As the world’s largest energy consumer, China plays a vital role in shaping the global energy market, said Sobotka, who serves as the co-chair of the Global Battery Alliance. China’s rapid economic growth and urbanization have led to     1     increase in energy demands across various sectors     2     (include) industry, transportation, and residential use, he said. He added that China’s energy consumption affects not only market prices but the demand for different energy sources worldwide. Regarding coal, China is     3     (current) the world’s largest consumer and producer of coal, according to data from the International Energy Alliance. Despite     4     (consist) efforts on energy transition, coal is about     5     (dominate) China’s energy mix due to its abundant domestic reserves and     6     (affordable), he said, adding that this reliance contributes to a high level of greenhouse gas emissions. It is not only China’s energy policies, but its domestic production and imports that have a profound effect     7     global energy markets, he said. In recent years, China     8     (make) substantial investments in renewable energy such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.

Sobotka attended the China Development Forum 2024 in Beijing from Sunday to Monday, during     9     he shared his views with Chinese government officials and entrepreneurs from all over the world. The forum is hosted by the Development Research Center of the State Council     10     organized by the China Development Research Foundation.

The erhu, a famous Chinese musical instrument, has a history     1     (date) back over a thousand years. It is a two-stringed instrument played with a bow (弓), and its unique sound attracts listeners around the world.

The erhu has a slim wooden body whose strings are     2     (traditional) made from silk. The sound it produces is so beautiful     3     it is often compared to the human voice. The instrument is played on the player’s knee and using the bow to create different tunes (曲调).

The erhu can convey     4     wide range of emotions, from joy and happiness     5     sadness and longing. Usually, its pleasant tunes     6     (use) in traditional Chinese music. Modern music and sometimes even cross-cultural performances feature erhu tunes.

Over the years, the erhu has gained     7     (popular) globally, becoming an essential part of many concerts. Many musicians have devoted     8     (they) to exploring and experimenting with different styles, combining traditional Chinese music with modern elements.

Whether     9     (play) as a single instrument or in a group performance, the erhu’s charming tunes have the power     10     (transport) listeners to another time and place. Its timeless appeal continues to make it China’s symbolic musical instrument.

Dominic Richard loves cycling. In 2023, he ordered a new bike from a factory in Shanghai and flew there     1     (pick) it up in person. However,     2     followed was jaw-dropping. Instead of flying back, he determined to ride back alone to the UK.

Richard cycled through cities and countries, taking in the sights along the way. He started in Shanghai, where after successfully picking up his new bike he began the journey. Considering all the possible challenges, he travelled light. The bike     3     (equip) with a carbon frame and tubeless tires, meaning no worry about a flat tire on route. He had a sleeping mat that kept him     4     (comfort) at night and bags to pack his clothing and equipment in. Battling a burning heat wave, he cycled across the vast expanse of China, often resting by the side of the road. People were curious     5     his journey along the way. Now and then Richard got     6     (invite) to many natives’ houses for free lunch and supplies, with truck drivers and cyclists     7     (stop) him along the road to chat.

Fortunately, after the     8     (impress) long ride, Richard made     9     to his home in the UK. “Thanks to this experience, I got     10     better understanding of amazing China and found a better self.”

According to one legend, dumplings first appeared during the Han Dynasty.     1     (rough) 1800 years ago, the story goes, a physician named Zhang Zhongjing returned to his hometown during a cold winter. He found his fellow villagers with frostbitten ears and created a new dish to help them warm up. The ingredients he chose for their warming     2     (comprise) of button, herbs, and spices. The doctor wrapped them     3     pieces of dough and folded the pieces to resemble tiny ears. Dumplings     4     (continue) to take off and diversify since then. Typically     5     (fill) with meat or vegetables, the simple bites are distinguished by their pleated (起褶皱的), wheat dough wrappers. They’re often served for the Chinese New Year, though not because they look like crescent moons (新月). Eating them is believed     6     (bring) prosperity in the new year. Traditionally, if you want to wish someone good fortune in China, you feed dumplings with a coin hidden inside and     7     gets this coin will be lucky in the coming year. Making dumplings together with the whole family creates a unique,     8     (harmony) atmosphere. Today, Jiaozi is still     9     must in winter in most parts of northern China, especially during the Spring Festival. No words can precisely describe Chinese people’s affection for dumplings, as the food has already become a symbol of home and     10     (warm).

