According to the traditional Chinese calendar, 2014 is the Year of the Horse. The horse is one of Chinese people's favorite {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (动物). Do you know what the horse represents in {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (传统的)Chinese culture？

    In ancient China, horses were often associated(联系)with good luck. Horses {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(提供)safe and quick transportation for ancient Chinese. Sometimes a horse was more than a way to travel. Sitting on horseback at that time {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (显示)that the person was from a rich family. What's more, ancient Chinese didn't let horses do farm work. This was because horses could help {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (他们)win a war. Therefore, to Chinese people, the horse is not only a symbol of traveling, but also a symbol of {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (成功).

    The horse also plays an important role in the Chinese traditional timing system(计时系统). The "Horse Hour", from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, is {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (称作)wushi. During such a period of time in a day, the sun gives out lots of heat, which makes people have more {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (精力). Therefore, the horse is always associated with warmth and passion(激情).

    Besides, Chinese people believe people born in the Year of the Horse are similar to the horse as an animal in some {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (某方面). For example, horses are social animals, so people born in the Year of the Horse are said to be {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (友善的). Also, horse racing is still common around the world, partly because horses like to compete with each other. And that's why people born in the Year of the Horse are sometimes competitive.