A Stone Age bird sculpture uncovered in China could be a “missing link” in our understanding of prehistoric art. Dating back almost 13,500 years, the sculpture is now the oldest known example of three-dimensional art in East Asia.

Described     1     being in “an exceptional state of preservation,” the sculpture     2    (find) at an archeological site in Lingjing, Henan Province. It was hand-carved from burned animal bane. Researchers say the sculpture depicts(刻画) a bird on a base, pointing to deliberate marks     3     the creature’s eyes and bill(嘴) would be. It is believed that the bird’s oversized tail was made     4    (prevent) the sculpture from leaning forward when     5    (lay) on a surface. This discovery identifies a(n)     6    (origin) artistic tradition and pushes back by more than 8,500 years the representation of birds in Chinese art. The sculpture differs     7    (technologic) from other sculptures found in Western Europe and Siberia, and it could be the missing link     8    (trace) the origin of Chinese statues back to the early part of the Stone Age. Li Zhanyang, who led     9     study, has contributed to other archeological findings in Lingjing, including various ancient     10    (tool) and two skulls belonging to an extinct species of early humans.

3 . Chinese state media has praised a viral video series telling the story of a jade teapot coming to life and escaping from the British Museum to make its way back home.

The set of three short episodes, entitled Escape from the British Museum, shows the teapot turning into a young woman in a green dress, who then asks a London-based Chinese journalist to help her reunite with her family.

The plot line taps into growing Chinese criticism (批评) of the British Museum after reports last month that more than 1, 500 priceless objects were missing, stolen or damaged.

In August the state media Global Times called for the return of Chinese artefacts from the museum “free of charge”. “The huge loophole (漏洞) in the management and safety of cultural objects in the British Museum have led to the falling of a long-standing and widely spread claim that ‘foreign cultural objects are better protected in the British Museum’,” it said. It strongly supported the video series for touching on a “powerful message” about the importance of cultural heritage and reflecting “Chinese people’s eagerness for the return of the Chinese cultural relics”.

State broadcaster CCTV also gave the short films a glowing review saying: “We are very pleased to see Chinese young people are passionate about history and tradition. We are also looking forward to the early return of Chinese artefacts that have been displaced overseas.”

The museum incident made headlines around the world and revived earlier demands by the Chinese media to restore the country’s relics.

The new three-part show has set off a wave of nationalism among viewers, with many praising the creative plot that reduced them to tears by showing how the teapot experienced the happiness of returning to China to see pandas and watch a flag-raising ceremony on Tiananmen Square. “May all the cultural relics abroad return home as soon as possible!” said one of tens of thousands of people who commented on social media sites.

9 . FROM PROBLEMS TO SOLUTIONS

Economic development is necessary if we want to improve society. There comes a time when the old must give way to the new, and it is not possible to preserve everything from our past as we move towards the future. Finding and keeping the right balance between progress and the protection of cultural sites can be a big challenge.

Big challenges, however, can sometimes lead to great solutions. In the 1950s, the Egyptian government wanted to build a new dam across the Nile in order to control floods, produce electricity, and supply water to more farmers in the area. But the proposal led to protests. Water from the dam would likely damage a number of temples and destroy cultural relics that were an important part of Egypt’s cultural heritage. After listening to the scientists who had studied the problem, and citizens who lived near the dam, the government turned to the United Nations for help in 1959.

A committee was established to limit damage to the Egyptian buildings and prevent the loss of cultural relics. The group asked for contributions from different departments and raised funds within the international community. Experts investigated the issue, conducted several tests, and then made a proposal for how the buildings could be saved. Finally, a document was signed, and the work began in 1960.

The project brought together governments and environmentalists from around the world. Temples and other cultural sites were taken down piece by piece, and then moved and put back together again in a place where they were safe from the water.In 1961, German engineers moved the first temple. Over the next 20 years, thousands of engineers and workers rescued 22 temples and countless cultural relics. Fifty countries donated nearly $80 million to the project.

When the project ended in 1980, it was considered a great success. Not only had the countries found a path to the future that did not run over the relics of the past, but they had also learnt that it was possible for countries to work together to build a better tomorrow.

The spirit of the Aswan Dam project is still alive today. Perhaps the best example is shown by UNESCO, which runs a programme that prevents world cultural heritage sites around the world from disappearing. If a problem seems too difficult for a single nation, the global community can sometimes provide a solution.

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year     1     24 solar terms. Daxue, or “Major Snow” is the 21st of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese lunar year. During Major Snow, the snow becomes heavy and begins to accumulate on the ground, the temperature     2     (drop) significantly.

The snow in North China may last a whole day, breaking tree branches and blocking the road. The natural scenery is “ice blockading for hundreds miles and snow flying through thousands miles”.

    3     a proverb about the snow says, “A     4     (time) snow promises a good harvest.” With the snow covering the ground, pets living through the winter will be killed by the low temperature.

The plum blossom, which     5     (origin) in China, is appreciated in Chinese culture for its resilience (耐力) during severe winters. Along with the pine and bamboo, it is considered one of     6     Three Friends of Winter. Lamb is a favorite food for Chinese people during Major Snow. It’s excellent for nourishing the body, promoting blood     7     (circulate) and providing protection against the cold. People in Chongging like to have     8     (pot) or stewed lamb soup while Nanjing residents like to stew lamb with yams or wolfberries to make     9     more nutritious.

During this period, Chinese people watch for outbreaks of respiratory illness,     10     can be prevented by wearing a warm scarf to protect the neck and properly drinking water.