An exhibition, featuring around 200 cultural artifacts from the era of interaction between the Chinese and French royal courts in the 17th and 18th centuries, kicked off at the Palace Museum in Beijing on Monday,     1     (mark) the opening of the 18th edition of the Festival Croisements,     2     celebrated the 60-year diplomatic bond between the two countries.

    3     (launch) in 2006, the Festival Croisements is dedicated to promoting exchanges and dialogue between Chinese and French art institutions and artists. A     4     (various) of activities in fields such as the visual arts, crafts, theater, music and dance will be held in multiple     5     (city) across China as part of the festival that spans (持续) to the end of the year.

The number 60     6     (indicate) a cycle in Chinese tradition. The unveiling new cycle will generate more collaboration and     7     (far) promote cultural dialogues and mutual understanding between the two countries.

Croisements, meaning crossover in French, symbolizes mutual (相互的) influence and connections between Chinese and French cultures. The name reminds people     8     a gathering where different cultures strengthen each other, which is     9     reflection of our daily life, either of our career or personal life. The festival will provide opportunity     10     (discover) new art forms.

Are you a true lover of words? Are you fascinated by the way language evolves and adapts to different     1     (situate)? If so, you might enjoy exploring the realm of etymology, which is the study of the origins and     2     (develop) of words.

Etymology     3     (trace) the history of words, revealing their journeys from ancient languages to the modern lexicon. By understanding the     4     (originate) and transformations of words, we gain insights into the cultures and societies that shaped them.

Many words have     5     (intrigue) stories behind them. For instance, the word “pharmacy” can be traced back to the Greek word “pharmakon,” which meant both “poison” and “remedy.” This     6     (reflect) the ancient belief that substances could be both harmful and healing, depending on their use.

Languages are like living organisms, constantly changing to meet the     7     (communicate) needs of their speakers. New words are coined, while others fade into obscurity. Some words evolve in     8     (mean) over time, taking on new nuances and connotations.

Even as technology     9     (transform) the way we communicate, the essence of language remains a powerful means of expression. So, the next time you read a sentence or speak a phrase, remember that you are participating in a rich tapestry of linguistic history and innovation.

In today’s world, English has been the language of international communication, and has played an increasingly significant role in     1    (drive) China’s economic (经济的) growth and social development. For big economies like China     2     is playing a growing role in world affairs (事务), the English language is of great     3    (important). Good English proficiency (熟练) opens doors to greater opportunities     4     strengthens China’s overall international competitiveness.

“Foreign language learning is not only about learning a second language,” said Shi, a member of China’s first generation of English learners after its reform and opening up. “    5    (eventual), it is also about learning a fresh way of thinking. It is a     6    (power) tool for you to connect to the outside world.”

English language education in China has come a long way over the past 40 years. 1978 was a historic year for the field, as it was made one of the test     7    (subject) in China’s national college entrance exam. The language     8    (become) increasingly significant ever since.

“China has the biggest English education market in the world,” said Zou, founding editor of China’s English newspaper China Daily. “Although Chinese people are proud     9     their own culture and language, they are generally willing     10    (learn) about Western cultures and languages.”

Different cultures communicate in very different ways. With regard to nonverbal communication, in Asia, people use     1     (variety) of body language, facial expressions, and silence     2     (express) meaning. For instance, in Japan, it might be viewed as rude to directly object to a statement. However, in the West, speaking directly is not only normal but valued. People place     3     (much) focus on the actual words being used than on nonverbal cues (暗示).

Additionally, in China, it is common for someone to smile when they don’t understand something. This could be     4     (confuse) for a Westerner who might think this means the listener understands and agrees with     5     is being said.

Another communicative feature,     6     is viewed differently across the world, is interruption. In many parts of the West, interrupting another person when they are speaking is considered to be rude. However, in some African and Latin American countries, it is viewed as a means to join and     7     (active) participate in the conversation.

Even within     8     same continent, manners can vary from culture to culture. For example, in the UK, it is very common to say “please” and “thank you” to someone     9     (serve) you in a shop or restaurant, but in Spain, these terms     10     (hear) much less often in everyday circumstances and are reserved more for requesting or receiving a kindness.

To mark the 14th International Chinese Language Day, which falls     1     April 20, Cape Town in South Africa witnessed the opening of a special exhibition: The Way of Type — Modernization of Chinese Typography (活版印刷). By    2     (show) the development of fonts (字体), the exhibition gave visitors an overview of the modern development of Chinese characters.

The 2023 Chinese Language Day     3     (celebrate) under the theme of “Chinese Wisdom for a Green World” by the UN. Separate     4     (activity) included the school Chinese calligraphy event held at the Confucius Institute at the University of Johannesburg in Johannesburg South Africa,    5     folk music performances held in Vienna, Austria, which aided people     6     (have) a better understanding of the role of China’s traditional culture in today’s modern world.

Statistics show that so far over 180 countries and regions around the world have Chinese language teaching programs, eighty-two of which have included Chinese language learning into their     7     (nation) education system, such as the United Arab Emirates, an Arab country     8     the Chinese language is taught in about 60 schools.

“Academically speaking, the relationship between China and the Arab world has always been a hot topic. In     9     past few decades, the trend of mutual language learning between China and Arab countries has improved     10     (great),” said Xue Qingguo, an Arabic studies professor at the Beijing Foreign Studies University.