Ancient China has a long history and fine culture,     1     (leave) the world a thousand-year civilization heritage, which is still     2     (inspire) .

However, when we pay a visit     3     the treasures and are shocked by them, we should admit the fact that time has caused harm to them, whether it is the     4     (break) pieces of porcelain (瓷器), the faded wall paintings or the grass roofs of ancient temples.

Fortunately, time also saw the hard work of those who     5     (careful) keep the past alive. Behind the shining museum collections, there are the people     6     clear away the dust from them, and bring     7     second life to them.

They work like doctors. And their “patients” include the palace of the Forbidden City in Beijing, wall paintings of Mogao Grottoes in Gansu Province, the Terracotta Warriors from the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-207 BC) in Shaanxi Province and the Great Wall that stands     8     (thousand) of years.

Generation after generation, skillful hands and bright eyes may grow old,     9     their hearts remain strong, and the enthusiasm (热情) never disappears.

More than 108 million cultural treasures     10     (house) in China’s public museums, and 767,000 ancient architecture, and heritage sites are listed in China. More than 160,000 people work on cultural relics across the country.

Kunqu, also known as Kun Opera, is a form of traditional Chinese theater that has a rich history and cultural significance. Originated in the Yuan Dynasty and     1    （gain）great popularity in the Ming Dynasty, Kunqu has been recognized     2     a masterpiece of human cultural heritage by UNESCO, and     3    （refer）to as the “mother” of all Chinese opera often.

Combining songs     4    （perform）in the Suzhou dialect, graceful body movements, martial arts and dance, Kunqu uses     5     variety of movements to express specific emotions. As a highly     6    （influence）form of opera in Chinese culture, particularly in the areas of literature, music, and art, Kunqu has inspired many famous poets, painters, and musicians by its     7    （beautiful）and elegance.

Today, Kunqu remains an     8    （incredible）important part of China’s cultural heritage, and efforts are being made     9    （protect）and promote this traditional art form. Although it may not be as popular as other forms of Chinese theater such as Beijing Opera, Kunqu has a devoted following among those    10     appreciate its unique charm and artistry.

A living heritage is an endless dialogue between the present and the past, and Kunqu is a carrier to pass that legacy on.

The Analects of Confucius (《论语》) records the words and deeds of the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius,     1     (write) somewhere between the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period more than 2,000 years ago. It     2     (highlight) the political and moral ideas of Confucius and Confucianism.

Ren is a core concept in the book adopted by Confucius with original meaning of loving others.     3     (represent) a high moral standard, it includes all virtues. Confucius stresses that self-discipline is     4     must for practicing the rules of propriety (礼) and achieving ren.

Society has developed greatly and huge changes     5     (occur) as well after the birth of the Analects of Confucius. Nevertheless, it contains lots of ideas beyond the passage of time, some of     6     are still relevant today. For example, Confucius analyzes the relationship between learning and thinking by saying that learning without thinking leads to confusion while thinking without learning ends in puzzlement. Besides, the Analects of Confucius also     7     (vivid) shows the images of Confucius’s students. Zi Lu is straightforward, Zi Gong is smart, and Yan Hui is mild and capable. Confucius insists on treating students     8     individuals to achieve full potential, which is     9     (consist)with some of the modern educational thoughts.

The Analects of Confucius is a fine example of world literature, and the publication of its     10     (version) in various languages will further enhance cultural exchanges between China and the world.

In a specially designed studio theater in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, an attractive world of jianghu     1     (bring) to life through a Shaoxing Opera performance last week.

Six actresses,     2     (play) roles from a spirited landlady to skilled swordsmen, spies, and soldiers, deliver a fascinating show lasting two hours and 10 minutes. The audience sits very close to the performers, engaging with them and immersing     3     (them) in a unique viewing experience.

