Zhang Zeduan's Qingming Scroll is a masterwork of Chinese art    1     (consist) of three main sections, the    2     (combine) of which gives the viewer an idea of what life was like for the people of Bianjing.

Zhang used his    3     (amaze) precise brushwork to provide people with a comprehensive look at life during the Northern Song Dynasty in the painting, from    4     we can know about the 12th-century Chinese customs, clothing, transportation methods, business practices, and    5     wide range of buildings. However, some critics suggest that the painting    6     (actual) exposes serious political and social problems.

Zhang's timeless scroll is one of the examples of realism in the history of Chinese paintings, whose value is down    7     its representation of daily life as well as it great scale, artistic quality and attention to detail. With the Qingming Scroll, Zhang made great contributions to Chinese art and    8     (have) a great effect on generations of future artists. The last time it was on display, crowds waited for a long time just to see the famous painting with    9     (they) own eyes. People's enthusiasm about the Qingming Scroll clearly shows the power of this    10     (history) piece of art.

4 . The dinner party is disappearing according to an article in The New York Times. “How can this be?” You might wonder. Don’t we meet with friends to taste food in the hottest restaurants? Aren’t we invited by friends to enjoy home-cooked meals? And we throw parties for friends on special occasions, don’t we?

    1    It is more formal and usually hosted in one’s home. Invitations are sent out ahead and hosts prepare food with great care. A beautiful tablecloth is spread out on the dinner table, which is then set with expensive cutlery (餐具). Guests dress up for the occasion and are expected to carry on a conversation at the table.    2    

Is it because people are too busy to cook for others and then invite them to the table? Perhaps, but there are many food lovers nowadays, and TV programs teaching people how to cook are very popular.    3    According to Judith Martin, a US writer, people have been brought up to express themselves rather than to exchange ideas. They don’t know how to share their experiences and feelings with others in a proper way.    4    

In her opinion, its influence has been harmful to human communication. “People don’t even respond to dinner invitation anymore,” she said. “Not only do they cancel at the last minute, they do it by text message.”

Things have changed a lot today. Perhaps the dinner party has just become a different kind of thing. However, it needs only be more than some food, a table and a location.    5     Even if we are using ordinary plates and are not wearing party dresses, we can still enjoy food and share our ideas of life, love and culture, can’t we?

The history of siheyuan (courtyard house) in Beijing can be traced back to more than 800 years ago     1     Beijing established its status as the capital city. As a kind of traditional Chinese relic, siheyuan represents the     2     (capital) architectural style.

Siheyuan is a closed rectangular space with a courtyard in the center. It     3     (surround) by four houses: the main room, the opposite room, an eastern-wing house and a western-wing house. The housing arrangement is     4     (total) based on the rules of hierarchical system, which aims to keep the order of the family members’ status. The principal house facing the south is inhabited by the head of the family, and his or her     5     (old) son lives in the eastern-wing house, which is believed to be superior     6     the western- wing house. Usually, the opposite house is given to servants and other members. Undoubtedly, siheyuan is a mirror of Chinese culture,     7     (reflect) the sense of belonging in the mind of Chinese people. All the gates are printed red,     8     symbol of luck in China.

Indeed,     9     (know) more about Chinese culture and traditions, visiting siheyuan     10     (be) a smart choice for you. Staying in a siheyuan, learning how to make dumplings and enjoying a local Chinese life, you will get an unforgettable experience here.

7 . What did people do for fun before smartphones and computers were invented? After conducting research, I learned that Cantonese opera (粤剧) was the top form of entertainment in China for centuries. With singing and spoken lines delivered in the Cantonese dialect, Cantonese opera is one of several operatic types born in Guangdong province.

To learn more about the art form, I spoke with Lui Hung-kwong, program director of the Cantonese Opera Academy of Hong Kong. He’s also a well-known performer. Here is something from our conversation.

From the 19th century through the early 20th century, opera troupes (剧团) would perform along the Pearl River Delta in southern China. They lived on boats that were painted red and transported them to various temple festivals during the performance season. A troupe typically stayed in a city for a few days, performing different plays each day. By the 1930s, the major performing places for Cantonese opera had moved to big cities, and more convenient forms of transportation began to be used. As a result, the red boats began to disappear.

