Paper cutting is a folk culture with so long a history. When Chinese Lunar New Year is coming, it is a custom     1     northern people to paste the papercuts on the window.Gradually, it develops into an art form, one of the     2    (popular) traditional decoration arts.

In early times, people made images of humans and subjects by paper    3    (bury) together with the body in the tomb or to burn on the funerals. With such    4    (symbol) meaning, paper cutting    5    (use) as decorations on sacrificing ceremonies.In 105 AD, Cai Lun improved the paper making technique and a large amount of paper was produced,    6     laid a foundation for the spread of paper cutting.Beautiful patterns were created and gradually, the patterns were     7    (wide) used in other fields later.

There were more records of paper cutting after 960 AD (Song dynasty). Professional paper cutting artists appeared,    8    (specialize) in different patterns. Some were good at cutting flowers     9     others were expert at characters’cutting. Thus, the patterns were abundant and colorful. One of the most important    10    (contribution) of paper cutting in the Song dynasty was that patterns were used on the china.

Several countries in Asia celebrate the Lunar New Year in their own way. But dragon and lion dances in Chinatowns all over the world have helped to make China’s New Year the most famous. These days growing     1     (number) of people who are not of Chinese origin are joining in. In Tokyo window cleaners dress up     2     the animals of the Chinese Shengxiao. America, Canada and New Zealand have published memorial stamps for the year of the chicken. Last year New York City made the Lunar New Year     3     school holiday for the first time.

The spread of the Spring Festival is    4     (part) due to recent immigration from China: 9.5 million Chinese people     5     (move) abroad since 1978, many of     6     are far richer than earlier waves of immigrants.

Aware of China’s growing economic and political influence, foreign leaders have noticed the occasion. Britain’s prime minister, Theresa May, has given video address, a tradition     7     (start) in 2014 by her predecessor(前任). This year’s World Economic Forum in Davos was held a week earlier than usual     8     (avoid) conflicting with China’s New Year.

China hopes the festival will promote     9     (it) cultural “soft power” abroad. So it may give the Chinese people     10     (satisfy) to see foreigners enjoy such festivities.

Traditional Chinese culture is beginning to capture the attention of the world. Kung fu,       1     (special), has had a great effects     2     the millions of people who first learned about China through it. From that, they may come to China and learn about some other     3     (aspect) of this culture. Other Asian nations have long known about the     4     (great) of ancient Chinese culture. Their own cultures are     5     mix of native ones and those Chinese characteristics. Korea and Japan long ago adopted Confucianism, something that continued today even as it     6     (challenge)by pop culture. This strength comes from the ideas     7     (give)in the Four Books of Confucianism, which built upon the ideas of an even     8     (much)ancient period codified (编纂)in the Five Classics. From them, the West learns     9     is uniquely Chinese, for example, feng shui. So far China has taken steps     10     (further) this spread of its culture by establishing Chinese Cultural Centers in such places as the United States and Europe.

Chinese New Year also    1    (know) as the Spring Festival, is the most important traditional festival in China. It is also the important celebration for family members who can have 7 days off.

    2    there are many interesting stories and legends    3    (explain) the start of the Chinese New Year Festival, the main reason for the festival is to celebrate a year of hard work, have a good rest and relax with family.

Chinese people believe that a good start of the year will lead    4    a lucky year. The Chinese    5    (tradition) celebrated the start of a new year of farm work and wished for    6    good harvest. This has now changed into celebrating the start of a new business year and wishing for profits and success in    7    (difference) vacations.

Chinese New Year is a time for family members to get together. Wherever they are, they will come home    8    (celebrate) the festival with their families. The New Year’s Eve dinner    9    (call) reunion dinner,    10    is considered as the most important meal of the year. Families of several generations sit around the tables, and enjoy the happy time.

Kite flying dated from China and became popular around the country. With a long history, it is considered as the    1    (early) aircraft we have ever known. Kites were used for military(军事的)purposes in the very. beginning, such as measurement and signaling. Later kite flying gradually became    2    outdoor activity for recreation as well as art and    3    (be) warmly welcome for centuries.

In the past, people fastened bamboo-made whistles onto a kite. While    4    (fly) through the wind, it produced sound like the music produced by gu-zheng,     5    is a traditional Chinese instrument. Therefore, kite has    6    (it) modern name as fengzheng.

In the 7^th century, kite    7    (introduce) to neighboring countries including Korea and Japan. Around the 13^th century, Marco Polo introduced it to Europe and Arab countries.

Around the Qingming Festival, usually on early April, many people fly kites in public squares. The sky is dotted with kites of different designs, such as dancing butterflies, bounding dragons, and swimming fish. When people look at those kites, they feel as if they were flying away with the kites    8    (escape) the noisy world and step into the nature with their body and soul. Besides, it is a way for people to pray    9    blessings and fortune.

The traditional Chinese kite expresses    10    (harmonious) between human and nature, a long-held belief treasured by the Chinese people.

Over 40 countries around the world celebrate Mother’s Day. It is a time     1     children show their love and respect to their mothers and thank their mothers for giving birth to them and providing them with the     2     (good) care.

In New Zealand, Mother’s Day     3     (celebrate) on the second Sunday in May. And as     4     idea of celebrating Mother’s Day in New Zealand comes from the USA, the way of celebrating Mother’s Day in New Zealand is much the same as     5     in the USA.

On Mother’s Day, people in New Zealand thank their mothers for their     6     (devote) to their kids. The festival of Mother’s Day has become a big day in New Zealand. People celebrate the day by going out for a picnic or eating together. Markets are     7     (crowd) with people coming to buy presents for their mothers. Many people would buy flowers and cards for their mothers.

People also thank their mothers by serving them with breakfast and     8     (make) special cakes for them. Some people also would like to make their mothers have a day’s rest from the     9     (end) housework, and treat     10     (they) to a big dinner.

The Laba Festival is regarded as one of the traditional Chinese     1    （festival).It is celebrated on the eighth day of the twelfth month of Chinese lunar calendar,     2    (refer)to the traditional start of celebrations for the Chinese Spring Festival. "La" in Chinese means the 12th lunar month and "ba" means eight.

Legends about it also vary, one of     3    holds that over 3,000 years ago sacrificial rites(祭礼）called "La" were held in the twelfth lunar month when people offered their preys(猎物）    4    the Gods of heaven and earth. The Chinese characters for prey and the twelfth month were interchangeable then, and ever since "La"     5    (use) to refer to both. Since the festival was held on the eighth day of the last month, people    6    (late) added the number eight ( "ba" in Chinese), giving     7    (we) the current Laba.

Traditionally, the Laba rice porridge is also of great     8    (important). The porridge must be boiled for many hours and then offered as a sacrifice to ancestors. It was also a time for the ancient Chinese    9    (pray) to heaven and earth that there would be     10    abundant harvest. Many people hoped for good luck as well for the coming year.