China's Tea Villages

    In most Chinese tea villages, March is the time of year in which locals start to pick and process tea. The{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (usual) 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 (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.

    Did you grow up in one culture, your parents came from another, and you are now living in a {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (total) different country? If so, then you are a third-culture kid.

    The term “third—culture kid” {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (use) in the 1960s for the first time by Dr. Ruth. She first came across this phenomenon while {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (research) North American children living in India. In general, third-culture kids benefit from{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (they) intercultural experience and they often reach excellent academic results.

    Yet many {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (difficulty) may arise from this phenomenon. Third-culture kids may not be able to adapt themselves completely {#blank#}6{#/blank#} their new surroundings. Also, they often find it hard {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (develop) new friendship. Additionally, for a third-culture kid, it is often easier to move to a new country {#blank#}8{#/blank#} to return to his homeland. For example, after living in Australia for many years, Louis finally returned to the country {#blank#}9{#/blank#} she was born. She didn't know anything about current TV shows {#blank#}10{#/blank#} fashion trends. And she didn't share the same values as other teens of her age.

    A young man and an old man were waiting for a bus. They sat next to each other. "What's that in your bag?" asked the young man. "Gold." answered the old man. The young man could not believe his own ears. Then he began to think about how {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (get) the money. The old man was very tired and {#blank#}2{#/blank#} seemed that he could hardly keep his eyes open. After a while the old man {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(lie) down on the chair and fell {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(sleep). The young man took {#blank#}5{#/blank#} big bag quietly. But when he was just about to run away, he found a corner of his fur coat was under the man's body. Several times he tried to pull it out, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} he couldn't make it. At last he took off his coat, {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(think) that the gold in the bag must cost far more than his fur coat. Then the young man ran out of the station {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(quick), until he reached a place {#blank#}9{#/blank#} he thought the old man could not find him. He opened the bag but he just found many small stones in it. Then he ran back to the station only to find that the old man was {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(go).

    I had always considered acupuncture (针灸) old-fashioned. But the drama of my recent strange illness and recovery changed my mind {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (complete).

    Last month, after sleeping through a flight, I discovered I couldn't move my right arm and fingers. The doctors diagnosed me with neural (神经的) injury. I was scared. Luckily, Richard, an acupuncturist, offered {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (help) me.

    I started my acupuncture treatment. Dozens of tiny needles {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (insert) across my arm and fingers. I dared not move, because even a small change of position could cause a sharp pain. After a few days, I could move my fingers. Two weeks {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (go) by before I could eat a meal with chopsticks. Within a month, my arm and fingers were almost back to {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (they) normal functions.

    In that clinic, I made friends with many other patients and heard their {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (story). One lady, who became deaf two months ago, has recovered her hearing abilities. I was very surprised at {#blank#}7{#/blank#} magic these tiny needles are.

    Acupuncture originated in China 2,000 years ago. Essentially, it functions {#blank#}8{#/blank#} improving the smooth flow of life force energy, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (know) in Chinese as "qi". Although acupuncture may not cure all illnesses, at least it creates a good starting point for a healthy body. I hope the {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (wise) of acupuncture will continue to bring health to more friends.

    I had hardly sat down on the train and opened a bar of chocolate {#blank#}1{#/blank#} a really old man with huge bags sat down across from me. I said hello {#blank#}2{#/blank#} him, smiling sweetly and then I suddenly thought, "Why not offer him a piece of chocolate？" So I did. He was quite {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (surprise), but accepted and thanked me. He said that people didn't usually do things like this for {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (strange) and at least that was what I understood, because he was speaking a really {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (usual) dialect.

    Then he opened one of his bags and gave me {#blank#}6{#/blank#} handful of freshly picked cherries, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (explain) that he had just taken them from his orchard. The cherries were really lovely, better than those in the shops, and I enjoyed them very much. It had been just an impulse (冲动) to offer him a piece of chocolate, but if I {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (not do) so, I would never have tasted those lovely cherries, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} I didn't even know he had at the time. Life is about giving and taking, and it's {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (general) true that if you give, you will receive.

Linqing City is connected to Beijing, over 400 kilometers away, through its tribute(贡品) bricks. Linqing tribute bricks, or Gong Bricks, were transported to the country's capital through the Grand Canal for the {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (construct) of historical buildings like the Forbidden City. Local people call the type of brick a legend {#blank#}2{#/blank#} flows from the Grand Canal. This "legend" {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(list) as an example of national cultural heritage on June 14, 2008.

Linqing sits at the confluence (交汇处) of the Weihe River and the Grand Canal, making transportation very {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(convenience) .

During the Ming and Qing (1368-1912) dynasties, Linqing was a large important city {#blank#}5{#/blank#}a population of over one million. Linging tribute bricks earned their reputation during the Ming Dynasty, when they were {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(wide) used for imperial buildings. Apart from the transport links, the quality of the brick is one factor to make {#blank#}7{#/blank#}famous.

The "Lianhua" soil in Linging is {#blank#}8{#/blank#}ideal raw material for bricks. The city is located in the plain of the Yellow River. So when the Yellow River floods, there will always be a layer of fine sandy soil {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(cover) the local soil. Over time, a layer of sandy soil and a layer of clay will form an overlapping structure, known as "Lianhua". Linging tribute bricks {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(make) of this soil will not be out of shape easily.