Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is often inaccurately {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (call) “Lunar New Year”, because—as part of the lunisolar Chinese calendar (农历)-the date is partially determined based on lunar phase (月相). The festival traditionally {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (begin) on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival{#blank#}3{#/blank#} is on the 15th day. Chinese New Year's Eve, a day when Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner, is known as chú xī. It literally means “Year-pass Eve”.

    According to {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (tale) and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against {#blank#}5{#/blank#} mythical beast (神兽) called Nien (年). Nien would come on the first day of New Year to devour livestock (牲畜), crops, and even villagers,{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (especial) children. To protect {#blank#}7{#/blank#}the villagers would put food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year. It was believed that after the Nien{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (eat) the food they prepared, it wouldn't attack any more people. One time, people saw that the Nien was scared away by a little child wearing red. The villagers then understood that the Nien was afraid {#blank#}9{#/blank#} the colour red. Hence, every time when the New Year was about to come, the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors. People also used fireworks {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (frighten) away the Nien. From then on, Nien never came to the village again.

    Good morning, boys and girls. I'm here today to share a good story with you. It is a true story about a poor boy, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(name) William Smith, had only one dollar left. He was so hungry {#blank#}2{#/blank#} he decided to beg for a meal at the next house. A lovely young woman opened the door. She thought he looked hungry and {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (bring) him a large glass of milk. He drank it {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (slow), and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" "You don't owe me anything." She replied. "Mother has taught me never to accept pay for a {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (kind)." As William Smith left that house, he felt much {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (strong) physically and mentally.

    Years later, the young woman became seriously ill and {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (send) to a big hospital. Dr. William Smith, now famous, was called in for the consultation (咨询). He recognized her at once and was determined to try his best {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (save) her life.

    After a long struggle, the battle was won. But the woman had to pay a lot of money {#blank#}9{#/blank#} the treatment. Dr. Smith, then requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it and then wrote something on it. The bill was sent to her room. She opened it, and found a note on the side of {#blank#}10{#/blank#} bill in surprise, which read: "Paid in full with a glass of milk, (signed) Dr. William Smith."

    The Agricultural Feast {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(take) place after the Independence Day. It is not a worldwide celebration. Only Christians in Mexico look forward to its arrival for its {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(religion) origin.

    Long ago, man's ancestors were bad. They fooled and played tricks on each other and never kept {#blank#}3{#/blank#}word. So God turned up and drowned all their crops. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(human) starved day and night, weeping. In order to gain God's forgiveness, a woman poet set off to see God. She admired God and madeapologies, God {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(move). With God's permission, human beings finally had good harvests again. Thus to wipe sadness and remind themselves of the belief {#blank#}6{#/blank#} God, people began the festival. On the festival, people gather in {#blank#}7{#/blank#}open air, such as playgrounds and parking lots, and have fun with each other {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(energetic) all night long, as though they were never tired. When a beauty {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(dress) up in lovely clothing reads poems in memory of the poet, everyone holds their breath. Then, it is the custom{#blank#}10{#/blank#}the bone of a rooster head is given to her as an award. Obviously, the story may not be true, but the festival is interesting.

    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.