Grain Rain marks a significant period in the traditional Chinese calendar. As the     1     (six) of the 24 Solar Terms, Grain Rain usually falls around April 20 and lasts until the beginning of May. This period is     2     (traditional) associated with the onset of the rainy season, providing much-needed water that helps crops grow.

Grain Rain symbolizes the end of spring and marks the time     3     (begin) preparations for summer, making it crucial for farmers to ensure that their crops     4     (plant) in time to take full advantage of the growing season. During this time, activities like planting rice, corn, and beans are common due     5     the favorable conditions of warmer temperatures and increased rainfall. Grain Rain’s significance extends beyond just agriculture. It represents     6     time of growth, both in nature and within communities.

Grain Rain is a period rich with festivals, cultural events and communal gatherings. Communities often celebrate with various festivities,     7     (appreciate) nature’s renewal. It’s common to see people engaging in outdoor activities, celebrating with traditional performances, and enjoying the blooming of spring flowers,     8     are especially significant during Grain Rain.

Grain Rain not only highlights the practical aspects of agricultural planning but also embodies a deeper connection to the cycles of nature and the community’s cultural practices. It is a     9     (reflect) of the wisdom embedded in the traditional Chinese way of life, where observing natural phenomena guides daily activities and     10     (season) preparations.

Photography is a very popular art form. A camera is an     1     (importance) holiday item. But over the last 10 years, photography     2     (become) much     3     (popular). It’s easy to capture still and moving pictures of places of interest, and it’s also easy     4     (show) off these pictures on social media.    5     (arm) with their smart phones, tourists, this year more than ever, are capturing the beauty of our planet.

Of course, travel companies have caught on to this. Trekksoft has     6     example of photo-tourism from the United States, a land with a vast choice of beautiful     7    (location). Antelope Slot Canyon Tours in Arizona specializes in tours of the state’s famous canyons,     8     gives photographers the chance to capture them on camera. Most of the tourists are     9     (actual) able to make beautiful images     10     just their mobile phones.

Home chefs long for it. Restaurants turn it into new recipes. It’s chili (辣椒). The Chinese condiment (调料), which includes chili peppers, oil and others, is a kitchen powerhouse known for its     1     (difference) purposes. But how did the must-have get started?

Chilis weren’t always in China, says Brian Dott, a history professor at Whitman College and the author of The Chile Pepper in China: A Cultural Biography.     2     (original) from Central and South America, the plant was unknown in China until around the 16th century, when the rapid     3     (grow) in exploration and trade brought chilis to China.

The first     4     (write) record of chili in China dates from 1591. Gao Lian, a playwright in the Ming Dynasty, wasn’t all that excited about the new condiment, Dott says of his account. Instead, he used it     5     a decorative plant.

While elite (精英) Chinese admired chili peppers in     6     (they) decorative gardens, most people     7     (begin) eating and enjoying the fruit of the plant. Chili peppers were passed from person to person and raised in small crops, says Dott,     8     (fall) into the hands of skilled farmers     9     developed even better chilis over time. These chilis — and the condiment made by frying them in oil — became a must for cooking all over China. Finally, they have become so common that they were considered part of     10     nation’s symbol.

When Renee Butts was little, her dream was to become a volunteer firefighter because her father was one. Though her father’s work was hard and full of danger, he never made a     1     (complain) about it and fell in love     2     the job quickly. Sadly, at the age of 14, one afternoon Renee returned home, only     3     (tell) that her beloved father had passed     4     and she was never able to do volunteer work with him due to her dad’s death. However, Renee’s story didn’t end there. She was so determined and     5     (energy) a girl and never gave up, which made her dream a reality.

Now Renee, who used to be an astronomer, is a member of the Carme Fire Department now, where she is required to be an Emergency Medical Technician. Once a reporter asked her, “I wonder if all the skills necessary to act as a firefighter have been mastered by you so far.” She replied, “I seem to have. Now a summary     6     (write) last week about my training will be published tomorrow.” The reporter     7     (make) a response, “You must have trained hard and     8     (effective) in the past, haven’t you?” Renee should also be ready to deal with any emergency, like fighting a fire, dealing with a car accident or helping someone who is sick.

Asked what the best part of her job was, Renee replied, “Helping people and saving lives.” I think that shows signs of being a true hero. Renee says that to some extent, her job is frightening at times, but extremely exciting. “To tell you     9     truth, the worst part of my job is that I see deaths and serious injuries. Actually, sometimes people die in an accident and some fires and large amounts of property (财产) are lost, for     10     I am very sorry.”

Jane Eyre (《简爱》) is a timeless classic that attracts readers with its powerful storytelling and unforgettable characters.     1     (write) by Charlotte Bronte, this novel follows the journey of Jane Eyre, a poor young woman who overcomes adversity     2     (find) love and independence.

The novel is a masterpiece of Victorian literature, exploring themes of love, morality, and social class. Jane Eyre’s strong sense of self-worth and independence makes her attractive, while her love for Mr. Rochester adds depth     3     the story.

Bronte’s writing style is     4     (elegance) and interesting, drawing readers into Jane’s world and engaging them in the richly detailed settings of Thornfield Hall and Yorkshire. The novel’s atmospheric descriptions and vivid imagery bring the story to life,     5     (create) an absorbing reading experience.

One of the most memorable aspects of Jane Eyre is its     6     (explore) of complex inner struggles of    7    (it) characters. From Jane’s internal conflicts to Mr. Rochester’s troubled past, the novel explores the depths of human emotion with sensitivity.