This is the environmental theater-styled show, New Dreagon Gate Inn, performed by Zhejiang Xiaobaihua, one of China’s     4     (remarkable) Shaoxing Opera groups.     5     (adapt) from the 1992 classic wuxia film of the same name,     6     Shaoxing Opera show successfully captures the interest of a younger audience by blending traditional Chinese opera with modern theater models and dramatic concepts. “From its content to spirit, its forms to aesthetics, the play reflects     7     young people are worried about and concerned with nowadays,” said Chen Lijun, who plays the supporting role of Jia. Ting in the show.

Traditional Shaoxing Opera often draws     8     (inspire) from ancient scripts and folk legends, telling stories of talented scholars and beautiful ladies.     9    , New Dragon Gate Inn is based     10     a film with a significant fan base and is adapted to suit the current context and the Shaoxing Opera genre itself.

Huangmei opera (also Huangmei diao or Hubei opera),     1     dates back to the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty, is a traditional Chinese opera.     2     (establish) in the Huangmei region of Hubei Province, it has developed greatly over the years.

    3     (initial) performed by local folk artists in rural areas, Huangmei opera gained popularity during the 18th century. It featured lively music, singing, and dancing, often based on popular legends, historical events, and folk tales. As     4     unique art form, it provided amusement for the common people.

In the early 20th century, Huangmei opera     5     (experience) significant development when renowned Peking Opera artist Mei Lanfang incorporated (合并) Huangmei tunes into his performances. This exposure helped Huangmei opera gain     6     (recognize) beyond Hubei Province, introducing its distinctive musical style to a     7     (wide) audience.

Today, Huangmei opera continues to be one of the major regional opera genres in China. So far great changes and advancements     8     (make) by combining more refined singing techniques, intricate movements, and sophisticated stage design. Modern Huangmei opera performances combine traditional     9     (element) with contemporary adaptations, attracting many young people.

Despite facing challenges from modern entertainment forms, Huangmei opera remains an important cultural heritage that is actively preserved and promoted. Today, various organizations and societies are devoted     10     training new performers, organizing performances, and conducting research to ensure the preservation and development of this unique art form.

A gallery displaying printing woodblocks (木版) opened at the Palace Museum in Beijing on Monday. The Palace Museum, which was China’s imperial pa lace from 1420 to 1911,     1     (house)1.86 million cultural relics, and about one third of these are ancient books, documents and related printing woodblocks,     2     (make) the museum a key venue on the development of Chinese literature. However, these precious relics for academic studies     3     (previous) lacked a venue in which they could be publicly showcased.

    4     opening exhibition of the new gallery, near the Gate of Supreme Harmony(太和门), feature s 32 woodblocks. “These exhibits are     5     great value for people to understand the politics, culture and printing techniques of that era,” Wang, director of the museum, said. “Putting them in the context of the history of Chinese classic books and the Qing inner court, we can get more information through in depth studies, which is an     6     (inspire) to us in terms of developing modern culture.”

For example, an exhibited woodblock     7     (carve) with dragon patterns was made in 1644 shortly after Qing troops seized Beijing. It demonstrates a Qing imperial warning demanding that princes and high official strictly stick to their duties and avoid corruption.

Some woodblocks were also made to record aspects of the royal lifestyle, with a group used to print landscape pictures of the Cheng de Mountain Resort and Emperor Kangxi’s poems describing its quite     8     (fantasy) scenes.

To give visitors an immersive experience, a storeroom,     9     over 15,000 printing blocks are on the shelves, has been set up in the gallery.

Ji Zhangwei, a researcher at the Palace Museum Library, said that woodblock printing reached its peak during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The royal courts of the two dynasties made a great effort to sponsor printing as an important way to demonstrate national     10     (strong) and promote cultural development.

Cui Zhenshuo and Yang Bo discovered that because of the far location of most paper workshops and lifestyles of the paper-making craftsmen, their products are unable to reach the market     1     (easy). Therefore, Cui and Yang came up     2     the idea of establishing their own studio that could serve as a bridge to connect far workshops with buyers to advance     3     (tradition) Chinese handmade paper.

