Paper cutting is a traditional art in China. It has been around for{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(多于)1,500 years. This kind of art went after the invention of p{#blank#}2{#/blank#}in Han Dynasty.

    It once became one of the main{#blank#}3{#/blank#}[fᴐ:(r)mz] of art, and{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(受…欢迎) the people of that time; e{#blank#}5{#/blank#}in royal (王室的) families, ladies were also judged by the ability at paper cutting.

    Most of the papercut artists are w{#blank#}6{#/blank#}. The themes of their works usually include everything in people's{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(日常生活)，such as flowers, animals, and things about Chinese history. Familiarity (熟悉) makes them understand the real spirit of the art.

    The main tool for paper cutting is s{#blank#}8{#/blank#} Once they are owned by a master of papercut, they will become so supernatural (超自然的){#blank#}9{#/blank#}the papercuts beyond imagination flow out (倾泻) of his/her hands. Another tool{#blank#}10{#/blank#}paper cutting is carving knives which are necessary to improve a sharpened effect or to make a good job. It's believed that art{#blank#}11{#/blank#}(来自) life and serves life. The bright colors of red, green or light blue papercuts provide a merry atmosphere.{#blank#}12{#/blank#}they are often found in wedding ceremonies or festivals in China. And people like to decorate{#blank#}13{#/blank#}windows and doors u{#blank#}14{#/blank#}colorful papercuts.

    Papercuts made{#blank#}15{#/blank#}(在不同地区) have different characteristics. Shanxi window papercuts are simple and bold (轮廓突出的) ; papercuts from Hebei Province are bright in color; papercuts in southern provinces are good and fine.

Life as Chopsticks

    Right now, more and more people are digging into their food with {#blank#}1{#/blank#}sticks which are called chopsticks.Even people eating with knives and {#blank#}2{#/blank#} begin to love them. Why are they so special? {#blank#}3{#/blank#} they have deep influence in many people's ways of life.

    Simple. There's nothing simpler {#blank#}4{#/blank#} chopsticks. Also the chopsticks don't cost much. In real life, we don't need to keep improving things all the time.Aim(目的).When using chopsticks, you can not pick up everything each time. Know{#blank#}5{#/blank#} you want and just do it. Sometimes, a little bit of focus makes the difference between failure and {#blank#}6{#/blank#} .

    Practice.Using chopsticks doesn't come naturally. You have to learn to use them and {#blank#}7{#/blank#} it. There's no better way than to practice. In real life, you may have many things you want to do, but it will be a dream {#blank#}8{#/blank#} you don't try doing it.

    Slowing down. Eating with chopsticks can slow you down. It provides you {#blank#}9{#/blank#} enough time to know yourself. It also warns your brain of your full stomach, so {#blank#}10{#/blank#}you will not overeat(吃过饱). In our life, we sometimes need slow down to have time to think, to realize that we're actually full and don't have to hurry through life.

    Mr. and Mrs. Brown live in a small house near London with their two children. Sometimes, Mr. Brown {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (come) back from work very late. If his wife and children {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (be) asleep(睡着的), he will open the front door of the house with his key and go in very quietly. He doesn't want {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (wake) them up. But one night when Mr. Brown came back late, he {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (can) not find his key. So he had to ring the bell, but no one {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (answer) the door. He rang it again, but nobody came to open the door for him. At last he {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (stop) and {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (think) for a few minutes. Then he started to speak quietly like a little kid, "Mom, I want to drink water!" Mrs. Brown woke up at once.