The lion dance is one of the most outstanding     1     (tradition) folk dances in China. It can date back to the Three Kingdoms Period (220—280).

The lion     2     (regard) as a symbol of bravery and strength by ancient people. They thought that it could drive away evil and protect people and     3     (they) livestock such as cattle, sheep and so on. Therefore, lion dances are performed at important events,     4     (especial) the Lantern Festival.

The lion dance requires two highly-trained     5     (perform) in a lion suit. One acts as the head and forelegs, and     6     other the hind legs. Under the guidance of a choreographer (编舞者), the “lion” dances to the beat of a drum, a gong (锣), and cymbals (钹). Sometimes they jump, roll, and do difficult acts such     7     walking on stilts (桩子).

In one lion dance, the “lion” moves from place to place looking for some green vegetables, in     8     red envelopes with money inside are hidden. The acting is very amusing and spectators enjoy it very much.

Nowadays, the lion dance     9     (spread) to many other countries with overseas Chinese. In many Chinese communities of Europe and America, Chinese people use lion dances or dragon dances     10     (celebrate) every Spring Festival and other important events.

2 . The world is a colorful landscape of different languages, skin colors, and different cultures. It's important to have a good understanding of different cultures in order to become a well-rounded person    1    

One way is to read books written by authors from a particular culture. Reading works by authors who have a close relationship with a particular culture allows people to gain an authentic glimpse into the food, music, language, religion, and way of a life of a particular group of people.

    2    

Another way to learn about different cultures is to try to learn a foreign language.    3    A person can choose a language she has always wanted to learn and locate learning programs to help her master the language. Besides, one can enroll in a foreign language class in order to learn in a more formal setting. One can also try to visit areas of the city to establish social connection with native speakers of the language.

    4    Seek out restaurants that feature authentic food from a variety of countries. Food is an important part of different cultures and allows people to gain deep understanding into a particular cultural group's way of life.

Communicating with people from other countries through email or snail mail is another useful way to become familiar with different cultures.    5    Various websites offer pen pal services, offering to connect individuals with pen friends around the world.