For many centuries, tea     1     (be) an essential part of Chinese culture, with the country being one of the world’s largest producers and     2     (consume) of tea. However, in recent years, a new trend has emerged—the rise of the coffee culture. China has become one of the fastest-growing coffee markets globally,     3     an increasing number of coffee shops and cafes opening up in major cities.

When I first came to Shanghai in 2019,I had no idea that Shanghai has the title of the “capital of coffee” in China,     4     was a pleasant surprise for me. Moreover, Shanghai has the potential to become the global capital for coffee admirers, boasting over 8000 coffee shops. People in Shanghai visit coffee shops to     5     (genuine) enjoy a cup of coffee, even when they are having business meetings, dates or work sessions. You can see     6     (they) savoring their brew, creating a small moment, which is     7     personal treat that you can enjoy even during a hectic (繁忙的) day in Shanghai. Coffee unites us as we greet newcomers and get acquainted with other local students. I feel this is     8     the coffee culture works here—to make people a little bit happier and to warm you up when you feel cold or lonely. People come to coffee shops     9     (share) their own happy moments or to get cheered up. You can always see them smiling in a relaxed mood or peacefully scrolling (滚屏) on their phones while     10     (sip) their coffee. Even with coffee-to-go, you take that little piece of the warm atmosphere with you.

Yang Jiang was a well-known Chinese playwright, translator, and author. She belonged to     1     unique and beautiful existence in Chinese literature. She was the first Chinese academic     2    (translate) Miguel de Cervantes’ Spanish novel Don Quixote to Chinese and at that time, her translation     3     (honor) as the recreation of the original work       4     the basis of loyalty.

Yang was born into a rich family in 1911,     5    (original)named Yang Jikang. After eventually     6     (graduate) from Soochow University, she enrolled at the graduate school of Tsinghua University. She met her husband there, Qian Zhongshu, another acclaimed writer in China.

Other than translations, Yang     7     (author) many plays, novels, and essays during her writing career. Her short novel Mr. Wang,     8    (write) in 1984, was selected as an article in the textbook. In 1986, she got the Civil Order of Alfonso X the Wise, a famous Spanish civil order, for her     9     (achieve) in Don Quixote. Her bestseller was We Three in 2003,     10     sales exceeded 180,000 copies in two months. Yang passed away in 2016, at the age of 105.

Scientists at the University of Tsukuba designed a robot that can help users control their emotions when they receive upsetting news. This device may help improve social interactions as we move towards a world where we    1    (increasing)rely on digital communications.

A quick text message apology is    2    easy way to let us know our friends are going to be late for a     3    (plan)meeting. However, this way often lacks the human element    4    would follow a face-to-face explanation. It is likely to be more upsetting when we are not able to see our friends’ regret at     5    (make)us wait.

Researchers have built a hand-held robot called OMOY, which is equipped with a movable weight. The robot’s body expression    6    (produce)by weight shifts doesn't require any specific external parts, such as arms and legs. The robot is considered a mediator(调解人.) for reading text messages. A text with frustrating news will    7    (follow)by an exhortation(劝告)by OMOY. It can control the user’s    8    (angry)and other negative emotions.

The researchers tested 94 people    9    a message: "I'm sorry; I am late. Can you wait another hour? “The team found that OMOY was able to reduce negative emotions.” The robot can pass on a frustrating message and give    10    (it)own opinion. When this speech is accompanied by proper weight shifts, the users will see the robot's intention to help them calm down," Professor Tanaka said.

Nanjing is a city that has played an important role in Chinese history for thousands of years. Nanjing     1     (name) the capital city first in 229 AD during the Three Kingdoms period. It has been a capital city many times. It’s a place that is relatively unknown     2     foreigners yet very popular with local tourists.

When Dave and I got the chance     3     (travel) to it, we jumped at it. We hadn’t known anything about Nanjing before going, but hearing that it was a popular destination from Shanghai, we were excited to explore it. It turns out that Nanjing is one of our favourite     4     (place) to visit in China.

We first went to Nanjing Niushoushan Cultural Park. A trolley (电车) took us to the top of the mountain     5     we could view the immaculate(圣洁的) Buddhist Palace that was built into the side of the mountain.     6     (open) in 2015, it is an example that proves the traditional and the modern can co-exist.

But soon we     7     (realize) that a real treat was inside the palace when we took the escalator (自动扶梯) 6 stories underground to see the Thousand-Buddha Hall. With a height of 28 metres, the golden hall is     8     (impress).

We highly recommend     9     (take) a full day to explore the Niushoushan Cultural Park to visit all the sites on the mountains. And do remember visiting the Usnisa Palace is     10    must.

Chopsticks are one of the world’s oldest and simplest utensils (用具).     1     (use) by about one-fifth of the world’s population, especially in East and Southeast Asia, chopsticks     2    (come) from China at least 5, 000 to 7, 000 years ago, people think.

Chopsticks are believed to have been used    3     a cooking utensil rather than eating utensils. The increasing use of fire and the     4     (develop) of various cooking methods led to the need for cooking utensils to avoid injuries. While spoons once were preferred, people gradually like chopsticks over time because they could easily pick up    5     variety of food such as noodles, dumplings and sticky rice. Their shape and material vary by area and intended use. In China, where people often eat in     6     (group) around a large table, chopsticks generally have a square body, rounded ends and are long enough to reach food from a distance     7     (convenient). Japanese chopsticks tend to be thinner to pick small bones out of fish. Korean chopsticks,     8     generally are made of metal, have a flat body and are used with spoons during meals.

