Colorful lanterns are lighting up China's night sky, as activities begin across the country to celebrate Lantern Festival today.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (date) back to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25), the Lantern Festival is held on the 15th day of the first lunar month {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(mark) the first full moon of the lunar new year.

    You Guoqing, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} folk custom expert in Tianjin, said the Lantern Festival was about going out for a colorful celebration rather than a family get-together. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}watching lanterns, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} is also a day to appreciate the full moon, solve lantern riddles, watch art {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(performance) and eat tang yuan.

    The festival was once also a time for romantic encounters. In feudal times, young women were not allowed to go out {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(free), but Lantern Festival was an exception, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} young men and women could meet up.

    Some aspects of the festival, such as its romantic atmosphere, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (fade), but people {#blank#}10{#/blank#} see the Lantern Festival as a day to rejoice and a chance to wish for happiness.

    Five months ago. I {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(happen) to be upstairs at dusk when the window was open. I didn't go downstairs until the window had to {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(shut). The dark, rainy evening, the wind and the thundering clouds held me {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(entire) in their power.

    It was the first time in one and a half {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(year) since we found shelter here that I'd seen the night face to face. Sadly I am only able to look at nature through dirty curtains {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(hang) before very dusty windows.{#blank#}6{#/blank#}is no pleasure looking through them because nature is one thing{#blank#}7{#/blank#}really must be experienced. One evening when it was so warm. I stayed {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(wake) on purpose until half past eleven in order to have {#blank#}9{#/blank#}good look at the moon by myself. But as the moon gave far too much light, I {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(not dare) to open the window.

Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation

    BEIJING,  May 14 (Xinhua)—Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday said, “The Belt and Road Initiative (倡议) {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(be) a project of the century that will benefit people across the world. ”

    Xi made the remarks when {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(deliver) a speech at the opening ceremony of the two-day Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Named after the historic Silk Road, the Belt and Road Initiative {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(propose) by Xi in 2013 to chart out new fields for international cooperation.

    “Going through thousands of miles and years, the {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(anciently) silk routes embody (体现) the spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness (包容), mutual learning {#blank#}5{#/blank#} mutual benefit, ” Xi told an audience of more than 1, 500 from across the globe. “The Silk Road spirit  {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(become) a great heritage (遗产) of human civilization so far, ” he said.

    A total of 29 foreign {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(head) of state and government leaders attended the forum,  including Russian President Vladimir Putin. Other delegates (代表) include officials,  entrepreneurs,  financiers and journalists {#blank#}8{#/blank#} over 130 countries and representatives of key international organizations. The United States sent a delegation {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(lead) by Matt Pottinger.

    By all means, the forum, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} also features a round-table summit of global leaders on Monday, is one of the premium gatherings in today's world.

    When I was 14 years old, my best friend {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (drag) me to an after-school dance class, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} I enjoyed so much that I have been dancing ever since. After every dance class, however, I always have to stretch out my legs and back! It feels like as much exercise as {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (go) to the gym—but dancing is not {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (wide) considered to be a sport.

    Many dancers would argue that dancing is a sport, as it requires strong muscles and impressive flexibility. No matter what style of dance you are participating in, you will always be using all of {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (you) muscles while dancing and this can often be for several hours a day.

    On {#blank#}6{#/blank#} other hand, many people argue that dance is an art form. Dances often exhibit emotion (情感), tell {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (story), etc. Dancing to music is creative and visually appealing to the eyes and ears, just like watching a play or a(n) {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (profession) band. The shining costumes, the stage make-up and the big hairstyles are artistic and imaginative.

    However, whether you consider dance to be an art {#blank#}9{#/blank#} a sport, the important thing is to enjoy it! Dancing is a great way {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (make) new friends and exercise!

    Japan is a food heaven which has a unique food culture. You can find food from different countries worldwide in this island nation, and it is also very good at {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(combine) foreign food with its own traditional food. You may even find some food which {#blank#}2{#/blank#}only be found in Japan. One of them is called "Okosama Lunch," or "Kids' Lunch." In major department stores in Japan, there usually are many restaurants on the top floor of the building.' No matter what kind of food they serve, they usually have a menu for "Okosama Lunch." {#blank#}3{#/blank#}it is called a lunch, it is served at suppertime in most cases.

    It is said that "Okosama Lunch," a kid's menu was invented in 1930 by Taro Ando, a chief manager of Mitsukoshi Department, {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(famous) department store in Japan founded in1673. Ando came up with an idea to have a variety of food which kids like on one plate and decorate {#blank#}5{#/blank#}nicely. The plate usually has molded rice with a tiny national flag chosen from one of many countries on top. It was during the Depression (大萧条) {#blank#}6{#/blank#}Ando thought it would be nice {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(have) something looking good for kids to enjoy. Besides a small portion of rice, an "Okosama Lunch" usually contains kid's favorite food, such as hamburger steak, deep-fried chicken, red Vienna sausages, Spaghetti Neapolitan, fried shrimp and pudding.

    The details of this special menu are different from restaurant to restaurant, resulting in different types of "Okosama Lunch" across the country. They{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(design) to attract kids with popular comic characters on the plate."

    Now you can find "Okosama Lunch" anywhere in Japan. At some restaurants, they usually serve it only to kids {#blank#}9{#/blank#}ten years old. Next time you visit Japan, you {#blank#}10{#/blank#}try this special menu and enjoy Japanese food culture.

    If you visit a supermarket in the UK in March or April, you will notice a strange thing: Shelf after shelf is filled with large, brightly-colored eggs.

    Look a little {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (close) and you will discover something else. These eggs aren't real. In fact, they {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (make) of chocolate. And that can mean only one thing—it's Easter time again.

    Easter is a festival {#blank#}3{#/blank#} has been celebrated in Britain for thousands of years. These days we mark the occasion (场合) by {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (give) each other chocolate eggs, or Easter eggs. But what are the roots of this {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (tradition) event?

    For Christian people Easter is a religious festival. According {#blank#}6{#/blank#} the Bible, Jesus Christ was killed by the Romans {#blank#}7{#/blank#} came back to life three days later. That is {#blank#}8{#/blank#} Easter is seen as a time of rebirth.

    However, some people suggest that Easter has its origins in pre-Christian times. They say that the very earliest societies celebrated the end of winter and the beginning of spring—the time {#blank#}9{#/blank#} life returns to the land.

    Whatever its origins, Easter is big business. The UK's biggest retailer (零售商) of Easter eggs sold more than 20 million units last year and some Easter eggs {#blank#}10{#/blank#} cost more than £20!