International Tea Day is celebrated every year on May 21. On this day, tea lovers unite in celebration of their favorite beverage. International Tea Day also promotes ways     1     (sustain) the production and consumption of tea. You might be     2     (astonish) to know that tea is the most loved beverage for millions worldwide. Every second, people consume 25,000 cups of tea,     3     suggests more than two billion cups of tea are consumed per day.

In 2005, tea-producing countries came together to celebrate International Tea Day. These countries     4     (be) Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, and Uganda. In 2019, the Intergovernmental Group on Tea decided to celebrate International Tea Day on May 21. The U. N. said yes to the celebrations on December 21, 2019. The first official U. N. International Tea Day     5     (celebrate) on May 21, 2020.

Estimates show that as the world population increases, so will     6     number of tea drinkers. Tea enjoys great     7     (popular) in India and China. These two countries alone account     8     37% of the world’s total population, meaning a significant number of tea lovers live in India and China.

Besides     9     (drink) it for taste, there are numerous health benefits of tea drinking. Drinking tea can reduce the risk of heart attack, protect the bones, boost the immune system,     10     relax the body. Habitual tea drinkers are less likely to suffer from early death. They drink the beverage at least three times a week.

Goubuli baozi is a traditional Chinese steamed bun originating in Tianjin. The dough (生面团) is usually made with yeast (酵母) , sugar, flour, salt, oil, and baking powder. The dough is cut and formed into balls that     1     (stuff) with a mixture of ground pork, pork fat, soy sauce, sesame oil, scallions, ginger, salt, and cold water.

The pork has water slowly     2     (add) to it so that it plumps up the meat and creates a tasty broth (肉汤) as the buns steam. Once steamed and fully cooked, goubuli baozi are served hot.     3     (traditional) , these buns have eighteen folds on top — and although it’s     4     (impress) , this step is not absolutely necessary.

There are many explanations for the name goubali. The often-quoted one is related     5    poor village boy nicknamed Gouzhai. At 14, he became an apprentice at a food store, after     6     he set up his own shop     7     (specialize) in selling steamed baozi. His very delicious baozi soon gained great     8     (popular) in a short period of time. As a result, Gouzhai became too occupied with his business     9     (talk) with his customers; so they started to complain. “Gouzhai does not talk to people.” And thus,    10     name “goubuli”, which means “gouzhai does not speak to people” came into being.

Goubuli bans were among the 396 food items awarded the Famous Chinese Snack title by the China Cuisine Association in 1997.

Among the various types of Chinese green teas, Enshi Yulu (恩施玉露) stands out as     1     unique and cherished selection.

This exquisite (精美的) tea     2     (distinguish) by its leaves with a thin, needle-like shape and its rich, dark green color. What sets Enshi Yulu apart from other Chinese green teas is its unique making process, steaming,     3     effectively maintains the tea’s visual appeal and ensures that its delicate flavor is preserved.

The versatility (多功能性) of Enshi Yulu are evident in its ability     4     (make) with both hot and cold water. Each method leads to a distinct taste experience, with hot water     5     (draw) out the tea’s refreshing flavor, and cold brewing resulting in a more subtle taste.

Originating from Enshi in Hubei province, the history of Enshi Yulu     6     (date) back to the Tang Dynasty.     7    (it) long-standing cultural significance was recognized in 2014 when it was included on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

In 2022, the     8     (tradition) tea processing techniques of China, including those used for Enshi Yulu, gained global     9     (recognize) when they were written on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This honor     10     (vivid) highlights the importance of preserving these ancient practices for future generations.

Oolong is a traditional Chinese tea     1    (produce) through a complex process. It is a familiar drink to anyone who often goes to Chinese restaurants, as it’s a frequent tea choice served along     2     Chinese dishes.

There are various grades of oolong tea. Some are served after     3    (dry) and packaged. Others are aged, producing complex flavors and often sold at a high price.

