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.

    Dogs are often called “man's best friend” and make ideal pets.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} most attractive quality of a dog is its faith in its owner. They always greet us when we come home and they will never leave us even {#blank#}2{#/blank#} a desperate (绝望的) situation. For example, there was a very sick man and his dog barked and barked until the rescue team {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (arrive).

    Furthermore, dogs are strong animals {#blank#}4{#/blank#} will protect us. Houses with dogs are considered much {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (safe) than those with burglar alarms (防盗警报器). Not only will they stop thieves, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} they will also guard against fire. For example, there was a serious fire and a dog managed {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (pull) its owner out.

    And {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (final), dogs can be trained by people. Dogs can do a number of things that people can not. For example, they can find drugs, bodies, illegal DVDs and hunt down prisoners with {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (they) nose. They're also used to help the elderly and disabled.

    To sum up, dogs are really friendly, civilized(文明的) and loyal {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (partner).

    In England the launch of the Christmas advert (广告) seems to signal the start of the Christmas period. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, I don't think it is seen as such a big event in France. Yes, of course they celebrate Christmas here, and there are obviously {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (display) in shops and Christmas markets, but there seem to be no signs of Christmas adverts. I'm sure they exist but they don't seem to have the same impact here, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}they do in the UK.

    Through the power of all kinds of {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (society) media, Christmas adverts in the UK are even starting to spread to other countries. Some of {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (I) French friends seemed to know about the John Lewis Christmas adverts, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} is undoubtedly the one people are fond of each year.

    The main reason why I look forward {#blank#}7{#/blank#} the Christmas advert each year is {#blank#}8{#/blank#} it signals the approach of the festival period for me and is something that reminds me of home. I think it's always nice to have something {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (remind) you of home when living in {#blank#}10{#/blank#} foreign country.

    The Silk Road is in fact a relatively recent term. These ancient roads had no particular name until in the mid-19th century, a European {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (name)the trade and communication network the Silk Road. Since then the term {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (accept)globally.

    In the nineteenth century, a new type of travelers stepped onto the Silk Road, who were eager {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (look)for adventure. Researchers who came from many countries traveled through the Taklamakan Desert, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} is now in Xinjiang, to explore ancient sites along the Silk Road {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (lead) to many discoveries and studies, and most of all, a renewed interest {#blank#}6{#/blank#} the history of these routes.

    Today, many historic {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (build) and monuments still stand, marking the passage of the Silk Road through hotels, ports and cities. What's more, the remarkable network is reflected in {#blank#}8{#/blank#} large number of cultures, languages, customs and religions that have developed for many years along these routes The passage of merchants and travelers of many {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (difference)nationalities resulted not only in commercial exchange, but in a widespread and continual process of cultural interaction. {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (obvious),it has become a driving force in the formation(形式)of diverse societies.

    The Han people have its own spoken and written language-Chinese. Chinese belongs to the Han-Tibetan language family. It is the {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (common) used language in China and among the largest languages in the world.

    Written Chinese came out in {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (it) earliest form approximately 6,000 years ago. The Chinese characters {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (use) today, also called “Hanzi”, developed from those used in bones and tortoise shells more than 3,000 years ago. There are about 56,000 characters, of which only about 3,000 are in common use.

    Mandarin is a category (种类) of Chinese {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (dialect) spoken across most of northern and {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (southwest) China. The term “Mandarin” can also refer to Standard Mandarin, which {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (base) on the Mandarin dialect spoken in Beijing. It is officially considered to be the standard for the People's Republic of China.

    Why do most non-Chinese speakers choose to learn standard Mandarin Chinese? Mandarin is understood by most Chinese people. As mentioned above, it is China's national language. {#blank#}7{#/blank#} you are interested in basic communication, scholarly research, or {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (pursue) a career in China, standard Mandarin is {#blank#}9{#/blank#} necessary tool for communication. And it often serves {#blank#}10{#/blank#} a bridge for communication.

    Spring is coming. Everything is waking from its winter sleep. The fields {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(dress) in a fresh robe of green. The wild flowers begin to peep forth(隐隐露出). Birds sing among the trees, and begin to get their nests ready {#blank#}2{#/blank#} summer. Men are now sowing seeds in the fields. The days are {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(warm), for brighter sunshine has come again. Everything is full of life and joy.