Large components of traditional Chinese wooden architecture,     1    (include)columns, beams and purlins are often pieced together using sunmao structures. The sun(tenon joint)and the mao(mortise), when interlocked, both support and contain the adjoining parts. This augments stability, and also adds flexibility     2     the architecture. Craftsmen can make and process the     3    (component)in advance and assemble them quickly on site,     4     is simple and efficient. Stability is the most important characteristic of sunmao. Sunmao is the “joint” of a building that absorbs some of the seismic wave by deforming     5    (it), markedly raising earthquake resistance of the entire structure.     6    (similar), sunmao plays its “stabilizer” role to the maximum in furniture. The seat part of a chair     7    (support)by its four legs as well as the cheng under its surface, a smaller supportive upper stick that transforms part of the weight to the downer legs. In this way, the seat could sit in higher weight     8     the entire chair can work longer. Even though every component of the sunmao structure is thin, they can take massive weight by supporting each other. Sunmao is     9     extremely skillful, delicate, and sophisticated invention. This connection method of components     10    (make)ancient Chinese wooden architecture a special flexible structure that surpasses contemporary architectural bents, frames or steel frames.

Major Snow (大雪), the 21st solar term of a year, usually     1     (fall) in December. It marks the beginning of midwinter. During it, the temperature drops     2     (significant) and there is a greater chance of more snow days.

There’s a Chinese saying that goes, “A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of     3     fruitful year.” Most farmers welcome snow because snow can protect crops     4     cold fronts and keep the fields warm. Even when it melts, snow can provide enough water     5     (feed) crops in the coming spring.

Major Snow is not only a solar term     6     reflects farming culture but also a favorable time for skiing and skating. For example, in northern China, Heilongjiang province is a place of winter     7     (attract), such as ice sculptures, rime (雾凇) natural scenery and ski resorts. In southern China,     8     the climate is warmer and thus there aren’t many naturally     9     (freeze) lakes to enjoy, people will go to indoor rinks (溜冰场) to enjoy the winter fun instead.

Though we have lots of fun     10     (bring) by snow, people should pay attention to the outbreak of respiratory illness. During Major Snow, it is drier and colder, so people should drink more water.

Having stretched for more than 170 million years, Chinese food culture occupies an important part in the nation’s traditional culture.

The gastronomy (烹饪法)     1     (employ) in Chinese cuisine is an art form that goes beyond just satisfying your taste buds (味蕾). It is a perfect     2     (combine) of all your senses, a harmony of color, aroma, taste and appearance in every dish.     3     (history), Chinese cultures connected     4     (agriculture) preferences with patterns in the stars, guiding food consumption based on 24 Solar Terms.

Ancient Chinese people     5     (invent) chopsticks more than 3000 years ago, which are not only a kind of tableware with distinct national features     6     an important component that reflects the     7     (characteristic) of Chinese diet culture. Unlike a knife and fork or one’s own hands, a pair of chopsticks also implies the meaning of “Harmony is     8     matters”.

And, of course, what’s a Chinese feast without tea? More than a type of drink, it also serves as a transmitter of culture,     9     (represent) the philosophy, aesthetic views and way of life of the Chinese people, from which     10     spiritual world of the Chinese people can be perceived.

Are you familiar with pop star Jay Chou’s Blue &White Porcelain? Its original lines, just     1     the composer Fang Wenshan described, were inspired by Ru porcelain (汝瓷).

Ranked best among famous kinds during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Ru porcelain is known for its unique pale blue glaze (釉). Oceans     2     Ru porcelain flooded onto the market around the year of 1100, but the     3     (exist) of Ru ware now is actually rare. Thanks to the efforts of Ru porcelain inheritors, people can now appreciate it     4     (close) at hand than before.

Born in Ruzhou, Henan province, Li Chao has spent a decade     5     (better) crafting skills. Ru porcelain goes through 72 steps, the    6     (one) of which is knead (揉) mud. Any small errors could lead to disaster, said the 41-year-old inheritor. He then stressed that a Ru porcelain inheritor must be patient enough. Every item of artwork     7     (full) deserves our admiration.

