According to Chinese history, sky lanterns were first used by Zhuge Kongming. He sent them out to ask for {#blank#}1{#/blank#}when in trouble. Today, sky lanterns are used at{#blank#}2{#/blank#}and other celebrations. They are made of bamboo and covered with paper. When the lanterns are lit, they slowly {#blank#}3{#/blank#} into the air like small hot-air balloons for all to see. They are seen as bright symbols of happiness and good wishes.

    Paper cutting has been around for over 1,500 years. Paper cutting sounds very easy but it can be {#blank#}4{#/blank#}to do. The paper, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}red, is folded before it is cut with scissors. The most common pictures are flowers, animals, and things about Chinese history. During the Spring Festival, they are put on windows, doors and walls as symbols of wishes for good {#blank#}6{#/blank#} and a happy new year.

    Chinese clay art is famous {#blank#}7{#/blank#}the clay pieces are so small but they look very real. The pieces are usually cute children or {#blank#}8{#/blank#}characters from a Chinese fairy tale or historical story. The pieces are carefully shaped by hand from a very special kind of clay and then allowed to air-dry. After{#blank#}9{#/blank#}, they are fried at a very high heat. They are then polished and painted. It takes {#blank#}10{#/blank#}weeks to complete everything. These small pieces of clay art show the love that all Chinese people have for life and beauty.

    The British Museum is the biggest one in the world. Inside, you feel smaller than usual. There are about a hundred things in the museum to see: {#blank#}1{#/blank#}which have been telling the time for six hundred years, Roman money, some of the earliest books in the world, including Shakespeare's own works...

    The British Museum was set up nearly 300 years ago by a doctor, Sir Hans

Sloane. The man liked to {#blank#}2{#/blank#}such things as books, drawings, clothes, money, animals, flowers, and also hoped that his things would be well {#blank#}3{#/blank#}and so visited by people after his death.

    His wish came true, and the museum opened in 1759, six years after Sir Hans Sloane died.

    Later, more antiques (古董) arrived at the museum, more books, old and new, came to it, and more people wanted to visit it. The museum had a famous round Reading Room. There was{#blank#}4{#/blank#}unusual in the room. Cool air came up{#blank#}5{#/blank#}mall holes in the tables. Hot air flowing under   the floor kept readers' feet{#blank#}6{#/blank#}. Since its opening, many famous men have written and studied there, like Karl Marx. And the library is growing faster and faster — there are four kilometers of new shelves each year,{#blank#}7{#/blank#}it attracts increasing number of tourists each year.

    It is now open every day of the year, except for two holidays (New Year's Day and Christmas).

    Entrance (入场) is free. There are lots of special exhibitions and every day there are different films and talks, some of {#blank#}8{#/blank#}for children. Small machines tell you about the museum and as you walk around it, you can look and listen at the same time. So if you are one of the British Museum's two{#blank#}9{#/blank#}visitors this year, don't try to see it all too{#blank#}10{#/blank#}. There is a lifetime of looking in the British Museum.