Located at the western part of Hangzhou City, less than 5 kilometers from the West Lake, Xixi National Wetland Park is a unique spot considering its urban neighborhood. The park is the first and only wetland park     1     (combine) urban life with farming and culture.

The park     2     (consist) of three causeways and ten famous sights covers     3     total area of 11.5 square kilometers. River ports, ponds, small lakes and marshes occupy approximately 70%of the park, which explains its wetland environment. With many rivers, the whole wetland     4     (divide) into different sections: the east, the west and the central part. The latter is the very place    5     attracts the majority of tourists while the other parts are fairly quiet. Recently the government set up ecological protection zones. There is also a Wetland Science Exhibition Hall     6     (find) at the park's main entrance.

The park has a long history with profound cultural heritage and it has even been regarded     7     a pure land for hermits (隐士). With its wonderful landscape and natural environment Xixi is not only a paradise for plants.     8     also many birds too. With flocks of birds flying freely in the sky, Xixi is a     9     (harmony) window to a natural eco-system.

Xixi National Wetland Park is also the place where the annual “Xixi International Dragon BoatRace” is held.     10     (traditional), this festival was to mourn the patriotic poet Qu Yuan   (343 BC–278 BC) but now Xixi International Dragon Boat Race, with its strong charm and traditional customs, has become a carnival for all Hangzhou citizens.

Cinemas may be dying. But the high end is thriving.

The box office has a bad case. Worldwide takings last year were a quarter below their peak. Americans, who went to the cinema more than five times each in 2000, last year went     1     (few) than three times. As streaming services keep audiences     2     (glue) to the small screen, theatre chains including Cineworld, the world’s second-largest, have gone bankrupt.     3     the biggest of the big screens are thriving.

IMAX,     4     screens are as large as 38 metres wide with denture-rattling (震感十足的) sound systems, had worldwide box-office takings of $1.1 bn last year and its biggest-ever haul in America. The luxury-cinema trend is not limited to America. IMAX’s share of the international box office     5     (rise) from 1.7% in 2019 to 2.1% last year. CGV,     6     South Korean chain with branches across Asia, has rebranded its multiplexes (多厅影院) as “cultureplexes”, offering music, gaming and     7     (dine) alongside films.

Theatre operators must hope audiences are     8     (hunger) for these add-ons, especially when this year’s movie menu is limited. Ever since strikes last year in Hollywood, they     9     (delay) titles, including Mission: Impossible and Avatar sequels, to 2025.

Successful cinemas will treat a trip     10     the movies as the rare luxury.

Oh , Jia Ling,    1     nice a girl! Despite the trouble in life, she has captured the hearts of many with her warm personality.

YOLO(You Only Live Once), directed by Jia, hit the screen on the first day of the lunar Loong year , raising audience's     2     (aware) of strength and bravery. Jia is a girl withdrawn from society in the movie , but this changes when something magic happens , she meets a boxing coach (played by Lei Jiayin). Finally,     3     his help, she gets her life back on track.

The story behind YOLO is that Jia stepped away from the public while filming it, and along with rumors that the actress lost 110 pounds,    4     is unbelievable!

It was not until she finished the movie     5     Jia shared a personal message on Tiktok , admitting it. Not long ago, some die-hard fans interviewed     6     (agree) that Jia Ling is second to none in her willpower.

YOLO is an interesting movie about how people find and learn to love     7     (they). "There is a past me and a new me in the movie. I hope you like them both. With so many fans     8     (support) me, I will do all I can     9     (overcome) the hardships in life. Even in the hardest time, there is     10     (definite) a light at the end of the tunnel."

