Today’s skiers are used to relying on ski lifts at resorts to take them to the top of a mountain before     1     (experience)the addictive thrill of skiing down the mountain.     2    , in some snow-covered villages in Altay prefecture (辖区) of Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, it’s common in winter to see local herdsmen, with boards     3     (attach) to their feet, climb the snowy slopes without any other forms of assistance.

The pair of boards are wrapped with horsehide(马革),     4     serves a double purpose. Remarkably, the horsehide not only can provide friction (摩擦) to prevent skiers from slipping while going up, but also helps them slide more     5     (smooth)down the slopes.

According to rock carvings uncovered in the area by archaeologists, such     6     (ski) have served for around 12,000 years     7     a means of transportation for the snowfield inhabitants of Altay. The fur skiing boards gradually lost     8     (they) popularity in recent decades after paved roads linked houses to the outside world.

However, Altay plans to protect and promote its skiing culture. The local government department     9     (want) to pass its skiing tradition to future generations. The prefecture is working     10     (develop)the area as a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders. As a result, the ancient fur skiing boards and the craft of making them have found a new lease of life in modern times.

Located in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Jiuzhaigou Valley is famous     1     its greenish-blue lakes, beautiful waterfalls, colorful forests, snow-capped peaks     2     the local Tibetan ethnic culture.

Jiuzhaigou got     3    (it) name because there are nine Tibetan villages in the valley. For centuries Tibetan people have lived in the region, but it was not officially discovered by the government until 1972. It     4    (declare) a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.

The valley is the     5    (nature) habitat for two of China’s most treasurable endangered species — the giant panda and the Sichuan takin(羚牛). You are likely to see other     6    (creature) including birds, insects and fish.

Over 80 percent of the scenic area is covered by forests. In the lower regions, there are plenty of grasses and reeds. These are quickly replaced by bamboo forests     7     in turn give way to conifers(针叶树) at the upper regions. Beyond them, snow-capped peaks of the Minshan Mountains are also very     8    (attract).

The most comfortable climate     9    (visit) Jiuzhaigou is in July. Umbrellas and wet weather clothing, as well as sun protection cream and hats are     10    (high) recommended as the weather is often changing.

Shennongjia is one of the most popular scenic spots in China. It is said to be the place     1     the Emperor Yan once lived. Some visitors hope that they may even encounter the legendary “wild man”. They do not actually see any wild man,       2     they’re attracted by Shennongjia’s natural wonders and rich biodiversity. Shennongjia’s beauty     3     (vary) over the year as nature takes     4     (it) course. Tourists can enjoy flower blossoms in spring, be shaded from the summer heat, appreciate red leaves in   autumn and go skiing in winter.

Official data showed that tourist     5     (visit) to Shennongjia Forestry District reached more than 15.5 million last year. And the forest area aims     6     (increase) that annual figure to over 30 million in the near future. The journey to Shennongjia will take up to five hours from nearby Yichang and Shiyan cities. By July, it’s estimated that Shennongjia will be linked to a newly built high- speed railway,     7     (make) the mountainous region more     8     (access).

    9     Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, tourists can buy a discounted ticket of the six major scenic areas in Shennongjia for 99 yuan, about 40 percent of     10     original price.

Sayram Lake, known as a pearl on the mountain, is the     1     (large) and highest alpine lake in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The lake lies in a mountain basin in the western part of Tianshan Mountain.     2     is the only way to Ili prefecture.

In ancient China, the lake     3     (call) the “clean sea.” It is also known as the “Atlantic Ocean’s last teardrop,” because it is the farthest place     4     the warm and humid (湿) air current of the Atlantic Ocean reaches.

    5     (locate) 2,073 meters above sea level and measuring 30 kilometers long and 25 kilometers wide, the lake covers     6     area of 460 square kilometers. The main source of the lake is ground water, in addition to some snow and river water. The lake rises     7     3 to 5 centimeters every year. Its area also     8     (continue) to grow.

The water in the lake is clear and peaceful,     9     (attract) flocks of ducks and swans. Flourishing cedar (雪松) trees cover the whole mountain. Herds of horses and sheep graze on the grassland. The lake has become a top     10     (choose) for lovers to take wedding photos and spend their honeymoons.

The Bell Tower in Xian, has a history of over 600 years and reopened to the public after renovation (整修).

The Bell Tower     1    (build) in 1384 during the Ming Dynasty. The 36-meter-tall, wood-and-brick structure is known as one of the     2    (large) and best-protected bell towers in China. The tower has witnessed the city's changes and development for     3     (century).

“Due to long-time exposure     4    wind, sunlight, rain and dust, the tower became broken,with its roof leaking and some paint     5     (drop).” Wang Lei, curator (馆长) of Xian Bell and Drum Towers Museum said. To prolong the life of the tower, the museum began to repair     6     (it) roof and outer golden columns in June.

