The core value of Chinese traditional culture is the concept of harmony. Harmony is, in fact, a complete cultural system that consists of not only     1     (value) but also a philosophy with its own world outlook. Harmony means “proper and balanced cooperation between things”.

    2     harmony at the heart, traditional Chinese principles suggest that there is a built-in dynamic in the universe that turns imbalance into balance. This concept, deeply     3     (mix) into the history of Chinese society, advocates for a balanced and     4     (peace) coexistence within the individual, between people, and between humanity and nature.

At the centre of Chinese cultural harmony is the belief in the interconnectedness of all things. It     5     (reflect) in various aspects of Chinese life, from the emphasis on family unity and social bond     6     the practice of traditional arts and the governance of the state.

The significance of harmony in Chinese culture cannot be overstated. It has shaped China’s approach to international relations,     7     (highlight) harmonious coexistence and shared benefit. In taking care of the environment,     8     inspires efforts to live according to natural cycles and to respect all forms of life. Moreover, the concept of harmony,     9     has enabled China to maintain social stability and cultural consistency despite the challenges of history, offers a model for settling conflicts and promoting a sense of community and belonging. As the world becomes     10     (steady) interconnected, the principles of Chinese cultural harmony offer valuable insights for creating a more balanced and sustainable global society.

The Duan inkstone, one of the four most famous inkstones in China,     1     (originate) in the mountains by the Duanxi River in Guangdong Province. Since the Tang Dynasty, it has been the     2     (center) region for Duan inkstone production and even today, most of the villagers still earn their living by making inkstones.

Throughout hundreds of years, villagers have developed     3     scientific production system. The process involves stone selection, material screening, shape designing, carving, and wooden box matching, among     4     stone selection and carving are the two most important steps.

Purple     5     color, Duan inkstones are glossy and as smooth as silk. They enjoy a great reputation as they never crack even when     6     (place) in low temperatures. It is a long and laborious process to handpick flawless Duan stones. Miners dig in tunnels less than one meter high at the riverside, and using tools such as dynamite (炸药)     7     (forbid).

Carving involves good conception, and highlights the fine shape of the stones     8     carving skills. In addition to natural designs, flying dragons, flowers and birds, figures, mountains and waters are common     9     (image) carved on the stones. The matching boxes are also carefully chosen and are often made of purple sandalwood and rosewood. The Duan inkstone has various styles, and new-style products are designed one after another     10     (meet) increased export demands.

Shadow play, a conventional form of theatrical entertainment,     1     (survive) for centuries. The origins of shadow play     2     (believe) to date back to ancient China where it was later spread to other parts of the world.

The creation of puppets (木偶) is such a complex process that it demands extreme precision     3     is a test of the commitment as well as skills of craftsmen (匠人). These puppets are in     4     (they) works of art. Distinguishable character qualities appropriate for shadow performances are presented through the     5     (adopt) of realistic and abstract approaches.

In a typical shadow play performance, puppets are held behind a screen, with light cast onto the screen     6     (create) shadowy images that tell a story. The themes and characters     7     (feature) in shadow play performances vary widely depending on the cultural context.

While     8     (tradition) shadow play often involves fancy handmade puppets and fascinating storytelling, contemporary artists have explored new techniques, pushing the boundaries of     9     is possible with shadow play.

Despite the rise of digital entertainment, shadow play, a timeless tradition that goes beyond borders and generations, continues to exist     10     a valuable art form in many parts of the world.

Located within Huzhou, Zhejiang province, Xiaoxi Street stands as a historical and cultural protection block. It gracefully preserves its rich heritage       1     embracing the essence of modernity perfectly.

With       2     (impress) buildings dating back to the late Qing Dynasty, this historic place, situated alongside the Caodu River, once       3     (serve) as a junction place for ancient canal transportation. The river, acting as a vital channel linking the mountainous regions of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces       4     Huzhou city, played a significant role in the prosperity of this greatly respected block.

