Many people may throw away the pits (核) or nuts after eating fruits, but inheritors (传承人) of nut carving have instead collected them and turned them into artworks.

“One nut,    1     (range) from 0.8 to 6 centimetres, can be made into delicate fan pendants (扇坠), earrings, buttons, seals, ect,” said Tan Wanhai,    2     inheritor of Weifang nut carving.

Weifang nut carving     3     (date) back to the Qing Dynasty. During that time, retired imperial craftsman Wang Dayan spread the skill to the local people in Shandong Province. Craftsmen back then often used peach pits     4     (show) off their artistic skills. Due to the rigorous (严谨缜密的) carving skills    5     its rich artistic content, Weifang nut carving    6     (list) as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

Tan couldn’t forget    7     impressed he was when he first saw a nut carving. Yet, the 48-year-old craftsman also admitted that the journey of bringing this kind of masterpiece to life is not all smooth sailing. “Unlike some pits    8    a flat surface, each peach pit has its own unique texture (纹理),” Tan said, adding that craftsmen have to study and trace each peach pit to carefully plan out their artwork.

“Now, the number of inheritors is about 1,000. But I believe it could be     9     (high) as more craftsmen give up the tradition of passing down the skill only through the family and open up the     10     (occupy) to anyone who is interested,” added Tan.

4 . At the beginning of my journey of learning Peking opera, I had_________ that I could manage to perform it outstandingly. Later I found out I was_________.

The most difficult part is that a singer has to first understand the _________ of a character. Once, I acted as Lin Chong, the hero of Outlaws of the Marsh. It was hard for me to understand his emotions when he was _________ for Liangshan on a snowy night. I couldn’t sing or perform as if I _________ was Lin, and so I felt very frustrated.

My teacher seemed to recognize my_________.One day, she approached me, and said with great _________, “The future is like the sea full of chances. There will be a long way to go before you can _________. Wipe the tears away from your eyes and keep _________.!”

After hearing my teacher's touching words, I suddenly felt __________. I bought a copy of Outlaws of the Marsh and began to read it at once. While reading one part of the novel, I understood that Lin was recalling his life while he was on the way to Liangshan，__________. in the cold moonlight. He had to leave his family, his job and so on. After I finished reading the novel, I spent a whole evening __________ his life story. After that, I spent more time practicing, and I__________won the award at the city competition.

This experience has further strengthened my beliefs and __________ the meaning and value of life for me. As long as we catch the __________ and take full advantage of it, we will succeed.

6 . Consciousness (意识) rises slowly, awakening with the dawn that brightens my room. Cool air clears my mind as I walk to the kitchen, where my husband is making his morning coffee. The fire he thoughtfully started is beginning to heat the living space.

By my second cup, everyone is awake. After breakfast, we begin the busy work of a rural place. Chopping (砍) wood for the stove and clearing snow off steps and pathways. Our kids are big enough to be properly helpful and find joy in the work when everyone is doing it together.

Weekends at the cabin (木屋) are magical. During the break, our family constantly balances the demands of work and school. I’m subject to my watch and alarm clock. But coming to the cabin on the weekend is like entering another world.

Here, I don’t need to know what time it is-sunrise and sunset, hunger and chores set our schedule. The house and the woods around it are silent and dark, except for birdsong and the moon. Life seems less pressing, and it’s easier to live in the moment without distraction.

When I get up the next morning, my son is already sitting in front of the fire, staring at the flames. I sit beside him, and he leans into me, sleepy and a bit sad. “What’s up?” I ask. “I just don’t want to go home yet. I like it better here.”

I know what he means. I smile and put my arms around him. “Even when we’re home, this place is always here, where it’s quiet and safe, and everyone you love has time for you.”

I don’t really mean the cabin, and I think he knows that.