Overall, Jane Eyre is an everlasting masterpiece     8     continues to attract readers of all ages. Its powerful themes, memorable characters, and engaging storytelling make it     9     must-read for anyone seeking an unforgettable novel. So far, Jane Eyre     10     (leave) a lasting legacy (遗产), inspiring numerous adaptations in film, television, and theater. Its timeless themes continue to attract audiences of all ages, making it a beloved classic for generations to come.

China recently shared exciting news about its space exploration efforts, and revealed the names of its manned lunar lander and a new crew spaceship. This development marks     1     important step in the nation’s efforts     2     (explore) outer space. The lunar lander is named Lanyue,     3     means “embracing (拥抱) the moon”. This choice reflects the dream and confidence of the Chinese people in their space exploration efforts.

The crew spaceship has been named Mengzhou, or Dream Vessel,     4     (indicate) its role in realizing the dream of landing on the moon and exploring newfrontier s in space. Mengzhou will have two versions: one for exploring the moon and the other for trips between Earth     5     the Tiangong space station, and the latter takes over the duties from the current Shenzhou spaceship.

These names, Lanyue and Mengzhou, were selected     6     (careful) from nearly 2,000 suggestions by the public to show the wide     7     (participate) and interest of the Chinese people     8     their country’s space missions. China plans to send its first manned mission to the moon around 2030. The Lanyue lander is designed with a landing and propulsion (推进) section to carry two astronauts to the moon. The Mengzhou spacecraft, designed for space travel,     9     (include) a reentry module for the astronauts and a service module     10     (equip) with power and propulsion systems.

Xiangsheng, or crosstalk, is arguably the most popular comic performance in China, appealing to people of all ages.

Xiangsheng first appeared in China during the Ming Dynasty. But it was not until the middle and late Qing Dynasty     1     xiangsheng, established itself as     2     unique and independent art form.

Performed mainly in Beijing or Tianjin dialect, xiangsheng is     3     (essential) known for its humorous and satirical (讽刺的) nature. It could be a comedic monologue, dialogue or multiplayer sketch.

As the     4     (early) form of xiangsheng, dankou, or monologue, is performed by an actor who mainly cracks jokes or simply narrates humorous stories. It’s known as qunkou when it is performed by three or more people.

But most of the time, xiangsheng is performed by two actors,     5     is called duikou. The two actors usually discuss or argue over a subject or a social phenomenon     6     a satirical and humorous manner. The main purpose is     7     (cause) laughter among the audience.

In the early years, xiangsheng performers typically came from a humble background,     8     (start) off as street performers. The most popular     9     (venue) of xiangsheng used to be Beijing Tianqiao, Tianjin Quanyechang and Nanjing Confucius Temple. Later, they began to perform in teahouses and theaters. With the     10     (arrive) of radio and television, xiangsheng began to reach audiences everywhere.

The Sixth Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo     1     (kick) off on September 6, 2023 in China’s Gansu Province. This year’s Expo, the two-day event has attracted over 1,200 guests     2     more than 50 countries, regions and international organizations.

With “Connecting the World: Cultural Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations” as     3     (it) theme, “Dunhuang Forum” aims to explore the core of Silk Road culture and try to build a model of cultural heritage protection     4     a highland for Dunhuang culture studies. Dunhuang culture is a popular     5     (academy) topic. It has a big fan base in China and abroad,     6     (particular) among young people.

At the Expo, cultural performances “Meet Dunhuang” presented fine Silk Road literature and art together,     7     (tell) wonderful stories about the historic Silk Road, and showing     8     richness, brilliance and inclusiveness of Silk Road culture. The Expo participants agreed that Dunhuang culture’s philosophy, spirit, values should     9     (cherish).

The Belt and Road Initiative was put forward.     10     (inspire) by the ancient Silk Road, the development strategy aims to establish a new platform for international cooperation and to facilitate global development.

Since ancient times, phoenixes     1     (regard) by Chinese as birds that can bring happiness and good fortune. A male phoenix is called feng and a female one huang,     2     they are collectively called fenghuang (phoenix). Like the Chinese dragon, the phoenix is also viewed    3     a god or goddess. The phoenix is very beautiful, with the head of a     4     (gold) pheasant, the wings of a dapeng (a huge bird from Chinese legend) , the     5     (leg) of a crane, the beak of a parrot and the tail of a peacock, and is     6     king /queen of all birds, as well as a symbol of beauty, happiness and peace. Legend has it that when the state is in a state of peace and prosperity, the phoenix will descend from heaven     7     (live) on earth. When the phoenix appears, numerous birds will fly after it from all directions,     8     is called “birds paying homage to the phoenix”. In the feudal age, the phoenix was taken as a symbol of the     9     (noble) woman of the imperial court. The phoenix remains a popular image in Chinese folklore today,     10     (symbolize) good fortune, happiness and joy.

China has been working hard to promote exchanges between its young people and the ones from other countries around the world on culture, innovations, working skills and entrepreneurship. China launched (发起) an activity, which is dedicated to promoting the     1     (develop) of young people worldwide.

So far, some big companies in China     2     (start) different projects and benefited young individuals from 19 countries, including Laos, Vietnam, Uganda and Portugal.     3     typical example is a project in Uzbekistan by a Chinese company. It offers some excellent college graduates opportunities for employment and to learn in China.     4     is worth mentioning is that some local youths got access to training courses and lectures and some youths     5     (invite) to China to visit some projects last year. Leaders from these Chinese groups say this effort is not just about jobs and learning but about building various     6     (bridge) between cultures and making the world a more connected place. They’re planning to grow this project even more and get more companies     7     (involve).     8     short, an important platform is offered to let youths engaged in International communication, and it is expected     9     (improve) passions of the young generation. The goal is to let young people around the globe     10     (extensive) understand China and each other, hoping to make the future brighter for everyone.