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.

    There was once a small boy who would never get dressed when his parents told him to,{#blank#}1{#/blank#}would he wear what they wanted him to. He preferred unusual clothes, but above all, he liked taking his time. His parents were always in a rush, and wanted him to be much {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (quick), but the boy didn't like this, and he would slow down even more.

    One day, his parents got so angry when he refused to dress that they told him to go out without any clothes at all.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (surprise), the boy followed his parents out of the door. He held a belief {#blank#}4{#/blank#}nobody could do anything to him.

    As the boy stood outside his house with nothing on,{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (wait) for his parents's car, along came the local pig farmer. The farmer,{#blank#}6{#/blank#}was almost deaf, had very poor eyesight. Not only that, but also he{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(forget) his glasses that day. When he saw the boy's pink skin, he thought it was one of his pigs. Shouting and pushing, the farmer forced {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(he) into a pig cage. The boy begged him to stop but the deaf farmer couldn't hear.

    When found by his parents, the terrified boy never again wanted to be mistaken{#blank#}9{#/blank#} anything other than a human being. Now he's the first {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (get) dressed, and always looks neat.

    The ancient wisdom of Confucius is timeless. His thinking{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (lead) the Chinese for thousands of years. However, English teaching seems to be one place {#blank#}2{#/blank#} his wisdom is forgotten.

    I came to China 6 years ago, and quickly saw the plight (困境) of so many students {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (struggle) to learn English. They know a lot “about” English,{#blank#}4{#/blank#} they never master the language. They learned far more grammar than students in Western cultures and almost no oral training. They were made {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(recite) sentences and passages from their books. Their teachers were spending 90% of the class talking to them “about” English in Chinese.

    All effective language teaching in the world is built{#blank#}6{#/blank#} the basis of oral language. Students who excel in English are those that follow the wisdom of Confucius: they use language!

    They use it primarily by speaking and listening,{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (eventual) supplemented (补充) by reading and writing. Every language is taught by gaining speaking competence long before grammar, reading and writing {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (introduce).

    Chinese students work so hard{#blank#}9{#/blank#} they learned English with correct spoken instructions and classroom practice, they would have the {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (high) English scores in the world and they would conquer English.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} we know, there are three medalists in Olympic races: the gold, the silver, and the bronze (铜牌).

    Imagine what it's like to be the silver medalist. If you {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (be) just one second faster, you could have won the gold! So close! You would keep comparing yourself to be the gold winner, full {#blank#}3{#/blank#} envy.

    Now imagine what it's like to be the bronze medalist. One second {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (slow), and you wouldn't have won anything! Whoo-hoo! You would be thrilled that you were {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (official) an Olympic medalist, and got to stand on the winner's podium at all.

    You can {#blank#}6{#/blank#} compare up or compare down and your{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (happy) depends on where you're focusing. This is easy to understand, but hard to remember in everyday life. If you catch yourself {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (bum) with envy of anger, think like the bronze medalist, not the silver. Change your focus.

    For example, if you buy something that is “the best”, you may feel like a gold winner, but when the new “best” {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (come) out next year, you'll feel like the siver. Instead, if you look at what you buy as something “surprisingly good”, it will keep you in the bronze mindset. Since you're not comparing it to best, you'll feel no need {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (keep) up with the newest thing.

    My favorite color is orange. It is a warm and bright color, and it makes me feel happy and safe. When I {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (see) this color, I think of fall. When I go outside, I enjoy{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (walk) through the dark orange leaves and listening to the sound they make under my feet. I also think of the smell of fire. It's great to be at home and sit by the warm fire with{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (I) family. This warm and beautiful color should be everywhere this season!