1     (date) back to 200 years ago, Beijing Opera     2     (consider) as a national treasure in China. The early Qing Dynasty saw the great     3    (develop) of this opera. Qianlong emperor in the Qing Dynasty had     4     interest in the local opera. He asked opera troupes (戏班)    5     different places to perform for him in Beijing     6     (celebrate) his eightieth birthday, so the four big Huiban Opera Troupes entered the capital.       7    (gradual), they combined with the Kunqu Opera, Yiyang Opera, Hanju Opera and Luantan, and formed the present Beijing Opera.

Beijing Opera is a form of traditional Chinese theatre     8     combines music, performance, and dance. Many audiences from different     9     (country) think that it is the     10     (large) and most influential kind of opera in China and the influence is incomparable in China.

2 . Diving in the ocean, marine biologist Erika Woolsey has seen how coral reefs (珊瑚礁) are being damaged by climate change. It has made her decide to find a way to share her experience —including those who can’t easily explore the ocean.

Through her non-profit, The Hydrous, Woolsey is using virtual reality to bring the ocean to everyone. Scientists, filmmakers and divers are taking people on immersive (沉浸式的) virtual dives, attracting attention to reef damage and expecting action to protect our sea. About 25% of marine species depend on coral reefs. However, climate change, pollution and overfishing have done harm to around half the world’s shallow water coral reefs.

Twenty years of underwater exploration has given Woolsey a detailed understanding of the dangerous situations facing reefs. “I’ve seen this first-hand shift. Healthy colourful coral reefs become what look like the moonscape step by step,” Woolsey says.

It is through this experience that The Hydrous team set out to recreate with their award-winning film Immerse. Intended to watch with a VR headset, viewers join Woolsey for a nine-minute guided virtual dive on the coral reefs, immersed in a 360-degree underwater view.

They swim alongside sea turtles and sharks before witnessing the worsening of the reefs. The experience often brings out strong feelings. “As soon as people take off that headset and look me in the eye, they want to tell me a story about their ocean experience,” Woolsey says. “It’s that human connection to our ocean that will solve our ocean problems.”

Woolsey hopes advances in camera technology will allow her team to take more and more people to places in the ocean that are under-explored and places further away from human civilization. They are developing a virtual experience that will put the people in the role of a marine biologist, carrying out biodiversity surveys underwater, and even transporting the viewers to space to monitor global sea surface temperatures.

3 . Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Exhibition of Shakespeare’s World

Welcome to the world-famous house where William Shakespeare was born in 1564 and where he grew up. The property (房产) remained in the ownership of Shakespeare’s family until 1806. The House has welcomed visitors traveling from all over the word , for over 250 years.

◆Enter though the Visitors’ Centre and see the highly-praised exhibition Shakespeare’s World, a lively and full introduction to the life and work of Shakespeare.

◆Stand in the rooms-where Shakespeare grew up.

◆Discover examples of furniture and needlework from Shakespeare’s period.

◆Enjoy the traditional (传统的) English garden, planted with trees and flowers mentioned in the poet’s works.

◎The Birthplace is within easy walking distance of all the car parks shown on the map; nearest is Windsor Street(3 minutes’ walk).

The House may present difficulties but the Visitors’ Centre, its exhibition hall, and the garden are accessible (可进入的) to wheelchair user.

◎The Shakespeare Coffee House (opposite the Birthplace).

4 . When I was a little boy growing up, I would always change out of my good clothes after church and run outside to play for a few hours. When I came back inside, the house always smelt ________. It was my Italian Nana ________ our Sunday dinner. There would be freshly cooked Italian bread with butter. There would be noodles covered in red sauce (调味汁)________ cooked for hours.

I remember we would all ________ the old, metal dining room table. Then we would ________ with smiles, laughter and joy. I always felt so ________ and safe there. We always ________ the table with full stomachs and happy hearts.

As I got older and became an adult myself, I ________ to make smaller types of Nana’s Sunday dinners. I got the ________ of making sauce from Dad. Often I would get very close to making a dinner like Nana’s but it was never quite ________.

There finally came a point when I ________ what I was doing wrong. I was trying to get back a ________ while what I really wanted to do was get back a feeling. It wasn’t just the ________ food that made those dinners so wonderful, it was also the feeling of ________ that was there.

Nana always put her love into her cooking and her life as well. Since then I’ve tried my best to do the same. No matter what I am cooking or what I am doing, I always try to ________ it with love.

I’m glad to receive your letter.

Yours,

Li Hua

7 . How Can I Fight Laziness?

Lazy people will never gain anything in life. However, laziness can be defeated once a few changes have been made in your mind.

    1    Many people lack sleep constantly, since they stay up too late and get up too early to prepare for work. These people have little motivation once they arrive home. Laziness works hand in hand with a lack of motivation and a tendency to put off things. By adjusting your sleep schedule to provide a few more hours of meaningful rest, you can fight laziness throughout the day.

Another way to fight laziness is to change your mind from passive to active. Some people treat their lives as if they were pushed from task to task. Others take a more positive approach, viewing each task as a challenge they must overcome alone.     2    

Some people fight laziness removing the temptations that surround them. A television in the living room may provide entertainment, but watching too much TV often contributes to laziness.     3    Complete a few tasks and reward yourself with what you enjoy, such as a good dinner or a film.

Laziness can also be a lasting problem at home. Couples and children may all have different energy levels, but laziness can be spread if not deal with immediately.     4     Be the first to collect and wash dishes after a meal. Others in the home may eventually follow your example and perform their own task. It is difficult to practice laziness when you are surrounded by motivated people.

    5     Enough exercise and a balanced diet can help you to develop a healthy lifestyle, thus enabling you to have more energy and help lift your spirits.

My Ideal Job

Every time I passed by the playground in my neighborhood in the mornings, I find there are a lot of people.Some people are dancing, some playing basketball and another practicing Tai Chi.All of them look happy, what in particular appeals for me.Therefore, last Sunday mornings, I got up as early possible and joined the people on the playground.I first learned some movements of Tai Chi from an energetically elderly gentleman and then played basketball with several boys of my age.With the weather becomes warmer and warmer, we put an end up to our game and said our goodbyes.Cover in sweat, I felt tired but happy.