Sichuan cuisine, one of the eight major cuisines in China, is now popular all over the world. In February 2010, Chengdu     1     (award) the honorary title of “City of Gastronomy” (美食之都) by UNESCO. To experience comprehensive Sichuan cuisine culture, you should definitely visit Sichuan Cuisine Museum (also Chuancais Museum), the first museum     2     (display) a regional cooking culture in the world.

    3     (cover) an area of more than 40 mu, the museum forms     4     unique cultural landscape of ancient Kingdom of Shu in Chinese history. In this AAA national museum, you can appreciate more than 6,000 pieces of antique and cultural relics related to Sichuan cuisine culture, as well as     5     (catch) a glimpse of new style classic garden scenery and traditional western Sichuan style folk houses. Sichuan Cuisine Museum is the only “EATABLE MUSEUM”,     6     you can not only learn Sichuan cuisine culture by using eyes and ears, but also enjoy it by using mouth and nose. Interesting, meaningful and featured activities are     7     (special) designed from the moment you stepped into the museum to the time you leave. The highlighted experience for your visit should be cooking the typical Sichuan dishes     8     the guidance of the professional chef. There is arguably no better way to know more about a cuisine     9     learning how to cook it yourself.

Start your     10     (explore) from Sichuan Cuisine Museum, enjoy different aspects of Sichuan cuisine, satisfy your curiosity and taste buds and experience all fun for “Playing with Chuancais”.

Word came that the annual school sports meet would take place next Friday through Saturday. At the exciting news, the whole class burst into cheers. Without any hesitation, we set about making     1     (arrange) for the grand gala for us students.

With the sports meet approaching, we could hardly concentrate on our daily routine. Every day, we spent much of our spare time     2     (talk) about the weather for fear that the sports meet might be postponed again. Then finally came the big day, when the sports meet was held as     3     (schedule). The sports meet was pretty impressive. One of the highlights     4     (be) the parade before the start of the race. Students were marching past the podium with slogans high up in their hands, while spectators were screaming    5    (crazy). Shortly after the parade was over, the race started. Well known for running in junior high school, I     6     (recommend) to enter for the 3000-meter running race, representing my class.

Time was ticking away. Before I knew it, it was my turn to step onto the track. But all of     7    sudden, I felt a bit panicky. As I hadn’t received any training recently, I puffed and panted halfway. I was about     8     (quit) when my classmates cheered me on all the way. Anyway, I made it to the finishing line. Unable to earn a single point for my class, I was     9    low spirits. However, my friends came over and encouraged me to cheer up. It was their encouragement    10    helped heal the pain of failure.

Now two weeks have passed, but the memory still stay fresh in my mind. Disappointed as I am, I never regret taking part in the race. After all, being part of the sports meet is what I really care about.

Among the Han people, which make up a vast majority of     1     (China) total population, the passage into adulthood is no longer celebrated,     2     in those very traditional families. In ancient times, this ceremony marked a person’s transition to adulthood and     3     (refer) to as the capping or hair-pinning ceremony.

This ceremony started from the clan society (氏族社会) and continued to be held until the Qing Dynasty. The Manchu rulers then felt that this ceremony was     4     (meaning) and thus abolished this ceremony which     5     (last) for thousands of years. From then on the Han people have to enter the stage of adulthood without knowing it. Nowadays, it is mainly in those minor ethnic groups that this life passage is still celebrated. In some parts of China, this ceremony is experiencing a     6     (revive).

When a young man reached 18 or 20 years old, the capping ceremony,    7     (consist) of several procedures, would be held. The hair of the young man should be done up and pinned, and after     8     three caps of different materials should be placed on the youth’s head. The hair-pinning ceremony,    9     the mother or another senior pinned the girl’s hair, would be held when a girl was 15 years old.

There are other interesting customs concerned. For example, boys of the Yao nationality have to pass about ten dangerous tests and take oaths (宣誓)     10     (conduct) bad deeds.