Stinky tofu,       1     (know) as chou doufu in China, is a much-loved street food, sold in night markets and roadside stands as     2     delicious snack. It     3     (invent) by a man named Wang Zhihe, who lived in Anhui Province during the Qing dynasty.     4     (original) , Wang was a scholar, but after     5     (fail) his official exam, he decided to sell tofu in the streets of Beijing. One day, he didn’t sell all his tofu, so he cut it     6     pieces and placed them in a jar for storage. When he reopened the jar several days later, he met with a terrible smell,     7     he decided to taste the tofu anyway. Finding it surprisingly delicious, he began to sell this new, smelly tofu at his store. If people wanted to try some, they just followed the smell,     8     was like a burnt sports shoe, and then they could find his store, where it could be found in     9     (vary) forms, including deep-fried, steamed or served in soups. The fans thought the smellier, the better! Nowadays, stinky tofu, featuring in documentaries and international food     10     (show) , has gained popularity around the world.

According to a report from a leading Chinese e-commerce platform, sales of traditional Hanfu clothing     1     (rise) a lot since January, three times higher than last year. This trend was especially reflected in the horse-faced skirt,     2     was reported to be the most popular Hanfu item in 2023. Sales data show a wide     3     (fascinate) with traditional Chinese clothing. The horse-faced skirt dates back     4     the Song Dynasty and grew popular in the Ming Dynasty.     5    (celebrate) as one of the most symbolic styles of ancient Chinese skirts, it     6     (natural) involves cultural elements in its unique appearance. This type of skirt,     7     (feature) pleated (有褶的) design, attracts many young people. Many     8     (theory) have explained the horse-faced skirt’s name, one of which suggests     9    (it) design of three pieces, with the central one resembling a horse’s face. As     10     carrier of culture, Hanfu offers a chance for consumers to seek cultural confidence and identity.

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.

Lijiang Old Town, also known as Day an Old Town, was a former trading town and as top for traders carrying goods on the Ancient Tea and Horse Road. It    1    (list) as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

In Lijiang Old Town, you’ll find a mix of architectural style influenced by several    2    (culture) — Naxi, Bai, Yi, Tibetan, and Han. The town also possesses    3    ancient water supply system of great creativity. Every year, millions of tourists visit Lijiang Old Town, which features ancient street sandstone bridges    4    (decorate) with flowers. In addition, there    5    (be) many ancient buildings, beautiful parks, and museums.

The Mufu is one of Lijiang’s famous attractions. It was the residence of the Naxi People’s Mu clan (宗族) who were in charge     6     Lijiang during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. It was     7    (actual) the heart of Lijiang Old Town for 800 years. Another    8    (attract) is the Black Dragon Pool. The water is as beautiful as jade and reflects Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, so it is also called Jade Spring Park. It is a wonderful place    9    (take) pictures of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Nobody will miss the Lion Hill, on the top of which there is Wangu Tower     10    you can lookout to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the surrounding crop fields and villages.

What are you waiting for? Come to explore Lijiang right now!

Every Lunar New Year, China introduces a zodiac(生肖) sign from a cycle of 12 lucky animals. This year, it’s the Year of the Dragon, or more     1     (accurate), ”the Year of the Loong”. Then what’s the difference?

The Western     2     (describe) of dragons as “fire-breathing winged creatures” was inspired by literature such as Beowulf - the Old English epic about a Scandinavian hero     3    contribution was killing monsters, including a dragon. Greek fairy tales also presented dragons    4    violent sea monsters or guards of valuable     5     (possession). By contrast, “loong”, a word    6     (create) in the 19th century, reminds people of strength and fortune, and should    7     (distinguish) from its Western cousin. In Shiji,     8    2, 000-year-old Chinese history book, the emperor’s mother dreamed of a dragon lying on her body,     9     (predict) the birth of a future emperor. Exactly for this reason, Chinese people proudly claim they are “descendants of the Loong” .

Therefore, some culture experts have been calling for a switch to ”loong”     10     (tell) the Chinese dragon from the frightening monsters of Western tales. The call is also in line with the push for cultural confidence to choose the preferred translation of the Mandarin word for a creature long respected in Chinese culture.

