Located in Lichuan, Hubei proince, Tenglong Dong is one of the world’s largest caves. The cave     1     (list) as the 74th longest cave of the world and the third longest in China with a length of 53,210m. The cave offers extraordinary big passages and one of the     2     (tall) cave entrances on earth, 74m high and 64m wide. The cave     3     (it) is a huge passage, only slightly smaller than the entrance.

The cave is entered at one point by a huge river,     4     (call) Qingjiang River, a branch of the Changjiang. This river first drops     5     almost 10m high waterfall, right before it enters the cave. Here a path was built about 20m above the water,     6     (enter) the river cave. The water deepens and calms down, while it is narrowed by the cave     7     (wall).

The first written mention of the cave is from the Qing dynasty. The cave was     8     (original) named Dong Po or Shui Dong     9     means Water Cave, probably in the meaning river cave. It was renamed     10     the unique name Tenglong Dong, after a Chinese evergreen about flying dragons (龙). And of course, there are mountains in the cave, caves in the mountains.

It’s a harvest that’s almost magical: growing rice in saline (含盐的) soil and making a fortune at the same time.

Wu Zaizhou is     1     local farmer in Da’an, Jilin Province. He says his secret for success is following a     2     (science) recipe that really transforms the saline soil, a kind of soil even the scientists     3     (them) called “problematic”. But by     4     (pull) in opinions from some 1,400 scientists, a way was found to transform that unwanted soil. It’s a comprehensive     5     (solve) that involves treating and improving the soil itself, screening salt-tolerant crop varieties, and employing special planning techniques as well as caring for the overall environment.

“We call it Da’an Model,     6     improves the soil, the seed and the technique in agriculture. It’s proven cost-effective, easily repeatable, and     7     (wide) applicable and good for Jilin’s saline oil area,” said Wu.

Since 2021, lots of land (almost 5,000 square kilometers) in the province     8     (transform). That was previously almost impossible for agriculture, including Wu’s cropland.

Wu said he’s not only expanding his field, but his experience has convinced some of his     9     (neighbor) to join him. “In the new year, we will continue to work     10     (change) the saline land into fertile (肥沃的) land, and we may have a good harvest of rice from here,” he said.

An exhibition of zodiac (生肖) sculptures,     1     (call) Peak Life and Water, opened in Chengdu, Southwest China’s Sichuan Province on Saturday.

The 12 zodiac signs are     2     (traditional) used in Chinese culture to mark each year. Each zodiac sign also corresponds to twelve hours in the day. In addition     3     the traditional calendar function, the 12 zodiac signs are also a kind of folk custom and culture,     4     reflects Chinese people’s understanding of the year.

Each sculpture     5     (base) on a single zodiac animal. For example, the tiny golden birds     6     (stand) on the head of an ox remind visitors of birds settling on an ox, chewing the worms they have just captured. In another, a monkey balances     7     golden peach on the head. For the dragon sculpture, a golden and glorious ball floats in front of the intimidating dragon.

The expressions of these zodiac sculptures are vivid but calm. Some of them seem to be resting, content in their mediation. Only the snake has     8     (it) eyes open. If you see a snake’s eyes are closed, that     9     (mean) it is in hibernation (冬眠). The elegant and exquisite modelling has delighted visitors so much that even before the opening ceremony of the exhibition, some collectors expressed a desire     10     (buy) the sculptures.

What’s been the most successful film at the worldwide box-office this year? James Bond, Disney cartoons and Marvel logo remain a license to print money. But none of them have taken as much     1     The Battle at Lake Changjin, a film that     2     (make) over 800 million yuan so far. It is even more impressive because it’s     3     (basic) only played in one country, and that country is China. It’s now the     4     (big) market for movies. Actually,     5     (watch) the films often gives us a better idea about the people of this     6     (wonder) land. The Chinese film market has experienced a noticeable     7     (recover) this year. The annual box-office earnings for Chinese cinemas in 2023 were 50 billion yuan on November 13, taking 317 days     8     (achieve) this milestone, according to data. Domestic films accounted     9     41.7 billion yuan, or 83.4%, of the total. Because the Chinese market is so large, it will come as no surprise that Hollywood has taken     10     interest, which will lead to more co-productions.

China is known as Xia for its grand etiquette (礼仪) culture, and known as Hua for its beautiful attire (衣裳). With the     1     (change) in society, economic development, and cultural development, clothing has evolved over thousands of years. However, while the forms may have been changed, the essence (本质)     2     (remain) constant.

“In ancient China, emperors like Huangdi. Yao, and Shun brought peace to the world through their clothing.” Clothing holds     3     significant place in Chinese culture. It is not only used for daily wear,     4     (cover) the body and protect it from cold but also as an instrument of management. In ancient Chinese society, there were strict rules and dress codes about clothing. The presence of clothing distinguished civilization     5     barbarism (野蛮), while changes in color and style     6     (gradual) developed into a form of etiquette. Their design conveyed behavioral norms and     7     (they) patterns were rich in cultural significance. Moreover, ancient attire were also an important carrier of morality. China has always been known as a nation     8     values formal attire and etiquette.

What is the Chinese style? It is something that makes people think of China as soon as they see it. For example, the horse-face skirt, which     9     (favor) by international brands and Chinese people for many years, will continue to be attractive. Chinese clothing, as a classical style. has been known to the world overnight with good opportunities. It’s not just a traditional costume style but also a source of     10     (admire).

On Nov. 3, 2022, the Mengtian lab module of China’s Tiangong space station carried out a crucial transpositioning operation,     1     (mark) the completion of the Chinese station’s in-orbit assembly.

The lab module is about 17.9 meters long and     2     (weigh) more than 23 metric tons. It has 32 cubic meters of inner space, which can     3     (use) by astronauts. The spacecraft consists     4     four sections-a crew working compartment, a payload section, an airlock cabin and a service module.

