In the 1950s, the Egyptian government wanted to build a new dam across the Nile. But the proposal led to protests. Water from the dam would likely damage many temples and destroy cultural     1     (relic) that were an important part of Egypt’s cultural heritage. After     2     (listen) to the scientists who had studied the problem, and the citizens who lived near the dam, the government turned     3     the United Nations for help in 1959.

A committee was established     4     (limit) damage to the Egyptian buildings and prevent the loss of cultural heritage. The group asked for support within the international community. Experts investigated the issue, conducted several tests,     5     made a proposal for how the buildings could be saved.     6     (final), the work began in 1960. Taken down piece by piece, temples and other cultural sites     7     (move) and put back together again in a place     8     they were safe from the water. It took thousands of engineers and workers 20 years to complete the project. When it ended in 1980, it was considered a great success.

The spirit of the Aswan Dam project     9     (be) still alive today. If a problem seems too difficult for     10     single nation, the global community can sometimes provide a solution.

As the world’s longest man-made canal, the Grand Canal is a vast waterway system in the north-eastern and central-eastern plains of China,     1     (run) from Beijing in the north to Zhejiang province in the south.

The Grand Canal is a magnificent hydraulic (水利) project in human history.     2     (construct) in sections from the 5th century BC onwards, it was completed in 611 AD due to the     3     (establish) of Sui Dynasty and it reached a new peak in the Yuan Dynasty, linking five of China’s main river basins.     4     (original), it was built to transport grain and later     5     (ship) other commodities.The regions along the canal gradually developed into the trade center of China     6     it was considered as the economic artery (动脉) in ancient China. It also helped the evolution of Chinese culture     7     enhancing communication between the south and the north.

The Grand Canal represents the     8     (great) masterpiece of hydraulic engineering in the history of mankind. It is     9    outstanding example of human creativity. Still a major means of internal communication today, it     10     (play) an important role in ensuring the economic prosperity and stability of China over the ages.

Delicate, lustrous (光亮的), and soft to touch. The ethereal fabric we now call silk has threaded its way throughout China’s history.

One cannot be certain of its origin, but the ancient Chinese people credited their own wisdom to Leizu, wife of the Yellow Emperor (the legendary ancestor of all Chinese people), as     1     inventor of sericulture (养蚕).

Like almost all genres of art on the vast land of China, the style and texture of silk     2    (be) also multifarious. Hangluo satin from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, is well known     3     its airy and sheer texture, while Yunjin brocade (凸花纹织物) from Nanjing, Jiangsu province, a luxurious fabric often     4    (use) for royal garments, represents China’s silk weaving technique at its prime.

Yunjin brocade     5    (make) by hand on giant looms (织布机), in a complex procedure     6     comprises more than a hundred steps. Even the most skilled artisans can only weave a few centimeters a day. Time, patience and deftness all play necessary roles to its heavenly beauty or as its name suggests, its cloud-like splendor.

In the Western Han Dynasty, with diplomat and explorer Zhang Qian     7    (open) up the routes to the western regions, silk graced many     8    (country) in Central Asia, later extending its reach to other parts of Eurasia and beyond. Fittingly, its name marked China’s major international trade routes, the ancient Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road.

In the hands of Chinese artists, the     9    (thin) threads can weave pictures of immense possibilities, and the softest material can go through thousands of years. As one of the many marvels of ancient China, silk is not     10     (mere) a type of textile. It is a cultural icon, and a symbol of elegance and grace.

Wandering sounds, irregular rhythms and a carrier of gentle emotions define the musical language of guqin, a seven string instrument created in ancient China.

The earliest piece of guqin in China,     1     (discover) in Hubei province in 2016, dates back to the Zhou Dynasty. The body of a guqin is made of lacquered (上漆的) wood and the strings of twisted silk. Unlike its seemingly simple appearance, making a guqin is    2    (extreme) demanding. An outstanding piece can take anywhere from two to several decades    3    (create). It is a result of art and time.

The tone of a guqin is quiet, light and    4    (distance). Vibrations (琴弦振动) are used to produce a flowing and lingering (持续的) quality,    5    abundant empty notes in between. As the listener fills in the gaps in their own minds, a connection is formed between music and man.

The guqin     6    (favor) by the scholars in ancient China. The most well-known guqin musician was Yu Boya in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. As he played his guqin in the mountains, a woodcutter named Zhong Ziqi heard the music and understood exactly    7    Yu wanted to express. This deep understanding formed     8    strong bond between them, and they became close friends. This is the famous tale behind the guqin masterpiece, Flowing Water, High Mountains. The piece has been passed down through     9    (generation) and is considered one of the most famous and important compositions in Chinese guqin music.

This graceful dialogue, flowing from brushed fingertips and    10    (travel) for thousands of years, is continuing to this day.

China is     1     (wide) known for its ancient civilization, and one of the factors is the Chinese writing system.

The earliest written Chinese was     2     picture-based language. There were animal bones and shells on which symbols     3     (carve). Later the symbols became systematic. Over the years, it developed into different forms because the Chinese people were divided geographically at that time,     4     (lead) to many     5     (variety) of dialects and characters. It was after Emperor Qinshihuang united the seven major states that the Chinese writing system began to develop     6     one direction.

China’s present is connected with its past by written Chinese. People in modern times can read the classic works     7     were written by Chinese in ancient times. Today, the Chinese writing system is still an important part of Chinese culture. As China is important in     8     (globe) affairs, an     9     (increase) number of international students are racing     10     (learn) China’s culture and history.