Xi’an, or Chang’an as it was called for many centuries,     1    (be) a built-up urban area for over 3000 years, and once served as capital for 13 dynasties. It is home     2     which many immovable cultural heritages，three of     3     are on the UNESCO’s world cultural heritage list.

These days，the city has made effective exploration in     4     (build) modernity while preserving historical legacy(遗产). A recent piece of news announced by Shaanxi’s cultural relic authority caused nationwide attention     5     a ruin of ancient capital dating back to Qin Dynasty was unearthed during the construction of the Xi’an MetroLine 5. In order to protect the ruin，the metro line may have to change     6     (it) route.

    7     (face) with the heavy and important，task of protecting cultural relics while promoting urban construction，Xi’an made active     8     (attempt). Rails of the metro system are built 15 to 20 meters underground in order to protect the ancient tombs which are     9     (usual) buried in the layer within 5 meters from the surface level. Besides，the metro constructors have also painted the walls inside the stations with historical stories，presenting     10     visual feast for citizens.

Papercutting     1    (recognize) as the national cultural heritage (遗产)in 2006. According to experts, paper-cutting conveys the culture shared     2     China and the West to wish for family reunions and maintain links with loved ones, alive or dead.

In the movie Coco, for instance, the 12-year-old Miguel and his family dance and sing     3    (celebrate) the Day of the Dead, a     4    (tradition) festival in Mexico, when colorful paper-cuts are hung on the street. Chinese people also cut images of small figures to call back the spirits of     5     dead. The difference is that most Chinese paper-cuts are red, while those in other countries are often made in many other colors.

Fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen liked to cut     6    (character), such as princesses and angels, out of paper while     7    (tell) stories to children. In China, female friends and family members used to chat and make paper-cuts together.

“    8     the patterns and colors may be different, paper-cuts share the same function of maintaining emotional ties among people.” says Yang Huizi, an art teacher at Beijing Union University.

Yang     9    (study) and performed the art for over a decade. Besides routine university courses, she also organizes nonprofit paper-cutting activities     10     are open to the public in Beijing to promote basic knowledge of papercutting.

5 . People in the United States honor their parents with 2 special days: Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May and Father’s Day on the 3rd Sunday in June. These days are to show love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible citizens. They give love and care. These two days offer an opportunity to think about the changing roles of mothers and fathers. More mothers now work outside the home and more fathers must help with childcare.

These two special days are celebrated in many different ways. On mother’s Day, people wear carnations (康乃馨). A red one symbolizes a living mother. A white one shows that the mother is dead. Many people attend religious services to honor parents. It’s also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery (墓地). On these days families get together at home as well as in restaurants. They often have outdoor barbecue for Father’s Day. These are days of fun and good feelings and memories.

Another tradition is to give cards and gifts. Children make them in school. Many people make their own presents. These are more valued than those bought in stores. It’s not the value of the gift that is important, but “the thought that counts”. Greeting card stores, florists, candy makers, bakers, phone companies and other stores do lots of business during these holidays.

The art of paper-cutting in China may date back to the second century, since paper    1    (invent)by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han Dynasty in China. As paper became more affordable, paper0cutting became one of the most important    2    (type) of Chinese folk art. Later,    3     different regions adopting their own cultural styles, this art form spread to other parts of the world.    4     (usual), the artworks are made of red paper, as red is associated with    5    (happy) in Chinese culture, but other colors are also used.

With    6    (it) long history, paper-cutting,    7    originated in China, has been very popular among the ordinary Chinese people. People put up papercuts on walls, windows and doors at wedding ceremonies or festivals     8    (strengthen) the cheerful atmosphere.

Chinese papercuts are rich in content. The auspicious（吉祥的）designs symbolize good luck and the avoidance of evil. The child, lotus and bat designs suggest a family with    9    large number of children and grandchildren. Birds, livestock, fruit, fish and worms are also familiar objects    10    (accept) by Chinese farmers. In a word, papercuts used in different occasions have different meanings.