Chu is a kind of tree.     4     (it) bark (树皮) is a common material that was used in papermaking in ancient times. Han Yu, a famous     5     (write) during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) called paper Mr. Chu in his work Biography of Mao Ying. Since then, it     6     (use) as a nickname (昵称) for paper by Chinese scholars. In 2019, Cui and Yang named their own studio “I am Mr. Chu.”, and they focused on     7     (run) it.

Du Weisheng, an expert in the restoration (修复) of ancient books at the National Library of China, told them that, in     8     1990s, many Chinese paper relics needed to be repaired with handmade paper that allowed people to find information on various paper styles.

The two began to create the series of handmade paper products from 2021. Each volume is made up of thirty types of handmade paper, each of     9     is sourced from its place of origin. At present, two volumes of the series have been produced, and they plan     10     (make) ten volumes.

Chaoyang Street—situated at the foot of Yantai Mountain in Yantai, Shandong Province—is a lively commercial center that epitomizes (缩影) modernity.     1     (it) establishment dates back to 1872 during the Qing Dynasty (1644—1911).

Over the years, Chaoyang Street has attracted     2     (number) famous foreign businesses and shops. The street has a diverse array of buildings, including factories, shops, banks, and entertainment venues,     3     (decorate) with signs in both Chinese and English.

In 1880, German merchants opened     4     trading company on the east side of the northern section of Chaoyang Street,     5     was the largest peanut exporter in Yantai at the time. Since then, buildings on Chaoyang Street     6     (spring) up like mushrooms after rain.

Today, the street has     7     (complete) integrated modern bars and nightclubs into its lively atmosphere. Through ongoing efforts by local government, its reputation continues to rise,     8     (gain) increased popularity.

In recognition of its cultural and tourism     9     (significant), Chaoyang Street—Yantai Mountain Cultural District—was designated (指定)     10     a national-level nighttime cultural and tourism consumption gathering area in August 2022. Chaoyang Street stands as a testament (证明) to Yantai’s continuous development, offering a glimpse into the city’s rich history while embracing a modern spirit.

Kunqu Opera (昆曲) is one of the oldest forms of opera. It makes a     1     (contribute) to other forms of opera in the country,     2     (include)Sichuan and Beijing operas. Kunqu     3     (experience) several stages of change over the past hundreds of years. It was originally made up of long and short lines, with a singer singing solo and the orchestra coming in at the end of each line. During the Ming Dynasty, it became smoother and more graceful, with performers focusing     4     how clearly they sang lines. The     5     (song) were written in seven-character or ten-character lines. This differs greatly from the opera’s emphasis during the Yuan Dynasty,     6     only percussions (打击乐器) were used in the chorus. In the style that developed during the Ming Dynasty, more musical instruments such as bamboo flutes and drums were used. Known as the mother of all Chinese operas, Kunqu is named after     7     (it) birthplace, Kunshan, located near Suzhou, Jiangsu province. UNESCO listed Kunqu Opera as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001, which hopes     8     (ensure) that the best of each country’s traditions is     9     (definite) preserved, developed and promoted all over     10     world.

The Dragon Boat Festival is on May 5 of the lunar calendar. It is also called “duan wu jie”, “chong wu jie”, and “duan yang jie”. There are two fives in the date May 5, therefore it     1     (get ) the name of “chong wu”.There are many tales(传说) explaining the meaning or       2     (begin) of the Drago n Boat Festival. One is that usually it     3       (hold) to remember a great poet, Qu Yuan. However, researches done       4     scholars(学者) have led to another two probable     5    (view).

The     6     (one) view is that it is related to a tale of a dragon in ancient Chinese legend. People of thé south considered     7     (they) as children of the dragon. On May 5 of the lunar calendar, they would worship(敬奉)the dragon’s “totem”,    8    (wish) for a year of a good harvest.

Another one is that it is based on the myth of an “evil day”. As summer starts, mosquitoes, flies, and other insects and the growth of bacteria become more common. People       9     (easy) get sick, so they call the Dragon Boat Festival(May 5) the “evil day”.

During the Drago n Boat Festival, people usually eat zongzi and have dragon boat races     10     now are popular worldwide.