How long have you not written a character?

    Popular TV program National Chinese Characters Contest has brought people's attention back to written Chinese.

    The{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(compete)is the Chinese version of a classic word game American Spelling Bee. Pupils{#blank#}2{#/blank#}usually come from the fifth or sixth grade,{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (divide)into different teams and try to write down every word according to Its pronunciation.

    In less than two hours, the contestants need to solve dozens of questions{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(concern) error- prone(容易出错的) characters. Many students keep up with the show. They refer to{#blank#}5{#/blank#}as “the interesting Chinese lessons on TV”. Teachers and parents are also happy to see that children can learn and have fun at the same time.

    The program has gone beyond the circle of primary school students. “It is {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(surprising) instructive. I have corrected a lot of my own mistakes by watching the show,” said{#blank#}7{#/blank#}adult viewer.

    Guan Zhengwen, chief director of the show, considers written Chinese{#blank#}8{#/blank#}the root of China‘s{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(culture)heritage, “TV shows on Chinese language mean more than just a trend,” he said. “Mass media need to seek innovation(创新) in order to preserve our culture, We hope that National Chinese Characters Contest will get more people{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(brush)up our written language.”

    The cheongsam is a female dress with distinctive Chinese features and enjoys growing {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (popular) in the international world of high fashion. The name "cheongsam" {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (mean) simply "long dress" entered the English vocabulary from the dialect of China's Guangdong Province. In other parts of the country including Beijing, however, it {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (know) as "qipao", which has a history behind it.

    After the early Manchu (满族的) rulers came to China, the Manchu women wore {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (normal) a one­piece dress which came to be called “qipao”. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} the 1911 Revolution ended the rule of the Qing Dynasty, the female dress survived the political change and, with later improvements, has become the traditional dress for Chinese women.

    The cheongsam, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} neck is high, collar closed, fits well the Chinese female figure, and its sleeves may be either short, medium or full {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (long), depending on seasons or tastes. In addition, it is not too complicated (复杂) {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (make). Nor {#blank#}9{#/blank#} it need too much material. Another beauty of the cheongsam is that it can be worn either {#blank#}10{#/blank#} casual or formal occasions. In either case, it creates an impression of simple and quiet charm, elegance (优雅) and neatness.

How Steven Spielberg Stays Inspired

    Ask a young person who the greatest American film director is, and you may get the answer Steven Spielberg, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} has certainly made more successful films than any other director in the West.

    Spielberg was born in America in 1946. What he impressed others most was {#blank#}2{#/blank#} he had unusual abilities when he was very young: completing his first 15-minute home movie at 13. He earned $100 at the age of 16, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} he made a 135-minute home movie called Firelight and it was shown at a local cinema.

    A Hollywood film studio employed Spielberg to make a full-length film Sugarland Express on discovering his talent for movie-making. His next film was Jaws, a film about a shark that ate people. This was one of {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (successful) films of all times. He received the Award for lifetime achievement at the Golden Globes (金球奖) in 2009.

    Despite all his outstanding achievements in his field, some of his films have been less successful in the last fifteen years. But people can never deny the fact {#blank#}5{#/blank#} he, more than anyone else in the history of films, understands the meaning of the word "entertainment".

    Now, Spielberg's role as a father of seven has taught him a great deal about {#blank#}6{#/blank#} makes a good story—at bedtime and otherwise. When his kids were growing up, he'd tell them stories every night {#blank#}7{#/blank#} he could stay active in film-making.

    "In the past few years, I {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (inspire) by everybody who makes a good movie," Spielberg said." "I can't risk {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (lose) my followers' passion for film." Also, he owes (归因) his success to his attempt {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (keep) working and so he looks to his contemporaries (同时代的人) for that kind of ... current inspiration.

    Nobody wants to be aged, but{#blank#}1{#/blank#}it comes to visiting cities, most of us want to visit the world's oldest cities. Luoyang is one of the oldest and most {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(attract) cities in the world that I'd like to recommend to you.

    Luoyang stands out {#blank#}3{#/blank#}the oldest continually inhabited (持续居住的) city in Asia. The city is considered to be {#blank#}4{#/blank#}birthplace of Chinese culture and history as well as being one of the Seven Ancient Capitals of China. There {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (be) no other city in China that has seen so many{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(dynasty) like Luoyang.

    With such a long and exciting history, Luoyang has really a lot {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (offer). The longmen Grottoes(龙门石窟), which {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(include) in the world Heritage List since 2000, and many historic Buddhist temples{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (constant) attract tourist from all over the world. Luoyang is also famous for the White Horse Temple, the earliest Buddhist temple {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(build) in China. Are you anxious to visit the city?

Invisible People

If you have the time, check out an amazing YouTube channel that I recently found {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (call) "invisible people". It's a channel with {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (hundred) of interviews of homeless people {#blank#}3{#/blank#} share their story and how they survive day to day.

The man who operates the channel {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(be) formerly homeless and has devoted his life to helping {#blank#}5{#/blank#} homeless, The name "invisible people" certainly suits the channel well. For indeed there are so many "invisible" beings who are suffering every day, both humans and animals, and yet our {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (social) either pays little for people to {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (cruel) treat and kill animals, or completely {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (ignore) those who are in desperate need.

Occasionally, someone who watches the videos posted on that channel is near one of the people interviewed and is able {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (help) in some way. Some of the videos are truly heart-breaking but it's important to see what people go through. We can't turn a blind eye or treat them as if they're invisible. We cannot behave as it's been said, "Worship a homeless man on Sunday, and then ignore a homeless man {#blank#}10{#/blank#} Monday."