Has your mother or grandmother ever made embroidered (刺绣的)clothes for you? In the past, Chinese people often embroidered on hats, shoes and dresses. Some girls would even embroider on a sachet (香囊)as a gift for their lovers.

Shu embroidery comes from Sichuan. It is said that Shu embroidery is the old lest kind of embroidery in China. People began to make it during the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD).They sold it to other countries such as ancient Rome.

Shu embroidery takes time. It might take as long as a whole day to finish just 10 cm. Embroidery workers need to divide each silk thread (丝线) into more than 10 or over 30 smaller threads. Each smaller thread is thinner than a human hair.

Meng Dezhi, who used to work at the Chengdu Shu Embroidery Factory，has been making Shu embroidery for over 40 years. She loves this form of art and wants more people to try it, so she gives lessons in universities. She said. "Although the work is hard, Shu embroidery stands for thousands of years of Sichuan culture. It is a symbol of Chinese culture as well."

There are many festivals around the world. Dads have Father's Day. Mums have Mother's Day. But do our grandparents have a 1 ? Yes, they do.

The Double Ninth Festival is a 2  day for old people in China. The festival is on lunar September 9th. On this day, people show 3  and respect (尊敬)for their grandparents.

Respecting old people is a tradition in China. There are many ways for Chinese people to 4 their respect. When an old person enters a room, everyone should stand up. Also, people are introduced from the 5 to the youngest. When we give something to an old person, two hands are used. The old usually don't have to buy tickets for buses and young people always 6 their seats to old people on a crowded subway or bus.

However, in western countries, old people have 7 lifestyles from those in China. They don't often live with their children—they live 8 . They don't want to get help from 9 . They even don't want to be offered seats by others.

Westerners still respect old people. For holidays, families usually 10 at the grand-parents' homes. A great smile and a warm hug are enough for grown children to show their respect.

We all know that paper-making, gunpowder, the compass and the art of {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (print) are the Four Great Inventions of ancient China. But have you heard of another important invention—the abacus (算盘)?

It's said that Li Shou (隶首) invented the abacus. It {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (be) around for over 5, 000 years. Some researchers believe the abacus has a {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (long) history than the other calculators (计算器) in the world. In China, people {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (use) abacuses to do calculations for thousands of years before people use electronic calculators in daily lives. 

The abacus is usually made of wood. It has many beads (珠子). Each bead above the abacus stands for five, and each bead below stands for one. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} moving the beads up or down, one can do all kinds of calculations. 

It is pleasant thing to watch a skilled hand use an abacus. Fingers move, beads knock, and after {#blank#}6{#/blank#} few seconds, the result comes out. In the past, the use of the abacus was a necessary skill. {#blank#}7{#/blank#} it was taught in many schools. 

Today, because we have been used to {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (use) electronic calculators, we don't have many chances to see an abacus in our daily lives. Many young people have not even {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (hear) of the word "abacus". However, the abacus still plays an important role in certain situations. 

The abacus is one of the important inventions in Chinese history. It used to make a big difference to Chinese people's life. It is one of the {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (reason) why we are proud of China. It shows the great wisdom of the ancient Chinese people. It is our national treasure.

When we think of Hollywood（好莱坞），we think of films and famous （著名的）film stars.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Today people make films in other places，too.Not all famous film stars live in Hollywood.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}You can easily see where Hollywood is in Los Angeles（洛杉矶）. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} It says "HOLIYWOOD".The white letters are fifty feet tall.You can see the sign from far away.The Hollywood sign is a famous Hollywood landmark（印迹） Los Angeles.Many postcards show this famous Hollywood landmark.

In the hill（小山）of Hollywood，there is also the Hollywood Bowl.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} It has seventeen thousand seats and a very different stage（舞台）.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} You can listen to all kinds of concerts（音乐）at the Hollywood Bowl.

A．We all like the city.

B．There is a big sign（标志）on the hills.

C．Hollywood is a famous city in the USA．

D．They're part（部分）of Hollywood's history.

E．This is one of the open—air theaters（剧场）in the world.

F．The design（设计）of the stage was by a great American called Frank Lcoyed Wright.

G．But Hollywood is still a very special city in Los Angeles，California（加利福尼亚洲）.

Chinese martial arts, also called kung fu, make up a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. Chinese kung fu started in China. It is {#blank#}1{#/blank#} fast as the wind, as stable (稳定的) as the mountains and as powerful as fire. Kung fu is not only {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (use)but also graceful. Therefore, kung fu is {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (regard) as the Oriental martial art. Many foreigners want to learn it, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} more and more special schools for learning martial arts appeared in many other countries around the world. 

Over centuries of development, the term "kung fu" has now covered a number of fighting {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (style). The famous ones are tai chi, Shaolin kung fu and ginggong. Kung fu is good {#blank#}6{#/blank#} health and self-defense(自我防卫). In recent years, kung fu {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (become) more and more popular all over the world. 

There have been famous kung fu {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (star) like Bruce Lee. He played {#blank#}9{#/blank#} important role in {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (develop) Jeet Kune Do(截拳道). His kung fu u skills have been kept alive by actors like Jackie Chan. Nowadays, many people still learn kung fu skills. 

Last Friday morning, we had a Chinese lesson. Our teacher asked us a question, "Who is the best {#blank#}1{#/blank#} in Chinese history?" Many students said Confucius.

 Confucius was born over 2,000 years ago. His father died (死) when he was only 3 and he had to work to {#blank#}2{#/blank#} his mother. Young Confucius studied very hard. He visited many famous teachers to get {#blank#}3{#/blank#} . When he was thirty, he became a teacher. He taught about 3,000 students, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Chinese people say he was a great thinker(思想家). And many of his students were great thinkers, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} .

 Now people still {#blank#}6{#/blank#} him and love him after so many years. Why? Because his ideas help {#blank#}7{#/blank#} in our everyday life. His most important ideas are to be kind to others.

 Confucius said young people should be，{#blank#}8{#/blank#} to the old people. Brothers and sisters should love each other. If someone makes mistakes, we should{#blank#}9{#/blank#} them out. The ideas are always famous {#blank#}10{#/blank#} China. People in many other places welcome them too. They think his ideas make the world a better place. We should learn from the great thinker.

 That's really an important lesson!