Today is the {#blank#}1{#/blank#} day of the new term, I went to school early.

    When I came into the classroom, I was{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(surprise)at what I saw.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}was half an hour before class, most of the students were already sitting in their seats. Some were arranging their books. Others{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(prepare) for their lessons.

    Zhanghua, my neighbour, was busy{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(write) something. I walked over to him{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(quiet), and saw that he was writing a plan for the new term. He looked up,{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(smile)and said, "Let me wish you a belated(迟来的）happy New Year, and hope you'll make the greatest progress in the new term."

    {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(sudden), it hit me that the new year was over and{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(I)face turned red. I must turn over a new leaf. I would make{#blank#}10{#/blank#}new plan to meet the new term with spirit.

    Papercutting is a kind of the traditional folk art in China. Papercutting has a long history of about 1,500 years. Let's learn something about papercutting.

    Wonderful meanings

    Papercutting has some wonderful meanings. Some papercutting means happiness and good luck. In the Spring Festival, people paste(粘贴) "Fu" on doors or windows. At a wedding, people paste "Xi".

    The largest Chinese papercutting

    The largest papercutting was made by Gao Xiaodong. It has an area of about 456 square meters. It is as large as a basketball court.

    Why is it red?

    In the old times of China, people think highly of the sun. Red was the color of the sun. They always regarded red as the symbol of hope and life. Now, we can also see red everywhere in China. The walls of old palaces are red. Lanterns are red. Weddings are always full of red things, too.

    Black papercutting in Shanzhou

    Much of the papercutting is red. But papercutting in Shanzhou, Henan Province is black. Black is the best color there. Shanzhou is a dry place. People make black papercutting and wish for rain.

I am David. My home town, Bao Loc, is just a small town in Vietnam (越南). But for me, it's really a paradise (天堂). 

The weather is very comfortable. It's not very hot or cold. In the centre of the town, there is a beautiful lake. You can lie on the bank (河岸) and see the white clouds in the blue sky or count (数) the stars at night. You can go there just to relax when you have a lot of things to think about. One of the most famous places is Dambri Waterfall (瀑布). You can enjoy this beautiful waterfall if you come. Don't forget to take some pictures with your camera. 

Bao Loc is very small. It will take you 45 minutes or 1 hour to go around this town. It's so small that people here know each other. They are very friendly. 

Tea and coffee are Bao Loc's local food. I think you will like them very much. 

Why does Bao Loc become a paradise? Because my family are here and they always make me feel warm and safe.

My name's Monifo, a boy from the USA. Amy is my friend. She's Chinese. She lives with her family. We are in the {#blank#}1{#/blank#} grade but we are not in the same class. She often {#blank#}2{#/blank#} basketball with me after class and I think she is very nice.

We have many {#blank#}3{#/blank#} at school but art is our favorite. I like red but it's not my favorite. Amy and I have the same favorite {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. It's green. But we don't like white or brown. At Amy's house, we do our homework first. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Amy watches TV with me. Amy's grandma calls her Mei Jing— that's her Chinese name. And she thinks it is very cool to {#blank#}6{#/blank#} two names.

This Sunday I go with Amy to her {#blank#}7{#/blank#} house. There are many people in the house. They are her aunts, uncles and cousins. I think it's someone's (某人的) {#blank#}8{#/blank#}, but Amy says her big family often eat dinner together(一起). I learn to use(使用) chopsticks(筷子) here. Chinese use{#blank#}9{#/blank#} to eat meals but we use knives and forks(叉子). It's {#blank#}10{#/blank#} interesting!