Canada is like a blooming flower,     1    (unfold) with breathtaking beauty and richness. It is a broad country,     2     stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Rising to the east of the Pacific coast, the grand Rocky Mountains     3    (be) home to high peaks and deep valleys. Apart     4     its geographical diversity, Canada is also one of the most     5    (ethnic) diverse nations in the world. This ethnic variety in turn brings about cultural diversity. For example, in Vancouver,     6     dynamic city with the highest percentage of Chinese Canadians, you can participate in the celebrations of the Chinese New Year.     7     you are looking for something off the beaten track, you may visit Cape Breton Island     8    (enjoy) the cultures and traditions of Celtic settlers. Given these cultural differences,     9     comes as no surprise that Canada     10    (celebrate) Multiculturalism Day since 2002.

Recognizing the rising popularity of traditional music, the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) has launched a festival, Spring of Traditional Chinese Music.

The opening concert,     1     (hold) on April 8, 2022, saw a performance by China National Traditional Orchestra(CNTO) led by three conductors, Liu Sha, Lyu Jia and Li Xincao.

“    2     the first time, we performed with conductors who have never performed with traditional Chinese     3     (musician),” says Zhao Cong, president of CNTO. “When we discussed that idea with the NCPA, we were all very excited.” to Each of the conductors chose music pieces they’d like     4     (perform). For example, a piece from the Tang Dynasty   (618-907), titled The General’s Order,     5     (conduct) by Liu. “The sounds of traditional Chinese musical instruments are very different from Western musical instruments, which were     6     (total) new to me. However, this is the most interesting experience     7     will remain in my heart forever,” says Lyu.

“Playing works of traditional Chinese music and Western classical music     8     (be) like communicating with two people with     9     (variety) personalities,” says Li. “But music is all about emotions and expression, which is mutual (相互的).”

It’s reported that     10     festival will be held twice a year and invite more conductors of symphony orchestras (交响乐团) to work with traditional Chinese music orchestras.

On a freezing cold day in January 1994, Jiesang Suonandajie found what he was looking for --- a group of poachers. He gave     1     (he) life to save the Tibetan antelope, which was an     2     (endanger) species.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, millions of antelopes lived on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. By the 1990s the number     3     (fall) to about 50,000. The reason is that the wool of the Tibetan antelope is the     4     (expensive) in the world. A shawl     5     (make) from the wool can sell for 5,000 dollars. There has been a ban on the trade since 1975. However, the shawls came into fashion     6     rich people in the 1990s.

In the 1990s the Chinese government began to take an active part in     7     (protect) the antelopes in the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve. The number of poachers has fallen thanks to the efforts of the officials and     8     (volunteer). Meanwhile, in those countries     9     the shawls are sold, police are getting tough with the dealers. International co-operation seems     10     (work). The antelope population has slowly begun to grow again since 1997.