According to Chinese history, sky lanterns were first used by Zhuge Kongming. He sent them out to ask for {#blank#}1{#/blank#}when in trouble. Today, sky lanterns are used at{#blank#}2{#/blank#}and other celebrations. They are made of bamboo and covered with paper. When the lanterns are lit, they slowly {#blank#}3{#/blank#} into the air like small hot-air balloons for all to see. They are seen as bright symbols of happiness and good wishes.

    Paper cutting has been around for over 1,500 years. Paper cutting sounds very easy but it can be {#blank#}4{#/blank#}to do. The paper, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}red, is folded before it is cut with scissors. The most common pictures are flowers, animals, and things about Chinese history. During the Spring Festival, they are put on windows, doors and walls as symbols of wishes for good {#blank#}6{#/blank#} and a happy new year.

    Chinese clay art is famous {#blank#}7{#/blank#}the clay pieces are so small but they look very real. The pieces are usually cute children or {#blank#}8{#/blank#}characters from a Chinese fairy tale or historical story. The pieces are carefully shaped by hand from a very special kind of clay and then allowed to air-dry. After{#blank#}9{#/blank#}, they are fried at a very high heat. They are then polished and painted. It takes {#blank#}10{#/blank#}weeks to complete everything. These small pieces of clay art show the love that all Chinese people have for life and beauty.

    Have you ever read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone? It must be the {#blank#}1{#/blank#} popular book for almost all the children in the world. The idea for the book came to J. K. Rowling in 1990. It {#blank#}2{#/blank#} her seven years to finish writing it. During those seven years she had a number of jobs, for {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, being an English teacher in Portugal. Rowling sent the book to four publishers (出版商) before one of them bought it. She was very {#blank#}4{#/blank#} to sell her book because it was her dream to be a writer. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} she sold her book, Rowling was living in a small flat (公寓) with {#blank#}6{#/blank#} daughter and was very poor. She didn't have enough money to {#blank#}7{#/blank#} for heat in winter. Harry Potter became a favorite with children and adults in England and then around the world. It was put into (被译成) more than thirty-five {#blank#}8{#/blank#}. After her second and third books were published, the three Harry Potter books filled the top three places on many lists of newspapers of the most popular books. {#blank#}9{#/blank#} any question, Rowling's life {#blank#}10{#/blank#} changed and she became one of the most famous women writers in the world.