An exhibition, featuring around 200 cultural artifacts from the era of interaction between the Chinese and French royal courts in the 17th and 18th centuries, kicked off at the Palace Museum in Beijing on Monday,     1     (mark) the opening of the 18th edition of the Festival Croisements,     2     celebrated the 60-year diplomatic bond between the two countries.

    3     (launch) in 2006, the Festival Croisements is dedicated to promoting exchanges and dialogue between Chinese and French art institutions and artists. A     4     (various) of activities in fields such as the visual arts, crafts, theater, music and dance will be held in multiple     5     (city) across China as part of the festival that spans (持续) to the end of the year.

The number 60     6     (indicate) a cycle in Chinese tradition. The unveiling new cycle will generate more collaboration and     7     (far) promote cultural dialogues and mutual understanding between the two countries.

Croisements, meaning crossover in French, symbolizes mutual (相互的) influence and connections between Chinese and French cultures. The name reminds people     8     a gathering where different cultures strengthen each other, which is     9     reflection of our daily life, either of our career or personal life. The festival will provide opportunity     10     (discover) new art forms.

A pair of scissors, a piece of paper, and a pair of dexterous (灵巧的) hands. That’s     1     is needed to create delicate works of paper-cuttings.

    2    (originate) in the Southern and Northern Dynasties, this ancient form of art has not only survived through generations but has also become     3     important part of Chinese culture. It is often associated with the     4     (celebrate) of the Spring Festival, where complex patterns of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals     5     (create) to bring good luck and fortune for the new year.

The art of paper-cuttings goes beyond mere craftsmanship. It is a form of expression deeply     6    (root) in Chinese history and tradition. Artists, without the need for any drawn draft, use their imagination to create     7    (variety) patterns and images with scissors and burins. Animals, flowers, mythological and historical figures are meticulously (细致地) cut and carved, each carrying its own symbolism and meanings.

Today, paper-cuttings continue to decorate Chinese homes,     8    (especial) during the Spring Festival. The windows and walls come alive with vibrant patterns and scenes of family reunions and temple fairs. It serves     9     a reminder of the rich cultural heritage that the Chinese people cherish     10     pass down from one generation to another.

The illustrators (插图画家) of Chinese children’s books remain among the most internationally     1     (award) artists thanks to their consistent use of unique and traditional styles of artistic expression, according to Zuzana Jarosova, general commissioner of the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB).

Chinese illustrator Chen Xunru,     2     book Bull King Festival was very popular, received the Golden Apple award at the 29th edition of the BIB in Slovakia, which started on Oct. 4 and ran until Dec. 3. Chen is the seventh Chinese illustrator to have received such     3     award.

Jarosova says the jurors (评定人) are always looking for artists who are authentic and original while     4     (keep) their deep connect ion to culture, traditions and the mastery of old techniques.

“Illustrations in children’s books play a key role in their mental development, as a good illustrator can     5     (nice) improve the story and build additional floors of the architecture of     6     (imagine), thus kick-starting the small readers’ fantasy,” Jarosova notes.

An international tour exhibition of picture books from China     7     (hold) as an accompanying event at this year’s BIB from Sept. 28 to Oct. 14. The exhibition was well received and for the first time, people had the opportunity     8     (see) interesting illustrators from China     9     a great extent. “I will do everything I can for more cooperation to continue and improve     10     (far),” Jarosova says.

An exhibition titled Symbiosis of the Chinese Zodiac (生肖) opened at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama on Dec 19 and would run until Jan 20.

Sally Huang,     1     Chinese Panamanian artist and a doctor of art from Beijing Normal University, presented thirteen paintings,     2     combined the freehand brushstrokes of traditional Chinese paintings with the beautiful colors of Latin America, and presented the zodiac animals. Also there were some sculptures (雕刻品) of zodiac animals     3     display, which were created by Chinese artist Zhang Yong, graduating from the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

The exhibition     4     (include) in the project Painting Our Canals (运河), which was sponsored by the Beijing Culture and Arts Fund this year. The Beijing Culture and Arts Fund is a nonprofit fund     5     (found) by the Beijing Bureau of Culture and Tourism to provide support in the three major fields of stage art, cultural exchange     6     the cultivation (培养) of art talents.

The lead institution applying for the project was Beijing Normal University,     7    (feature) a series of events themed on the canal culture in both China and Panama, also inviting artists from both countries     8     (attend) the exhibition as well as hosting academic forums.

The opening ceremony was joined by representatives from both countries, such as the Chinese ambassador to Panama and the vice-minister of culture in Panama.

The ambassador expressed some     9     (message) congratulating the artists in his speech, while emphasizing that China and Panama should work together to promote     10     (globe) peace and development.

Qingdao is a beautiful city, which is famous for the sea, and you can spend a happy time by     1     (lose) yourself in this wonderful city. Lying across the Shandong Peninsula while looking out to the Yellow Sea, Qingdao today     2     (consider) as a major seaport, naval base,and industrial center.

