In China’s Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, there lived a man named Boya, who     1     playing the qin. He played so well that everyone     2     his music and thought highly of his techniques. However, Boya believed no one could understand his music until he met Zhong Ziqi. Boya did not say anything before playing the qin, yet Zhong Ziqi was able to paint a picture of great mountain ranges in his mind. When Boya continued playing, Zhong Ziqi said he had heard the sound of a river flowing quickly. In fact, Boya had     3     to call the music High Mountains and Flowing Water.

Having someone that really understood his music     4     Boya, who never got tired of sharing his music with Zhong Ziqi. The two soon became great friends and before going their     5     ways, they agreed to meet at the Mid-Autumn Festival the next year. However, Zhong Ziqi failed to show up on that day. When Boya learnt about Zhong Ziqi’s death, he was     6     with sorrow. He played High Mountains and Flowing Water in front of Zhong Ziqi’s grave. After he finished playing the piece, he destroyed the qin and said, “    7     the only person that understands my music is gone, keeping the qin doesn’t     8    .”

I usually start planning my trip home to Shanxi weeks before Spring Festival, as train tickets or     1     have to be booked as early as possible. I take great care in choosing gifts for my parents.This year, I bought a bottle of wine for my father and a     2     sweater for my mother.

Every year, the moment I get on the train, I am     3    by Shanxi accents－I know that I am heading home to my family.I don’t get to travel back to Shanxi very often, so when I get home, my parents will     4     me in on what’s been happening—who has got     5     or had children or gone away to university.It’s great to hear what everyone’s been up to.