In order to know a foreign language {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(complete), four things are necessary. Firstly, we must understand the language when we hear {#blank#}2{#/blank#} spoken. Secondly, we must be able to speak it correctly with confidence and without hesitation. Thirdly, we must be able to read the language, and fourthly, we must be able to write it. We must be able to make sentences that are grammatically correct.

    There is no easy way to succeed {#blank#}3{#/blank#} language learning. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} good memory is of great help, but it is not enough only {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(memorize) rules from a grammar book. It is not much use learning by heart long list of words and {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(they) meaning, studying the dictionary and so on. We must learn by using the language. {#blank#}7{#/blank#}we are satisfied with only a few rules we {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(memorize), we are not really learning the language. “Learn through use” is a good piece of advice for those {#blank#}9{#/blank#}are studying a new language. Practice is important. We must practise speaking and {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(write) the language whenever we can.

    For you, the "Clear and Bright" day that falls in every April might be no more than just another holiday — the fact that it comes with three days off school matters to most students {#blank#}1{#/blank#} more than the fact that it is part of the 24 solar terms.

But the UNESCO has recognized the importance of the 24 solar terms. This ancient system that Chinese people have used to keep track of the time of year {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (add) to the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on Nov 30.

For starters, you may have heard your mom say: "The sanfu days are almost over. The heat won't be here for long." The sanfu days are a period of time that {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (fall) in summer, somewhere {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Minor Heat (in July) and Autumn Equinox (in September). The coldest days, or the sanjiu days, are similar. They cover the 27 days {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (follow) Winter Solstice.

    In some places, solar terms guide people's lives through special foods, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (culture) events and healthy living tips. For example, people from northern China are in the habit of eating dumplings on the day of Winter Solstice. And on Start of Autumn, some people treat {#blank#}7{#/blank#} to a big feast, especially of meat, something they call "putting on autumn weight", or tieqiubiao.

    But no matter {#blank#}8{#/blank#} differently people celebrate the 24 solar terms, they have been here for a long time and could last forever.

    According to Chinese writer and academic Yu Shicun, unlike many other examples of intangible cultural heritage – Peking Opera and Chinese Zhusuan, for example – the solar terms are neither regional (地域的) nor a type of art or skill. Instead, the system is a philosophy of time, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} applies to everything. And this means they are {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (likely) to die out.

    English perfectly shows the "network effects" of a global tongue: the more people use it, the more useful it is. Parents expect their children {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(master)English, which is encouraging the {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(grow)of private schooling. Education authorities are switching to English medium, in part to control the outflow(外流) of children into the private sector.

Teaching children in English is fine if that is {#blank#}3{#/blank#} they speak at home and their parents are fluent {#blank#}4{#/blank#} it. But that is not {#blank#}5{#/blank#} case in most public and low-cost private schools. Children are taught in a language they don't understand by teachers {#blank#}6{#/blank#} English is poor. The children learn neither English nor anything else.

    Research shows that children learn {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(much)when they are taught in their mother tongue than they do when they are taught in any other language. In a study of children in 12 schools in Cameroon last month, those taught in Kom {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(do)better than those taught in English in all subjects.

    English should be an important subject at school, but not {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(necessary)the language of instruction. Rather than switching to English-medium teaching, governments fearful of {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(lose) custom (光顾) to the private sector should look at the many possible ways of improving public schools.

    It is reported {#blank#}1{#/blank#} over 100,000 people took part in a massive parade at Beijing's Tian'anmen Square {#blank#}2{#/blank#} the morning of Oct 1, National Day, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (celebrate) the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. "Participants from all walks of life and ethnic groups attended {#blank#}4{#/blank#}ceremony, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots(同胞), overseas Chinese and foreigners {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(include)", said Du Feijin, head of the publicity department of the Beijing Committee of the Communist Party of China. "Tian'anmen Square featured red decorations representing the {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (glory) history of the Party as it led the Chinese revolution to victory", he said, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (add) that 70 red lanterns were hung parallel to the east and west sides of the square. A series of {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (active) like raising the national flag, singing the national anthem and commemorating revolutionary martyrs(烈士) held nationwide to let {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (many) people take part in celebrating the birthday of the motherland. Besides, a documentary which featured highlights during the 70-year journey {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(broadcast) on TV.