Liu Guoning, deputy chief designer of the scientific cabinet system, said the scientific experiments     5     will be carried out inside the Mengtian are expected to enable scientists to conduct cutting-edge studies     6     get world-class findings.

In 2022, China launched two new crewed spaceships-Shenzhou XIV and Shenzhou XV respectively on June 5 and Nov. 29. On Nov. 30, the six Chinese astronauts from the two missions marked a     7     (history) moment as they met inside the Tiangong space station. It was the first time that six Chinese were in a space station at the same time and the first in-orbit gathering of two Chinese     8     (crew).

After accomplishing many “firsts” during their six-month space station mission, three Chinese astronauts on board the Shenzhou XIV manned spaceship returned to Earth     9     (safe) on Dec.4. The Shenzhou XV astronauts are scheduled     10     (stay) in orbit for six months to carry out a number of assignments.

The 78th United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution (决议) on Friday, officially     1     (announce) the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, as a UN floating holiday. Experts said the move shows the     2     (significance) influence of Chinese culture and will contribute     3     the promotion of the Global Civilization Initiative.

The Lunar New Year not only bears the ideas of peace and harmony     4     (value) by Chinese civilization but also carries the common values of humanity such as family harmony and harmonious coexistence between humans     5     nature.

The reason why the Lunar New Year can pass national borders and is increasingly welcomed by many countries     6     (lie) mainly in the rich cultural heritage of China and the driving force of globalization. As the world’s second-largest economy, China’s cultural elements have spread alongside its economic influence. In the trend of globalization, people’s interest in diverse cultures is     7     (gradual) increasing, and the Lunar New Year has become a major means for people     8     (communicate) and connect.

Therefore, the official     9     (recognize) of the Chinese New Year as a UN holiday fully reflects an emphasis on the inheritance and innovation of civilization,     10     will promote exchanges and mutual learning among diverse world cultures and actively embody the UN’s values of diverse and inclusive cultural ideals.

    1     (decorate) with cobalt blue pigment on a white ceramic body, qinghuaci ware (瓷器) in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, is considered the best     2     quality.

With a tradition of making ceramics dating back more than 2,000 years, Jingdezhen is known as the country’s “porcelain capital”,     3     (attract) artists from home and abroad.

“Ceramics embrace change. I’m here to inherit the tradition in a     4     (create) way.” Cai Wenjuan, a 36-year-old craftswoman, says. In 2012, Cai established her own company and     5     (build) the ceramics-themed brand China Story. “The charm and story behind the blue-and-white porcelain can     6     (tell) through the way the young feel connected,” Cai says, adding that porcelain can be stylish.

As a provincial-level inheritor of the blue-and-white porcelain-painting, on a video-sharing platform Douyin, Cai has posted more than 60 clips     7     (popularize) the craft and the culture.

In 2014,     8     exhibition area of ancient kiln and folk cultures in Jingdezhen,     9     covers a total space of 83 hectares, was assigned a top-grade scenic spot. Today, antique porcelain ware from Jingdezhen is still highly valued by collectors all around the world.

Like Cai, young artists are considering a career in porcelain-related businesses in Jingdezhen, with the local government rolling out supportive     10     (measure) for a variety of startups in the field.

9 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Originating in ancient China, the Chinese knot is a decorative art form,     1     involves tying silk strings into various patterns. It is believed to have been created during the Tang and Song dynasties. Throughout history, Chinese knots have played     2     significant role in traditional Chinese ceremonies and celebrations, symbolizing good luck and harmony.

Chinese knots come in     3     (vary) shapes and forms, each carrying its unique symbolism. Some popular designs include the “Double Coin Knot” representing wealth and success, the “Button Knot” symbolizing unity and friendship, and the “Good Luck Knot” signifying blessings and good fortune. These knots can be further decorated with beads, tassels or other decorations     4     (enhance) their beauty.

Chinese knots hold great significance in Chinese culture and are often used for decorative     5     (purpose) or as accessories (饰品). They can be seen on traditional clothing, handbags, home decorations, and even used as bookmarks. During festive occasions     6     Chinese New Year or weddings, these knots are     7     (common) used as decorations to create an auspicious (吉祥的) and joyful atmosphere.

In recent years, the art of Chinese knots     8     (gain) international recognition, with enthusiasts and collectors     9     (appreciate) its beauty and cultural value. Workshops and exhibitions     10     (hold) worldwide, allowing people to learn about this unique form of art and even try their hand at making their own Chinese knots.

The health condition of Yaya, a 23-year-old giant panda who has lived in Memphis Zoo in the US for 20 years, attracted public concern recently. Tourists posted pictures of Yaya and claimed she suffered from skin disease and malnutrition,    1    (call) for her return. With it being decided that Yaya will come back home, this episode raises the question of    2    giant pandas are so difficult to feed and breed.

Giant pandas only feed on bamboo. The Calgary Zoo in Canada sent two pandas back to China in 2020 due to a    3    (short) of bamboo. Pandas also have trouble absorbing nutrients. They can only digest 17 percent of what they eat.

Their low reproductive rate is a crucial reason as well.    4    (general), giant pandas can breed when they reach 4 to 8 years old. Females breeding only once    5    year leave their scent on bamboo so that males can locate them. Even if a pair meets, successful breeding is not certain.

Females normally give birth    6    one or two cubs(幼崽). If twins are born, the mother may only raise the    7    (strong) of the cubs. A newborn panda baby only    8    (weigh) about 0.1 percent of the weight of a fully    9    (grow) panda, making its survival extremely difficult.

Despite these    10    (issue), progress has been made in breeding and protecting the widely loved animals.