Shandong Province held the 36th Weifang International Kite Festival on the third Saturday of April in2019. A lot of kite fans from all over the world went there to join in the interesting festival on that day. Different kinds of beautiful kites flew in the sky.

Over 2, 000 years ago, a man named Gongshu Ban from Shandong Province invented a kite. It was made of bamboo. In the following centuries, kite-making developed well in China.

The first Weifang International Kite Festival was celebrated in 1984. In 1983, the Chairman of the Seattle Kite Association David Checkley took part in a kite show and later he visited several kite manufacturers(制造商). He found that kites made in Weifang were the best. He suggested holding the first Weifang International Kite Festival there. After that, Weifang began to hold it in April every year.

At the fifth festival, Weifang became known as the" Kite Capital of the World". Today, Weifang is home to over 300 kite factories. People in Weifang sell their products to about 40 countries and regions(地区) , making up 85 %of the domestic(国内的)markets and 65 %of the foreign markets.

However, there are also some problems. "Few people would like to learn about traditional kite-making," said Yang Hongwei. Yang's grandfather was once one of the best kite makers in Weifang. Nowadays, Yang still uses traditional ways and skills to make kites. In her opinion, only traditional things can last for a long time. Since the1990s, she has travelled to many countries to teach and take part in kite shows. "I won't stop teaching the ways of making kites as long as someone wants to learn. Meanwhile, the government should hold more kite festivals in China or even overseas, "she said.

Confucius（孔子）was one of the most important people in human history.He taught people to be polite and love each other.His ideas changed people's life.

Early Life

Confucius was born around 551 B.C.in China.That was over 2，500 years ago.Some say that Confucius was born into a rich family.Others say he was born poor.One thing is clear：Confucius lived during a time of great trouble.

Philosophy（哲学）and Teachings

Different groups in China were fighting.People forgot about good manners（礼仪）.This made Confucius sad.He wanted people to be kind and polite to each other.He believed in the idea of"ren".That means "loving others"."People should follow the Golden Rule，"he said.The Golden Rule is"to treat others as you would like to be treated".He believed that a good leader should treat his followers with care.This would help the leader set a good example.Confucius thought leaders could make people follow the law（法律）

____.

Confucius promoted（提倡）music education.He thought music had a strong influence on people and believed that music could make the things on the earth get on well with each other.

So music made it possible for our society to develop well.

Death

Confucius died at the age of 71 or 72.After his death，he was honored as a man of wisdom.His ideas helped shape the Chinese government.Today he is known as one of the most important teachers in Chinese history.

In 1888, a new invention showed a series of pictures in which people moved. This is the world's first movie. It lasted only two s{#blank#}1{#/blank#}, but viewers were surprised. It looked like the event was happening right in f{#blank#}2{#/blank#} of them. The movie showed people walking in a garden.

Before this time, a camera could take only one picture at a time. These pictures didn't move. However, once a series of pictures could be taken and shown quickly, the images s{#blank#}3{#/blank#} to move. First, they were called moving picture. Later, that name was shortened to movies.

For their first 40 years, movies had no sound. They were called silent movies. In the 1920s, sound was a{#blank#}4{#/blank#} to movies. This meant that the a{#blank#}5{#/blank#} could hear actors speaking to one another.

Zoe: Hello, I am doing a survey. Can I ask you some questions?

Jim: Sure. Go ahead.

Zoe: Thank you. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

Jim: Oh, music. I like it very much.

Zoe: Why?

Jim:{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. And the teacher is kind to all of us.

Zoe: And do you like sports?

Jim: Yes, baskctball. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

Zoe: Sounds cool!{#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

Jim: Yes, we also have School Day, Sports Day and Art Festival.

Zoe: Great! And my last question. Which weekday do you like best?

Jim:{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. We have music and PE on that day. And the next day is Saturday.

Zoe: OK. Thank you very much.

Anna and her friends want to buy some things. Here is their shopping list(购物清单).

 Over the past few years, cars have become smarter and smarter. Some of them can even drive themselves. Now, our roads have followed the steps. In the United Kingdom alone, there are around650 kilometers of" smart roads" in use. Across the world, many more are being built. Some new technologies are being put to use.

▲ Roads that recharge(给……充电)

 Global warming has forced us to search for new energy sources. Why not look to the roads? Piezoelectric roads, a new kind of smart road, use vibrations(震动) from passing cars to produce electricity. In fact, Piezoelectricity was invented in 

1880. However, it has never been widely used before now. The U. K.'s Lancaster University is going to improve it.

▲ Built- in brain

 Roads of the future may be able to know how many people are on them, send drivers updates(最新的情况) on weather and traffic jams, and recharge electric cars while driving.

 This seems impossible, but one American company has almost made it come true. By sensing the weight of a car, the smart roads can track the speed of each wheel. The smart roads are like large touchpads(触摸屏) so that they can collect data(数据) by looking for wheels. And then the roads will send it to the drivers.

▲ Roads that never freeze

 It can be dangerous to drive in snowy weather. A tech company in Israel has developed the Snowless roads. When they find snow or ice on their surfaces, the roads will heat themselves up, melting(使融化) them away. The company has succeeded in testing this project on a few Canadian roads and in some of its car parks.