In ancient China lived an artist     1     paintings were almost lifelike. The artist’s reputation had made him proud. One day the emperor wanted to get his portrait (画像) done so he called all great artists to come and present their     2     (fine) work, so that he could choose the best. The artist was sure he would     3     (choose), but when he presented his masterpiece to the emperor’s chief minister, the old man laughed. The wise old man told him to travel to the Li River—perhaps he could learn a little from the greatest artist in the world.

Charlie Chaplin is a household name around the world. He     1     (regard) as one of the best comedy actors. People of all ages can be made laugh heartily by his performances. In my opinion, the     2     (funny) thing of all about Charlie Chaplin was the way he walked when he was acting as the Tramp,     3     is a poor man with a kind heart and often has unexpected adventures     4     (involve) the police. The Tramp is a symbol of the silent cinema.

Filled with     1     (curious), the artist packed his bags and left. When he asked the villagers on the banks of the river where he could find the legendary artist, they smiled and pointed down the river. The next morning he hired a boat and set out     2     (find) the well-known painter. As the small boat moved gently along the river he was left speechless by the mountains being silently reflected in the water. He passed milky white waterfalls and mountains in many shades of blue. And when he saw the mists rising from the river and the soft clouds     3     (surround) the mountain tops, he was reduced to tears. The artist was finally humbled by the greatest artist on earth, Mother Nature.

4 . As some of these actors could not sing well enough, they had to rely on other musicians to help them. So during the broadcasts they just ______ to sing. Anyhow their ______ were humorous enough to be copied by other groups. They were so popular that their fans formed clubs in order to get more ______ with them. Each week on TV, the Monkees would play and sing songs ______ by other musicians. ______, after a year or so in which they became more ______ about their work, the Monkees started to play and sing their own songs like a real band. Then they     ____ their own records and started touring and playing their own music. In the USA they became even more popular than the Beatles and sold even more ______. The band ______ up in about 1970, but happily they reunited in the mid-1980s. They produced a new record in 1996, _______which they celebrated their former time as a real band.