This Christmas, maybe different from previous years, a strong desire drives me to make my own Christmas gifts. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (honest) speaking, I've promised myself this more than once. As {#blank#}2{#/blank#} crafter (工匠), I've frequently thought I am {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (suppose) to turn it into action. However, this year I really plan to stick {#blank#}4{#/blank#} it. It's partly because I am short {#blank#}5{#/blank#} money. More importantly, recently I {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (return) from an inspiring trip around Britain, collecting some information about crafting for BBC's Newsnight.

    I was really struck by people's increasing {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (enthusiastic) for making things. When I asked some people {#blank#}8{#/blank#} they could sew(缝纫), only a few raised their hands. {#blank#}9{#/blank#} when I asked who wanted to learn, nearly everyone responded positively, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (hope) to learn something practical.

    Overhead bridges are found in many parts of big cities, especially in place{#blank#}1{#/blank#} traffic is very heavy and crossing the road is dangerous. The purpose of these bridges{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(be) to enable pedestrians to cross roads{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(safe). Overhead bridges are used in very much the {#blank#}4{#/blank#}way as Zebra crossings. They are more efficient although{#blank#}5{#/blank#}little) convenient because people have to climb up a long flight of steps. This is{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(convenient) especially to older people. When pedestrians use an overhead bridge, they do not hold up traffic. However, when they cross a busy road using a zebra crossing, traffic is held up. This is why the government has built many overhead bridges{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(help) pedestrians and to keep traffic moving at the same time. For their own safety, pedestrians should be encouraged to use them instead of {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(risk) their lives by dashing across the road. Old people, however, may find it a little difficult climbing up and down the steps, but it is still much safer than walking across the road with all the danger of moving traffic. Overhead bridges serve a very useful purpose. Pedestrians, both old and young, should make{#blank#}9{#/blank#}a habit to use them. This will prevent unnecessary accidents and {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(lose) of life.

    The history of Chinese currency covers more than 3,000 years. Currency of some type has been used in China since the Neolithic age (新石器时代), {#blank#}1{#/blank#} can be traced back to between 3,000 and 4,500 years ago. Cowry shells (贝壳) are believed to have been the {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (early) form of currency used in Central China, and were used during the Neolithic period. The use of shell money is confirmed in the Chinese writing system. The traditional {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (character) for “goods”, “buy” and “sell”, in addition to other {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (vary) words relating to exchange, all contain the “shell”.

    Around 210 BC, the first emperor of China Qin Shi Huang (260 — 210 BC) abolished all other forms of local currency and introduced{#blank#}5{#/blank#} uniform copper coin. Although paper money {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (invent) in China in the 9th century, the base unit of currency remained the copper coin. Copper coins were used{#blank#}7{#/blank#} the chief currency in China until the {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (introduce) of yuan in the late 19th century.

    Currently, the RMB is the official currency of China. With over 1.3 billion people {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (use) RMB every day, it is one of the most commonly used currencies in the world. Nowadays, online payment is taking a large share in the market. Will paper money disappear one day like shells or copper coins {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (replace) by a new way of payment? Only time can tell.

China creates Harvest Festival for farmers

    Recently China has set up a special day for farmers to celebrate the yearly harvest. It is the first festival {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (create)by China specially for the country's farmers.

    “The country will celebrate the Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival on the autumnal equinox(秋分)of China lunar calendar from this year, ”said Han Changbin, minister of agriculture and rural affairs, at {#blank#}2{#/blank#} press conference. Autumnal equinox usually {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(fall)between September 22 and 24,  {#blank#}4{#/blank#} the country's agricultural harvest season.

    The festival will give greater {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (important)to rural work and push for {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (fast) development of agriculture and rural areas.

    A variety of celebrations will be organized{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (display)the agricultural harvest, rural technology achievements and farmers' creativeness. Farmers {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(encourage)to involve in activities related to their work and life, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} waste should be avoided in the  celebrations.

    The rural economy is a key part of China's efforts to develop a modernized economy. By {#blank#}10{#/blank#}  (develop)its vast rural areas, China expects to see a strong agricultural sector, a beautiful countryside and wealthy farmers.

    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.

The custom of celebrating the Spring Festival with fireworks continued every lunar year in cities and villages. People took it for granted though they could {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(occasion) lead to deaths. In populated downtown areas, {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(dead) injuries and damage to properties(财物) {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(be) severe during the holiday season. In 1993, the government banned {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(they) inside the Fifth Ring Road. In 2005, with public opinion strongly calling for preserving the tradition of fireworks during the Spring Festival, the government gave the green light to fireworks downtown. This situation continued for several years. But from 2011, the public started to have more awareness {#blank#}5{#/blank#}air quality. The year 2017 saw a decisive result in the battle between fireworks and the public demand for blue skies. {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(tear) between traditional fun and clear air, the public voted for the latter. After 12 years of being allowed in the downtown areas, fireworks were once again banned.

How fireworks faded out of the festive life in Beijing is a {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(reflect) of what happened across the nation. {#blank#}8{#/blank#}China experiences rapid development and people enjoy better lives, tradition changes along with time. The 2019 Spring Festival ended on a note of peace and serenity. Fireworks have stopped being {#blank#}9{#/blank#}essential part of the celebration and become a fading memory, {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(give) way to safer streets, cleaner air and better sleep.