The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. For thousands of years, 24 solar terms     1     (influence) Chinese people’s way of thinking and code conduct.

Minor Heat, also     2     (know) as Xiaoshu, the 11th solar term of the year, begins on July 7 this year and ends on July 22. Minor Heat signifies that the hottest period is coming but the extreme hot point has yet to arrive.

Many might have the     3     (misunderstand) of Xiaoshu’s name, which describes the heat (shu)     4     the adjective minor (xiao). In fact, the name is related to the three consecutive (连续的) periods during the hot season which     5     (call) “Fu” in Chinese, meaning the heat would make people want to lie down. As the first “Fu” period is     6     (relative) cooler, the solar term during this period is called “Minor Heat”.

Here are the old     7     (tradition) of Minor Heat in the past. Having fresh grains was one main tradition among     8     folks in China. Dumplings are the traditional and household food among Chinese. When the “dog day” comes, people tend     9     (lose) their appetites and dumplings can refresh people’s feelings towards food.

Minor Heat may not be a comfortable period, but is a time     10     everything gets to grow and mature.

The “Sharing China — Happy Chinese New Year Contest 2023” concluded its final review recently in Beijing and unveiled its     1     (win) entries.

    2     (launch) on Dec 20, 2022, the con test called for photography works and short videos themed on Spring Festival culture and     3     (memory) moments from Chinese New Year celebrations overseas. Over 11,000 photos and 231 short videos from more than 20 countries and regions were submitted to the online     4       (submit) platform as well as the event page on Facebook until Feb 12.

Several rounds of assessments were conducted by a panel of experts,     5     evaluated the submitted works based     6     three standards: Value of international communication, theme and quality. The experts     7     (final) selected 5 first prize collections, 15 second prize collections and 30 third prize collections for the photography contest, and 1 first prize collection, 2 second prize collections and 6 third prize collections for the short video contest.

The contest was hosted by China International Culture Association     8     organized by Chinadaily.com.cn and Chinaculture.org. Since 2015, the “Sharing China” contest     9     (hold) for seven sessions successfully. Many of the works collected during these years were of professional quality, and     10     (include) in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s publicity material used for ministry’s cultural activities or cultural products, such as exhibitions, publications, posters, photo album designs and promotional videos.

Morals and virtues are like a compass     1     guides us in making good choices and doing the right thing. Morals are about knowing the difference between right and wrong, while virtues are good qualities or habits we should cultivate to help us determine the right     2     (act) to take.

When we face a moral dilemma, it’s take. In these times, we can rely on our morals to help us choose     3     (wise). For example, being kind, honest, and fair are important moral values that can guide our actions.

Virtues, such as     4     (patient), courage, and generosity, help us become better people. They are like strengths we can develop     5     (face) challenges and treat others with respect. When we show virtues in our daily lives, we inspire those around us to do the same. In relationships like marriage or friendships, morals and virtues play     6     important role. Respect, trust, and loyalty are virtues that build strong connections and foster harmony. When conflicts arise, relying on moral       7     (principle) and virtues can help us resolve differences peacefully.

It’s also important to pass on these values to the next generation. Teaching children about morals and virtues from a young age     8     (set) a strong foundation for their character development. By practicing kindness, honesty, and empathy, we can create a more compassionate and understanding society.

Morals and virtues are essential tools for navigating (导航) life’s challenges and     9     (create) a better world for ourselves and others. With good values, we can build stronger relationships, make wiser choices, and contribute positively     10     our communities.

Xunpu     1     (locate) about 10 kilometers southeast of the city center of Quanzhou — one of the most important ports of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, which was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2021.

All the women in the small fishing village of Xunpu in Quanzhou, Fujian Province,     2     Huang Rongbing was born and grew up, had long hair like his mother. They usually had it     3     (decorate) with flowers. The colorful and distinctive floral headdress is known     4     zanhua.

When Huang was a teenager, zanhua became an     5     (inspire) and provided a career for Huang. In 2016, he opened a barber’s shop called Xunpu Huami, in which tourists could do their hair by adding zanhua on their head and take photos.

When Huang’s business first started, only about 20 people visited it. But things changed     6     (dramatic) in 2022, when actress Zhao Liying visited Xunpu and appeared in a Chinese magazine,     7     (wear) a red traditional dress and beautiful head ornaments (饰品). With over 90 million     8     (follower) on her social media account, Zhao also appeared in a video sharing her experiences in Xunpu.

With many customers a day, Huang eventually turned the salon (美发厅) into a cultural center, which has given female visitors the opportunity     9     (put) on the traditional clothes worn by local women to experience     10     culture of the village.

Yan Ning of the Chinese Academy of Science       1     (receive) the 2024L’Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Award in Paris on May 29, 2024. YanNing, a professor at the School of Life Science at Tsinghua University and founding president of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation, is the eighth Chinese scientist     2     (win) the award. The       3     (award) were aimed at recognizing the women’s pioneering research in life and environmental sciences, and in particular their major contribution       4     dealing with global public health challenges, including cancer, and malaria.

She is also an advocate for gender equality in research and science education. She     5     (organize) an annual forum for female scientists since 2015, and she has     6     (gradual) recruited more female principal investigators in the two research institutions she leads— Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation and Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, where more than half of the managers are women.

In her speech, Yan said, “This recognition is not just a testament to my own efforts, but also a celebration of the countless individuals       7     have supported and inspired me along this remarkable journey.” “I have     8     message for all the girls and everyone watching this: it can be       9     (challenge) to be a female scientist, but not to the extent that anyone should be stopped. So, be brave, be       10     (you)!”

