Wang Wei was a     1     (lead) Tang poet and painter. Born into a noble family, he passed the important jinshi examinations and became a senior court official in 721. Music and painting were among his many     2     (achieve) and it was as a musician     3     he received his first post at court. Wang Wei was banished (驱逐) because of some minor mistakes in manners and then traveled through the country being     4     (gradual) promoted through a series of official positions. His enemies destroyed his career prospects and around 759 he     5     (restore) to his previous post.

Among all works, he is     6     (well) remembered for poems that describe landscape and for his paintings of the countryside. Each of Wang Wei’s works     7     (bear) the features of his Buddhist views. His poems are often short (4 lines of 5 characters) and give     8     impression of a still scene rather than transformation. His poem Spring Stream is typical     9     his style. In this famous work, he writes about the rising moon and the birds     10     (disturb) by the moon in turn.

The cool night filled us with eager anticipation as we began climbing Mount Tai. Along the way, we met fellow travelers, all     1     (pursue) the same goal: the sunrise. In the moonlight, their faces seemed     2     (familiar), but our shared purpose united us. “Keep going; we are almost there!” someone cheered, giving us the     3     (motivate) to continue as we paused for a break, “You can do it!” added another voice. These words of encouragement were like a warm wind, refreshing our tired bodies and minds. After about four hours, we finally reached the peak,     4     the temperature was     5     (noticeable) lower. Wrapping     6     (we) tightly in rented coats, we found a suitable spot and settled down to await the sunrise.

The sky gradually     7     (transform), shifting from deep blue to rosy colors. Suddenly a red sun jumped out from behind the clouds,     8     thousands of rays of light shone on the peak.     9     golden clouds delicately suspended in the air, Mount Tai appeared like a fairyland, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene. Bathed in the brilliant sunlight, the entire mountain seemed to come alive with birds singing and trees swaying, as if nature itself was joining in the celebration of the new day.

    10     (strike) by the beauty of the moment, we sat there, feeling proud to have witnessed such a magical sight.

Since ancient times, phoenixes     1     (regard) by Chinese as birds that can bring happiness and good fortune. A male phoenix is called feng and a female one huang,     2     they are collectively called fenghuang (phoenix). Like the Chinese dragon, the phoenix is also viewed    3     a god or goddess. The phoenix is very beautiful, with the head of a     4     (gold) pheasant, the wings of a dapeng (a huge bird from Chinese legend) , the     5     (leg) of a crane, the beak of a parrot and the tail of a peacock, and is     6     king /queen of all birds, as well as a symbol of beauty, happiness and peace. Legend has it that when the state is in a state of peace and prosperity, the phoenix will descend from heaven     7     (live) on earth. When the phoenix appears, numerous birds will fly after it from all directions,     8     is called “birds paying homage to the phoenix”. In the feudal age, the phoenix was taken as a symbol of the     9     (noble) woman of the imperial court. The phoenix remains a popular image in Chinese folklore today,     10     (symbolize) good fortune, happiness and joy.