Of all the traditional festivals, the     1     festival can be found in almost every culture. This important agricultural festival takes     2     after all the crops have been     3     in. People celebrate to show that they are     4     for the year's supply of food.

When I was a little boy, the dinner on the eve of Spring Festival was what I looked forward to most. It was not only for the delicious food, but for     1     (我们全家团聚的重要时刻, 定语从句).     2     (无论他们离家多么远), they would just return in time for it. I would run around the house, listening     3     (merry) to the adults chatting about their year. I would     4     (高兴地放烟花),     5     (用灯笼装饰房子) and put up couplets on the door. In the evening,     6     (我们一般围坐在桌边),     7     (享受各种食物) and gathering together again.     8     (坦率地说), the simple, homemade dishes tasted more delicious than anything     9     (cook) by a top chef.

Customs play a     1     role in festivals, but sometimes they can change over time. With the development of modern society and the spread of new ideas, some traditions may     2     away and others may be established. One example is the     3     Chinese Spring Festival custom of lighting firecrackers to drive away the evil spirits and celebrate the new year. Nowadays, many big cities have given up this custom in order to avoid air pollution. Another example is Halloween, which slowly became an exciting festival for children, in     4     of its religious origins.

Thanksgiving is     1     time for tradition and sharing. Even     2     they live far away, family members gather for a     3     at the house of an older relative. All give thanks together for the good things that they have. In this spirit of sharing, civic groups and charitable organizations offer a traditional meal to those in need,     4     the homeless. Turkey, corn, pumpkins and cranberry sauce are symbols which represent the first Thanksgiving. Now all of these symbols are drawn on holiday decorations and greeting cards.

Festivals are celebrated all around the world. They have a wide     1     of origins, such as the seasons of the year, religions, famous     2    , and important events. Every festival has its different customs and     3     charms.

Finally, in the 20th century, the     1     part of Ireland broke away from the UK, which     2     in the full name we have today: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Most people just use the     3     name: “the United Kingdom” or “the UK”. People from the UK are called “British”, which means the UK is also often     4     to as Britain or Great Britain.

Tibetan antelopes live on the plains of Tibet, Xinjiang and Qinghai. Watching them move slowly     1     the green grass, I’m     2    (strike) by their beauty and also reminded of the danger they were in. They were hunted     3    (legal) for their     4    (value) fur.

Economic development is necessary if we want to improve society. There comes     5     time when the old must give way     6     the new and it is not possible     7    (preserve) everything from our past as we move towards the future. Finding and     8    (keep) the right balance between progress and the protection of cultural sites can be a big challenge. Big challenges, however, can sometimes lead to great     9    (solve).

By     10     (share) so many digital photos over the Internet, the group hopes to promote even     11     (wide) interest around the world in China’s ancient history, culture and traditions. They also hope to     12    (far) educate people about the importance of safeguarding historic and cultural relics for future generations to understand and appreciate.     13     one researcher who is working on the project explains, “Appreciating one’s own cultural heritage is very important for understanding     14    (one). Appreciating the cultural heritage of other countries is very important for international     15    (communicate) and understanding.”

There is so much more to learn about the interesting history and culture of the United Kingdom. Studying the history of the country will make your visit     1         2         3    . The capital city London is a     4         5         6         7    , as it is an ancient port city that has a history dating all the way back to Roman times. There are     8         9         10     to explore, and lots of museums with ancient relics from all over the UK. The UK is     11         12         13     of history and modern culture, with both new and old traditions. If you     14         15         16         17    , you will be surprised to find that you see both its     18     and its     19    .