1 . Music exists almost every human culture on earth. The oldest discovered musical instruments date back over 40,000 years to the Stone Age.     1     It originated alongside language in early human communication. Why did music become so well connected into the human experience over the long history? Evolutionary psychologists say it gave significant survival advantages to our ancestors.

In prehistoric times, music promoted tighter social bonding between group members. Singing and drumming together released chemicals like dopamine and endorphins, inducing positive emotions that strengthened social connections.     2     This can also help to claim identity and territory (领土).

Early music likely aided communication too. Rhythmic drumbeats and calls organized the actions and movements of groups during hunts or battle. Singing while working made labor less boring. Mothers may have sung primitive tunes to children as an early form of emotional communication.

    3     Group member’s beating drums and making noise during the night signaled that they were alert (警觉的) and ready to fight surprise enemy. Young night watchmen sang to indicate they were awake. Soldiers guarding territory used instruments to send warning calls across longer distances.

In all these ways, music increased survival chances in human evolution. Natural selection then embedded (嵌入) the capacity for music into our biology. Supporting this, scientists have discovered specific regions of the brain devoted to musical processing. Children have an inborn ability to detect musical patterns and different tonal pitches.     4     So next time you find yourself singing along to an easy tune, remember you are using an evolutionary heritage which goes through thousand years! Music is part of what makes us unique human. In the past, our Stone Age ancestors sang and drummed because it increased survival.     5    

Dada Band is a popular Chinese rock group from the 1990s. The band     1     (found) in Beijing by a group of young musicians who were deeply influenced by Western rock music but sought     2    (create) a sound that was distinctly their own.

One of their most beloved songs, “South”(Nánfāng), shows the essence of Dada Band’s artistry. This song is a vivid reflection on the feelings of homesickness and longing for their hometown of Wuhan,     3    (especial) as the members were living in Beijing during their formative years as a band. The song’s lyrics (歌词) paint     4     rich picture of personal memories and universal emotions, revealing the essence of     5     it means to leave a part of oneself behind in the pursuit of dreams.

With its soft melodies (旋律) and     6     (touch) lyrics, “South” offers a window into the soul of Dada Band. Dada’s music shows their     7    (remark) skill in harmoniously integrating Western rock influences with the unique sensibilities of Chinese culture, creating a sound that was both familiar and fresh     8     the audience. The track     9    (become) an anthem (赞歌) since its release for anyone who has ever felt the pull of home while navigating the challenges of life away from it.

Their song “South” remains a timeless piece, continuing to touch the hearts of listeners across     10     (generation) and geographical boundaries, reminding them of the power of music to connect us all to our roots and to each other.

The Lion Dance, a treasured art form in Guangdong province and among Southeast Asian Chinese communities,     1     (dominate) by men since it came into being in the Three Kingdoms Period,     2     an outstanding girls’ team, the Nanxing Hexingtang Women’s Lion Dance Team from Renhe town in Guangzhou, challenges this convention. This group of teenage girls has made their mark by creating unique elements such as special flags and banners     3     (label) “women’s team”, crafting pink and purple lion heads, and even designing     4     lion head inspired by a female general named Mu Guiying from Yue Opera.

At the Maofeng Mountain competition before Spring Festival in Guangzhou, they amazed the audience     5     their performance “Tramping Over Mountains and Hills Step by Step”,     6     showed the lion leaping over benches, climbing ladders set up as mountains, falling, getting back up, and finally picking greens. This performance mirrored the personal growth journeys of the dancers     7     (they), as they too have faced and overcome numerous difficulties.

Li Jiawen, 17, a team member acting the lion’s head, balanced her     8     (demand) schoolwork with training every Friday and Saturday evening. Immediately after the high school finals, she was the first to return to the team     9     (focus) on competition preparation. Her     10     (commit) and that of her teammates represent the spirit of perseverance (坚韧) and determination rooted in the Lion Dance tradition.

With the worldwide celebration of the Chinese New Year, traditional Chinese cultural forms such as the Yingge Dance (Dance of Heroes) and dragon and lion dances have once again attracted widespread attention.

As the Chinese New Year is increasingly celebrated     1     (global), it has brought its traditional celebrations elsewhere and seen people of other countries join the festivities. This Spring Festival, a team of Yingge dancers from South China’s Guangdong Province     2     (invite) to the UK, bringing an exciting performance to London’s Burlington Arcade     3     (celebrate) the Chinese New Year.

Literally     4     (translate) as the “Songs of Heroes” dance, Yingge Dance is an old folk dance     5     originated from the Chaoshan area of South China’s Guangdong Province. Dressed in colorful costumes, performers wave wooden sticks in their hands while     6     (dance) in orderly formations to the music.

Based on the stories of the 108     7     (hero) of Liangshan Mountain from the classic novel Outlaws of the Marsh (《水浒传》), this is     8     folk art combining a variety of forms, from martial arts and Chinese operas to dance.

From a centuries-old art form to a magnum opus (杰作) of Chinese tradition worldwide, the     9     (popular) of Yingge Dance on the streets of London during the Spring Festival was a success     10     terms of traditional Chinese folk art sailing overseas.