Tea lovers tend     4    (be) fans of numerous varieties of oolong. Most argue that it is not only the taste     5     the fragrance (香气) of oolong tea that     6    (lend) such appeal to the tea. Taste varies with different varieties. Many attribute (认为……) a strong     7    (initial) bitter taste and a sweet, melon-like finish to oolong. Oolong tea is thought to be so fragrant because the leaves     8    (harvest) when the essential oils of the tea are most present and strong.

In China, oolong tea was often part of traditional medicine for curing digestive problems. It has also been thought to be of help in headaches. The     9    (benefit) of green and black tea in modern medicine are connected with their presence of antioxidants(抗氧化剂),     10     may prove helpful in reducing the effects of aging and in fighting cancer.

Tianshui malatang, a version of a spicy hot pot in Northwest China’s Gansu province, has recently gone viral on Chinese media,     1     (attract) large numbers of travelers, even though it means about two hours of waiting in a queue     2     they can finally get their hands on a bowl of local malatang. Qinzhou district, where most malatang restaurants and attractions are located,     3     (receive) more than 1 million tourists so far.

In a typical malatang restaurant, customers select fresh food items strung on skewers (扦子) and hand them over to the chef. The     4     (choose) ingredients are boiled in the thick soup and then scooped (舀) into a bowl. With two     5     (spoonful) of oil and pepper drizzled (洒落) on top, the bowls fairly burst with flavor. It is said that Gangu pepper used in the dish,     6     tastes good but is not as spicy as some other types, is key to     7     (it) unique flavor.

The     8     (explode) popularity of Tianshui malatang presents a rare opportunity to enhance the city’s reputation and also test its service capabilities. Tourists arriving by train     9     (greet) by welcome banners and offered free bus rides. Some workers from local scenic attractions distribute tickets and hand out gifts at the malatang restaurants. All forces have been joined to provide comprehensive services in every aspect, ensuring that visitors     10     Tianshui can eat, play and travel with pleasure.

According to one legend, dumplings first appeared during the Han Dynasty.     1     (rough) 1800 years ago, the story goes, a physician named Zhang Zhongjing returned to his hometown during a cold winter. He found his fellow villagers with frostbitten ears and created a new dish to help them warm up. The ingredients he chose for their warming     2     (comprise) of button, herbs, and spices. The doctor wrapped them     3     pieces of dough and folded the pieces to resemble tiny ears. Dumplings     4     (continue) to take off and diversify since then. Typically     5     (fill) with meat or vegetables, the simple bites are distinguished by their pleated (起褶皱的), wheat dough wrappers. They’re often served for the Chinese New Year, though not because they look like crescent moons (新月). Eating them is believed     6     (bring) prosperity in the new year. Traditionally, if you want to wish someone good fortune in China, you feed dumplings with a coin hidden inside and     7     gets this coin will be lucky in the coming year. Making dumplings together with the whole family creates a unique,     8     (harmony) atmosphere. Today, Jiaozi is still     9     must in winter in most parts of northern China, especially during the Spring Festival. No words can precisely describe Chinese people’s affection for dumplings, as the food has already become a symbol of home and     10     (warm).

China is a nation of tea. The country’s history of tea is almost as long as the history of China     1     (it). References to tea in Chinese literature go back approximately 5,000 years. Originally, tea was valued     2     its medicinal qualities. It has long been known that tea aids in digestion,     3     is why many Chinese prefer to consume it during or after their meal.

But tea is more than just     4     addition to a meal. It has become a part of the country’s daily routine and of special occasions—and is     5     (true) embedded (嵌入) as an overall part of Chinese culture.

Among all the types of tea, green tea     6     (produce) before Tomb Sweeping Day in early April is especially popular in China. This     7     (believe) to be the best time for green tea, because insects have not yet emerged from the soil. Green tea is not fermented (发酵)during processing and thus retains the original color of the tea     8     (leaf).

