1 . I love studying history, traveling to new places and seeing the beautiful sights, immersing(使浸没) myself into the local ________.

I was looking forward to a(n) ________ adventure in Suzhou before setting off. A long history ________ the city's current success, a history I most eagerly ________ through visual fragments(碎片) and its surviving culture.

Suzhou is known for its beauty. White ________ walls rise up from the edge of the waterway, topped by black roofs. Deep green water flows between two rows of buildings, ________ a block of colors to a scene that was ________ only decorated with red lanterns. A stone bridge stretches across the water, _________ a view of Suzhou’s traditional features. Of course, the modern day city has changed ________ from what it was in the past. Tall buildings and a large urban area prove Suzhou's modernization.

In Hanshan Temple, trees ________ over the courtyards, offering ample shade and a connection to nature for the temples visitors. Rounded doorways ________ courtyards lined by covered walkways. Feng Bridge and Qian-deng in Kunshan are two ________ examples of traditional areas that have been ________. These areas allow me to step out of the modern forest of skyscrapers and into an old realm(领域) of natural and ________ beauty where I can discover the roots of my heritage.

As we explored and absorbed the history of Suzhou, I have learned not simply the qualities of a single city, but also the importance of returning to my homeland and finding my roots, even as I stretch my ________ to the rest of the globe.