In each opera production, the story is told through the “four basic skills” of singing, acting, delivery of spoken lines and martial arts. These are improved by stage makeup, costumes, props and the beats on gongs and drums. The performance is a mix of literature, drama, ballad singing, dance and martial arts.

Cantonese opera is supposed to mirror real life. Older generations read the old stories, and listened to them on the radio. It was like pop culture to them. But our lives today differ greatly from the stories told in the opera. So Cantonese opera begins to tell some themes that will interest kids today. For example, a fairy fails an exam and is forced to come to the earth, where she must learn from human children.

8 . Labor Day (劳动节) all started in the 19th century. Overworked and exhausted laborers were fed up and demanded better treatment. In Canada, laborers marched to their Prime Minister’s doorstep and asked for their right to form unions. The march was victorious. They celebrated better working. conditions with an annual parade.

Peter J McGuire, an American labor leader, was invited and thought to bring that spirit to America and what a success it was! In New York City, protesters assembled to fight against poor labor conditions. The movement quickly spread across America. Workers gathered for picnics, concerts and speeches, rallying for 8-hour workdays and a Labor holiday.

Oregon was the first state to officially recognize the holiday. But it wasn’t until 12,000 government forces were sent to quell a strike and two railway workers were tragically killed that pressure mounted from the American workforce, and Labor Day was put on the federal calendar.

More than 80 countries worldwide celebrate Labor Day or International Workers’ Day on May 1st. But the first Monday of September made sense for Americans because it falls between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. This gives working families a much-needed break.

Fast-forward about 100 years and the Labor Day holiday has become a kind of farewell to summer. In the USA, kids go back to school, football season starts and fashionistas (时装设计师) hang up that little white dress.

But let’s not forget that Labor Day is a celebration of the labor movement, dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers all over the world. It’s evolved into an appreciation of life and well-deserved break from work. So, make sure to enjoy your Labor Day with family and friends.

As you walk into the Shandong Arts and Crafts Exhibition Center, you    1    (greet) by a magnificent sight: a larger-than-life rabbit. With an auspicious cloud atop, the Tuzi Wang, or “lord rabbit”, is dressed in a golden helmet, armor and a flowing red robe.

The creator of the rabbit figure is Yang Feng,    2    inheritor of this Shandong intangible cultural heritage.    3    (locate) on the second floor of the exhibition center is his studio    4    he displays his works, in different designs and sizes, as well as the legends and stories associated with them.

After dedicating two decades to perfecting his craft, Yang is committed to     5    (promote) the traditional skill of creating the lord rabbit in his own unique style. “For me, crafting the rabbit is not just a job,    6    a lifelong career that I am    7    (passion) about,” he says.

Hou Yangjun, the deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Folk Literature and Art Association,    8    (explain) that the practice of worshiping the moon with the rabbit god can be traced back     9     the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and was practiced     10    (main) in Beijing, Tianjin and Shandong’s Jinan and Qingdao.

10 . On Monday, 2023, people across Kenya took part in the country’s first national tree-planting holiday. The holiday was created by Kenya’s president to encourage people to plant trees as part of a plan to fight the climate crisis.

Kenya is famous for its beautiful forests and wildlife. But large areas of Kenya’s forests have been cut down. Those trees would normally help absorb carbon dioxide.     1    

Currently, just 7% of Kenya is covered by trees. Kenya has been seriously affected by the climate crisis. The country has been hit by a severe drought, and the area’s rain patterns have been changing for the worse.

An app is created to help organize the tree planting.     2     It helps people collect seedlings, find places to plant, and record their efforts. The app will also help the government track how many trees have been planted in different areas around the country.

On Monday, people all over Kenya turned out in large numbers to take part in the holiday. In the capital, Nairobi, hundreds of people joined in, even though it was raining.     3     But the government had a goal of planting several hundred million more before the end of December.

    4     But some people were upset because the holiday was announced too late for them to be able to take part. Still others have criticized the government for a decision made earlier this year to end a ba n on cutting down older trees.     5     Some hope that it will happen every year.