Standing on the top story of Basantapur Palace in Nepal, Yuan Mengxi is having a hard time connecting today’s reality with     1     she saw seven years ago.

The palace complex, located in the middle of Durbar Square in the country’s capital Kathmandu, was badly damaged in     2     massive earthquake in April 2015. The 9-story palace, a tourist landmark, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.

The palace not only has great historical     3     (significant), but is also an architectural feat (功绩).

“You can see the whole place from here, and everything is beautiful and     4     order,” says Yuan, a 33-year-old originally from Zhengzhou, the capital of Central China’s Henan province. She is     5     (current) working for the Beijing-based Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage and is in charge of a team sent     6     (rebuild) the palace.

She made her first work trip to Kathmandu in October 2015, six months after the earthquake     7     (shake) the city.

She says she was in shock     8     (see) the city after the quake at the time. Heritage buildings in Durbar Square     9     (destroy), with wooden statues buried and spread over a wide area. “Kathmandu Valley was still covered in the dust from the quake,” she recalls.

After the earthquake, both the Chinese and Nepali governments agreed to launch a project     10     (intend) for restoring the nine-story Basantapur Palace complex.

3 . Important Things to Know When Dining Out

Cultural dining etiquette (礼节) might surprise you with some of its important rules.     1    . Knowing some tips will help ensure that you have an enjoyable meal with friends or family — no matter where you are in the world.

The way you handle chopsticks is important to avoid annoying your companions. When you put them down between bites, always put them down together so they are parallel with the edge of the table in front of you.     2    .

In India and the Middle East, it’s considered very rude to eat with your left hand. People in France expect you to eat with a utensil in each hand.     3    , instead preferring to use their hands. In Chile, you may never touch any food with your fingers. People in Thailand generally use their forks only to push food onto their spoons.

    4    . In Portugal, this would be a serious mistake, because it shows the chef that you don’t like their seasoning skills. Similarly, in Italy, never ask for extra cheese to add to your food.

Some of these cultural dining etiquette rules may seem random and strange, but they are important in various countries.     5    , the more comfortable you’ll begin to feel with its foreign cultural practices.

8 . The age range between about 13 and 19 is an important time in an individual’s life.    1    While you are a teenager, many exciting opportunities for success are given to you. Taking on the right amount of responsibility and independence can push you towards becoming a successful teenager.

First, participate in extra-curricular activities. Schools give students opportunities for staying active. Pick an activity that appeals to you such as athletics, academic clubs, or special-interest clubs. Extra-curricular activities build character through team work, time-management, and competition. Don't be too worried if you aren't very good at what you like, for the important thing is passion.    2    

Besides, volunteer.     3    Meanwhile, volunteering can teach you job-related skills such as responsibility or time-management. Some schools also reward the learning aspect of volunteer work with credit hours. If you are interested in college, volunteering makes you much more appealing during the application process.

Third, use your summer for academic programs. Getting a head start at college could mean sacrificing your summer vacation. Various universities offer programs for future college students based on interests such as journalism, photography, art, sports, etc.    4    Research different programs and then figure out which one is the best choice for you. Check the requirements and deadlines. Avoid getting into trouble because of a simple mistake, and you will have a great time.

Finally, know when to ask for help and advice. Being responsible and independent does not mean being alone.     5    So, seek advice from parents, older siblings, advisors at work, teachers, or someone whom you trust. Opening up channels of communication at a young age is a great habit for success.

9 . Lawn Games for Adults That’ll Make You Feel Like a Kid Again

Experts say that engaging in playful activities through adulthood can help lower stress, improve cognitive (认知的) functions, and build social bonds with others, which is so much more than what your phone can do for you. So what are you waiting for? Round up the family, grab one of these lawn games for adults, and let the good time stroll.

Spikeball Game Set $ 59.99

The flexible, hula-hoop-sized net stands on its foldable legs and can be taken to the beach or the park to give four players plenty of space to run around. Start the two-on-two game by bouncing a ball off the net, sending it flying toward your opponents—they have three passes between them to send the ball back over to your team. When they miss, you score, and the first one to get to 21 wins.

The Pocket Shot $ 25.00

Who doesn’t love lining up cans and shooting them down with a slingshot? It’s demanding yet thrilling. The Pocket Shot is a super powerful slingshot that shoots at two or three times the rate of a regular slingshot. It’s super tiny, so it fits in your pocket.

Giant 4-Connect-In-A-Row $ 79.99

Two players at a time try to insert their red or blue coins into the wooden frame to form a vertical or horizontal line of all the same color. It’s way more challenging than you’d think.

10 . It is not always easy to keep a conversation going in English. You might not be sure about what to say. Or maybe you are afraid that your pronunciation is not good. So how can we continue a conversation in English?     1    

Listen and follow up

First, remember the importance of listening. Listen to the other person attentively, so that you can ask a follow-up question. For example, let’s say the other person tells you, “I just got back from a trip to Canada.”     2     Where did you go in Canada? What was your favorite place there?

How was the food there?

Avold simple “yes” or “no” questions

If you want to keep a conversation going, it’s a good idea to ask questions that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”. If the other person asks you a “yes” or “no” question, try to give a longer answer to help keep the conversation going.

For example, a friend might ask, “Hey, have you seen the new Star Wars movie?” You could just answer, “No, I haven’t.”     3     You could answer: “No, but I plan to see it soon. How about you?”

    4    

Do not worry about your pronunciation. If your pronunciation is a little different, the other person will still understand your message if you try speaking slowly and clearly. When you are traveling in an English-speaking country and have some free time, be brave and speak in English with someone who does not look too busy.     5