Green tea also has a close     9     (connect) with Tomb Sweeping Day. Many southern regions still keep the customs of tea-offering for ancestors. Now as the nation embraces Tomb Sweeping Day, tea gardens in China are also open for visitors     10     (experience) tea-related traditions and culture.

Today, pork is the No. 1 meat product in China, which even     1     (have) symbolic meanings in Chinese culture. In some places, a pig’s head still must be served on the second day of the second month in the lunar calendar     2     (please) the dragons that are awaking from     3     (they) winter sleep.

However, before the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), it was     4     (rare) seen on dining tables. Ancient Chinese doctors even doubted its nutritional value. For example, Sun Simiao (Tang Dynasty) considered     5     (eat) pork for long period of time made people more likely to get sick.

The turning point for pork came in the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279) when     6     not-so-wealthy poet, Su Shi (1037-1101), found his simple ways to cook it. Back then pork was much     7     (cheap) than lamb and beef because it     8     (dislike) by the rich while the poor didn’t know how to cook it properly. Unable to afford either beef     9     lamb, the poet just stewed (炖) pork with radish and shared it with friends. They wrote beautiful poems about the so-called “Dongpo pork”, which instantly gained popularity in southern China     10     the environment was ideal to raise pigs.

Tianshui,     1     ancient Silk Road city in Gansu Province, became the latest place with a nationwide craze thanks to its iconic dish malatang, a local street dish     2    (feature)a mix of fresh vegetables and meat boiled in a hot, spicy soup. One restaurant owner in Tianshui noted that he has been serving at least 400 customers a day, some of     3     drive here from other provinces to experience this inviting dish firsthand. Based on data from Ctrip, a major Chinese online travel service platform, in the past month, there     4    (be)a significant increase in tourism in Tianshui. The overall number of travel orders has increased by over 20% compared to the same period last year,     5     hotel orders increasing by over 40%.

Local-produced ingredients such as Gangu chili, Qin’an peppercorns, and Dingxi potatoes are the secrets to the unique flavor and attractive appearance of Tianshui malatang. Gangu chili has a bright red color and a spicy fragrance with lingering sweetness. Potatoes     6    (grow)in Dingxi have a high starch content(淀粉含量), making hand-pulled noodles have a chewy texture. It is these authentic ingredients     7     lay the foundation for Tianshui malatang to stand out.

With the drive of the “malatang economy”, the export orders of Gansu local agriculture     8    (product)are also increasing. It seems that food has     9     (apparent)become a new hot spot for small Chinese cities to catch the spotlight on social media platforms. The Tianshui government is also seizing every opportunity     10    (promote)Tianshui development with a small bowl of malatang.

For many centuries, tea     1     (be) an essential part of Chinese culture, with the country being one of the world’s largest producers and     2     (consume) of tea. However, in recent years, a new trend has emerged—the rise of the coffee culture. China has become one of the fastest-growing coffee markets globally,     3     an increasing number of coffee shops and cafes opening up in major cities.

When I first came to Shanghai in 2019,I had no idea that Shanghai has the title of the “capital of coffee” in China,     4     was a pleasant surprise for me. Moreover, Shanghai has the potential to become the global capital for coffee admirers, boasting over 8000 coffee shops. People in Shanghai visit coffee shops to     5     (genuine) enjoy a cup of coffee, even when they are having business meetings, dates or work sessions. You can see     6     (they) savoring their brew, creating a small moment, which is     7     personal treat that you can enjoy even during a hectic (繁忙的) day in Shanghai. Coffee unites us as we greet newcomers and get acquainted with other local students. I feel this is     8     the coffee culture works here—to make people a little bit happier and to warm you up when you feel cold or lonely. People come to coffee shops     9     (share) their own happy moments or to get cheered up. You can always see them smiling in a relaxed mood or peacefully scrolling (滚屏) on their phones while     10     (sip) their coffee. Even with coffee-to-go, you take that little piece of the warm atmosphere with you.