Qing Ming Jie (All Souls' Day) is a time to remember {#blank#}1{#/blank#} dead. It is a major Chinese festival which {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (fall) in early spring. It is an occasion for the whole family to leave the home and to sweep the graves of their forefathers.

    Qing Ming is popularly associated with Jie Zi Tui, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} lived in Shanxi province in 600 B.C.Legend has it that Jie saved his starving lord's life by serving a piece of {#blank#}4{#/blank#} own leg. When the lord {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (succeed)in becoming the ruler of a small kingdom, he invited his faithful follower to join him. But Jie declined the invitation, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (prefer) to lead a quiet life with his mother in the mountains.

    Believing that he could force Jie out by burning the mountain, the lord ordered his men to set the forest on fire. {#blank#}7{#/blank#} , Jie chose to remain where he was and was burnt to {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (die).To honor Jie, the "cold food feast day" began, when no fire could be lit.

    As time passed, the Qing Ming festival replaced the "cold food" festival. To make the festival even more {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (meaning),some time should be spent to remind the younger members of the family {#blank#}10{#/blank#} contributions of their ancestors, and the story of Jie Zi Tui.

    Qixi is an important festival that celebrates love and {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(devote), which falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the Chinese calendar. The love story of Niulang and Zhinu, and the Qixi Festival have been handed down for generations. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} actually these ancient traditions and customs {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(die) out nowadays.

    Many a Chinese, particularly youngsters, {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(seem) to know more about St Valentine's Day on February 14th, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}people celebrate it with bouquets of roses, chocolates and romantic candlelight dinners.{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(refer) to as the “Chinese Valentine's Day,” Qixi, as a traditional Chinese festival, is more similar {#blank#}7{#/blank#} a western festival since fewer people than ever will gaze at the heavens to pick out the two stars shining bright on either side of the Milky Way. There are reminders dotted about, in {#blank#}8{#/blank#}form of big ads saying “Sales on Chinese Valentine's Day!” in shops, hotels and restaurants. However, {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(differ) from traditional practices, few young women will mark the festival with their boyfriends, or take part in traditional activities to celebrate {#blank#}10{#/blank#}.

    Is there such a thing as being "over-protective"?

    I can honestly say that my answer to that question {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(change) dramatically(戏剧性地)since I became a parent.

    Before the birth of my daughter, I taught at{#blank#}2{#/blank#}private school, often viewing my students as over-protected, worrying  {#blank#}3{#/blank#}would happen when they went on to middle schools.

    Some did fine, and some did not. Some needed constant pats on the back, words of  {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(inspire) and extra support, which I {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(happy) gave. Others were content on their own, needing little {#blank#}6{#/blank#} no interaction(互动)with their teacher.

I'd always supposed their parents were over-protective, for they were the ones that still walked their  {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(five) graders into the classroom and met them at the school gate.

    Admittedly, I laughed at those parents, {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(think) their children would never learn to be  {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(independence) if they didn't let go just a little. Then I had my own daughter. The moment I looked at her little face, I {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(know) I'd do everything in my power to protect her and make sure she always felt safe!

Gerrard Street in London's Chinatown

    Gerrard Street, which is between Leicester Square and Shaftsbury Avenue, is the most important street in the area. There is {#blank#}1{#/blank#} unique community with many Chinese restaurants, supermarkets and shops.

    In the 1950s, it{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (be) a poor area and everything there was very cheap. With the world rice market changing, thousands of farm workers in Hong Kong lost their jobs, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(move) to work in some restaurants in London. Many British people liked Chinese food, so the restaurants became popular. The workers often worked 17 hours a day and had no time {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (learn) English. Due to the {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (arrive) of more Chinese, more shops and businesses grew up. {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (wife) came and joined their husbands with their children. The community grew, and Chinatown was born.

    Since the 1970s, economy has changed for the {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (good), and the education state of British-born Chinese started to improve. Many families moved out {#blank#}8{#/blank#} Chinatown. Gerrard Street became a street only for visitors.

    London's Chinatown is very popular in Chinese New Year, during {#blank#}9{#/blank#} time thousands of Chinese go into the street with national flags. Londoners and tourists go there {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (main) for the food in the Chinese restaurants. Their favorite restaurants are where the Chinese eat.