3 . How did the ancient Chinese keep food warm in winter? In fact, ancient Chinese people used their own methods of heat preservation as early as the Shang and Zhou dynasties.

● “Wen Ding”, ancient rice cooker

One of the major functions of an electric rice cooker is to keep food warm. The “Wen Ding”, an ancient cooking container, served the same purpose. The “Wen Ding” unearthed in Nanjing in 1989 is thought to be the oldest of its kind discovered in China, dating back to the Stone Age. The craftsmanship of making the “Wen Ding” was developed in the Bronze Age. The bronze Ding from Shang and Zhou dynasties took on different shapes and structures.

● “Ran LU”, ancient small hot pot

The “Ran LU” is a small size cooking vessel (器皿) made of bronze, which can be divided into three parts. A charcoal stove forms the main structure, with a bottom tray to hold charcoal ashes, and a movable cup at the top. Some experts have concluded that the vessel’s structure suggests it may have been used as a small hot pot and that these vessels became popular in the Warring States Period (475—221 BC).

●Bronze You, ancient kettle

The Bronze You was one of the most common wine containers during the Shang and Zhou dynasties. The Bronze You can also be used to warm wine. For example, the Bronze You with beast mask design, unearthed in Jiangxi province, has an opening where charcoals could be placed. Just as people today can’t do without an electric kettle, the Bronze You allowed people to enjoy a hot drink

●Bronze Yan, ancient steamer

Although the “Wen Ding” was effective at keeping food warm, the ancient Chinese people later found that its burning produced pollution. As a result, the Bronze Yan was made with a two-tier structure and used to steam rice and other grains. After the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-AD 220), further improvements to the Bronze Yan led to the modern-day steamer.

As everyone knows，it is Jingdezhen in Jiangxi province where the local porcelain(瓷器) is highly desirable     1     is the center of world porcelain. Last year, my school held a two-day research activity,     2     (guide) by the slogan,“Exploring ceramic(陶瓷的) culture, traveling through ancient and modern times”. The aim was     3     (build) students’ awareness of traditional culture.

On our way to Jingdezhen，our guide introduced us to the basics of porcelain production. Our first stop was the Museum of Chinese Ceramics, which has     4     unique and exquisite collection of porcelain made from materials such as clay(陶土) and stone.

The guide told us of the great achievements in ceramics from ancient times until today. I listened carefully to everything.     5    (date) back to Neolithic(新石器时代) period, clay was used to make pottery(陶器)，    6     people used to carry water and food. Today, we still use porcelain but our pottery is     7     (real) far more beautiful than the products of those times.

On the second day, the team leader took us to a small DIY porcelain factory.     8     the guidance of the teacher, we     9     (give) some clay and the chance to design a piece of pottery. Although our efforts were not as beautiful as the articles in the museum, they were our own work. The two-day activity was     10     (enjoy) and meaningful. I learned a lot about porcelain and made an item on my own. It meant a lot to me.

7 . London is a real treat for museum lovers and museums are a popular destination among London's many attractions. Below is a list of London's top museums.

London Transport Museum

Travel through the museum, which hosts exhibitions （展品展示）about transport with the social and cultural history of London. Inside, you'll find more than 80 vehicles covering 200 years of London's history, including a red Routemaster bus and the world's first underground steam train. There are great posters and artworks too!

Price: Adult ticket: £18.50 per ticket, child ticket: Free. Save £1.50 when purchasing tickets online in advance.

Opening time: 10:00 -18:00 daily.

British Museum

Spend hours wandering the world-famous British Museum, which exhibits the works of man from prehistoric to modern times, collected from around the world. Don't miss the Rosetta Stone and the mummies in the Ancient Egypt collection.

Price: Free. A donation of £5 is recommended. Entrance fee for special exhibitions and some events.

Opening time: 10:00 - 17:30 daily. Open late on Fridays until 20:00.

Natural History Museum

As well as the dinosaur exhibition, the Natural History Museum keeps a collection of the biggest, tallest and rarest animals in the world. See a life-sized blue whale and a 40-million-year-old spider.

Price: Free. Entrance fee for some of the special exhibitions and events.

