Space tourism is fast becoming a reality, thanks to pioneers like Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson who have ventured to the edge of space, making it     1     (access) to individuals. The era of space vacations is on the horizon,     2     (offer) multi-day escapes that rival traditional getaways.

A space hotel will have been opened     3     2027 by Orbital Assembly Corporation (OAC). Voyager Station, the world’s first luxury space resort,     4     (accommodate) 280 guests and 112 crew members with complete facilities, providing an unparalleled space experience in the near future.

    5     space tourism may seem novel, it dates back hundreds or thousands of years, with Voyager Stations design inspired by the concept of a rotating wheel that generates artificial gravity.     6     (initial), the station will offer lunar-level gravity, like Earth’s gravity. This unique lunar environment     7     (promise) exciting possibilities for individuals with disabilities and the able-bodied.

Guests will embark on their celestial journey, arriving at a central, zero-gravity docking hub (对接枢纽) before     8     (transport) to habitation modules(独立仓) not far away. It’s at the edge of the wheel     9     centrifugal (离心的) force will provide gravity for daily activities.

As technology advances and transportation costs decrease, the dream of space tourism could soon become       10     reality. The rapidly growing space commerce industry and competition among companies further support the possibility of this ambitious vision.

In recent years, food     1     (become) one of the favorite travel themes for young people. In 2024, Tianshui in Gansu became another Zibo or Harbin due to     2     spicy hot pot. The chili peppers from Gangu in Tianshui, pepper from Wudu, wide rice noodles from Zhuanglang, potatoes from Dingxi..., these unique     3     (ingredient) are said to be the soul of Gansu’s spicy hot pot. In a spicy hot pot restaurant in Gansu, dishes are usually skewered (串) with bamboo sticks and placed in bundles. They     4     (typical) cost one or two yuan per skewer and will never be too expensive       5     (afford). After you pick     6     you like and hand them over to the boss, various ingredients are cooked in     7     (boil) soup and put into a plate without sticks; original soup is ladled onto them; two spoonfuls of chili oil are finally poured onto the dish,     8     (release) an explosion of aroma (芳香) within the bowl.

The spicy hot pot has aroused people’s interest in Tianshui, a thousand-year-old city. Besides the spicy hot pot, as an ancient city     9     a history of over 2700 years, Tianshui boasts a series of scenic spots such as Maijishan Grottoes, Nanguo Temple, and Xiguan Ancient City. Some     10     (history) figures like Jiang Wei and Li Guang were born here.

Up to now, an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) developed by a Chinese university team has obtained abundant data during the country's latest Arctic expedition,     1     (reveal) various features beneath the North Pole.

The red, fish-shaped robot called “XH1000” was made by researchers from Harbin Engineering University. During the 13th Arctic Ocean scientific expedition     2     concluded in late September, it     3     (complete) under-ice environment detection operations near the Chukchi Sea and relayed plenty of data, including ocean water temperature, salinity and pH levels.     4     (equip) with domestically developed detection sonar (声呐), the polar-observing AUV explored an area of 7, 000 square meters beneath the Arctic ice.

Operation team leader Zhu Zhongben,     5     associate professor, said the     6     (inform) gathered will help scientists improve their understanding of the changing process of sea-ice and ocean currents in this region, providing data support for     7     (effective) coping with the impact of global climate change     8     China.

Chinese scientists set off for the 13th Arctic Ocean scientific expedition on July 12 aboard the polar icebreaker Xuelong 2, travelling 15, 000 nautical miles before returning. It reached the North Pole on Sept. 5, generating     9     (value) experience for robotic ships     10     (work) in the high risk polar areas and filling the gap in the country's scientific research on the polar region.

Over the summer break, a wave of young people went to Kaifeng to explore the ancient capital of eight dynasties through a trendy “Citywalk”. They eagerly shared their experience on     1    (vary) social media platforms.

