This week, we're preparing for one of the newest {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(tradition) events in our country: Black Friday. It's that crazy gathering of retail (零售)-related violence, a time{#blank#}2{#/blank#}stores offer once-a-year promotional sales to set off the customers' greediness and jump-start the Christmas shopping season with a sudden activity in a {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (crowd) space.

    The general feeling has been set by the Hamleys Christmas Toy Parade in London, in which 800,000 people ran into Regent Street, apparently attracted by {#blank#}4{#/blank#}possibility of a “meet-and-greet” with Peppa Pig that sadly {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(have) to be cancelled at the last moment on safety grounds. As it was, a middle-aged woman {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(report) had to be taken to hospital after {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (knock) to the ground in a fight with another woman.

    For the people who dislike shopping, such as me, any day with shopping in it is a black day, and Black Friday is the most worrying {#blank#}8{#/blank#}all. However, I can see the reasoning for retailers. Why spend a lot of money on newspaper ads, when you can offer 50 iPhone Xs at £5 each to the first fifty{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(consume)? The related media {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (cover) of the resulting disorder is, as they say, priceless.

    Beijing Opera roles require performers to paint{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(they) faces in patterns and colours to represent different character types and{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(quality).

    In Beijing Opera, facial painting can be quite complex. However, in the{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(begin), only three colours were used-red, white, and black. Now, many other colours, such{#blank#}4{#/blank#}yellow, purple, blue and green, are used for facial painting.

Red is a colour for brave and loyal characters. Guan Yu, a general from the Three Kingdoms Period (AD 220-280), is a good example of this kind of character. He is famous{#blank#}5{#/blank#}being very loyal to his emperor, Liu Bei.

    White highlights all{#blank#}6{#/blank#}is bad in human nature. It{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(suggest) dishonesty and betrayal(背叛). One of the typical white-faced characters is Cao Cao, a{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(power) and cruel prime minister from the Three Kingdoms Period.

    Black face paint is{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(usual) used for someone who is fierce and violent. One typical example is General Zhang Fei from the classic novel, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

    All these different colours are used in Beijing Opera facial painting {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(provide) a clear picture of each character.

    Many people living in cities see riding a bicycle as good exercise. But, a recent medical {#blank#}1{#/blank#} research warned that cyclists should think twice before cycling in the streets: it actually does more harm than good {#blank#}2{#/blank#} their bodies.

    Is cycling in cities really bad for your health? Probably yes. The main danger comes from the air around you. Breathing {#blank#}3{#/blank#} in air pollution from taxis and buses can damage blood vessels(血管).Scientists say the damage could outweigh the health benefits of cycling.

    David Newby, a British {#blank#}4{#/blank#} researcher at Edinburgh University broke the news. In his tests, 15 healthy men cycled {#blank#}5{#/blank#} on exercise bikes in a room with levels of air pollution similar to those found {#blank#}6{#/blank#} on a crowded city street. After an hour of cycling, the scientists found their blood vessels became less flexible and produced less of a protein(蛋白质){#blank#}7{#/blank#} the heart needs. The damage leads to the early stages of heart disease. What's worse, the faster a cyclist pedals (蹬车),{#blank#}8{#/blank#} more air they breathe in. So those who believe {#blank#}9{#/blank#} they are improving their fitness the most are storing up the biggest trouble for {#blank#}10{#/blank#}.

In Japan, the word bonsai means tray plant. It refers to the interesting {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(combine) of art and the planting and growing of miniature trees and plants. Bonsai originated in China more than 2,000 years ago and {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(spread) to Japan about 700 years ago. Some people believe that only small plants must be used in bonsai, but this is not true. Nearly any type of tree or plant can be used, as long as it is grown {#blank#}3{#/blank#} a seed or a small cutting.