Throughout history, Xiaoxi Street attracted honored families, rich merchants, and government officials, resulting in the       5     (create) of masses of architectural wonders that have stood the test of time.

Among these treasures, the residence(豪宅) of Niu Fubao,       6     unusual Qing Dynasty official, stands as a noticeable highlight. Constructed by a merchant from Huizhou, the complex,       7     (display) distinctive Huizhou-style architecture, was later acquired by the Niu family. Remarkably, the complex boasts delicate stone carvings on       8     (it) doors and a rare high-level beam structure, carefully     9     (preserve) to this day. Since 2013, the local government has undertaken a comprehensive project aimed at protecting this historic block. Meanwhile, modern cultural industries, including galleries, pottery-making workshops and public libraries,       10     (integrate) to breathe youthful vitality into the area, transforming the block into a center of cultural and creative industries.

Sichuan Cuisine and Hunan Cuisine are both known for their hot flavors, which might appear similar at first sight. That’s why Americans are pretty confused about how they are different.

This confusion has its roots in how Hunan food     1     (introduce) to the American public. According to Kian Lam Kho, the author of Chinese food blog Red Cook, a group of Chinese chefs are said     2     (train) in both Hunan and Sichuan Cuisines in 1945. When they later     3     (seek) opportunities in the United States, they brought Hunan and Sichuan Cuisines to New York,     4     these two cooking styles were adjusted to suit local tastes.

As Kho puts     5    , these two cuisines offer different flavors. Sichuan Cuisine is characterized by the use of Sichuan peppercorns (花椒粒), which provide     6     unique numbing feeling. Hunan Cuisine, on the other hand, is famous for its bold and burning flavors, which features the     7     (combine) of fresh chilies (辣椒) and garlic to create a powerful and intense spicy taste.     8     Sichuan Cuisine, Hunan Cuisine does not typically include the numbing sensation of Sichuan peppercorns.

“It is amazing     9     distinct Hunan cooking is compared to its confusing Sichuan cousin. It is truly worthwhile to seek out restaurants or cookbooks that     10     (faith) capture Hunan flavors in their menus or recipes.” Kho notes.

Dunhuang is famous for its ancient Mogao Caves,     1     treasure house of Buddhist art and texts. Over the past 30 years, the concept of Digital Dunhuang     2     (emerge).

Digital Dunhuang involves the use of modern technology such as 3D scanning and virtual reality (VR) to create digital copies of the caves and their     3     (price) contents. By doing so, it breaks     4     geographical barriers and allows people from anywhere to experience the beauty of these artworks without physically being there.

One notable project within Digital Dunhuang is the creation of a virtual library where     5     (scan) Buddhist texts are stored and can be accessed online. This not only aids in the     6     (preserve) of the delicate documents but also facilitates research and education globally.

Furthermore, the VR headset offers such an authentic scene of the cave     7     users can have a close-up view of the wall paintings and sculptures. This technology even permits a behind-the-scenes look at restoration efforts,     8     (develop) an understanding of the challenges faced in protecting these ancient wonders.

In essence, Digital Dunhuang is a proof of     9     cutting-edge technology can serve as a powerful tool for cultural conservation. It provides a bridge between ancient history and the modern world, ensuring that the legacy of Dunhuang remains alive and accessible for generations     10     (come).

Ancient China covered a vast and ever-changing geopolitical landscape,     1     the art it produced over three thousand years is, unsurprisingly, just as varied. Still,     2     continuous technical developments, and the influence of foreign ideas, there are certain qualities inbuilt in Chinese art.

Among these essential qualities, a love of nature, a belief in morality, and an interest in viewing the subject from various respects     3     (include). An important difference between China and many other ancient cultures is     4     many Chinese artists were not professionals but amateurs who were also scholars. Art, throughout most of China’s history, was meant to express the artist’s good character and not merely be an     5     (interpret) of his practical artistic skills.     6     (natural), there were professional artists too, employed by wealthy officials     7     (decorate) the walls and insides of their fine buildings. Of course, there were, too, thousands of workmen     8     (make) precious materials into objects of art for the few who could afford them.

