Musical instruments in China were     1    (traditional) classified (分类) into eight groups, according to the materials (材料) that were used     2    (create) them. The eight material groups were metal, stone, silk bamboo, gourd clay/earth, skin and wood.

Bamboo instruments mainly refer to woodwind (木管乐器) such as Sheng, Dizi and Xiao. Zhong, Luo and Bo are good     3     (example) of metal instruments. Silk instruments are mostly stringed instruments since silk is the material to string the instrument. A seven-stringed instrument,     4    (call) Guqin is one of the earliest stringed instruments in China. Today, it     5    (remain) quite popular. Here’s an example of a famous Guqin master, Prof. Li Xiangting,     6    (perform) a classical work Flowing Water on Guqin.

Instruments,     7     might seem part of the same family in the Western tradition, have different classifications in the Chinese tradition. For example, a percussion (打击) instrument made with skin, like Dagu (a large drum played with sticks) is in one group, while Fou (clay pot hit with a single stick) is in another.

Modern Chinese orchestras are organized along the same lines     8     Western orchestras in terms of group and seating arrangements of the instruments. The     9     (different) lies in the instruments being played. So a Chinese orchestra has a woodwind and strings section, but you’ll hardly find oboes (双簧管)     10     violins.

Educators and parents agree that cultural diversity adds significant value to any educational environment. It develops global     1     (aware). Teaching students to be positive global citizens (公民) can also influence their academic performance.

The value of cultural exchange in school is more fully realized when an effective international program is part of the school system. Learning diverse language skills is not the only benefit that can     2    (obtain). Students gain understanding of the differences and similarities of other cultures. By learning about others, they gain valuable insight about     3    (they) as well.

Most students have felt like an outsider at one time     4    another. With the school’s goal being to help all students “fit in”,     5    is important that an atmosphere of open-mindedness and acceptance     6    (exist) throughout the learning environment.

Building on global perspective, educators help students connect the dots between science, social studies, environmental issues and more. For example, if oceanography is a topic of interest, the class might view how science has made a positive impact on countries     7    cooperate on the issue, and how they are uniting their efforts to do good.

Parents can also     8     (active) contribute to class projects that promote global and cultural understanding. If their work involves a housing project, for instance, to improve living conditions in a country     9    (recover) from an earthquake, sharing their ideas with their child’s class can be very     10     (benefit).

7 . February 14 is a day for people who have fallen in love. On this day, these men and women give gifts and cards to each other for celebrating Valentine’s Day.

At first, February 14 was the old Roman festival, Lupercalia. Then, one story says, on February 14, 270 A.D., a man named Valentine was killed by the Romans because of his beliefs.

Before Valentine was killed, he fell in love with the daughter of the jailer and would pass notes to her. His final note read, “From your valentine.”. Later, February 14 become known as Saint Valentine’s Day.

Since then, people in love around the world have given gifts and cards to each other on Saint Valentine’s Day. Gloves, chocolates, and even underwear have all been popular as gifts.

Valentine cards did not become popular until 1750s. The first Valentine cards were made by hand. People wrote their own words on the cards, usually a kind of funny message. By around 1850 there were lots of machines for making cards. All of a sudden, sending Valentine cards became very popular.

Now, every year around February 14, cards and chocolates fill stores around the world, for all the people who have fallen in love.

8 . Fantastic Fire Festivals Around the World

Quema del Diablo

In Central America, Quema del Diablo, or “burning of the devil (魔鬼)” takes place in Guatemala on December 7, when the devil is driven from Guatemalans’ homes and chased into the streets. By holding firework displays, bonfires (篝火), and burning devil statues, locals believe they are ridding themselves of bad spirits.

Guy Fawkes Night

The most famous fire ceremony of all happens in England. Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night, is held on November 5 and goes back all the way to 1605. The most famous and biggest celebration is in Lewes in Sussex, also known as the bonfire capital of the world. Whole streets are shut down and tens of thousands of people take to the streets to watch parades (游行) .

Fire and Snow Festival

In mid-February every year, the Fire and Snow Festival lights the district of Kakunodate in Japan. Originally, this festival had its roots in a purification ceremony, when farming communities would try to rid the bad spirits. The festival is now more of a community event. A sweet cake is served up there. At the peak of the festival, participants light a basketball-sized rice straw ball that’s attached to a rope and keep it spinning above their heads.

Jeongwol Daeboreum Deulbli Festival

Another fire celebration taking place in February is the Jeongwol Daeboreum Deulbli Festival in South Korea, which takes place on the island of Jeju. Although the festival is fairly new, having only been around for two decades, it goes back centuries to when local families would keep cows. To maintain the grass, farmers would set fire to the mountains to destroy old grass and kill harmful insects. Now, a hilltop is set a light to pray for health and a good harvest in the coming year — as well as a torchlight march, rock lifting, and a straw rope making competition.

9 . Tiaohua Festival is a main festival of the Miao people in Guizhou Province, China. It originates from Anshum City in Guizhou Province and has gradually developed into a comprehensive (综合的) yearly event.

Tiaohua Festival is usually held during the first lunar month. To determine the exact dates of the festival, organizers have to take many things into consideration like the Chinese lunar calendar, lucky animal days (e.g. the tiger and dragon are powerful, but snake and pig days need to be avoided at all costs), and lucky numbers (e.g. 8 means wealth but 4 means death). Organizers also need to make sure the dates don’t fall on the festival days of other communities. In this way, people from nearby villages can attend the festival.

Singing and dancing are the main activities of Tiaohua Festival. During the festival, the Miao people dress up in their traditional clothes and silver accessories (配饰) and celebrate the festival in memory of the heroes in their history. Yet, the most important part of the festival is the chance for young people to meet possible marriage partners — men play the musical instruments and women dance to the music in the flower area. If a man plays well, he will not only be praised by listeners but also win the appreciation from the girls. Nowadays, the festival has become a celebration event for the young to visit their parents. Other activities include competitions of climbing a flower-decorated pole, needling crafts and wushu.

Each year, Tiaohua Festival attracts international tourists from all over the world. “We’re really amazed by the rich cultural scenes(场面)and the local people who are very welcoming,” a foreigner named Charlie says excitedly.