Chinese New Year Painting is a special Chinese art form. Usually it is put on walls, doors or windows. As Spring Festival     1     (arrive), many families put up New Year Paintings as a wish to have good luck and     2     (happy). There are different subjects in New Year Paintings, such as babies, flowers and birds. The earliest New Year Painting appeared in the Tang Dynasty and was attached to the door     3     (keep) the family safe. Today New Year Paintings are still popular in some rural areas of China.

Most people believe when they live comfortably and earn enough money, they will have worries. However, most people never feel they     1     (earn) enough. Jason Harley decided to drop out of this kind of lifestyle, and he discovered that having only a little money made him free. Are there any things he misses from his past? “No, I’m much happier now,     2     I am living according to my values. Success     3     (measure) not by how much money you have but by how you understand the true meaning of life.”

Jan Tchamani suddenly developed a serious illness and had to quit her job. At age 50, she found herself out of work and stuck at home with only her computer     1     (keep) her company. After a while, she discovered that     2     (surf) the Internet could help her feel less lonely. She joined an online group     3     she could talk about her problems and get support from others. She realised that one of the greatest benefits of the Internet was its ability to remove the distance that     4     (usual) exists between people.

Ireland’s beautiful countryside has always had a great influence on its people and traditions. Its countryside excites and inspires all,     1     (offer) something for each of the senses. The peaceful landscape and many green counties is a true feast for the eyes, with its rolling green hills dotted with sheep     2     cattle. With all this beauty, it is not surprising that Ireland     3     (develop) strong traditions that include dancing and dining.

Of all the traditional festivals, the harvest festival can be found in almost every culture. This important agricultural festival     1     (take) place after all the crops have been gathered in. In ancient Egypt, the harvest festival     2     (celebrate) during the springtime—the Egyptian harvest season. It featured a parade and a great feast with music dancing, and sports. During the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, families gather     3     (admire) the shining moon and enjoy delicious mooncakes.

After earning a master’s degree in 2016, Huang Wenxiu returned to Baise, her hometown, instead of     1     (seek) a career in Beijing. “I come from a remote mountainous village. Quite a number of folks     2     (struggle) with poverty there, so all I wish is to do my part to improve their lives,” she once said. She invited experts to tell the villagers     3     they could improve production. She persuaded the villagers to expand the planting area. Meanwhile, some villagers     4     (encourage) to start e-commerce sales. 418 people from 88 households were out of poverty thanks to her efforts.