1 . Accompanied by the rhythmic sound of bamboo strips (竹板), Yang Ziqi, 17, from Xi’an Qujiang No l High School, listens to interesting stories in the Shaanxi dialect. The stories range in subject greatly from the story of the Monkey King to instructions on garbage sorting.

“Shaanxi kuaiban is amazing. It can not only bring you great joy, but also broaden your horizons” said Yang. Shaanxi kuaiban is a traditional Chinese form of storytelling in the Shaanxi dialect to the rhythm of bamboo clappers. In June, it was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage at the national level. It can be performed by a group or solo. The art form can be traced back to the late Qing Dynasty (1644 — 1911). According to its performers, the art was originally used by farmers to share their knowledge and earn money. But now, more people perform Shaanxi kuaiban on different occasions-for example, at festival celebrations, parties and art shows.

Yang Jinlong, 45, is an experienced Shaanxi kuaiban artist. He first learned the art at the age of 9. Before that, he often went with his father, an amateur performer, to watch kuaiban performances.

“As a young boy, I was attracted to the art form because many of the stories are about heroes. The performer tells stories while playing kuaiban, and it’s easy for the audience to remember the stories since all the lines rhyme,” Yang said. He has practiced Shaanxi kuaiban for more than 30 years. Since 2003, he has been teaching the art form to young people. At 9 am on weekdays, he drives to primary and middle schools in Xi’an and teaches students about Shaanxi kuaiban until about 6 pm. Then, he returns home to prepare classes for the next day. On the weekends, he teaches for six hours each day at art education institutions in Xi’an.

Yang has made some adaptations to the art form to relate more to students. When he tells modern stories, Yang abandons the traditional gown and wears a suit. He also integrates many pop elements like tap dance, ballet, jazz dance and the rhythm of popular music into kuaiban performances. His stories focus on more trendy topics, like stories of heroes who have worked to alleviate poverty (扶贫), as well as the Chinese Olympic team.

“Art education is important for students in China. Just as many students learn to play Western musical instruments like the piano and violin, there are many people learning traditional Chinese folk arts, including Shaanxi kuaiban. They are committed and passionate,” Yang said.

9 . Society has certain standards for beauty. But the Romanian camerawoman Mihaela Noroc is _______ these standards. She spent nearly four years shooting _______ of women around the world.

She believes that beauty can _______ many forms. “Beauty just _______ being yourself,” Noroc told NPR, “I don’t think we have to _______ ourselves to be in a certain way; we just have to keen ourselves as we are and don’t necessarily need to change.” _______ by a tip to Africa in 2013, Noroc has traveled to more than 50 countries since then.

In 2017, she published a book to show how many different kinds of _______ there are in the world. From a _______ Russian dancer to a joyful cafe owner in New York, Noroc’s subjects _______ her in deep conversation. Noroc found out what ________ them, what their daily struggles and joys are, and what brings beauty into their own lives. “Wherever I go, it is the ________ that carry all the cultures and traditions of a place. I really try to focus on women’s stories, how they face challenges and ________ them,” Noroc told CNN.

In Iran, Noroc met Farnoush, a woman living in two worlds. “In one she is an economist, by ________. In the other, she is an artist, because this is her ________. “In Noroc’s world, the beauty of women ________ how natural and comfortable they appear while just being themselves.

10 . A walk through the galleries of Quebec’s Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) places individuals face-to-face with some 43,000 artworks ranging from Chinese ceramics to Inuit sculpture.

While the visiting is an incredible cultural experience, a group of local physicians will soon be able to prescribe museum visits as treatment for some illnesses.

“We know that art contributes to neural (神经的) activity,” said MMFA director Nathalie Bondil. “What we see is that being in contact with art can really help your well-being.”

Hélène Boyer, vice president of a Montreal-based medical association, explains that museum visits have been shown to increase levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter (神经递质) known as the “happy chemical” which helps to lift the mood.

According to Boyer, the small increase in hormones associated with enjoying an afternoon of art is similar to that offered by exercise, making museum visits prescriptions ideal for the elderly experiencing pain that prevents them from regularly joining in physical activity.

The museum visits are designed to improve traditional methods. As Bondil notes, spending time in a peaceful environment can provide a welcome distraction. “What is most important is this experience can help them escape from their own pain” she says. “When you enter the museum, you escape from the speed of our daily life.”

“I am convinced that in the 21st century, culture will be what physical activity was for health in the 20th century,” said Bondil. “Some people would do well to recall that just in the 19^th century, sports were believed to do harm to the body. Just as doctors now prescribe exercise, they will be able to prescribe a visit to the MMFA.”