This year, a board game     1     (name) “Steam Up: A Feast of Dim Sum” is popular around the United States. It is a competitive Dim Sum collection board game for five players. The pieces of the game are vivid, including five popular Chinese dishes, like shrimp dumplings and barbecue buns. The rules are very simple: Players collect food     2     (token) and Fortune cards     3     (benefit) themselves or to play against others. Once a set of Steamers of five Chinese dishes are collected, the player will get the     4     (high) score and win the game. The game     5     (create) by Pauline Kong and came online last year. As she said, the game will provide     6     opportunity for people to play and learn about Chinese culture     7     a fun way. People like it because it’s a medium-light game,     8     is suitable for a family to play. Parents can enjoy their quality time with the kids. Many board game lovers recommend that “Steam Up” have all of the elements of a family classic. It looks great and has an     9     (attract) theme and simple rules that are easy to teach.     10    , that’s not to say that the game is easy to play — it is full of very difficult decisions. Come and have a try!

Nowadays about one     1    (five) of the global population celebrate the Spring Festival, making it a worldwide festival. The Spring Festival, widely known as Lunar New Year,     2    (honor) as the United Nations Floating Holiday on December 22, 2023.

    3     is announced that the UN will try to avoid     4    (arrange) conference activities on the day. This resolution reflects the great influence of Chinese culture. It will promote Chinese tradition     5    (global) as well.

With a history of 4000 years, the Spring Festival has continued all the way to today and it has spread     6     many countries in the world. Therefore, it is     7     bond between China’s present and past. It is a strong connection between Chinese people at home     8     abroad. Why has this been possible? Featuring family reunion and well-being, the Spring Festival inherits the treasure of Chinese culture: harmonious coexistence. It also expresses a common goal     9     all countries should pursue: to create a world with a     10     (share) future of harmony and prosperity.

Under the influence of the recent EL Nino,     1     is reported that the average global temperature in 2023 has set the record, making it the warmest year since 1850. The temperatures in most     2     (region) of China from this winter to next spring will be above the long-term average. This winter the     3     (combine) of EL Nino and global warming raised the chances of natural disasters     4     (cause) by extreme weather. The EL Nino is predicted to cause the sea surface temperature to reach its     5     (high) point between November 2023 and January 2024. EL Nino is     6     naturally occurring climate phenomenon that starts with unusually warm surface water in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, which then goes on to affect the weather worldwide. On average, it     7     (occur) every two to seven years, and one episode     8     (typical) lasts nine to twelve months. Since May, an EL Nino system has heated the atmosphere in the tropical Pacific,     9     (lead) to a rise in global temperatures. Research indicates that a mild EL Nino event can increase the global annual average surface temperature     10     about 0. 1℃, even 0. 22℃.

Shuang Jiang, or Frost’s Descent, is the last term of autumn, marking the transition from autumn to winter. Literally, Shuang Jiang refers to the time     1     frost starts to descend in China due to cold weather. In the north, with large fields     2     (do) for the season, farmers can take a break. But in the south, farmers are still busy taking sweet potatoes home before they     3     (destroy) by the coming frost. They must also protect the winter wheat and rape (油菜)     4     major pests and diseases. It is said that Frost’s Descent is the best time to adjust to a nourishing (滋补的) diet and lifestyle. Besides putting on     5     (many) clothes to keep warm, people also eat various fruits to keep healthy. Persimmon (柿子) is the favorite fruit in many areas, which not only wards off the cold,    6     strengthens the muscles and bones.

    7    (additional), honey, jelly fungus (木耳) and sesame (芝麻) are believed to help provide the necessary nutrition for the human body. For protein, chicken or mutton soup is advised to be included in the diet. With golden maple     8     (leaf) turning to red, people often go hiking in nature and enjoy the scenery during this period of time. In the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, people celebrate the Frost’s Descent Festival by     9     (offer) fruits and desserts in addition to dancing and singing folk songs on the day of Frost’s Descent in honor of Cen Yuyin, a heroine who     10     (fight) against foreign aggression in the Ming Dynasty.