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.

The history of air conditioners (空调) started in the early days with the need to preserve food. The food{#blank#}1{#/blank#}is kept at room temperature spoils easily due to the growth of bacteria. At temperature below 4℃, the growth of bacteria reduces{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(rapid). As a result of the development in food refrigeration, other following applications include air conditioning and manufacturing processes.

    The{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(discover) of the principles of the absorption type of refrigeration in 1824 showed that liquefied ammonia (液氨) could cool air. At first, the commercially available use of air conditioning applications was based on the need to cool air for industrial processes rather than {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(person) comfort. The first electrical air conditioning{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(invent) by Willis Haviland Carrier in 1902. He was also known{#blank#}6{#/blank#}the Father of Modern Air Conditioning.{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (he) invention was designed to improve the manufacturing process of a printing factory. By{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(control) the temperature, the process was made more efficient.

    The Carrier Air Conditioning Company of America was set up by him {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(meet) the demand of better productivity in the workplace. Today, Carrier Corporation is{#blank#}10{#/blank#}biggest air conditioner manufacturer and marketing corporation in the world in central air conditioning.

    In 1983, he joined the army, and went to flight school He graduated in 1987 and became a {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. In 1998, he{#blank#}2{#/blank#} to be a member of Project 921, which is now called Shenzhou. He was one of the only 14 {#blank#}3{#/blank#} from 1,500 candidates. The team spent the next five years being trained. They not only studied all the subjects {#blank#}4{#/blank#}to be an astronaut, but also learnt{#blank#}5{#/blank#} skills and all about how spaceships and rockets are built. Yang {#blank#}6{#/blank#} among the very top in the everything the group studied.

    When Robert Lee was in primary school, he hated to see his classmates throwing away half-eaten sandwiches after lunch. His parents had taught him and his older brother not to waste food. “They said it was bad,” says Robert, 27.

    While {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (study) finance and accounting at New York University, Robert remembered this lesson and joined Two Birds One Stone, a food rescue club at school {#blank#}2{#/blank#}delivered, five days a week, uneaten pasta, vegetables and other leftovers (剩余食物) from the dining hall to nearby homeless {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (shelter).

    When Robert and fellow club member Louisa Chen entered a college {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (compete), they came up with a slightly different idea for a food rescue non-profit group—{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (it) program wouldn't have a donation minimum, would operate seven days a week, and would be staffed {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (entire) by volunteers.

    Surprisingly, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} idea stood out. Robert and Louisa Chen won the first place. {#blank#}8{#/blank#} the $1,000 prize, they founded Rescuing Leftover Cuisine (RLC) in July 2013. In just the first few weeks, Robert steam delivered a donation of enough noodles and meatballs to feed 20 people in line at a New York City homeless shelter that had run out of food. Only a year into his finance job, Robert gave up his six- figure salary {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (focus) on RLC. So far the organization {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (reach) sixteen cities around the country.

    China is well known as the Kingdom of Bamboo. Bamboo culture has already been rooted {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Chinese minds through the long history. To the Chinese people, bamboo is the symbol of virtue, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (reflect) people's soul and emotion. Bamboo has the title of "the gentleman of plants". {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (it) deep root symbolizes determination and its straight and hollow pole represents straightness and modesty. Bamboo culture always {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (play) a positive role in encouraging Chinese people to hold on when facing tough situations.