Chinese-American community groups are preparing to hold their second annual International Confucius Cultural Festival（孔子文化节）on Sept, 28 in Flushing Queens, New York City's easternmost borough.

    The event serves not only {#blank#}1{#/blank#} a spectacular ceremony to memorize the world-famous Chinese philosopher, but a chance {#blank#}2{#/blank#}celebrate) Chinese culture together with other local communities, said Wang Lizhi, president of America East Shandong Association( AESA). Co-sponsored by AESA, America East Shandong Chamber of Commerce and Confucius Education Foundation Inc, the festival {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (feature) recitation of the “Di Zi Gui,” literally translated as "Standards for being a Good Pupil and Child," a book {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (write) based on Confucius' teachings that emphasize the {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (base) necessities for being a good person and guidelines for {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (live)in harmony with others, as well as Chinese traditional dances, Shan-dong folk music and photo exhibitions.

    The groups hosted the{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (one) International Confucius Cultural Festival in flushing on Sept. 28 Last year to celebrate the 2,568th anniversary of the birth of Confucius (551 BC -479 BC). Confucius was {#blank#}8{#/blank#} extraordinary educator and philosopher, and founded Confucianism. It was he {#blank#}9{#/blank#} first set up private schools and received students from every walk of life without {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (consider) of their social status.

    Bicycles, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} used to be a major means of transportation, are becoming popular again. New York City, together with London, Paris, Hangzhou and many other {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (city) throughout the world, gets bike-sharing systems of their very own. More and more people are considering using bikes {#blank#}3{#/blank#} a replacement for cars, and how to improve bike-friendly crossroads is also under discussion.

    New research says nuts could be a {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (value), tasty and nutritious slimming aid. Researchers from Harvard University recommended that people replace a daily unhealthy snack with a small handful of nuts {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (slow) down weight gain. This is {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (especial) helpful for people as they get older. The researchers found that people who ate just 14g of nuts every day gained less weight {#blank#}4{#/blank#}those who ate another snack. The people who ate the nuts were less likely to become obese (肥胖的). However, the benefits to our weight could be quite small. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (eat) nuts instead of chocolate and cakes could help prevent a weight gain of just 0.4 to 0.7kg over four years.

    The researchers conducted a long-term study in which they looked at {#blank#}6{#/blank#}lifestyle of nearly 190,000 people for over two {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (decade). The participants in the research {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (divide) into three groups. They included more than 51,000 male health professionals aged 40 to 75, 121,700 nurses aged 35 to 55 and 16,686 nurses aged 24 to 44. Researchers asked the participants questions every four years about {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (they) weight, how often they ate nuts, and how often they exercised. A researcher said replacing less healthy foods with nuts might help reduce the weight gain {#blank#}10{#/blank#} is common as we age, and might lower the chances of becoming obese.

    Our local Community Youth Club is a very popular organization with young people in my town. I {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(be)a member for four years now and I've taken part  {#blank#}2{#/blank#} a lot of interesting projects. These include fun activities such as holiday camps and discos. We have organized sports  {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(competition)and we have even made a video. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} it isn't all just enjoyment; we have started doing social work  {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(help) people in our neighborhood. We have organized activities for small children during the holidays. We have also formed a special support group to help young people stop {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(smoke)! We are proud of the most recent group {#blank#}7{#/blank#} we have founded. It organizes regular visits to the local old people's home. The old people, who were very excited by our visit, told us their {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(person) stories. We sang songs and played games with them and had tea together. Some of {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(they) were in poor health and were very unhappy. After this visit, my friends and I  {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(decide) that we should do something to help improve the quality of their lives.