Together with the professional guide, you will visit the most     3     (attract) places in the city. From skyscrapers to parks and    4     (bench), you will have a great time. Qingdao has the second     5    (large) brewery (啤酒厂) in China. You will have a chance     6     (explore) the city of fascinating facts and legends,     7    (especial) great buildings full of much history. Some of them are Guest House, Pichaiyuan， Signal Hill, Qingdao Railway Station and Badaguan Scenie Area. You will be surprised at stories behind the streets, buildings, and corners. Your guide will tell you     8     is special and unique about living in this city. It is perfect for those     9     are visiting the city for the first time and want to get the most     10     it!

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.

Are you a true lover of words? Are you fascinated by the way language evolves and adapts to different     1     (situate)? If so, you might enjoy exploring the realm of etymology, which is the study of the origins and     2     (develop) of words.

Etymology     3     (trace) the history of words, revealing their journeys from ancient languages to the modern lexicon. By understanding the     4     (originate) and transformations of words, we gain insights into the cultures and societies that shaped them.

Many words have     5     (intrigue) stories behind them. For instance, the word “pharmacy” can be traced back to the Greek word “pharmakon,” which meant both “poison” and “remedy.” This     6     (reflect) the ancient belief that substances could be both harmful and healing, depending on their use.

Languages are like living organisms, constantly changing to meet the     7     (communicate) needs of their speakers. New words are coined, while others fade into obscurity. Some words evolve in     8     (mean) over time, taking on new nuances and connotations.

Even as technology     9     (transform) the way we communicate, the essence of language remains a powerful means of expression. So, the next time you read a sentence or speak a phrase, remember that you are participating in a rich tapestry of linguistic history and innovation.

Chinese scientists have used the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) to discover a binary pulsar (脉冲双星) with an orbital period of only 53 minutes, the     1     (short) period for a binary pulsar system by far.

By     2     (employ) the ultra-high sensitivity and strong detection capabilities of FAST, or the “China Sky Eye”, the research team    3     (detect) the system. Additionally, the binary system was determined to be in an intermediate stage of the redback-to-black widow system evolution, which has filled     4     gap in the evolution theory of spider pulsars. Furthermore, the orbital plane of the system is almost facing Earth,     5     is extremely rare.

The reviewer with the journal described this discovery    6     a “very interesting pulsar binary system“, and said the discovery of such a system suggests new and    7     (previous) unknown processes in the evolution of spider pulsars.

    8     (locate) in a naturally deep and round karst depression in Southwest China’s Guizhou Province, FAST started formal     9     (operate) in January 2020 and officially opened to the world in late March 2021. It is believed     10     (be) the world’s most sensitive radio telescope.

With the Internet well developed, online jobs are becoming popular. The search for employment has become a tough task, so people have started looking for alternatives（替代品）. Thanks     1     the person who started the online jobs, you don’t need     2     (wake) up too early in the morning. What’s more, you will be doing your work at home or on a trip when others work in the office. You just need a computer and network connection. With     3     (variety) fields, it is up to you to decide which one to take. There are even some online jobs     4     (require) lower major qualifications, less skill and less experience.

Little work pressure is the biggest advantage of working online. The pressure you get here is less than that you get while doing an office job. No one monitors the time at     5     you start your work. As long as you meet deadlines     6     deliver quality work, you will be good to go.

You can work     7     (flexible) regarding time. You can choose your own working hours. This means you can have time to take care of other personal needs without     8     (tie) there from 9 am to 5pm.

For online jobs, you can try different fields. When you find     9     (you) tired of a certain field, you have the freedom to change to another field. In this way, you will keep active and motivated all through. You can try different job     10     (option), including online teaching, part-time blogging, freelance writing and logo designing.

A five-month-old bird has set a new record for long-distance migration(迁徙)after    1    (fly)13,560 kilometers without stopping over a period of 11 days. The previous one was set two years ago by another bird that     2    (cover) about 12,000 kilometers in 11 days.

    3    (million)of birds set for the sky for a long and quite hard journey to get away from the coming cold, feed, and have babies for    4    next few months. A lot of them travel through distances of over 10,000 kilometers. This year, an    5    (astonish) 13,560 kilometers was covered by a bird,    6    set a new Guinness record in the process. This happened last month when the young bird had its     7    (depart) from Alaska to New Zealand for the winter. The bird took off    8    October 13 from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in Alaska, followed the usual route across the Pacific Ocean down to New Caledonia and through the Tas-man Sea, before making an unexpected 90-degree turn towards Tasmania rather than New Zealand.

Scientists had the ability     9    (know) the bird’s record flight with the help of a tiny tracker that only weighed 5 grams. An expert said the bird lost “half or more of its body weight” during the 11-day flight, but it made it arrive at the dry land    10    (safe).