“Citywalk” means the act of walking     2     (free) along city streets unburdened by plans and heavy bags. Such a form of travel is popular among young people in China, offering them a chance to experience urban culture and local traditions.

“Kaifeng is one of China’s first historical and cultural cities, which is       3     ideal destination for unhurried     4    (explore),” said Wei Peishi, one of the city officials.“

During the Song Dynasty, Kaifeng reached a high point, leading to the rapid growth of bookstores,” said Zhou Bing,     5       runs the bookstore “ A Beam of Light” on Shengchanhou Street. “Our aim behind     6     (select) this location is to offer customers a glimpse of history,” Zhou added. The Fuxingfang Block, where Shengchanhou Street     7    (locate), is home to more than 10 streets, 163 courtyards, six cultural relics protection units and over 30 historical buildings.

As evening comes, Kaifeng’s streets transform into a snack market, with numerous trucks orderly     8     (park). Among lively vendor (摊贩) calls, you can see many visitors tasting delicious snacks.

“The essence of Kaifeng’s cultural tourism lies     9    the rich culture of the Song Dynasty. Through cultural tourism products with different themes, we aim     10     (help) visitors gain a deeper appreciation of Kaifeng’s history and heritage,” Wei said.

In Cape Town, you will see many crimes     1    (commit) by animals, but the police have no choice but     2    (let) them go. Nowadays, many wild animals are moving into cities, as if our cities are being taken     3     by them. People often wonder about the reasons behind this mass urban migration. Some of these so-called “urban animals”     4    (move) into the cities since we humans moved into their territory .     5     they go , animals find towns and cities in their way. Without natural predators, the animals in cities often flourish and are easy to find plenty to eat. Animals need to be more     6    (intelligence) to figure out difficult problems in cities.     7    (fox) have even changed their living habits. However, many animals are faced with many dangers. Unable to distinguish between blue sky and glass, birds often crash into windows,     8    (result) in many deaths. The reason is that they have yet to change their migratory routes. It is important     9     we can get a better understanding of and even learn to appreciate our wild neighbors. Only then can we look towards     10    (harmonious) sharing our urban habitats. Whatever the reasons behind these species entering our cities, they could be with us to stay.

Undercurrent, a twenty-foot-tall stainless-steel sculpture by Beijing-based artist Zheng Lu, is    1    display until August 2024 in the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza,     2     is just outside the United Nations complex (建筑群) in New York. The sculpture,     3     (weigh) nearly 2.5 tons, was more than two years in the making. Zheng is the first Chinese artist     4     (have) his work exhibited there.

The public art project, initiated by Sundaram Tagore, is supported by the World Council of Peoples for the United Nations, a nonprofit organization     5     (found) in Europe after World War II, which is dedicated to facilitating international partnerships that promote awareness and implementation of UN goals.

The sculpture is created     6     (specific) for the site and relates to the United Nations’ recent action initiatives on clean water and climate change. Part of the     7     (artist) acclaimed Water in Dripping series, Undercurrent emphasizes the     8     (significant) of water. As a student of Chinese philosophy, Zheng views water as symbolic of change, the passage of time     9     self-reflection.

Zheng Lu’s sculptures     10     (exhibit) around the world in the past few years, including, most recently, in Summoning Memories: Art Beyond Chinese Traditions at the Asia Society Texas.

Northwest China’s Tianshui spicy hot pot goes viral on social media

Tianshui malatang, a version of a spicy hot pot in northwest China’s Gansu Province, has recently gone viral on Chinese media,     1    (attract) many tourists from all over the country to taste the dish.

Malatang,     2    means ”numbingly (使麻木地) spicy soup,“ is a one-pot noodle soup with hot pot flavor. It is a tongue-numbing spicy dish loved for its    3    (satisfy) flavor and the richness of colors. Different from Sichuan cuisine, another place in Southwest China famous for     4     (it) hot pot, the secrets for tickling the taste buds come from local specialty ingredients in Tianshui－Maiji peppercorns (胡椒) and Gangu chili peppers.

