4 . In every corner of the globe, there exist people from different religions, different regions, different ethnic identities who speak different languages, and celebrate different holidays.

Culture shapes our identity. It influences how we behave, and it makes us who we are. Culture brings people together equally in celebration and in grief. Without culture and cultural diversity, the world would be a sad and dull place. Cultural diversity is a quality of diverse and many different cultures. Cultural diversity is a system that recognizes and respects the existence and presence of diverse groups of people within a society.

Recognizing that the world is made up of many different people from different backgrounds and cultures is the first step towards a more understanding and harmonious society. Difference is not what divides us, but rather it should be celebrated as something that unites us as humans.

Through diverse cultures, we can explore and understand how other cultures operate and function. Opening our eyes to the existence of diverse and different cultures allows us to see the world from others’ points of view. We can see more, appreciate more, and understand more. Understanding is a crucial step before appreciating. It is the same for understanding different cultures around the world. Even if when we’re unable to understand why certain cultures do the things they do, we’re able to acknowledge it as their custom.

However, total acceptance needs wisdom and awareness. Some cultures and cultural practices may disturb human rights in the general society’s view. We must work towards educating the public with a respect for the community that culture or cultural practices belong to. When diversity is taught early in kids’ lives, they are more likely to communicate and interact with people of any background or culture. At the same time, we must educate ourselves about the pros and cons of cultural diversity so that the change we want to make won’t be one-sided or go against anyone’s rights.

Acupuncture, one of the most famous Chinese medical treatments, is increasingly well received among the world with solid evidence    1    it has a certain edge over western medicine.

    2    (date) back to the Stone Age, the magic needles    3    (measure) between 15 and 75 millimeters in length played a critical role in treating patients in the old past of China and over time, these needles     4    (change) in materials and shapes. While examining a patient, the acupuncturist looks at the patient’s skin and tongue, listening to the sound, smelling his breath, asking about his condition and feeling his pulse. According to    5    results of the check-up, the acupuncturist selects certain points on the body called acupuncture points. So far, more than 360 acupuncture points have been identified, each of     6    linked to a different part of the body. However,    7    acupuncture actually works is not clearly understood, and no agreement has been reached. But anyway, there really existed such a phenomenon    8    patients can restore health after being treated by the acupuncture, so    9    the uncertainty about its medical basis, these years it has been applied to treat a wide range of health problems and is preferred at home and abroad. In 2010, acupuncture was included in the UNESCO ICH. Today, it is recognized     10    a symbol of TCM and has come into widespread use.

On Saturday, an activity to experience farming culture     1     (hold) in Temple of Agriculture in Beijing.

As     2     important ritual architectural complex near the central axis (中心轴) of Beijing, the temple used to be a place for emperors of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911)     3     (dynasty) to perform sacrifices in the hope for good harvests, and     4     (have) become a witness of China’s farming civilization.

    5     (organize) by the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum, the activity this time included a ceremony to start harvest, scholars’     6     (introduce) of 24 solar terms and Temple of Agriculture, and an experience activity in     7     people were invited to reap crops with their own hands.

The activity aims to make more people understand the humanistic spirit of     8     (respect) and valuing agriculture, revering nature and seeking harmonious coexistence     9     human and nature, and feel the profoundness of traditional Chinese farming culture and the wisdom and hard work of the Chinese people.

The activity helps people     10     (well) understand traditional farming culture in China.

If you haven’t gotten the chance to experience the Lantern Festival in China     1     person, you have another chance. The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square is back and     2    (bright) than ever. The lanterns will light up Franklin Square from June 21 to August 14 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. with more than 30 larger-than-life brightly coloured displays.

“Today, the Lantern Festival     3    (hold) each year in China. Each major Chinese city has     4    (it) own light show which attracts millions of visitors and tourists. During the Chinese New Year, families go out to view the beautiful lanterns     5    (create) by Chinese artists. Each display tells a legend or symbolizes     6     old Chinese story,” according to a Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival press release.

The last Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival     7    (take) place in 2019, and in 2022 guests saw new performances     8     include Chinese folk dances and the mysterious bianlian (face-changing). There were three 30-minute performances each night of the festival and these performances were free with festival admission.

“One of the     9    (reason) that it is so important to hold this festival again is for Chinatown. We hope that you visit China town before and after the festival and encourage your friends     10    (visit) it,” Amy Needle, CEO and President of Historic Philadelphia, said.

Straw weaving (草编) is a method of manufacturing daily items or artworks. It     1     (list) as a national intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产) in 2008. The earliest straw-weaving products were discovered at Hemudu Cultural Ruins, a Neolithic cultural site     2     (locate) in eastern China’s Zhejiang province.

Wu Cui, am intangible cultural inheritor, can turn the straw lent over from harvested wheat     3     beautiful and eve-catching functional artworks.

In the past, woven straw items could be found almost in every household in the countryside, such as straw hats and straw shoes, because they were     4     (practice) in everyday life. But due to the impact of industrialization, manufactured goods have replaced such products,     5     produce low profits, and there are only about 100 individuals     6     (work) on the art across the country. “The world has changed, and craftsmen need to transcend (超越) practicality and pursue the beauty and artistry of straw culture     7     (help) the craft survive and thrive,” Wu says.

From her perspective, straw weaving should respond to people’s needs and preferences, while sill drawing     8     (inspire) from traditional culture. “Craftspeople should make great efforts to grasp the trends and opportunities of the times to create new and relevant products,” she says. When     9     (ask) about her plans, Wu says she wants to dig deeper into local traditional culture and create cultural creative products by developing     10     straw-weaving technique.