In the beginning, western people use letters of the alphabet (字母表)     1     (write). People who write in Chinese, however, use characters that stand for words or ideas. Historians believed Chinese writing began as early as 1500 BC. The     2     (early) forms were called “Oracle Bone Inscriptions (甲骨文)”. These were animal bones marked with pictures. Besides writing on bones,     3     (mark) on turtle shells was also a way for ancient to record.

By 1400 BC, the Chinese writing system had become more complex.     4     number of its characters was over 2,500. Around 200 BC, almost everyone used the same characters. Even today some modern Chinese characters are similar to     5     (that) from 2,000 years ago. For example, the character that     6     (mean) man in the Lishu system from 200BC is similar to the character from the Jiantizi     7     is used today.

People     8     (make) efforts to change Chinese characters over the centuries. The most important changes happened in the twentieth century. The Chinese government made many characters simple     9     that more people could learn to read. This simpler system is used in most parts of China. with these changes, Chinese writing from 2,200 years ago is still understood today. Many foreigners are interested in     10     (we) Chinese characters.

The Tigris River and the Euphrates River are two of the most significant rivers in the Middle East     1     define Mesopotamia, the ancient land between the rivers. They shaped the civilizations that flourished along their banks and have been essential     2    (source)of water for agriculture, transportation and trade.

The Tigris River originates in the Taurus Mountains of eastern Turkey and flows southeast through Iraq before joining the Euphrates River     3    (form)the Shatt al-Arab which then empties into the Persian Gulf. The river has a     4    (long)of about 1,900 kilometres.

In ancient times, the Tigris River served as     5     lifeline for different groups of people,     6    (include)Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians and Persians. Cities like Baghdad and Mosul     7    (situate)along its banks. The river provided water for irrigation, enabling the cultivation of crops such as wheat, barley and dates. It also facilitated trade routes, connecting ancient Mesopotamian cities and     8    (great)improving the exchange of goods and ideas. Similar     9     the Tigris River, the Euphrates River played a crucial role in the development of ancient civilizations.

Both rivers     10    (face)challenges in recent times. Dams, diversions(分水渠)and water projects have been constructed along their courses, impacting the flow and availability of water downstream.

According to historical records, the well-known historian Sima Guang from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) used a part of a round wood     1     his pillow throughout his life. This unique pillow had an unusual function.     2     Sima Guang moved a little during his sleep, his head would slide down off the pillow, causing him to wake up     3     (immediate) and continue his studies. This particular type of pillow came to be known as an “alarm pillow”.

The Chinese word for “pillow”, zhentou,     4     (believe) to be created by Cao Cao, a famous strategist and ruler during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). One night, while Cao Cao was reading in his tent and     5     (become) sleepy, there was no extra space useful to place several books stored in wooden     6     (box). In response (回应), a servant momentarily placed the books at one side of the bed, upon     7     Cao Cao fell asleep quickly, experiencing a deep and restful sleep.     8     (impress) by the comfort provided by this short-term arrangement, the servant then created a padded (有垫的) headrest using soft materials, copying     9     shape of the wooden box that held the books. When Cao Cao asked about the name of this new item, the servant referred to it as “headrest bedding”. Cao Cao     10     (late) named it zhentou, and from that point on, the use of pillows became popular among the common people.

Porcelain, a fine and delicate ceramic, has long been prized for its beauty and elegance. Each piece, whether ancient or modern,     1     (reflect) the unique traditions, aesthetics (审美), and skills of its makers. The fact     2     the country and the material share the same name in English — “China”, is a testament to the Europeans’ long     3     (aware) of the significance of porcelain in Chinese civilization.

Porcelain found     4     (it) way to Europe in the 15th century, occupying an important position in the exchanges between China and other countries. The Keise l Randy Museum in Germany, for instance, houses a blue-and-white bowl     5     (date) back to the Ming dynasty, representative of the conciseness and elegance that Chinese porcelain symbolizes.

Throughout history, China, along with other Asian countries, maintained a busy and vast trade in porcelain     6     Europe. From 1602 to 1682, the Dutch East India Company transported over 16 million porcelain     7     (article) to Europe, further establishing China’s reputation for producing delicate ceramics.

Porcelain played     8     important role in the European idealization of China during the 17th and 18th centuries. The rococo style, popular in Europe during that period,     9     (influence) by the “Chinese vogue,” evident in the styles of porcelain and gardens inspired by China.