According to the China News Agency, а restaurant owner in Tianshui said he has been serving more than 400 customers a day, as people from other cities and    5     (province ) drive to the city to try the malatang.

”There     6    (be) a long queue outside my restaurant recently," one shop owner said. One customer posted on Chinese social media giant Sina Weibo that she had queued for six hours     7    (get) the dish.

Many malatang shops in Tianshui have even extended their business hours to satisfy the increasing number of customers from all over the country.

Nowadays, a Tianshui spicy hot pot restaurant is    8    must-go visit in the city.     9     the same time, the local authority     10    (provide) special bus lines for tourists to help them to experience the charm of local culture.

Walking along the Great Wall is a once-in-a-lifetime dream for many, but Jim Spear has taken it one step     1     (far), spending the last 18 years living in a village beneath the ancient wonder.

    2     68-year-old, a self-taught architect from the US, made the most important decision of his life to move to China in 1986, a year before the Great Wall     3     (list) as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, Spear calls Mutianyu village home. In this quiet place,     4     (locate) at the foot of the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, he lives with his dog in a home with a courtyard garden he tended     5     (he).

As an architect, not only did Spear renovate (翻新) his own dream house,     6     comes with multiple views of the Great Wall, but he also explored ways to boost the local business and support rural residents. Over the years, the architect     7     (help) renovate around 20 households in Mutianyu, most of which now operate     8     hotels or restaurants, while     9     (do) his best to preserve the original structures as much as possible.

In     10     (recognize) of his contributions, Spear was given the Great Wall Friendship Award in 2014.

As the Year of the Dragon approached, sales of products with dragon elements have seen explosive     1     (grow) on major e-commerce platforms. Dragon, or long in Chinese,     2     (consider) as an important symbol of Chinese traditional culture, is believed to bring good luck and fortune.

Since January, products with dragon-themed elements, such as clothing, daily necessities and gold jewelry     3     (gain) popularity. Items such as red envelopes, mobile phone cases designed for the Chinese Year of the Dragon have also been favored by consumers, and    4     (they) sales have surpassed those in the Year of the Rabbit last year.

Chinese consumers who buy dragon-themed goods are hoping     5     (live) a better life in the new year and displaying a strong sense     6     national pride and confidence in Chinese culture. The rich cultural meanings and the good wishes     7     the dragon carries have not only stimulated people’s passion for buying, but also satisfied their rising demand for personalized and     8     (create) products with unique cultural symbols.

Spring Festival is the traditional festival Chinese people attach the most importance to, and it’s also     9     peak season for consumption. The shopping craze for dragon-related products ahead of Lunar New Year is essential for     10     (promote) the recovery of the consumer market.

Featuring a dynamic design, the horse-face skirt is widely preferred by fans of traditional clothing in China. Exploring ways     1     (promote) the culture, they prefer to wear traditional clothing when taking part in cultural activities and share the beauty on the Internet.

The horse-face skirt     2     (originate) in the Song Dynasty and grew popular during the Ming Dynasty due to its functionality and artistic style. It is     3     (traditional) composed of two identical overlapping (部分重叠) panels     4     (wrap) around the left and right side of the lower body. Each   panel is   composed of a   large   rectangular (长方形的) panel of fabric, a side piece made up of several smaller panels and another rectangular panel narrower than the first.     5     (attach) to a waistband by ties, the two sides overlap each other so that one of the large straight panels on each piece is in the front and back of the skirt. This overlapping nature leaves openings in the front and back of the skirt, making     6     very suitable for horse-riding.

While maintaining the essential design     7     (element) of the horse-face skirt, modern designers change its outline, length, or detailing to match current fashion trends, appealing     8     a broader audience for usual daywear or formal evening fashions.

“This kind of skirt shows the grand     9     (elegant) that is admired in Chinese culture. Knowing     10     we come from, we can then be clear about where we are going, ” Daben, a Chinese vlogger, told the Global Times.