterpreted this Chinese literary masterpiece,     4     (deliver) breathtaking visual effects and emotional experiences.

The blogger, Mr. Feng, has 15 years of art experience. He stated that the video,     5     would have taken at least six months to produce manually, was completed in a week with the help of AI.

He also explained the steps     6     (generate) videos with AI. Taking the first episode of “Journey to the West” as     7     example, from the beginning of chaos to the birth of the stone monkey to the learning of art, he emphasized the need to determine the required number of pictures and storyboards.

He mentioned using ChatGPT to analyze the original text, complete storyboard planning, use AI painting software for drawing,     8     then employ “picture-to-video” software to animate the images.

These processes     9     (general) produce a large number of preliminary drafts. “At present, it is difficult for AI     10     (understand) my meaning.” Mr. Feng said.

Since its first appearance in Paris in mid-December, the Yuyuan Garden Lantern Show     1     (attract) huge crowds to admire its fine designs and     2     (color) lights during the cold winter nights at the 163-year-old Jardin d’Acclimatation amusement park.

It is the first time that the lantern show,     3     national intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产) item in Shanghai, has been held outside China.

The show, which opened on Dec.15 in Paris at the same time as the one that opened in Shanghai’s Yuyuan Garden,     4     (be) among events celebrating the     5     (sixty) anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic relations. It also welcomes the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism. The show will run through Feb. 25.

According to the event’s organizer Yuyuan Inc., 3,000 online tickets     6     (buy) up in a day, with additional ones being sold in-person.

At the brightly lit double dragon-shaped gate, long lines     7     visitors can be seen at the entrance.

    8     (theme) on “Classic of Mountains and Seas”,     9     shares the name of the ancient Chinese mythology (神话) Shan Hai Jing, the event comprises 60 large Chinese lantern sets and 2,000 traditional lanterns,     10     (allow) visitors to appreciate the breathtaking art of Chinese lanterns and broader Chinese culture.

Two things are unique about 2024. First, it’s a leap year, and second, it has     1     same calendar as 1996. This has made 1996 calendars a hot item on websites like eBay,     2    some are sold for almost $200. On certain Chinese online platforms, the keywords “1996 calendar” have surged to the top of the search rankings,     3    (result) in a significant increase in the prices of these special vintage calendars.

In this wave of discussions about calendars, some netizens also asked, “Are there still people using paper calendars currently?” Regarding this, some netizens said, “Although everyone now uses electronic     4    (product), just like some people love to collect stamps, there are also many people who have a hobby of collecting old calendars.” “Anyway, I buy a calendar every New Year.”

A netizen exclaims, “When     5    (use) a paper calendar, one can better experience the     6    (pass) of time from brand new to gradually turning yellow calendar pages, and also each important day     7    (mark). This is the time I have experienced.”

It is not unusual for leap year calendars to be     8    (entire) identical. Every 28-year cycle, leap year calendars will be precisely the same. Are you wondering when your 2024 calendar will repeat? You can reuse it in 2052.Netizens immediately subscribed     9    the view     10     it will be a “business opportunity,” suggesting “Let’s stockpile this year’s calendars and sell them online for a good price in 2052!”

The daily list of my 18-year-old daughter, Julia, became a reminder of the     1     (important) of kindness to others.

I walked into the kitchen and saw Julia, who was mixing flour and milk     2     (make) muffins (松饼). “Chocolate muffins for you and banana nut muffins for Dad,” Julia said with a smile. The following afternoon, at     3     end of her shift at the grocery store, Julia picked up milk and other items she     4     (clear) knew our family needed. The next time she went to work, she got groceries for my mother-in-law,     5     lives across the street. Over the next week, Julia unloaded the dishwasher, made dinner and swept the floor — things I normally would have done — all without     6     (ask) to do so.

On Friday, I saw Julia’s to-do list on the kitchen table, on which the last item     7    (catch) my eye: “Do something nice for someone else.” I looked through the notebook, finding that every day’s list included that same task, so suddenly I remembered the muffins she’d made, the dishes she’d washed     8     the groceries she’d bought. “What a great girl!” I said to     9     (I). My daughter reminded me loving others by doing something nice for them is important, which is     10     important that it makes my to-do list each day.