Opening time: 10:00 - 17:50 daily. Open late on the last Friday of each month. Closed 24 - 26 December.

The Design Museum

The Design Museum is the world's leading museum devoted to contemporary design in every form. Check out the regular exhibitions showcasing the rich creativity found in all forms of design, and its importance to our world.

Price: Adult ticket: £10.00, child ticket: £5.00 （children under 6 go free）.

Opening time: 10:00 - 18:00. Open except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

8 . I’d never been to a Day of the Dead festival before. As my dad and I looked around for seats, I _______ Marco, my best friend, hurrying toward us. “Hi, Mr. O’kane,” he _______ my dad. Then he turned to me. “Nate! Will you help me?"

“Whatever you need,” I said.

Marco threw me parts of a _______ : Mexican sandals（凉鞋）, a straw hat, a cane(手杖), a gray wig, and an“ old man” mask（面具）. “My cousin couldn’t_______ !” Marco’s voice rang with worry.

“It’s part of a traditional dance” he said.

“You expect me to dance? ” I _______ . “I don’t dance!”

Marco smiled. “It’ll be fun. And hurry! We’re _______ late.”

“ We’re going to do a lot of stomping(跺脚). Slow at first. Keep one hand _______ on your back, like an old man with an ache.” added Marco.

The speakers _______ : “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for The Dance of the Little Old Men!”

“Be quick,” Marco _______ to me to follow his lead.

We all began stomping slowly to music. I could only see ________ the small holes of the mask. I continued to stomp, trying to ________ what to do. I leaned on my cane and kept a hand low on my back. After a few minutes of dancing like that, my back ________ started to ache.

The music ________ . And we stomped quickly. Performing with Mexican sandals was ________ . People laughed as we hopped and kicked, but after a moment the laughter turned into cheers.

Marco gave me a thumbs-up. As the audience clapped for our group, I said to him happily, “You were right. That was ________ .”

A teahouse is a special house which primarily serves tea and other light refreshments. Its function varies widely    1     (depend) on the culture. In China, a teahouse is a place     2     people gather to enjoy tea, chat and socialize. It     3     (consider) as a symbol of Chinese tea culture and people’s leisure life.

Chinese teahouses enjoy a long-standing history. They developed from tea stands in the Western Jin Dynasty,    4     (take) shape in the Tang Dynasty, developed gradually in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties and became booming in modern times.

In the Song Dynasty, teahouses existed all over cities and villages, at a rate comparable with     5     of restaurants. The owners preferred to decorate their teahouses     6     paintings of celebrities and rare and precious plants     7     (attract) customers. In the Ming and Qing dynasties,     8     number of teahouses went beyond that of restaurants, gaining more popularity and becoming more famous. Later, the acculturation of Western culture forces traditional Chinese teahouses to take on a new look. After reform and opening up, with the rapid development of the economy and     9     (evidence) improvement of people’s living     10     (standard), teahouses flowered in China.

10 . Color is considered one of the most useful and powerful design tools you have. People respond to different colors in different ways. Colors tell someone if you are friendly. In the same way they affect whether someone will continue clicking through your website. Colors determine if someone will start reading your article in a magazine or post on your website.

Colors also help to keep people involved on your website and determine how long they stay. Of course that’s not just about the content. Colors also influence how people will respond and behave.

The next time you go into a fast-food restaurant, look closely at the colors. Do they decorate with vivid reds and oranges because they encourage diners to eat and leave quickly like many of the fast-food establishments(企业)？That is exactly the response they want.

Different cultures have different attitudes and preferences; thus, they will have another color reaction. In China, “white” stands for death and in Brazil, it is the color purple while in America it is black. People from warm countries respond favorably to warm colors; people from colder climates prefer cooler colors. In America, green is associated with jealousy or money. Blue (the most popular) is associated with trust, responsibility, belonging and coolness.

This also means that color affects shopping habits. Different colors attract different kinds of customers. Red, orange, black and royal blue attract impulse(冲动的)buyers. Pink, light blue and navy attract smart budget shoppers. There is really a lot into it. To experience this, why not click on the following large companies’ websites that have spent the funds on this type of research now?