Dear Patrick,

My dad is always very busy at work and rarely     1     (spend) time with me. I feel like he’s becoming more and more like a stranger to me. Sometimes I don’t even know     2     to get close to him when he’s around. Do you have any     3     (suggest)?

Hai

Hi Hai,

I’m Patrick McCarthy, but you can call me Pat. This is the space where I can help you with your daily life problems, one-on-one. Go ahead and ask away!

    4     (frank) speaking, my dad is very similar     5     yours. He is always busy and obsessed with work, also called a “workaholic (工作狂)”,   and I’ve never felt like I could have a close relationship with him,despite my best efforts.

Still, not every family relationship will end up     6     same way. In your case, you can suggest an activity you two could do together, like going to the movies. You could also talk about any interests you both have in common, such as history or art. Over time, you may end up     7     (encourage) him to “come out of his shell” more and more and help him realize that you two have things in common and     8     life is more than just work.

Also, it’s good to remember that our parents are still people like you and me. They have faults of their own. Be willing     9     (forgive) your father for his faults and missteps. This way, you won’t subconsciously (潜意识地) hold a grudge (怨恨) against him for acting like a stranger and thus avoid driving him away even     10     (far).

Patrick

The traditional Chinese calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Jingzhe (惊蛰),   or Awakening of Insects,     1     (fall) on March 5 and ends on March 20 this year.

The solar term signals a rise in temperature and increased rainfall,     2     (mark) the third solar term in the solar year. Its name alludes to (暗指) the awakening of animals     3     (sleep) in winter and everything beginning to come back     4     life.

Jingzhe is an extremely important time for farmers and     5     (see) as the beginning of the busiest time for agricultural work. Old Chinese     6     (say) such as “once Jingzhe comes, spring plowing (春耕) never rests” reveal the importance of this term to farmers. During this period, most parts of China experience a rapid increase in temperatures and a marked increase in sunshine,     7     provide the ideal conditions for farming activities.

Eating pears around Awakening of Insects is     8     widely practiced custom in China. One theory behind the practice is that as the Chinese word for “pear” sounds the same as the character meaning “to leave”, consuming pears during this solar term showed people’s wish to drive away pests from crops so that there would be a good harvest throughout the year.     9       (additional), according to theories of traditional Chinese medicine, the sweet, juicy and cold fruit can be good for the lungs     10     (prevent) coughs as the weather warms up and the air becomes dry.

Many young people wants     1     (become) great athletes. They exercise and lift weights in the gym. But the fact is that they don’t become stronger,     2     makes them unhappy.

Therefore, some of them are considering     3     (take) pills, which they think will help them become     4     (strong) than before. However, the truth is that these pills usually have some unintended side     5     (effect). Some of them may even affect     6     (they) liver or heart.     7     fact, some great athletes such as Griffith Joyner, died very young because they     8     (take) some pills.

For the above reasons, I suggest that young people be     9     (care) not to take pills.     10     best way to become stronger is going to a gym to work out.

Published in 1957, Teahouse is not only a peak of Lao She’s dramatist career but also a landmark in the history of modern Chinese drama.

Through a vivid     1     (describe) of what happened to a teahouse in Beijing and the fate of     2     (it) boss and a group of characters connected, Teahouse mirrors the social turmoil (动荡) and the     3     (pleasant) side of the old society. The play describes 70 characters     4     (live) in a 50-year-long period     5     involves three dynastic periods. It is a classic play with a high degree of artistic charm.

    6     successful performance of Teahouse by Beijing People’s Art Theater would be unimaginable without Jiao Juyin, the general director for the play. As a play     7     (fill) with many characters from different historical periods, Teahouse presented many severe     8     (challenge) to the director. However, Jiao Juyin had not only had a good command of the play but also turned it     9     a national poem. The teahouse in the play not only     10     (serve) as a stage set but also is a poetic symbol.

Gather together a couple of good friends and take a leisurely walk through the streets—this is what many youngsters in China enjoy doing when they pay a visit     1     a new city. To them, Citywalk means “wandering around the city” on foot. Participants can follow a special urban route, exploring old     2     (building) or enjoying real local snacks.

The origins of Citywalk can be traced (追溯) back to London, England. Strictly speaking, this form of urban tourism     3     (be) not as casual and aimless as it may appear. In the beginning, Citywalk referred to tours where participants followed a     4     (plan) route under the guidance of tour conductors, exploring deep into the city’s history, culture, landscapes     5     other aspects. Gradually, the concept of Citywalk,     6     focuses on the quiet appreciation of urban lifestyle and cultural atmosphere, has gained popularity worldwide.

Up to now, the Citywalk trend     7     (spread) from first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai to second-tier and third-tier cities, encouraging more participants and event organizers to get involved. Some organizers invite folk culture researchers and enthusiasts (爱好者)     8     (act) as tour guides.

In short, Citywalk not only offers     9     way for young people to interact with a city but also provides them with a new social scene, where people wit the same interests and ideas can     10     (easy) make friends.