The reopening of the Bell Tower has attracted visitors     7     come from home and abroad.     8    (visit) by more than 1,000 tourists on the opening day, it had attracted twice the number of visitors before its repair. The museum staff told the media that they determined     9     (extend) the opening hours by one hour every night.

This was     10    sixth renovation to the Bell Tower since 1949, with the last done in 2011.

Before it was brought to New Zealand about a century ago and became world-renowned as kiwifruit, this humble fruit     1     (plant) as “Chinese gooseberry” for almost 1,500 years. Back in its hometown in northwest China, it has brought good     2     (fortunate) to over 120,000 people.

Deng Xiaoqing, a farmer in Baoji city of Shaanxi province, sold out all of this year’s kiwifruit harvest. “The kiwifruit farmers     3     sales goal was completed ahead of schedule this year are enjoying great happiness,” said the     4     (ambition) farmer who was optimistic about the kiwifruit industry in his hometown. The fruit was recorded in China’s ancient medical book, Compendium of Materia Medica during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644),       5     it was cultivated (耕种) in fields and gardens as early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

The juicy fruits     6     (dry) for one day after being harvested in autumn can be better preserved in the county’s shared cold storage. Stored at a temperature     7     minus one degree Celsius and one degree Celsius, the fresh kiwifruit is kept hydrated (吸水) with automatic sprinklers and sufficient nitrogen.

    8     kiwifruit-themed museum has been set up in the county     9     (display) the fruit’s history and modern industrial development. The local government has teamed up with universities to     10     (far) improve the production efficiency and taste of the fruit.

“That is a sleeping dragon.” Napoleon,    1    was the future French emperor, once said. “Let him sleep! If he wakes, he will shake the world.” In 1803, he recognized China’s potential. In charge    2    the greatest military and economic power of his day, Napoleon had an eye for opponents. Now, China’s total domestic product passed    3    of both Britain and France. If Napoleon arrived in Beijing today, he would    4    (undoubted) say, “I told you so.”

Nowhere is China’s influence more apparent than Beijing. As China’s    5    (politics) and cultural center of China, Beijing offers a quick look into the nation’s expansive history and its rapid    6    (develop). You’ll find preserved palaces spreading elbows with new subway stations and peaceful lamaseries(藏传佛教寺院)    7    (share) space with world-class stadiums. Many of the city’s historical sites, such as the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square ,     8    (be) well-known to the world. Yet, the most popular attraction    9    (locate) outside Beijing: The Great Wall of China winds through the hills north of the city. When you witness this    10    (astonish) accomplishment of ancient China, you too will sense the great potential of this modern country.

One of the most famous monuments in the world,the Statue of Liberty,was presented to the United States of America in the nineteenth century     1    the people of France. The great statue,    2     was designed by the sculptor Auguste Bartholdi,     3    (take) ten years to   complete. The actual figure was made of copper supported by a   metal framework which had been     4    （especial）constructed by Eiffel.

Before it could     5    (transport) to the United States,a site had to be found for it and a pedestal had to be built. The site chosen was anisland at       6    entrance of New York Harbour.By 1884, a statue which was 151 feet tall had been erected in Paris. The following year, it was taken to pieces and sent to America.By the end of October 1886,   the statue had been put together again and     7     was officially presented to the American people by Bartholdi. Ever since then, the   great monument    8    (be)a symbol of liberty for the     9    (million)of people who have passed through New York Harbour to make    10    (they) homes in America.

In the Chinese language, Yaodong means “kiln cave”, named due to the building’s arched interior (拱形的内部), which looks like the inside of a kiln. These Yaodongs are     1     (common) found in the north central provinces of China such as Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu and Henan,    2     are located on the Loess Plateau (黄土高原).

Yaodongs can be divided into different types,     3     (depend) on the topography (地形) of the     4     (region) in which they were built. For instance，where hills are available, Yaodongs may be built into the slopes (斜坡), and a hill may contain several stories of Yaodongs.

The continuous use of Yaodongs on the Loess Plateau over the millennia can perhaps be attributed to their highly economical and efficient design. When     5     comes to building materials, only the local loess soil from the plateau is required for the building of Yaodongs. Additionally, the thick earthen walls are able to keep the interior of Yaodongs cool during the summer and warm during the winter.

In the last decade, the Yaodongs     6     (bring) to the attention of scientists and researchers. These traditional dwellings (住所) have been regarded     7     an example of sustainable design. It has been considered that Yaodongs are     8     reflection of a key traditional Chinese concept — the     9     (harmony) relationship between human beings and nature. Although Yaodongs may be a unique feature of the Loess Plateau，the idea     10     (reflect) in their construction is one that people today can bear in mind.