Peter goes to see his friend in New York. His friend is in an art c{#blank#}1{#/blank#} there. Peter comes here for the f{#blank#}2{#/blank#} time, so he doesn't know New York very w{#blank#}3{#/blank#}. And he can't f{#blank#}4{#/blank#} his way to the art club. A girl is at a bus stop. He walks to her and s{#blank#}5{#/blank#}, "Excuse me, can you tell me the way to Center Street?"

    The girl is friendly. She smiles(微笑), b{#blank#}6{#/blank#} she can't speak English. She c{#blank#}7{#/blank#} speak French. She is also n{#blank#}8{#/blank#} there. She takes out a small notebook f{#blank#}9{#/blank#} her bag and writes something on it. "I'm s{#blank#}10{#/blank#} I can't speak English."

    Chinese writing is one of the world's greatest writing systems. It is more w{#blank#}1{#/blank#}in use than alphabetic(字母的) writing systems. More than half of the world's books are written in Chinese, including historical writing and novels, along with writing on government and law.

    At the beginning, written Chinese was a picture-based l{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. It dates back several thousand years to the u{#blank#}3{#/blank#}of animal bones and shells on which symbols were carved(刻) by ancient Chinese people. Some of the ancient symbols can still be seen in t{#blank#}4{#/blank#}hanzi.

    By the Shang Dynasty, these symbols had become a well-developed writing system. Over the years, the system developed into different forms, as it was a time when people were d{#blank#}5{#/blank#}geographically, leading to different dialects(方言 ) and characters. This, however, c{#blank#}6{#/blank#}under Emperor Qinshihuang of the Qin Dynasty.

    Emperor Qinshihuang united 统一) the seven major states into one country where the Chinese writing system began to develop in one direction. That writing system was of great i{#blank#}7{#/blank#}in uniting the Chinese people and culture. Even today, no matter where Chinese people live or what dialect they speak, they can all still c{#blank#}8{#/blank#}in writing. Written Chinese has also become an important method to c{#blank#}9{#/blank#}China's present with its past. People in modern times can read the classic works which were written by Chinese in ancient times.

    Today, Chinese writing system is still an important part of Chinese culture. As China plays a g{#blank#}10{#/blank#} role in the world, an increasing number of international students are beginning to appreciate(欣赏) China's culture through this amazing language. Written Chinese spreads Chinese culture wherever it goes.