1 . When it comes to popular symbols of marriage, one can not look past the wedding ring. The wedding ring serves as a perfect symbol of everlasting love — a ring is a circle and thus has no beginning or end, representing the never-ending union of marriage. Wedding rings have long and rich histories.

Evidence suggests that wedding rings were used in ancient Egypt around 6,000 years ago. However, unlike the metals and gemstones used today, they were crafted from materials such as reeds, leather or bone. In the centuries that followed, the wedding ring tradition was picked up in the West, where it spread first in ancient Rome and Greece, subsequently throughout Europe during the Middle Ages and eventually to Eastern culture. Throughout history, the circular shape of the ring has endured, and so has the tradition of wearing it on the fourth finger of the left hand. The latter practice stemmed from an ancient belief that a vein ran directly from this finger to the heart. Although this belief has since been proved false, the custom has persisted.

Regarding customs surrounding wedding rings, there was a time when only the bride wore a wedding ring. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that the practice of grooms wearing rings gained popularity. This change was influenced by soldiers going off to war, who wore rings as reminders of their loved ones waiting for them at home. Today, the exchange of wedding rings remains an integral part of the wedding ceremony, symbolizing the commitment and love shared between two individuals embarking on a life together.

Wedding rings hold a symbolic significance that binds the two members of a married couple. In an ever-changing world, the wedding ring stands as an ancient tradition that is likely to continue for generations to come, reflecting the timeless and eternal love celebrated through marriage.

Honoring teachers and their intelligence has always been a tradition in China. Since ancient times, teachers     1    (respect) as messengers of wisdom. The famous Chinese idiom, “Cheng Men Li Xue”, which     2    (literal) means “standing in the snow at the gate of Cheng’s home”, is a wonderful example.

“Cheng” refers to Cheng Yi, a leading     3     (educate) of Neo-Confucianism in the Song Dynasty. Attracted by Cheng’s theory, Yang Shi, a talented and hardworking young man, worshiped Cheng as his mentor.

One day, Yang and his friend had different opinions on one question and went to Cheng’s home for advice. It was in the middle of winter. Feeling     4     (freeze) by the wind and snow, the two men wrapped     5     (they) tightly in their clothes and hurried on. When they arrived at Cheng’s place, the gatekeeper said the master     6    (take) a nap.

The two students did not complain. Instead, they chose not     7     (disturb) the teacher and waited outside the door, standing in heavy snowfall.

After quite some time, Cheng, upon waking up, became aware     8     his students had been standing in the snow for a while     9     immediately invited them to come in. Deeply moved by their patience, Cheng gave detailed answers     10     the students’ questions. After years of study, Yang finally achieved his life goal as a great scholar.