1 . Relations between Architecture and Culture

A country is not only identified by its people and government, but also by its architecture.     1     For example, when one thinks of India, we think of the Tahj Mahal. The Egyptians are another amazing example. Their environment and culture produced the great pyramids. How do modern cultures produce and maintain such beautiful architecture?

Slovenians gained independence in 1991. The country is now economically the most progressive one. It is now helping to modernize the factories and by doing so has actually helped lower poverty rates. Generally, their world around them is modernizing.     2     Everyday life focuses in the squares, churches and the marketplace. These Slovenian towns have many well-preserved buildings with styles of architecture dating back from the 1100’s. Many churches such as Sticna Abbey and Podsreda Castle are magnificent examples of the Roman architecture.

    3     For centuries, homes have been made out of mud houses built along the main dirt road. The roof could be used for an oven, to hold chickens, or just as storage. Cairo, one of the larger cities, the older parts of it are still the heart of Egypt although built with Islamic and Coptic monuments.

Chinese architecture probably has the most cultural influence. Traditionally buildings were designed for its width, not its height. Every important building is guarded around a large wall to protect their assets. While ordinary dwellings are grey and dull, palaces and places of importance are quite colorful.     4     Each Chinese home has their entrance at the front and facing the east with a screen because it is believed that spirits travel straight and cannot go through screen.

Every culture can inspire a type of architecture that can range from landmarks to everyday homes. Religion and family seem to be the most common influences overall.     5    

2 . How does your family celebrate Mother’s Day? Do you give her flowers or make her a card? The original mother’s days were observed rather differently.

Julia Ward Howe was the first person to propose that the United States observe a national mother’s day. She joined the U.S. Sanitary Commission during the American Civil War. Following the war, Howe became a supporter for peace. In 1872, Howe organized Mother’s Peace Day to improve working conditions in mines and provide better education for poor children.

But Mothers’ Peace Day never became a national holiday. Mother’s Day owes its origin to the efforts of Anna Jarvis, a daughter who wanted to honor her mother, Ann.

In 1858, Ann began a tradition of Mothers’ Work Days in Taylor County, the rural community where infection and disease were common. Ann begged doctors to teach her and her neighbors how to improve the family health. On Mothers’ Work Days, they helped and taught other mothers.

Ann once concluded: “I hope that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mother’s day.” When Ann died on May 9, 1905, Anna determined to fulfill her mother’s wish.

Anna wrote hundreds of letters to politicians and spoke often to promote the establishment of Mother’s Day. On May 10, 1908, Anna addressed a large Mother’s Day celebration. She urged children to show love and thanks for their mothers “by words, gifts, acts of affection...”

The idea of a day honoring mothers spread quickly throughout the country and became official in 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

While few today think of Mother’s Day as a day to do charity work in the community, you can still follow Anna to celebrate it.

Hearing the news that the Shenzhou XIII manned spacecraft was about to return to the Earth, Pan Xue, a Miao ethnic group girl born after 1995, decided to make     1     outer space-themed artwork to express her     2     (appreciate) and respect for Chinese astronauts.

    3     most people of her age have left to pursue a life in big cities, Pan     4     (study) related techniques in her hometown in Guizhou province since graduation. To make a good artwork, Pan devoted a lot of time     5     studying the material. After many trials and processes, a suitable cloth     6     (choose), on which she drew over 1,000 stars. Then she used several silver bars to make branches, and silver sheets     7     (make) about 100 hanging stars. It took her about five days to complete the artwork, a small tree     8     (decorate) with all the silver stars hanging from it.

“It’s called a longevity tree in Qiandongnan,     9     implication of hope matches China’s boosting space industry.” she said. Pan felt     10     (pride) to make a “starry sky” with their ethnic group’s special handicraft, hoping it would help present Chinese ethnic culture to the world.

In the 20^th century, baguettes became less popular as fast food and supermarkets became more common. Shoppers began buying     1     (freeze) bread at their local supermarkets as an alternative to baguettes. Therefore, in 1993, the French government passed another law     2     (protect) the future of the traditional baguettes. The law stated that baguettes must only contain four     3     (ingredient): water, yeast, salt, and wheat flour.

Recently, a group of French bakers took     4     (far) steps to protect their national bread. They     5     (send) an application to the UN requesting that baguettes be recognized as     6     UNESCO cultural treasure. The bakers believe that gaining UNESCO     7     (recognize) will save their tradition and bring attention     8     the special baking techniques they’ve developed over the years. The road to UNESCO probably won’t be an easy     9     , though. Baguettes will have to beat out the beautiful Paris roofs and a popular French wine festival in order to win the honor. The past two years have been difficult for baguette bakers. COVID-19 restrictions have forced thousands of bakeries to close down for good. However, chances are     10     the demand for fresh baguettes will remain high and these stores will reopen once things get to normal.