According to legend, the Yellow River flooded during the period of Emperor Yao, and the people     1     (force) to leave their villages, and went to live in trees or on mountain tops. The flood     2     (bring) great misfortune to the people. So Yao assigned (指派) Gun to regulate it. Gun wanted to cut off the flood with stones     3     failed. Then, Shun assigned Yu, Gun’s son, to continue the work. Having learned     4     (he) father’s lesson, Yu dredged (疏浚) new river     5     (channel) as outlets, guiding water into river and river into sea. Day by day, year by year, Yu spent thirteen years     6     (govern) the flood without a break. It was said that during the thirteen years, he passed his home three times, but did not enter     7     his task was completed. His efforts not only solved the flood problem, but contributed to the     8     (develop) of agriculture.

In the face of difficulties, we should have the wisdom     9     (overcome) difficulties and the spirit of public selflessness. We also need powerful spirit and strong faith, only     10     that way can we work together to deal with a variety of difficulties.

The International Ice and Snow Festival kicked off in January in Harbin, capital city of China’s northernmost Heilongjiang Province. Harbin came as the hottest     1    (attract)in winter throughout China.

Harbin Ice and Snow World,     2    (build)on the northern bank of the Songhua River which flows through the city, is     3     landmark ice-and-snow theme park as the country’s top snow and ice tourism site for New /Year holiday travel.

The theme park,     4    (cover)an area of 810,000 square meters, this year used a total of 250,000 cubic meters of ice and snow mined from the Songhua River for crafting various sculptures     5     castles and towers, which are illuminated(照亮)by colorful lighting.

“This year’s scale of ice-and-snow sculptures in the park is the     6    (large)since it first opened in 1999,”said Sun Zemin, a marketing director of a travel agency. The park offers more than 20 amusement     7     (activity)including ice kart racing, snowmobile racing, snow drifting and snow yo-yo.

Sun said the number of ice slides in the park     8    (increase)by the time of the festival     9    (satisfy)the growing tourist demand, from 8 last winter to 14 this winter.

“My wife and I had thought about going to somewhere warm for a winter trip, but we were attracted by short videos that went viral online about ice-and-snow fun in Harbin. That is     10     we are here now,” said Sun Chengzhe, a tourist from east China’s Fujian Province.

Every Wednesday afternoon, Le Duc An, a Vietnamese PhD student at Beijing University of Technology, practices calligraphy in the calligraphy group.

The 33-year-old     1    (study) Chinese calligraphy for nearly three years. “I     2    (expose) to Vietnamese calligraphy when I was a child, and it was one of the things that made the biggest impression on me,” An says.

When he came to Beijing in 2019 for his PhD studies focusing on the environment, he also spent time practicing Chinese calligraphy,     3    (commit) himself in earnest to the journey of learning the art.

    4    (initial), An says that he did not understand the techniques in Chinese calligraphy, but with the help of Professor Liu Hongli, he gradually came to understand the meaning behind the characters and the techniques in calligraphy.

    5    (gain) a deeper understanding of calligraphy, An has visited many ancient sites in Beijing, including the Confucius Temple and the Forbidden City. He has also participated     6     a number of calligraphy competitions, both at school and international events.

An says that places     7     he has seen treasured scrolls of calligraphy have left a profound impression, and are     8     major source of inspiration. “Calligraphy has become a part of me,” An says.“Whenever I see Chinese calligraphy from different     9    (dynasty), and on sculptures and at historical sites, I find myself     10    (impress) by the vastness and depth of Chinese culture.”

In the small coastal town of Brighton, the community    1     (come) together every summer to celebrate their unique heritage and culture. This year’s festival, was more special as it    2     (mark) the town’s 200th anniversary. The event    3     (kick) off with a grand parade featuring colorful floats and costumes, each    4     (represent) different aspects of Brighton’s history.

Local artists and craftsmen    5    set up booths along the main street, proudly displayed their handmade goods, drawing admiration from visitors and locals alike. Among the attractions, the most popular    6     (be) the traditional dance performances,     7     (showcase) the town’s rich cultural diversity.

The highlight of the festival was the seafood cook-off, where the    8     (good) chefs in Brighton competed to create dishes using the freshest catch from the sea. The aroma of cooking filled the air,     9     (tempt) everyone to taste the delicious creations.

As the sun set, people gathered at the beach where a bonfire was lit up, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Stories and laughter were shared, and it had become evident that the festival was not just a    10     (celebrate) of the town’s past, but also a reinforcement of the strong community bonds that had been formed over generations.

With more and more scientists saying we no longer have a climate problem but a climate emergency, the call for all hands to be part     1     the solution is bringing people of all     2    (age) to be ready. Leslie Wharton, spokesperson for Elders Climate Action(ECA), is in the midst of organizing a     3    (grow) number of “old hands” into a nationwide network of people who, instead of just talking, are getting together     4     (close) and taking action.