Today, chopsticks    9     (sell) at most Asian supermarkets and online. The most common types are made of wood or bamboo, costing between $5     10     $10 for several pairs.

In a specially designed studio theater in Hangzhou, a latest Yueju Opera production, New Dragon Gate Inn performed by Xiao Bai Hua Opera troupes (剧团), has emerged     1     an immediate hit. It not only showcases a traditional art form that definitely    2     (deserve) more attention, but also wins younger audiences who are usually not opera-goers.

The name of the adapted work is the same as that of the 1992 classic martial arts film.     3     (wise), the Shaoxing Opera captures the interest of a younger audience by combining traditional Chinese opera with modern theater models and dramatic concepts. The audience sits very close to the performers, engaging with them and immersing themselves in     4     unique and fascinating viewing experience.

Through her cross-dressed role Jia Ting, 31-year-old female performer Chen Lijun has suddenly risen to fame due to her gorgeous appearance, elegant air     5     skillful performance. A livestream of the opera in August attracted millions of viewers and sparked heated discussions online,    6     (earn) over 14,000 comments. Clips of her performances, such as a scene    7     she effortlessly spins the landlady around with just one arm, went viral on various social media     8     (platform).

In addition to the bold and innovative     9     (adapt), the marketing approach has also been a new experiment that has turned out successful. This is a positive step in the revival of this ancient art. The success of New Dragon Gate Inn signals a     10     (promise) future for other traditional Chinese art forms.

Two years is nothing, but at the same time a lot can     1     (accomplish) in two years. You can try a sport you’ve always wanted     2    (start), and become great at it. You can start a morning routine and affect your mood. You can start a business,     3     make it a big success.

Two years is nothing and     4     (extreme) easy to waste, but with small     5     (step), substantial commitment and consistency, you can make it count a lot. In two years from now, you’ll be great at it if you really want to. Don’t let your past decide     6    you are. You don’t have to be     7     same person you have always been. Don’t let fear control you. Don’t let the social standards define you. Age is just a number, we should all inspire our uniqueness and     8     (fight) against our own limitations.

By doing things you love     9     a daily basis, even for a few minutes, you’ll learn to enjoy the journey. The days will become more than just a means to an end. You’ll see     10     (you) evolving.

Ar Horqin Grassland Nomadic System in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, listed on the list of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems by the United Nations,     1     (demonstrate) the wisdom of herdsmen to work in harmony with nature.

The     2     (season) movement of herds among different pastures (牧场) plays an important role in maintaining the self-renewal and recovery     3     (capable) of the grasslands. While keeping soil fertility from degrading, the nomadic lifestyle can protect vegetation and make good use of water resources,     4     the growing population of people and livestock, still puts much pressure     5     the grassland resources. Locals have, therefore, come up with ways to avoid overgrazing. With ancestral wisdom     6     (root) in a time of relatively small societies, it may be unable to solve issues today. This is     7     modern planning can help with.

For example, since 2015, under the guidance of the local government of Ar Horqin Banner, the number of sheep and goats in the nomadic system     8     (reduce) from 390,000 to 190,000, while the number of cattle has been increased from 40,000 to 81,000 head. No more than 100,000 sheep are allowed to migrate to the summer camps every year. With     9     (scientific) designed grazing patterns ensuring sustainable development of the grasslands, herdsmen can maintain     10     more balanced relationship with nature.

In 1910, Chairman Mao had his first contact with English when he entered     1     new-style school. By 1913, when he enrolled in Hunan First Normal School, formal English courses     2     (be) already in place.

During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Chairman Mao seized opportunities to practice spoken English when interacting with foreign journalists. Despite inaccurate pronunciation, he had managed     3     (grasp) some simple English expressions.

In the Liberation War period, Chairman Mao’s English communication skills improved to con duct basic daily dialogues. He also     4     (create) translated “paper tiger” into English.

After the establishment of New China, in 1954, Mao began to systematically self-study English     5     the aim of directly reading original works. He insisted in reading English newspapers and magazines, learning vocabulary, as well as making comments while reading the     6     (origin).

In his later years of illness, Chairman Mao persisted in learning English and used simple English vocabulary to express     7     (he) when meeting foreign guests. Throughout his life, Chairman Mao never ceased     8     (learn) English, which witnessed different stages of his revolutionary career.     9     (drive) by determination and practical needs, Chairman Mao’s progress in English demonstrated the spirit of struggle     10     defines a visionary leader.

The international community     1    (astonish) by Japan’s action to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima plant into the Pacific on August 24, 2023. This move occurred despite the widespread protests and complaints from     2    (nation) across the Asia-Pacific.

Japan’s action is seen as     3     display of extreme self-interest and irresponsibility, with the potential to do immeasurable harm to the ocean ecosystem. The consequences are far-reaching, extending to safety risks in our food chain, the appearance of new illnesses, and an increased likelihood of cancer cases among humans.     4    (eventual), such a course of action will change the fate of our planet,     5    (cast) a shadow of uncertainty over its future.

The radioactive water is discharged into the Pacific resulting from the Fukushima nuclear leakage     6    (cause) by submarine earthquake in 2011. Japan’s 2011 nuclear leak disaster ranks among the     7    (bad) nuclear incidents in history, resulting     8     vital leakage of radioactive substances (放射性物质).

On August 24, the Tokyo Electric Power Company,     9     is responsible for the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, started the water discharge process through remote operation from the plant’s monitoring room. As planned, about 460 tons of such water will be released daily for 17 days, with a gradual increase planned after that. The timeline provided by the Japanese government and TEPCO indicates that this oceanic discharge process is expected     10    (last) at least 30 years.