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After four years of living here, I have a better {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(understand) of northern China's food.
Northern China's hearty food is {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(general) more acceptable to Westerners. They can enjoy Beijing roast duck, beef and dairy from Inner Mongolia, and Korean dishes in the northeast. Northern China experiences cold and dry winters, and hot summers, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(make) calories and salt replacement more important. As a result, northern dishes have strong flavors, compared with the south {#blank#}4{#/blank#} dishes are lighter in flavor.
Wheat is the main crop of northern China, and you will find a variety of wheat-flour {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(product). Rice is also eaten in the north, but it is certainly secondary to wheat. Dumplings are very popular in the north, {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(serve) with vinegar for dipping.
Northerners tend to eat more meat and dairy for the purpose {#blank#}7{#/blank#} fighting against the cold weather. Most meat dishes {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(base) on mutton, pork, beef, chicken, and fish.
{#blank#}9{#/blank#} are less fresh vegetables available because of the cold weather. Fruit is traditionally limited to a few hard seasonal varieties like apples, so it doesn't feature much in the cuisine, although the northwest is famous for {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(it) dried fruit and wine.