In 2014, after attending one of Al Gore’s Climate Reality training workshops, Paul Severance, a member of Elders Action Network(EAN), started ECA, which     5     (hold)its first in-person conference in September 2015 in Washington, D. C., with other climate activist groups. “That’s how I got     6     (involve),” Wharton says. “I was there in 2015 and I just felt such a community, such energy and support and focus, that I was just overwhelmed. At the end, I was given a form that asked if I would be willing to be     7    volunteer. I said yes.” Although most ECA members are in     8    (they) 50s through 80s and even 90s, some are as young as 18.

ECA’s mission is to reach out to older individuals and let them join, so they can use their expertise, experience and knowledge     9     (help) build a sustainable future. Those things can provide the support, encouragement, initiative     10     energy to get more and more people out there doing whatever they can do, right where they are.

The Xuanyuan Mirror is a special ancient Chinese mirror made of bronze. It was created during the Han Dynasty,     1     lasted from 206 BCE to 220 CE. This mirror     2     (consider) one of China’s most important archaeological     3     (discovery) and can be seen at the Palace Museum in Beijing.

The Xuanyuan Miror is big and round, about 51 cm in diameter. It has a curved surface that bulges (凸起) outwards     4     (slight), making it look unique. The mirror is decorated     5    many patterns and designs, such as dragons, phoenixes, and other imaginary creatures.

One thing that makes the Xuanyuan Mirror so interesting is its writing, called an inscription (铭文). It says “Xuanyuan” in ancient Chinese characters. People believe this refers to Emperor Wu of Han, who     6     (rule) from 141 BCE to 87 BCE. The mirror might have been made during his time     7     (show) his power and authority.

Not only is the Xuanyuan Mirror important for history, but it is also     8     beautiful work of art. The detailed designs show how talented and     9     (create) ancient Chinese craftsmen were. Today, it remains one of the most popular exhibits at the Palace Museum,     10     (attract) visitors from all over the world who come to appreciate its beauty and learn about its exciting history.

The Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, and Gu Gong in Chinese, lies at the city center of Beijing, and once served     1     the imperial palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Rectangular (矩形的) in shape, it is the world’s     2     (large) palace complex.

The Palace Museum is becoming waste-free as the 720,000-square-meter structure has managed to reduce     3     number of trash bins to 110 sets in areas open to the public. “It is a decrease from 310 sets logged in January 2020,     4     a zero-waste campaign was launched,” said the museum.

While     5     (protect) features of the six-century-old historical relic, the action also helps visitors and tourists get into the habit of creating less waste. The museum also recycled more than 32,000 plastic bottles to make cultural and     6     (create) products between June 2021 and October 2023, equivalent to a     7     (reduce) in carbon emission by 931 kilograms.

“By launching the campaign, the Palace Museum is taking a science-based and meticulous approach to waste. The target is to minimize the generation of waste that needs     8     (bury) or burned and bring the amount of such waste     9     (extreme) close to zero,” said the museum.

So far, approximately 3,000 museum staff members, 40,000 tourist guides, and 21 million visitors     10     (participate) in the campaign.

China, a country with a history spanning over 5,000 years, is known for its rich cultural heritage. From the majestic Great Wall to the amazing art of calligraphy, from the colorful festivals to the delicious cuisine, Chinese culture is a fascinating blend of ancient     1     (wise) and modern civilization. Calligraphy, one of China’s oldest art     2     (form), is considered a high regard of self-expression and is often used to convey deep emotions. Chinese painting, too, is celebrated for its beauty and elegance, with artists     3     (use) brushstrokes and colors to create landscape’s and portraits, or capture the essence of nature and human emotions.

The Chinese culture has the power to make an impression     4     anyone who encounters it. Its traditions, customs, and beliefs are     5     (extreme) diverse and unique. In recent years, China’s rapid economic growths     6     (bring) about significant changes in its society. As China continued to expand its influence on the     7     (globe) stage, it is important for the nations     8     (balance) its economic progress with the preservation of its cultural identity.

In conclusion, the beauty of Chinese culture is beyond     9     (describe). As we navigate the challenged of the 21st century, it is our job to protect and celebrate this incredible legacy for generations to come. Every Chinese carries a     10     (responsible) to preserve and pass on its rich heritage to future generations.

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.

Ieoh Ming Pei, an influential architect of the twentieth century, has created many cross-cultural projects. His distinctive identity — as     1     American architect born in China — gives him a special transnational background. Scholars typically try to locate his design inspirations in his childhood memories, connecting Pei with his dual-cultural (双文化) background and     2     (describe) his buildings based on his biography. Suzhou, the town     3     Pei family was located, is often mentioned by scholars as a way     4     (understand) I. M. Pei’s Chinese cultural background. The city is famous     5     its architecture and landscape, especially its ancient gardens.

    6     (found) in 1960 and originally located in the national historic landmark, Zhong Wang Fu Palace complex, the Suzhou Museum has been a highly-regarded regional museum with a number of significant Chinese cultural     7     (relic).

A new museum designed by world-famous architect I. M. Pei     8     (complete) in October 2006, covering over 10,700 square meters and located at the cross of Dongbei Street and Qimen Road. The design of this new museum     9     (visual) adds to the traditional architecture of Zhong Wang Fu. I. M. Pei designed the current building of the Suzhou Museum in     10     (associate) with Pei Partnership Architects at the beginning of the twenty-first century.