8 . Riding a Mobike on the street, you might hear people speaking Chinese aloud.    1    Walking into a store, you may see Huawei smartphones for sale. This isn't referring to China, but Manchester, UK.    2    Indeed, Chinese products have gone global.

    3    But to meet local people’s tastes, Chinese restaurants have made some changes to the dishes. “One example is the meat,” said Yin Hang, who is studying at the University of Wollongong in Australia. "We like to eat meat with the bone in, but people here don't. So Chinese restaurants provide big pieces of meat without bones, even for fish.

    4    In many cities in Europe, stores sell TCL televisions, Haier fridges and Lenovo computers, reported Reuters. More than half of US-owned drones(无人机)are Chinese models, according to China Daily. They're not simply made in China, but designed and developed in the country.

In the past, most Western people thought Chinese products were cheap and unreliable.     5     “Made in China” has become cool and more people trust Chinese brands. For example, Huawei, one of China's major smartphone makers, overtook Apple in global smartphone sales for the first time in June and July last year, behind only Samsung, noted consulting(咨询)firm Counterpoint Research.

“They are beautiful and offer some unique features American phones don't have,” CNN once said about Chinese smartphones.

9 . Top Music Festivals in 2021

Coachella

Selling out fast every year, the Indio desert becomes a fashionable place where the coolest bands are watched by trendy people and celebrities. Near the top of everyone's bucket list of festivals, Coachella is a constant source of annual expectation and a hotbed for musical discussion.

When &. where: April 9-11 &. 16-18, 2021; Indio

Ultra Music Festival

Seen as the ultimate gathering for electronic music fans across the nation and globe, the streets of Miami turn into a bold and bumping party with popular DJs playing what will be the sounds of summer.

When & where: March 26-28, 2021; Miami

South By South West

Regarded as the ultimate trend-setter and launcher of careers, SXSW is an annual showcase of music, films and interactive highlights enjoyed through performances, showcases, talks, screenings and more. Virtually taking over the city of Austin, everyone in the world of music from fans to media flock here to discover the next big thing.

When &, where: March 16-20, 2021; Austin

The Governors Ball Music Festival

Another event which proves the music loving potential of Randall's Island Park is Governors Ball, an exciting and infectious mix of rock, hip-hop, electronic, pop and folk.   Providing a variety of music and food tastes, whether you look to kick back and relax or dance to the beats, Governors Ball has what you want.

When & where: June 11-14, 2021; New York

10 . The shadow play is a typical traditional entertainment that has survived and thrived over the centuries. It is taken as an earliest ancestor of modern cinema.

Legend has it that more than 2,000 years ago, Emperor Wu of Han was very depressed about the death of his favorite concubine (妃子). To help him get over his sadness, a minister made a puppet out of cotton and silk in the likeness of the concubine and projected its shadow on a curtain for the emperor to see. The show brought the emperor some comfort. He somehow believed the shadow was his lover's spirit. This is thought to be the beginning of the shadow play.

One mouth tells stories of thousands of years; a pair of hands operate millions of soldiers. This is how the shadow puppeteer works. Nicknamed “the business of the five”, a shadow play group is made up of five people. One operates the puppets, one plays a suona and a yueqin, one plays the banhu, one is in charge of percussion instruments (打击乐器), and one sings.

During performances, “actors” are held close to a white curtain with their colored shadows cast on it by a strong light from behind. The operator plays five puppets at the same time, each of which has three threads. Ten fingers handle fifteen threads. Moved by guiding sticks, the puppets play roles with musical accompaniment, The popularity of the shadow play in some way lies in the equipment being light and easy to carry, the small number of people needed for a performance, and the flexible requirements for performance places. The plays can be quite dramatic and, when it comes to myths or kung fu stories, the “actors” may be made to ride on clouds or perform unusual feats, to the great enjoyment of the audience, especially children. The audience can tell a figure's character by seeing his mask. Like the masks in Beijing opera, a red mask represents loyalty and bravery.

Nowadays, the shadow play has been industrialized and developed a series of tourist products for the promotion of Chinese culture and tourism.