In much of Asia, especially the so-called “rice bowl” cultures of China, Japan, Singapore, Korea, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Vietnam, food is usually eaten with chopsticks.

    Chopsticks are usually two long, thin pieces of wood or bamboo. They can also be made of plastic, animal bone or metal. Sometimes chopsticks are quite artistic. Truly elegant chopsticks might {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (make) of gold and silver with Chinese characters. Skilled workers also combine（使……结合）different kinds of hardwoods and metal {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (create) special designs.

    The Chinese have used chopsticks for five thousand years. People probably cooked their food in large pots, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (use) twigs（树枝）to remove it. Over time, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} the population grew, people began cutting food into small pieces so it would cook more quickly. Food in small pieces could be eaten easily with twigs which {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (gradual) turned into chopsticks.

    Some people think that the great Chinese scholar Confucius, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} lived from roughly 551 to 479 B.C., influenced（影响）the {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (develop) of chopsticks. Confucius believed knives would remind people of killing and {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be) too violent for use at the table.

    Chopsticks are not used everywhere in Asia. In India, for example, most people traditionally eat {#blank#}10{#/blank#} their hands.

    The story happened in ancient times. A king was so clever that he thought of a good way to test {#blank#}1{#/blank#} his men were reliable.

    One day, he had a huge rock{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(place) on a roadway at night. Then he hid {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (him) nearby and watched carefully to see if anyone would remove the big rock. Some {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(wealth) businessmen and high officials came by, but they simply walked around it. Many of them even loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none of them would bother{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (get) the big stone out of the way.

    Then a villager came along carrying a load of vegetables. On {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(approach) the big rock, he stopped and laid down his burden, trying hard to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing, he{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(final) succeeded. As the villager picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the rock{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (be). The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king, saying that the gold was for the person{#blank#}9{#/blank#}removed the huge rock from the road.

    The villager learned a valuable lesson that many others would never understand: Every obstacle presents {#blank#}10{#/blank#} opportunity to improve one's condition.

    Located in the northwest of Hunan Province, about 300 kilometers away from Changsha, capital of Hunan, Zhangjiajie, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} covers a total area of 9,563 square kilometers, is a tourist city for its unique natural scenery and abundant tourism resources. Zhangjiajie{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (award) the title of "World Geological Park" in 2004. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (actual), Zhangjiajie, honored as "the most fantastic mountain under heaven" and "a walking Chinese landscape painting", is also widely praised as "{#blank#}4{#/blank#} enlarged potted landscaping" "a mini fairyland" and "a maze(迷宫)of nature", attracting a growing number of tourists {#blank#}5{#/blank#} home and abroad.

    Since it was discovered in the 1980s, tourism industry {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (become) the leading industry in Zhangjiajie, which has stimulated the development of other industries {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (relate) to tourism. At the same time, eco-tourism has been developed rapidly in Zhangjiajie. When you come to Zhangjiajie, you can fully appreciate {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (it) magnificent natural scenery and experience appealing folk custom as well as other thrilling tourist {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (activity),and you will be deeply impressed by {#blank#}10{#/blank#} is performed by the minorities there.

    It must be an exciting, joyful and unforgettable tour to Zhangjiajie.

    I've always been attracted by the {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (beautiful) of Chinese culture and its vast history. When we first arrived in China, my friend Tony and I expected a huge city {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (fill) with modern buildings, busy streets and a crowded transport system. But we were pleasantly surprised.

    The first thing {#blank#}3{#/blank#} struck us was the space. Yes, Beijing is indeed huge, but its wide streets and green spaces made every area feel less crowded. Tian'anmen Square was the perfect example of this. The Forbidden City was {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (surprise) clean and well preserved. Everywhere we looked, there were people {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (tidy) and cleaning, which really left an {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (impress) of national pride. We {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (concern) that few people would speak English, even in Beijing. But we found it common for Chinese people to know a few words of English. The most exciting part of our visit was riding around in the sunshine and exploring the city {#blank#}8{#/blank#} Ofo bikes.

    It was great {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (experience) Beijing's landmarks in person after admiring {#blank#}10{#/blank#} for so many years. This was our first visit to China, but certainly not our last.

    My classmates and I had a really unforgettable experience，which made us very happy. We paid a visit {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Lucy's house yesterday. We didn't have difficulty finding her house because she {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (give) us clear directions. When we arrived at her house, her mother was preparing food for us. Then we began to help with the cooking. About an hour later, the food was ready, and we sat at the table enjoying the delicious food including fish and {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (vegetable). Finally we went to Ann's room where we watched our favourite TV programme together. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (decorate) with flowers and balloons, the room was warm and comfortable.

Time to Learn How to Sort

Whatever we don't want —- no matter whether it's eggshells, newspapers, soda cans or old socks —- it's all garbage. And garbage goes to the garbage bin. There seems to be {#blank#}1{#/blank#}wrong with that. But do you really know how to throw away garbage properly?

    China {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (promote) garbage sorting for over a decade, but for the majority of the public the concept hasn't sunk in. Shenzhen issued a new regulation. It says residents will be fined up to 100 yuan and organizations 1,000 yuan for not sorting rubbish {#blank#}3{#/blank#}specific groups.

    "It's evident that the government is determined to push this forward," said Zhang Ning, a program officer {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(serve) in a Beijing-based public welfare organization. "But I'm afraid the regulation will prove to be counter-productive because garbage sorting has never been achieved by merely imposing severe punishments."

    A recent survey found that 49.5 percent of the respondents said they still don't know how to sort garbage, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}45.5percent just can't be bothered to do it. "Lots of citizens {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(confuse)about what's recyclable and what's general waste. For example, it's scarcely known that tissue is non-recyclable because it's too moisture-prone and usually too polluted {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (recycle)." said Zhang, a representative.

    According to Zhang, 70 percent of garbage is a " {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(misplace)resource". For instance, a ton of waste steel can be refined into 0.9 tons of usable steel, and a ton of kitchen waste is able to produce 0.3 tons of organic fertilizer.

But all of this is based on the condition {#blank#}9{#/blank#}the garbage is categorized properly. And the behavior of households {#blank#}10{#/blank#}the sorting process initially starts —- is the key. Garbage sorting is a chain effect. Misconduct at the very beginning will make all the following efforts go in vain.

    Garbage sorting is a complex issue and takes patience. So next time when you throw away what is called "garbage", do it in the right way.