Chinese art remained highly influential throughout     9     history of the country, inspiring greatly that of its neighbours in East Asia. And the worldwide appreciation of its achievements, especially in carving, painting, and building     10     (continue) to this day.

As a pioneer bullet train (动车) driver, Li Dongxiao, 52, is part of the history of China’s high-speed railway network. In 2008, he drove China’s first high-speed train,     1     (reach) 350 kilometers per hour, between Beijing and Tianjin.

    2     number on Li’s bullet train driver’s license is 0001, which led the media to give him the name of China’s “first” bullet train driver. “Over 14 years, the length of the network has grown     3     zero to more than 40, 000 kilometers, and more varieties of Fuxing bullet trains have been developed and adopted, ”he said.

However, all those     4     (impress) achievements came from the ground up. Driving at high-speed is among certain     5     (profession) that require strict training. In March 2008, Li, along with some of China’s best train drivers,     6     (select) to undergo training to operate bullet trains at the manufacturer, China CNR Corp. He participated in more than 200 test runs and created a guidebook for bullet train drivers,     7     was named after him as the “Dongxiao Manual”.

China’s high-speed rail network     8     (see) rapid development over the past 20 years. Li’s development has been intertwined with the evolution of China’s high-speed railway system. He no longer     9     (operate) bullet trains himself, but is now head of the Huairou North locomotive depot (机务段) in Beijing, which is the center of train operations, repair and maintenance. Even more importantly, it is     10     all the drivers receive their training.

Yang Jiang was a well-known Chinese playwright, translator, and author. She belonged to     1     unique and beautiful existence in Chinese literature. She was the first Chinese academic     2    (translate) Miguel de Cervantes’ Spanish novel Don Quixote to Chinese and at that time, her translation     3     (honor) as the recreation of the original work       4     the basis of loyalty.

Yang was born into a rich family in 1911,     5    (original)named Yang Jikang. After eventually     6     (graduate) from Soochow University, she enrolled at the graduate school of Tsinghua University. She met her husband there, Qian Zhongshu, another acclaimed writer in China.

Other than translations, Yang     7     (author) many plays, novels, and essays during her writing career. Her short novel Mr. Wang,     8    (write) in 1984, was selected as an article in the textbook. In 1986, she got the Civil Order of Alfonso X the Wise, a famous Spanish civil order, for her     9     (achieve) in Don Quixote. Her bestseller was We Three in 2003,     10     sales exceeded 180,000 copies in two months. Yang passed away in 2016, at the age of 105.

China has nearly 5,000 years of     1     (record) history. However, the history of Chinese furniture is even longer than     2     of its writing, which can be traced back to the Hemudu Culture more than 7,000 years ago.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, most of the furniture was hand-made using high-quality hardwood     3     raw materials, which are now rare and expensive. Ordinary people often use wood such as pine, elm, and beech, but the quality between the woods    4     (different) greatly.

Classical furniture is mostly made by hand. Modern machines cannot     5     (complete) replace handwork. The shapes carved by the machine are neat but the lines are rigid and lacking vitality.

The most delicate aspect of Chinese classical furniture is the structural part of the furniture-mountains-and-treetops (榫卯) work. Combining pieces of wood together,     6     (use) nothing more than the wood itself, is a basic skill of all carpenters (木匠) in ancient China. It was first discovered in the wooden structure of the Hemudu site     7     the ancestors lived more than 7,000 years ago. This structure is the wisdom of the Chinese working people and fully represents the     8     (create) and artistry (艺术性) of humanity.

Ancient Chinese     9     (philosophy) have been expressed in traditional Chinese furniture. For example, Confucianism emphasizes gentleness and moderation.     10     (achieve) that, skilled carpenters properly matched the curves and straight lines of the furniture. That’s why Chinese furniture always displays both balance and stability.