China's Tea Villages

    In most Chinese tea villages, March is the time of year in {#blank#}1{#/blank#} locals start to pick and process tea. The usually quiet villages suddenly become busy centers of activity, as people take out special tools and prepare {#blank#}2{#/blank#} tea processing. In some villages, local residents hold traditional ceremonies,{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (thank) heaven for its blessing. The price of tea {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(pick) in March is extremely high because {#blank#}5{#/blank#}is fresh, tender and contains multiple trace elements.

    China {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(be) famous for tea production since ancient times. Of the goods transported and traded along {#blank#}7{#/blank#}Old Silk Road linking China to the Middle East and Europe, the importance of tea was matched only by silk. China produces Oolong, black, green, white, yellow {#blank#}8{#/blank#}dark (aka post-fermented) tea. The Oolong, green and black {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(vary)are most notable for their high quality.

    Most of China's tea villages are found in remote mountainous areas in the country's south and southwest,{#blank#}10{#/blank#} the beautiful scenery is often hidden under clouds.

    Street art is a very popular form of art {#blank#}1{#/blank#} is spreading quickly all over the world.

    You can find it on {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (building), sidewalks and street signs. Now even art museums and galleries {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (collect) the works of street artists.

    People often have different opinions about street art. Some think it is a kind of destruction (破坏) and {#blank#}4{#/blank#} think it is a very beautiful new form of culture.

    In the street art world graffiti (涂鸦） can be the most popular. It began in New York in the 1960s. First some young people painted words and images on the walls. They found the paintings could show their {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(disagree) against society. Later, this colorful, energetic style of writing became {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (know) as graffiti.

    Street artists do this for {#blank#}7{#/blank#} reason. Some of them think they are closer to the people, while others try to express their {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (politics) opinions.

    In today's world, the Internet has a big influence {#blank#}9{#/blank#} street art. Artists can show their pictures to audiences all over the world. The street art movement lives with the energy and life of cities. It will continue {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (change) and grow.

    The British Museum, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (locate) in the Bloomsbury area of London, is the first national public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture. Its permanent collection numbers some 8 million works, making {#blank#}2{#/blank#} one of the largest in existence. It has been {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (wide) sourced, and documenting the story of human culture {#blank#}4{#/blank#} its beginnings to the present. As with all other national museums in {#blank#}5{#/blank#} United Kingdom, it charges no admission fee. Its ownership of some of its most famous objects {#blank#}6{#/blank#} originally came from other countries is controversial, particularly in the case of the Parthenon Marbles. Today the museum no longer houses {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (collection) of natural history, and the books and manuscripts (手稿) once it {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (hold) now form part of the independent British Library, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} it still keeps its universality in collections of artificial works {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (represent) the cultures of the world, ancient and modern.

    One day, I was comfortably waiting for my flight with a good book to read when {#blank#}1{#/blank#} elderly lady was wheeled to our waiting area. I noticed the trouble she was having {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (try) to open a packet of nuts with her shaking hands. No one else was willing to meet her gaze (目光), so I {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (offer) to help. The lady was very grateful. We sat and chatted. The time came to board the plane. She could walk but needed some {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (assist), so I volunteered to help her and carry her bag.

    As I helped her get {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (settle), I noticed her “seat mate”, a businessman, looked a bit horrified at having to make the flight with her. He offered to change {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (seat) with me — and I agreed. We had a long chat. As we were entering another country we needed to fill out forms. I offered to fill {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (her) out because of her shaking hands. We landed and I needed to change planes, but I helped her first. The wheelchair she ordered was nowhere to be seen so we slowly walked to the gate {#blank#}8{#/blank#} her daughter was waiting.

    As a result, I had to run to catch my connection but, as I thought about the experience, I saw her {#blank#}9{#/blank#} my airport angel, a chance for me to hope that in the future when I'm in my eighties and traveling, someone will take the time {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (connect) with me.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping has praised a group of middle school students for their efforts in satellite design. He said he was pleased with their curiosity and bravery in {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(science) exploration. The president also wished the teachers and students in Bayi School {#blank#}2{#/blank#}happy new year.

    Xi made the praise in a letter {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(write) to the students in Beijing's Bayi School on Saturday. A small satellite designed and developed by them {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(send) into space last Wednesday at Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center {#blank#}5{#/blank#} it was designed to operate in orbit (轨道) for 180 days.

    Three months ago, Xi returned to his high school, to visit a laboratory and talk to teachers and students {#blank#}6{#/blank#}were designing the small satellite. The president said he was {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (extreme) glad to know that the satellite designed by the students would be launched and called on them to become {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(build) of the country. Xi warmly encouraged the students {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(study) science and contribute to the development of China. He hoped that the students would keep hungry for knowledge and develop {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(they) national spirit.

    Japan is a food heaven which has a unique food culture. You can find food from different countries worldwide in this island nation, and it is also very good at {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(combine) foreign food with its own traditional food. You may even find some food which {#blank#}2{#/blank#}only be found in Japan. One of them is called "Okosama Lunch," or "Kids' Lunch." In major department stores in Japan, there usually are many restaurants on the top floor of the building.' No matter what kind of food they serve, they usually have a menu for "Okosama Lunch." {#blank#}3{#/blank#}it is called a lunch, it is served at suppertime in most cases.

    It is said that "Okosama Lunch," a kid's menu was invented in 1930 by Taro Ando, a chief manager of Mitsukoshi Department, {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(famous) department store in Japan founded in1673. Ando came up with an idea to have a variety of food which kids like on one plate and decorate {#blank#}5{#/blank#}nicely. The plate usually has molded rice with a tiny national flag chosen from one of many countries on top. It was during the Depression (大萧条) {#blank#}6{#/blank#}Ando thought it would be nice {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(have) something looking good for kids to enjoy. Besides a small portion of rice, an "Okosama Lunch" usually contains kid's favorite food, such as hamburger steak, deep-fried chicken, red Vienna sausages, Spaghetti Neapolitan, fried shrimp and pudding.

    The details of this special menu are different from restaurant to restaurant, resulting in different types of "Okosama Lunch" across the country. They{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(design) to attract kids with popular comic characters on the plate."

    Now you can find "Okosama Lunch" anywhere in Japan. At some restaurants, they usually serve it only to kids {#blank#}9{#/blank#}ten years old. Next time you visit Japan, you {#blank#}10{#/blank#}try this special menu and enjoy Japanese food culture.