Learning Chinese calligraphy     1     (list) as one of the must-do things when I came to China. Now, I’m in the course of learning this unique art,     2     value is considered very high in China, even across East Asia today. It is not only     3     ancient artistic form of human language, but it also reflects Chinese traditions.

As someone who paints, draws, and loves all     4     (create) things, at first, I assumed I would be rather good at Chinese calligraphy. I was     5     (total ) wrong. Using thick brush tips to produce awkward brush strokes (笔画)     6     (be) very difficult for a beginner. I have no idea about the different types of calligraphy and the meanings     7     ( hide) behind each one. Also, I have to hold the paintbrush     8     a very specific way; unlike a pen or pencil, the paintbrush is held upright in the hand. I need to be extra careful when changing the angle or     9     (direct) of the brush, especially if I press too hard on the paper.

After taking the lesson, I now understand the difficulty of calligraphy and that it will take efforts and commitment     10     (master) this art form. Yet, I am grateful to learn such a special Chinese tradition.

Going from junior high school to senior high school is     1     really big challenge. First, I had to think very     2     (careful) about which courses I wanted to take. The school adviser helped me choose the     3     (suit) ones. He recommended that I should sign up for advanced literature because I like English and I’m good at it. Second, I had to choose extracurricular     4     (activity). I tried to join the school football team,     5     the coach said I wasn’t good enough. I     6    (join) a volunteer club instead. Lastly, I’ll have to study harder as a senior high school student and get used to     7    (be) responsible for a lot more. I am a bit worried about keeping up     8     the other students in my advanced course, and it’ll be difficult     9     (get) used to all the homework. Studying hard isn’t always fun, but I’ll be well     10    (prepare) for university or whatever else comes in the future.

Six months ago, Xie Lei     1     (say) goodbye to her family and friends in China and boarded a plane for London. She is studying in a university in England on     2     exchange programme. But     3     (study) here is quite different from studying in China. “You have to get     4     (use) to a whole new way of life. When I got lost and had to ask a passer-by for directions, I didn’t always understand. They     5     (usual) speak too fast.” Xie Lei said.

Xie Lei lives with a host family who give     6     (she) lots of good advice. Living with a host family gives her the chance     7     (learn) more about the new culture.

The academic requirements of a western university are different. The tutor (导师) wanted to know     8     she thought, not others’ ideas. He advised that she should read lots of different texts that contain different     9     (opinion) and analyze what she read.

She feels much more at home in England now, and what seemed very strange before now appears quite normal. She also     10     (spend) much time for social activities and joins a few clubs. She is fitting very well in England.

What is senior high school life like? The path before you     1     (lead) to a world full of challenges: a new environment, new knowledge and new ways of thinking. However, the opportunity lies in each challenge.     2     you rise to the challenges, you will have the opportunity     3     (acquire) great knowledge and enjoy personal     4     (grow). Most importantly, your time and effort at senior high school will open the door to your potential. In this sense,     5     (realize) your potential means that     6     is important and necessary for you to make the most of our school resources. Take advantage     7     your classes, learn from your teachers and classmates, and make use of our school     8     (facility). Good study habits, useful skills and a positive attitude are     9     (equal) important. As a senior high school student, you must make efforts to improve your communication and problem-solving skills. Last but not least, always look on the bright side     10     never lose hope, even in difficult situations. In time you will find yourself developing into a well-rounded individual.

Many students feared maths subject, and I was among them. Once I failed     1     the mathematics, I was     2     (annoy). My friends started making fun of me. I was lucky that my mother was a maths teacher. She always helps me,     3     I didn’t take that seriously.

When my mother     4     (tell) that I didn’t pass the maths subject, she got shocked. But     5     (luck), she didn’t shout at me. Instead, she gave me     6     inspirational speech.

Later on she started teaching me mathematics. She taught me     7     (play) with maths and really I enjoyed a lot, from which maths became my favourite subject. Now I also teach those friends who really fear maths. They think that maths subjects is very difficult and it has lots of formula to remember. But my mother taught me maths in an     8     (interest) way. I used that technique to solve problems. From this my     9     (confident) has increased and I’m happy that the most difficult subject has become a game for me.

Becoming an engineer is my ambition,    10     may support me through hardships and setbacks.

Many students feared maths subject, and I was among them. Once I failed     1    the maths, I was     2    (annoy), My friends started making fun of me. I was    3    (luck) that my mother was a maths teacher. She always helps me, but I didn’t take that seriously.

When my mother     4    (tell) that I didn’t pass the maths subject, she got shocked. But     5    (fortunate), she didn’t shout at me. Instead, she gave me an inspirational speech.

Later on she started teaching me maths. She taught me     6    (play) with maths and really I enjoyed a lot, from which maths became my favourite subject. Now I also teach those friends     7     really fear maths. They think that maths subjects is very difficult and it has lots of formula (公式)to remember. But my mother taught me maths in an       8    (interest) way. I used that technique to solve problems. From this my     9     (confident) has increased and I’m happy that most difficult subject has become a game for me.

Becoming    10    engineer is my ambition, which may support me through hardships and setbacks.

The China Tourism Academy released a report on Monday     1    (say) that education tourism has become popular among people of all ages.

More than 6 million people joined study tours last year,    2    (high) even than the pre-pandemic (新冠前) number of 4.8 million in 2019.

“The key    3    (different) between study travel and other tourism products is that study travel focuses on learning knowledge while traveling,” Luo Shugang, director of the committee, said at a meeting on Monday. He said that study travel can date back to the Song (960-1279) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties,    4    many poets wrote of their experiences on study travels.

“The nation formed an industry for study travel during the period of reform and opening-up, which    5     (see) rapid development in the past 10 years” he said, adding that students in primary and middle schools are so far the main     6    (participant) in education tourism. Dai Bin, president of the Chinese Tourism Academy said at the meeting that the development of education tourism has promoted the    7    (society) education of primary and middle school students, which has also played    8     important role in combining culture and tourism.

He suggested that China    9    (establish) national campsites for study travel at places    10    beautiful natural views and rich cultural heritage.

One of the effective ways to make foreign language classes interesting is using     1    (education) games, which usually provide fun and increase motivation.

That games which are fun seem to be     2    (universal) accepted. Sometimes games are     3     welcome break from the usual routine of the language class. Therefore, some teachers are enthusiastic about games as a teaching tool and often turn to games. To these teachers, playing games is a very good form to help achieve an active atmosphere     4     students can acquire knowledge as well as have fun.

Games increase motivation (动机) as well. As     5    (know), learning motivation promotes students     6    (work) for the purpose of achieving some goals. The     7    (strong) motivation a learner has, the more time he or she will spend     8    (learn) a second language. Games are motivating because they are amusing and at the same time challenging. In playing games,in order to win, to score points or to beat their competitors, students get highly motivated and     9    (absorb). They use the target language unconsciously in the process of playing games. Learning is hard work,     10     games help students a great deal in keeping the effort of learning.