The Science Museum in the UK is holding an exhibition called “Zimingzhong: Clockwork Treasures from China’s Forbidden City”. The exhibition features 23 clocks, mainly     1     (collect) by three Qing emperors. The clocks aim to tell some     2     (story) about the meaning of technology and skills, as well as the people and cultures     3     appeared during this small window of trade between Britain and China.

“The Emperors and Zimingzhong” section of the exhibition reveals the important role played     4     zimingzhong in early cultural exchanges. In the early 17th century, missionaries tried to please the Qing emperors by     5     (send) them delicately made automatic devices.

In the middle section of the exhibition, a scale model of the Chinese water-powered “escapement” reveals that in     6     year 1088, during the Song Dynasty, Su Song created the     7     (world) first water-powered astronomical clock tower. In the 1960s, scholars rediscovered an ancient text about it. This     8     (discover) challenges the long-held idea that mechanical clocks originated     9     (entire) in Europe.

Zimingzhong initially     10     (enter) China from Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. Following this year-long trade route, British businessmen, upon reaching the coastal areas of China, purchased sought-after goods, including silk, tea and porcelain.

Encouraged by beating drums and spirited cheering from the crowd, paddlers from more than 60 dragon boat teams made a splash at Salford Quays in Greater Manchester, England on the weekend     1    (celebrate) the traditional Chinese Dragon Boa t Festival.

The UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival this year featured the     2    (participate) of some world-renowned sports clubs, Manchester United FC, Manchester City FC, and Salford Red Devils rugby league club     3    (include), which brought a new level of excitement to the event, and a fusion of sports culture.

This year marks the 10th staging of the UK festival,     4     is said to be one of the largest dragon boat events in Europe and one of     5    (significant) culture and sports highlights in the UK. Since it began in 2012, the competition     6    (organize) by the Xinhua Chinese Association (XCA) in partnership with Salford City Council and the British Dragon Boa t Racing Association.

In addition     7     boat races, this year’s celebration in Manchester featured a variety of cultural performances, including dragon and lion dances, kung fu, and waist drum dances, attracting many curious and interested     8    (passer-by). People also enjoyed zongzi, a type of     9    (stick) rice dumpling that is     10     traditional Chinese treat during Dragon Boat Festival.

Stinky tofu,       1     (know) as chou doufu in China, is a much-loved street food, sold in night markets and roadside stands as     2     delicious snack. It     3     (invent) by a man named Wang Zhihe, who lived in Anhui Province during the Qing dynasty.     4     (original) , Wang was a scholar, but after     5     (fail) his official exam, he decided to sell tofu in the streets of Beijing. One day, he didn’t sell all his tofu, so he cut it     6     pieces and placed them in a jar for storage. When he reopened the jar several days later, he met with a terrible smell,     7     he decided to taste the tofu anyway. Finding it surprisingly delicious, he began to sell this new, smelly tofu at his store. If people wanted to try some, they just followed the smell,     8     was like a burnt sports shoe, and then they could find his store, where it could be found in     9     (vary) forms, including deep-fried, steamed or served in soups. The fans thought the smellier, the better! Nowadays, stinky tofu, featuring in documentaries and international food     10     (show) , has gained popularity around the world.

Zhao Yang, a Chinese student in Strasbourg, France, attracts global audiences with her pipa performances, redefining perceptions (看法) of Chinese youth through music. During her street performances, Zhao has established meaningful cultural connections and exchanges with     1    (local) and tourists from around the world.

In one of her appealing videos, she introduced classic pieces from China’s Kunqu Opera, such as the story of Du Shiniang, a legendary lady of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), when     2    (perform) the pipa in traditional Kunqu dress and makeup. One comment from a female viewer under the video left a lasting impression     3     Zhao. The viewer said she was inspired by the female characters who     4    (brave) broke free from traditional societal constraints(枷锁).

When she first arrived in France, Zhao found it difficult     5    (acquire) instruments like the pipa. However, in recent years, she has observed that Chinese traditional instruments have become more     6     (access). Major cities like Paris now have shops selling these instruments and even offering courses for learning to play     7    (they). Additionally, as Zhao has noticed during her street performances, spectators talk to her about the instrument’s range, notes and playing techniques.

Recently, Zhao     8    (work) with a composer in China to create videos     9     use music for cultural exchange, commemorating (纪念) the significance of 2024. This year marks     10     60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France, coinciding with the upcoming Paris Olympics.

As a smartphone addict, the first thing I did when I woke up in the morning was reach for my phone. Sometimes I did feel that the small machine had taken up too much of my time and    1    some changes should be made.

I decided that I should begin with spending a whole week    2    my smartphone. However, developing into a habit was easy. It was    3     (extreme) difficult to quit the habit. On the first few days, not    4     (know) what to do, I felt lost and anxious. Then somehow I began to feel free because I had time to do things that I liked and finally my favorite novels     5     (pick) up again. To trace my progress, I kept a journal of my feelings, thoughts and    6     (activity). I went out for a run and felt more alive. Best of all, I began to appreciate     7    beauty in life with my own eyes. It was also    8     (benefit) to my offline relationship. I spent more time with friends and parents. Those seven days really changed me a lot.

Now I no longer spend my days with my eyes    9     (fix) on the screen all the time. Instead, have a great     10     (appreciate) for if e beyond the screen, which is indeed richer and more beautiful.