2 . “When I first started learning calligraphy, I just copied the teacher’s strokes (笔画), and my work was ugly.” said Aryan from Afghanistan. He is currently a graduate student in Beijing, ________ in International Education of the Chinese language.

During his six-year stay in China, he discovered the ________ of Chinese culture. He also realized that Chinese is steadily becoming a(n) ________ language, and more people around the world want to communicate smoothly with Chinese.

To his surprise, the curriculum for foreign students in China ________ the classroom. The school organizes extracurricular ________ to help them learn and experience ________ and culture. After closer and deeper ________ with Chinese culture, Aryan found his hobby: calligraphy.

“Initially, I didn’t know much Chinese and thought calligraphy would be difficult,” Aryan said.” Later on, I found out that calligraphy can help me ________ my Chinese language skills and my understanding of Chinese culture.

He used to ________ the idea that writing Chinese characters was all about writing them neatly. But he later found out that this view is ________.Calligraphy helps him to understand both each stroke and the Chinese ________ toward life. The horizontal, vertical (垂直的) and left and right falling stokes on the paper ________ Chinese people’s unique symbols and memories. They are also the hidden ________ to better understanding Chinese culture.

Not only did Aryan gain a deeper ________ of Chinese characters, but also developed a more mature personality along the way. Calligraphy gives him strength when he feels ________ and lost, finding his inner peace.

3 . During my stay at the University of Michigan, one of the senior professors asked me to join a seminar on culture and emotion. In a general________of self-introductions, I introduced myself in a(n)________Dutch way as one of those who are “interested in culture and emotion”. The professor supplemented (补充) my self-introduction to________American standards, saying I was one of the world’s experts on the________. In response, I looked down in________, and thought that “expert” was a big word.

When I lived in North Carolina, my new friends came over to ________. Conversations were full of interest and energy, and there was a lot of ________. At the end of the evening, when my guests left, they thanked me for the dinner. My heart________, because I was born and raised in the Netherlands, where “thanking for dinner” means the relationship is ________. Emotions are different enough to feel out of________when you move from one culture to another. The professor at the University of Michigan meant to make me feel________, but instead made me uncomfortable. My friends meant to show ________, but they made me think they were distancing themselves from me.

We think about emotions as feelings deep inside us, but in________, our emotions happen in interactions with others. In my own culture, it was hard to observe the________emotions of others, but I was able to see them when I moved to the US—a different________from where I was raised.

5 . Mid-Autumn Festival, a typical agricultural harvest and get-together festival, falls on lunar August 15. I disliked it not because it’s ___________ commercialized but because I’m an orphan (孤儿). However, a(n) _________ in my college changed my view.

Last year, finding I had little in common with my classmates, I felt _________. With Mid-Autumn Festival _________, my class decided to hold a Middle-Autumn Festival Eve Party. After all, this was a(n) ___________ occasion for them. On that day, we dressed up in beautiful custume, setting off to the ___________ together. To be frank, seeing the classroom ___________ with fancy lanterns, everyone seemed happy except me. After having moon-cakes, puddings and roast turkey, many activities ranging from singing to guessing riddles, went off. Everyone ___________ and clapped when the performers performed wonderfully.

Later, in spite of my unwillingness, I was still invited to _________ my group to join in the wrestling match. Unbelievably, I won. Given ____________, I was absolutely pleased. I was grateful to the organizers, taking advantage of this chance to express my __________ to them. From then on, I began to make friends with others. As time ____________, I had more faith in myself.

In brief,   I ____________ Mid-Autumn Festival now. I always __________ on joyful moments and merry atmosphere of that night, holding the belief that life’s ______________.

6 . Chen Lei is a professional in restoring ancient buildings. Years ago, he received a _______, requiring him to establish a committee and _______ the repair work of an ancient temple. After investigation, they found it _______ preserved, leading to its roof losing balance. The dragon carved on the wall nearly _______.

However, challenges were waiting for them. They _______ many ways to restore the dragon but failed. A(n) _______ arose whether they should continue. Chen refused to give up. He _______ professionals overseas for help. They made a(n) _______ that he download an application to analyze the high-quality digital images. With its help, they finally _______ the clue from a former photo. Completing half of the project, they were told about the ____________ shortage.

So they asked for contributions from government departments and overseas Chinese. Luckily, people all over the world actively ____________ nearly $ 80 million to the project. To prevent further ____________, they worked day and night to make sure the project could be finished within the ____________ time.

With their project completed, not only did many people rush to the old temple to appreciate it, but also thought it ____________ to restore it. Meanwhile, they agreed with Chen Lei’s quotation that protecting historic buildings helps ____________ people’s interest in Chinas ancient traditions and makes future generations appreciate traditional culture better.

10 . Easter is a major religious festival for Christians that is met with a big celebration. The date falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon between March 21 and April 25. Large events and festivities ________ the celebration of Easter in the United States.

You can’t talk about Easter in America without talking about the Easter Bunny. Rabbits(whose babies are called “bunnies“)have long been ________ of birth and spring. The Easter Bunny, ________ Santa Claus(圣诞老人), is not a real creature. On the evening before Easter, children will ________ baskets for the Easter Bunny. When the children sleep, the baskets are filled with treats and ________ somewhere in the home. In the morning, the children search through the home looking for their baskets. Many parents allow their children to believe that the Easter Bunny is ________ . The Easter Bunny is ________ as a large rabbit, usually wearing clothes, carrying a basket full of ________ .

Traditional treats for an Easter basket include Easter Eggs, jelly beans and chocolates. Easter Eggs are ________ hard-boiled eggs that have been ________ various colors. The chocolates are often made into shapes of eggs and bunnies.

Many communities will host Easter egg hunts for children. At these events, children bring their empty baskets, and look for treats hidden by the event organizers. Candy and other treats are often hidden inside plastic eggs. The custom began ________ children believed that rabbits laid eggs in the grass. The Romans believed that ”All life comes from an egg.” Christians consider eggs to be “the seed of life”.

American families will have special meals to celebrate the Easter holiday. The traditional Easter meal includes ham. Side dishes that go along with the ham dinner are not as ________ from family to family, but usually will include potatoes and vegetables. Many restaurants will have special brunch menus on Easter. It is customary to dress nicely at Easter.

Other common Easter ________ in America include having small Easter Parades(游行)and wearing new Spring clothes on Easter. ________ , wearing a new “Easter Bonnet“(a type of hat)is particularly common for girls and women. After church services, everyone went for a walk around the town. This ________ the American custom of Easter parades all over the country. Perhaps the most famous is along Fifth Avenue in New York City. The person who leads the parade can be found holding the Easter candle or cross in his/her hand.