In conclusion, porcelain remains an eternal material,     10     beauty and diversity continue to appeal to people, making it a timeless treasure.

According to a report from a leading Chinese e-commerce platform, sales of traditional Hanfu clothing     1     (rise) a lot since January, three times higher than last year. This trend was especially reflected in the horse-faced skirt,     2     was reported to be the most popular Hanfu item in 2023. Sales data show a wide     3     (fascinate) with traditional Chinese clothing. The horse-faced skirt dates back     4     the Song Dynasty and grew popular in the Ming Dynasty.     5    (celebrate) as one of the most symbolic styles of ancient Chinese skirts, it     6     (natural) involves cultural elements in its unique appearance. This type of skirt,     7     (feature) pleated (有褶的) design, attracts many young people. Many     8     (theory) have explained the horse-faced skirt’s name, one of which suggests     9    (it) design of three pieces, with the central one resembling a horse’s face. As     10     carrier of culture, Hanfu offers a chance for consumers to seek cultural confidence and identity.

“Cold the iron chains spanning over the Dadu River,” Chairman Mao Zedong wrote in a poem, describing the do-or-die battle which took place on the Luding Bridge. The Bridge,     1     (measure) 103.67 meters in length and 3 meters in width, is located in Sichuan Province, which was     2     (original) built in 1705 during the Qing Dynasty. Near the Luding Bridge considered a historical landmark    3     (stand) a museum, in front of which there is a bronze statue of the soldiers whose spirit makes the bridge a household name.

Over 80 years ago, the bridge was crucial to the survival of the CPC-led Red Army during the Long March because if the soldiers had failed to dash through the Luding Bridge then, the Red Army might have been wiped out. Upon their     4     (arrive), the Red Army found only thirteen heavy iron chains    5     (leave) across the river. With no time to waste, one by one the Red soldiers ventured forward to risk their lives and of those who offered    6     (they), thirty were chosen. Though several soldiers fell into     7    fast-flowing river,the others crawled along the wood boards they had laid until they finally took control of the east bank .

Probably never before had people seen fighters like these-men for whom soldiering was not just a rice bowl,     8    a mission. They astonishingly accomplished    9     seemed like a task impossible and their    10    (courage) spirit will always stick in our mind.

The United Kingdom     1     (surround) by the sea is made up of four countries, lying in north-west of Europe. The capital city London, which has a history dating back to Roman times, is     2     ancient port city.

The UK has a long history of development, during which four different groups ever influenced it     3     different times. The Roman s who ruled England in the first century had towns and roads     4     (build), which changed the civilization of the native. Next, the Anglo-Saxons arrived in the fifth century when great achievements     5     (make) in the English language. With the invasion of the Vikings in the eighth century, lots of new words were added to English,     6     enlarged the vocabulary greatly. It was the Normans conquering England in the 11th century that made a series of     7     (change) to the legal system, forming its own the unique Norman civilization.

The UK is a land of festivities,     8     (especial) during the fall and winter months. Of all the festivities, Christmas is of the greatest     9     (significant) in England. People     10     (celebrate) it on the 25th of December can decorate the Christmas trees, share gifts and enjoy traditional food.

Porcelain (瓷器) is a material made from well-chosen porcelain clay through a series of technological     1     (process) like mixing, molding, drying and firing. Although porcelain developed from pottery, it is superior in both practical     2     artistic terms. Perhaps that is     3     it gradually replaced pottery in history.

The     4     (early) porcelain, commonly called “primitive porcelain”, appeared during the Shang Dynasty. But the first porcelain in real sense was not produced until the-Eastern Han Dynasty. Later with the processing techniques     5     (mature) all the way, famous kilns (窑), including what are known as the “Five, Great Kilns”, emerge     6     quantity during the Song Dynasty. In the Yuan Dynasty, Jingdezhen, the Capital of Porcelain, produced blue and white porcelain which later became the     7     (represent) of porcelain. Porcelain of the Qing Dynasty is classical, graceful, delicate and splendid, thus becoming superb goods popular at home and abroad.

Porcelain is the creative fruit of     8     working people of ancient China. Since the Han and Tang Dynasties, porcelain     9     (export) worldwide: It promotes economic and cultural exchange between China and the outside world, and     10     (dramatic) influences the traditional culture and lifestyle of people from other countries.