Many people travel during the holiday season but do not make sure that their houses and homes {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(protect). Crimes go up {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(rapid) during the winter an summer holiday seasons. Here are some things that you should keep in mind when you go on holiday.

    Always give {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(strange) the feeling that you are at home. Have the snow {#blank#}4{#/blank#}( clean ) off your stairs or out of your driveway during the winter season. You might ask someone to park his/her car in {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(you) driveway.

Tell your newspaper deliverer that you are not at home.{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (have) a pile of newspapers and other mail on your doorsteps tells people that you are not at home, so you could also have a neighbor {#blank#}7{#/blank#} a relative get your mail every day.

    Fix a timer(定时器) in some of your rooms {#blank#}8{#/blank#} turns lights on and {#blank#}9{#/blank#} during different time of the day. Some TVs also come with a timer that you could set to be turned on during certain time. Have motion(运动) sensitive lights outside your house that keep thieves away {#blank#}10{#/blank#} you are not at home.

    How do you usually buy what you need,shopping on line or going out to shop in person?With the help of the Internet,shopping is{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(easy) than before.We can just click out mouse to choose the items we like,pay for them online,and the shopping{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(finish).It is easy and quick.It helps save money,too.We can save thousands a year if we compare the prices of similar items before{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(decide) to buy.

    However,there are always traps in shopping online.If we are{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(care),we may get into trouble.For example,we may find the color of the item different{#blank#}5{#/blank#}that in the picture online.Sometimes,the size of the item we receive can be too big{#blank#}6{#/blank#}too small{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(avoid) such troubles,we should compare similar items on different online stores and pay more attention to what other customers say.From their comments,we can know{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(well) about an item's color, size as well as{#blank#}9{#/blank#}shortcomings.In this way we increase our chance of buying{#blank#}10{#/blank#}more satisfactory item.

    Chinese brush calligraphy or “shufa” in Chinese is one of{#blank#}1{#/blank#} most important art forms in China. Many Asian cultures have originated their own calligraphy styles, but China's is unequaled because of {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(it) beauty, grace (优雅), and history.

    The {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (origin) of Chinese brush calligraphy are unknown, but local tales say it goes back over 4,000 years to the time of the legendary (传说的) Yellow Emperor (2698-2598 B.C.). At that time characters were carved on animal bones or tortoise shells. Only after Emperor Qin Shi Huang united China under his rule {#blank#}4{#/blank#} one country did it really gain popularity as a common art form.

    He simplified Chinese characters and regular rules were set,{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (make) it easier for people to learn and master. This Chinese art form continued to progress and during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) a new type of cursive script (草书) was formed and standardized. It is written {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(free), but it's not as easy to read.

    Today Chinese calligraphy is once again a subject in schools and an art form highly {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(appreciate) across the world. Anyone can practice it and{#blank#}8{#/blank#} is required is a simple set including: brush, ink, and paper. It's fun for amateurs to try, but to become good at it, not only years of practice but natural talent {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (need). Practising this art consistently can develop personal character and is of {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (benefit) to health.