Some designers in Japan have tried to build regenerative architecture (再生式建筑). The idea behind it is that houses can     1     (build) in such a way that they benefit the environment.

The project on Yakushima Island is called Sumu,which means both “to live” and “to become clear”,     2     (represent) the need to live in balance with nature. To achieve their goal, the designers provided some     3     (create) solutions. They built the housing that could give back to the very soil that     4     (support) it. This is the heart of regenerative architecture.

The buildings themselves were     5     (careful) placed to make use of the benefits of the nearby water and ongoing air flow. The buildings were designed around existing trees and were lifted     6     (reduce) their effect on the building site. They took full advantage of the views on the island to encourage a     7     (connect) with nature. This idea is also shown with outdoor walkways between sleeping areas     8     the common areas. Moreover, Sumu is powered by clean energy. The indoor designs are also in a simple style. They feature local wood     9     reflects elements (元素) of the forest and coast. Here you can see a good mix     10     traditional and modern styles.

There are a few ways Chinese restaurants are different from Western restaurants. In the West, everyone always gets their own menu     1     orders their own food. Since the tables are usually small, it is quite difficult to talk to or even see more than a few people during the meal. However,     2     modern China, usually everyone sits at large round tables where it is easy to see and talk with each other, even if it is     3     rather large group. When the food comes and is put in the middle of the table, everyone then serves     4     (them) by taking a small bit of food. Just as in the West, people can choose what they want to eat. But in the West,     5     (important) is placed on the individual and having one’s own preferences, while in China on sharing and community. Everyone still gets what they want, but it is a     6     (share) experience. Since people     7     (seat) at around table, everyone is treated equally. No one is given     8     (great) power over another. Nevertheless, respect is still shown to older people or people of higher status, as they always sit at the far end of the room     9     (face) the door.

China has many different styles of food, a wide range of ingredients and cooking methods. Therefore, when you are in China you should make an effort     10     (enjoy) Chinese food as the Chinese do — as a group experience — a time for sharing, family, and friendship.

English     1     (become) the global language in the last few decades. In today’s world, being able to speak English is how you stand out and get ahead.

However, learning English as a foreign language     2     (be) very difficult in the absence of a native language environment. We have little chance to live in an English-speaking country. Therefore, we have to rely on knowledge     3     we can learn at school. Teachers must make sure that there is     4     adequate amount of input in English conveyed to the students through     5     (vary) mediums. This input must be of high quality. After all, high quality output     6     (base) on high quality input.

To really get ahead, however, it means     7     (put) in extra work outside of the classroom. Experts say that just 15 minutes of extra-curricular study a day can really speedup foreign language learning. Besides, you need to keep     8     mind why you are learning English. Quite     9     (simple), in today’s world, learning English is one of major     10     (factor) leading to a brighter future and a world of possibilities.

Lucy Black recently became the youngest person to travel to every country in the world. By the age of 23, she has visited all the countries in an effort to challenge     1     (she) and push the limits of     2     she believed was possible for a female traveler.

Lucy     3     (primary) used planes, boats, and trains to get around. It was not all plain sailing and there were many difficulties Lucy met, arranging visas to enter some countries     4    (include). But the challenges     5     (outweigh) by the memorable experiences on her way. “There’re so many incredible experiences that can come out of traveling alone because you are more open to the connections with the     6     (local) than you would be in a big group,” she said.

Lucy had the pleasure of meeting     7     range of people and experiencing different cultures. But the most     8     (value) experience of all was discovering a new sense of independence, she said.

For Lucy, nothing beats traveling, which she described     9     her favorite part of being alive. “    10    I would be lying if I said I was enjoying taking a long time to recover from all the wear and tear I have done to my body over the past three years,” she added.

Smooth and durable, Xuan paper is known as the “Paper of Ages”. The term Xuan paper first appeared in On Famous Paintings through the Ages, a book     1     (write) by a scholar Zhang Yanyuan, in which he described Xuan paper     2     an ideal carrier for calligraphy and painting.

The craft of making Xuan paper is     3     (extreme) challenging. Sandalwood bark (檀香树皮),     4     special plant native to southern China, goes through 108 procedures before it     5     (change) into a batch of fine Xuan paper. The entire process is so complex that even the most skilled craftsman can only master some of its steps,     6     shows us the beauty of craftsmanship.

The flow of ink decides the output of Chinese art     7     Xuan paper is ahead of others with its excellent ability     8     (give) full play to ink. Different proportions of bark to straw can create different canvases best suited for artistic expression.

Xuan paper has accompanied the Chinese literati for thousands of years. Unlike other forms of paper, it can not be easily damaged by time. It is this durability (耐用性) that has made the preservation of many     9     (tradition) works from ancient China possible.

Papermaking is a shape of     10     (wise) of the ancient Chinese, and Xuan paper is the top of papermaking.