Techniques of making Ru porcelain will     8     (lose) with senior inheritors gradually passing away. So,     9     Li spares no effort in doing is introducing it to wider masses.     10     (achieve) this goal, he creatively uses Ru porcelain in making daily ware popular among young people. Now he’s aiming to expand the market by introducing it to the whole world.

Chinese martial arts,     1     (know) as Chinese Kungfu by most foreigners, is a traditional Chinese physical activity with thousands of years of history. As a precious element of China’s cultural heritage, Chinese Kungfu has also won its fame all around the world.

The origin of Chinese Kungfu, according to some historical records and antique discoveries, can date back even     2     prehistoric times. Survival back then     3     (mean) scrambling (争夺) to take or protect food from others and animals. Kicking and boxing were a part of daily life, thus forming the     4     (early) series of Kong-fu movements and performances.

In modern times, Chinese Kungfu was first introduced abroad to the United States by Chinese-American Kungfu master Bruce Lee,     5     movements in his great movies swept American audiences off their feet. From then on, Chinese Kungfu learners can     6     (find) everywhere.

As one of film genres, Kung Fu Film has     7     (main) been produced in China, peaking in the 1970s, and has been dominated by Hong Kong action cinema. Bruce Lee is one of the famous     8     (actor). Martial arts fiction is     9     great hit for Chinese Kungfu lovers, too. Even though some novels are filmed into TV shows or movies, some people still like to read the original version, because     10     is more authentic.

The world’s biggest kite, shaped like a dragon and    1     (stretch) over 280meters, flew high on Sunday in the skies over the Chinese city of Weifang. The city in the eastern province of Shandong is     2     birthplace of kites and home to the Weifang International Kite Festival since 1984.

The highlight of this year’s edition was the “Chinese Giant Dragon”, four meters in    3     (high) and 3.6 meters in width. The kite has the head of a dragon and the body of a centipede(蜈蚣) and is the    4    (wide) of its kind in the world. “It took 28 experienced workers 48 days to design and complete the kite.55 people     5     (require) to fly it,” said Zhang Huagang, general manager of Weifang Tianshun Kite Productions and one of the kite makers.

According to Zhang, the giant dragon kite, using traditional Chinese techniques, “    6     (refer) to our nation’s wishes for prosperity and fortune”. The kite festival, now in its 38th edition, opened on Friday    7     the presence of hundreds of amateurs and professionals,    8     flooded to the city from near and far to display their creations at the event.

This year’s festival features a record 1,628 kites in     9    (vary) forms by 500 participants     10     (divide) into 188 teams from over 31 provinces and regions from across the country.

Yazhou pottery—a type of exquisite pottery with a history of more than 600 years—is now shining a new light across China.

As an ancient Chinese artifact, Yazhou pottery dates back    1    the reign of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty. During this period, the art form     2    (bring) to Yazhou town in today’s Pingtang county, Guizhou province from Jiangxi province. This is    3    Yazhou pottery was named and found its origin.

After    4    (spread) to Guizhou, Yazhou pottery was combined with aspects from the local Miao and Buyi ethnic cultures. In this way, it gained its own distinctive style in shape and color.

The shapes of Yazhou pottery are inspired directly by objects in daily life,    5     adds to their folk style. In addition, the glaze of Yazhou pottery is also special. The pottery uses glass powder to make products Jade-like in     6    (appear).

Yazhou pottery saw a crisis in    7    1980s, as many pottery factories were closed because the daily uses of pottery were largely replaced by those    8    (make) from metal and plastic.

    9    (fortune), things changed after 2008, when Yazhou pottery was listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage and got support from governments of different levels. Its inheritors are also creating new ways     10     (develop) it, like transforming the potteries into tourist souvenirs.

The heritage of Yazhou pottery is never something that stands still, but a process driven forward by innovation.