Peking Opera,     1    (know) as China’s national opera, which originated in the late 18th century, is a combination of music, dance, art and acrobatics (杂技). It is the     2    (influential) of all operas in China. It     3    (call) Peking Opera because it is formed in Beijing. Peking Opera has a history of over 200 years and its origin can date back     4     old local operas, especially Hui Opera, which was very popular in northern China in the 18th century. In 1790, the first Hui Opera performance was held in Beijing     5    (celebrate) the Emperor’s birthday.

Later, some other Hui Opera troupes(班子)     6    (continue) performing in Beijing. Hui Opera was easy to move and good at absorbing the acting styles of other types of operas. Beijing accumulated many local operas,     7     made Hui Opera improve quickly.

At the end of the 19th century and the     8    (begin) of the 20th century, after the marriage for 10 years, Peking Opera     9    (final) formed, and became the biggest of all operas in China.     10     we can honestly say is that Peking Opera is the most important opera in China.

The Dragon-Head-Raising Festival falls on the second day of the second lunar month every year,    1     the dragon wakes up from its winter hibernation (冬眠) and after the day, rainfall increases.

Traditionally, the dragon is believed to be    2     charge of bringing rain, which is an important factor in ancient agriculture society. Legend has it     3     one year a drought struck a village. Blue Dragon, having compassion for people, gave them some rain without permission. To punish the Dragon, the Jade Emperor imprisoned it in a mountain and said he would never release it     4     gold beans bloomed.    5     clever villager found that com kernels (玉米粒) were golden like soy beans and more    6     (important), they could bloom when     7    (roast). Then the man led all the villagers to worship the Jade Emperor with bloomed com kernels. To keep his word, the Jade Emperor had to release the Dragon on the second day of the second Chinese lunar month. Since then, the Dragon-Head-Raising Festival     8     (celebrate) in various ways in China to show     9     (admire) for the Dragon. The most famous tradition is getting a haircut,    10     (mean) getting rid of bad luck.

Melodious, exquisite and sentimental. With these romantic features, Kunqu Opera is regarded     1     one of the most loved art forms in China.

Born in Suzhou, East China’s Jiangsu province, Kunqu Opera distinguished itself by the great skill of its rhythmic patterns and enjoyed wide     2    (popular) during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). During the Mid-Autumn Festival in Ming and Qing dynasties (1644-1911), opera troupes often gathered in Suzhou,     3    (stage) theatrical shows in ancient China.

Combining songs performed in the Suzhou dialect, graceful body movements, martial arts and dance, Kunqu Opera     4    (use) an endless variety of movements to express specific     5    (emotion). Elegant movements animate the fingertips and special melodies bring     6     unique and poetic world to mind.

Kunqu Opera had a     7    (power) influence on many forms of opera in China thereafter, including Peking Opera,     8     is about 200 years old. It is hence known as the mother of all Chinese operas.

As an authentic and typical example of Chinese culture, stories     9    (perform) in Kunqu Opera have gone beyond time and space. The Peony Pavilion, written by playwright Tang Xianzu, who is often compared to Shakespeare, is still loved by fans from around the world.

A living heritage is an endless dialogue between the present and the past, and Kunqu Opera is a carrier whose goal is     10    (pass) that legacy (遗产) on.

It is no secret that China has an    1    (incredible) rich, complex and ancient history and culture. My first exposure     2    Chinese culture came at a very early age, totally by chance.

At 8, I walked into a bookshop and picked a book entitled Tao Te Ching, a deeply philosophical book of Taoism. As     3    8-year-old, the book’s content was obviously lost on me, but it provided me with an early connection to a profound philosophical tradition by     4    I am still influenced today.

At school I began studying Chinese. My interest in the language developed early on,    5    (combine) my love of travelling with my love of meeting new people. I am lucky enough to have lived in China for three years. It was a good opportunity for me to experience the    6    (diverse) of Chinese customs and tradition. Culture and food are closely connected and perhaps nowhere else can this be seen more clearly    7    in China. In recent years there    8    (be) a rise in restaurants offering a variety of foods here. I have introduced many of my friends to Chinese history and culture through a    9    (share) love of food.

It is safe to say that my journey has only just begun. These first steps are only a drop in the ocean of lifelong learning, but as the Chinese philosopher Laozi said, “A journey of a thousand miles    10    (begin) with a single step.”

On January 25, 2023, over a billion people in China and millions around the world will celebrate the Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival. The ancient tradition,     1    date is determined by the lunar calendar and falls somewhere between January 21 and February 20 each year is the longest and     2    important of all Chinese festivals.

The preparations will     3    (official) begin with Little Year on January 17, 2020. It is observed with a day of memorial and prayer ceremonies. Besides, cleaning the house     4    (sweep) away bad luck and hanging spring couplets (春联) on doorways for wealth are also common activities observed by people. Since red     5    (believe) to keep misfortune and evil spirits away, it can be noticed in everything from clothing to lanterns used to decorate houses.

Often     6    (consider) the most important meal of the year, the reunion dinner is both delicious and rooted in Chinese tradition. A whole chicken     7     (symbolize) family togetherness, while long uncut noodles show longevity (长寿). Wealth is represented by dumplings and spring rolls. Children receive red envelopes filled     8    money and inspiring messages from elders and are often allowed to stay up late to watch the     9    (amaze) fireworks shows.

    10    two-week long celebrations will end on February 8 - the day of the full moon-with the Lantern Festival.

Festivals are becoming more and more commercial, with businesses     1     (take) advantage of the celebrations. Online shopping websites and social media apps have made it much     2     (easy) for the public to spend more on gifts for their     3     (love) ones. Although some believe festivals should not be commercialized, others believe     4     increase in spending     5     (be) good for the economy and public happiness.

Festivals are an important part of society. They reflect people’s     6     (wish), beliefs, faiths and attitudes towards life. They are occasions that allow us     7     (relax) and enjoy life, and forget about our work for a little while. They help us understand     8     we came from, who we are, and what to appreciate. And if you study festivals     9     (careful), you may be surprised to find that different cultures actually have a lot     10     common after all.

The Chinatown in San Francisco is the     1     (big) in America, and also the oldest. The climate is mild all year round,     2     (mean) it is always a good time to visit. Now, the majority of residents in Chinatown     3     (be) still ethnic Chinese, many of whom do not speak English     4     (fluent). This allows visitors     5     (experience) a real taste of China. Visitors can spend hours just     6     (explore) the interesting sights, smells, and sounds of China. The stores in the Chinatown offer     7     unique range of souvenirs, goods, and clothing. All kinds of traditional Chinese herbal medicine can be found, too. And there are Chinese tea stores,     8     visitors can taste and buy varieties of Chinese tea. But perhaps what many tourists and San Franciscans treasure most about Chinatown is     9     (it) food. There is Chinese food to suit everyone’s taste, with traditional     10     (dish) from all over China.