Jingxi Taiping Drum is a traditional form of dancing. With its display of profound cultural elements, it     1     (include) in the first batch (批次) of China’s national intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产) items in 2006.

The     2     (early) historical references of this art date back to the Spring and Autumn Period. At the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, it started to gain     3     (popular) in and around the capital, and then it was introduced to Mentougou District of Beijing.

In ancient times, the drums were played     4     New Year’s Eve at the imperial palace to bring peace. As a result, the performance also became known as the “New Year Drum” by Beijingers. This type of drum dance is commonly seen     5     (perform) during the last and first month of the lunar year in many local festive activities, thus expressing     6     (people) hope of a peaceful and prosperous year to come.

During a given performance, drummers perform various dance moves while     7     (hold) the drum in their left hands and a mallet in their right hands. Traditional Chinese aesthetic (美学的) concepts are reflected in the drum playing, all of     8     represent distinctive local features.

In the past decades, efforts     9     (make) by Mentougou District to preserve this signature folk dance culture. Today, the time-honored folk art of the Jingxi Taiping Drum is being taken up by the young people     10     is presenting its lively artistic charm (魅力) on a global stage.

Fan Jinshi, an archaeologist from Beijing University, first visited the Mogao caves as an undergraduate student in 1962. Despite the caves’ tough     1    (condition), Fan was determined to study national cultural heritage(遗产)and stayed to pursue her dream.

Over time, Fan’s commitment to preserving national cultural heritage grew    2    (strong). She joined the Communist Party of China in 1974 and became even more determined to protect the Mogao caves when they were officially open to tourists in 1979.     3     (face) with the challenge of balancing conservation and tourism, Fan knew that a solution had to be found. She    4    (convince) that the caves’ social importance far outweighed their economic potential and that scientific protection was the key to their     5     (survive).

In the late 1980s, Fan came up with     6     innovative plan to digitize the Mogao caves, permanently preserving the murals(壁画), painted cultures, and historical data. In 2016, Digital Dunhuang was launched online, allowing people worldwide     7     (enjoy) comprehensive images of the caves.

In her eighties, Fan Jinshi is as busy as before, working    8    (tireless) to conserve and manage the caves. She hopes that young people will carry    9    the “Mogao Spirit” and build a better Dunhuang Academy,    10    she spent her lifetime. “Let this be my epitaph,” Fan says, “I’ve done all I could for Dunhuang.”

4 . The 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago in China to guide agricultural production. They also reflect China’s rich history through the seasonal festivals, special foods, cultural ceremonies, family gatherings and even healthy living tips that correspond with each solar term.    1    

Rain Water signals the increase in rainfall and rise in temperature. With its arrival, lively spring-like scenery starts blossoming: the river water defreezes, wild geese move from south to north and trees and grass turn green again.

    2    In northern China, the spring drought is common and the precipitation of this season accounts for only 10 to 15 percent of annual average rainfall. At this time of year, farmers begin to plough their fields. It’s the right time to prepare for spring sowing when the day gets warmer.    3    

During Rain Water period, extra care is needed to deal with a returning cold spell and humidity, which is the amount of water in the air.    4    It is strongly advised not to take off the thick coats too early and to keep warm, especially the elderly and children.

The wet and humid weather during Rain Water period is considered harmful for people’s spleen and stomach according to Chinese medical practice.    5    People in Beijing often eat porridge (粥) cooked with a kind of Chinese herb medicine to resist cold and wet weather. Honey, dates and Chinese yam are also very good nourishment (营养) to put in the porridge.

5 . What is heritage? The word can be difficult to define. Heritage is always something that is passed down by families or other groups for many years.    1     It can also be the customs, traditions, and values shared by groups of people. One way to think about heritage is to break it down into three groups. These are the tangible(有形的), the natural, and the intangible.

    2     It can include many human-made objects that hold cultural value. Some examples are national monuments and works of art. Many ancient sites are also part of this group. On a smaller scale, a family home can be part of an individual’s heritage.

Many parts of the natural world are also important to cultural heritage. This can include bodies of water, plant life, landforms and more. One example is the Nile River.    3     Efforts to protect natural heritage are key in many cultures.

The intangible group includes any part of cultural heritage that you can’t feel through touch. Maybe you’ve read about forms of dance, like Flamenco dancing. You might know about the music of Mariachi Bands or holidays like Eid. These are all examples of intangible heritage.     4    

Exploring your own heritage can be fun. It can help you learn about yourself, your family, and your ancestors. But it’s also important to learn about the heritage of others.     5     It can also lead you to find things you may have in common with others!

Tens of thousands of Chinese     1    (society) media users have backed calls from the country’s state media to have its artworks     2    (current) kept in the British Museum returned.

The topic “The British Museum please return Chinese antiquities (古董)” was in response     3     a piece published by Chinese state media Global Times that called for all cultural relics in the British Museum     4    (return) free of charge.

The British Museum has been under pressure after around 2,000 items were reported “missing,     5    (steal) or damaged” two weeks ago,     6    (lead) to accusations that it was failing to fulfil its duty of care.

The calls follow a piece published by the Global Times     7     argued, “The world-renowned British museum     8    (fail) to take good care of ‘cultural property belonging to other countries’ up to these years.”

The British Museum looks after 23,000 Chinese objects, from the Neolithic (新石器) age to the present day. It is one of the largest     9    (collection) of Chinese antiquities in the West. The collection includes     10     large range of precious items such as paintings, prints, jade and bronzes.

The English word “garden” gives an entirely wrong idea of the Chinese yuan, for “garden” suggests a lawn and an infinite       1       (vary) of flowers, altogether too prim (呆板的) and tidy to suit Chinese taste. The Chinese yuan suggests first of all a wild landscape, perhaps better arranged and more artistically       2     (plan) than nature, but still a bit of nature itself, with trees, creeks, and flowers. Dotted in this natural landscape are the human structures like pavilions and long winding corridors, so       3       (perfect) belonging to the scenery as to become a whole with it. The Chinese garden       4       (characterize) by studied disorderliness. There are no even-cut bushes or symmetric (对称的) rows lining avenues as if in battle formation.

No Chinese mansion allows an outsider       5       (look) through theiron gates at along drive, for that would be against the principle of concealment.       6       (face) the   gate, we see a small courtyard giving no idea of the expansiveness of space inside, and leading one step by step into newer views, in       7       continual series of surprises and astonishments. With wooden framework       8       (bear) most of the weight of the house, windows, doors and walls are not restricted to certain locations. The essential idea of interior (室内的) decoration is the beauty of simplicity. Home designs are not something fancy we buy from a first-class firm. What distinguishes a home       9       a public building is the personal touch that we give it. It is only when the spirit of leisure and loving care exists       10       living at home can become an art and a pleasure.

Adaptation from My Country and My People by LinYutang