It is commonly believed that the earliest Chinese paper-cuts appeared during the sixth century. Some scholars believe it was even earlier. Legend has it that during the Western Han Dynasty(206BC-AD24), Emperor Wudi was very sad after one of his favorite concubines, Madame Li, died. A Taoist priest, Li Shaoweng, cut a piece of hemp paper in the shape of Madame Li. When evening fell, the emperor's servants lit candles in his bedroom; the reflection of that paper-cut on the wall made the emperor think about his beloved concubine.
The Yuxian paper-cut is different from most paper-cuts produced in other regions of China. Paper-cuts from other regions are mostly cut with scissors or knives from single-colored paper, such as red or black paper.
There are four major procedures to making the Yuxian paper-cut: First, sketch the pattern on the draft paper; second, fasten the draft to the paper to be cut; third, use a knife to carve out the pattern; and fourth, dye (染色) the paper-cut with various colors.
Precise cutting skills are needed to make a piece of the Yuxian paper-cut, which highlights the craft maker's artistic taste and dyeing skills. That explains the following saying: "The successful making of a Yuxian paper-cut is 30 percent dependent on the maker's cutting skills, and 70 percent on the maker's dyeing skills."
The traditional Yuxian paper-cut highlights two themes: flowers and characters in Chinese operas. The paper-cut is particularly known for its vivid description of characters in various traditional Chinese operas. In October 2009, the art of Yuxian's paper-cut was added to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage (非物质文化遗产) established by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization).
Every year on April 1, April Fools' Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. In France, it's called "Poisson d' Avril" or "Fish of April." In Scotland, the holiday is often called "Gowkie Day." In Iraq, the holiday is called Kithbet Neesan or "April Lie."
History experts say people have celebrated April Fools' Day for a long time. Some believe the tradition comes from the ancient Romans more than two thousand years ago. It was a day of playing games and pretending to be someone else.
Others say the day for fooling began in France in 1564, when King Charles changed the yearly calendar. He moved New Year's Day from April 1 to January 1. Many people did not know about the change because of communication problems back then. Some people continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April 1. Other people called them April Fools and played jokes on them.
In the United States, April Fools' Day is just a day of joking and playing tricks on friends. These kinds of jokes are also called pranks. These jokes typically end in the prankster shouting "April Fools'!"
Simple pranks, like telling a friend a funny lie or making prank phone calls, are still common. But, major companies also get in on April Fools' Day fun in a much bigger way. A few years ago, on April 1, Starbucks announced it was introducing new coffee cup sizes -- Plenta and Micra. The very large cups, bigger than a human head, remained useful for customers even after finishing all that coffee. According to Starbucks, the cups could be used as a rain hat, a pot for plants, or a lampshade.
It did not take long for customers to catch on to the prank! More and more people use social media or smart phone apps to play pranks on their friends on April Fools' Day. One very annoying smart phone app, Cat Facts, sends funny facts about cats to your friends' phones, every day.
Manutea Owen is a hero on his home island of Huahine. His ancestors took over nearly every island in the South Pacific Ocean in what was perhaps the greatest achievement before humans went to the moon. Only recently have scientists begun to understand where these amazing sailors came from, and how, with simple boats and no navigation equipment, they could manage to find hundreds of distant islands that cover nearly a third of the globe. This expansion into the Pacific was achieved by two wonderful peoples: the Lapita and the Polynesians.
How did the Lapita and early Polynesian pioneers do this? Very little evidence remains to help scientists understand their great sailing skills. However, with little evidence, scientists have been able to develop some theories about the secrets of these explorers' success.
Sailors have always relied upon the so-called trade winds, winds that blow steadily (匀速地) and in predictable directions over the ocean's surface. Geoff Irwin, a professor of archeology (考古学) notes that the Lapita's expansion into the Pacific was eastward, against steady trade winds. Sailing against the wind, he argues, may have been the key to their success.
Athol Anderson of the Australian National University believes that they may also have been lucky—helped by a weather phenomenon known as EI Nino. E1 Nino occurs in the Pacific Ocean when the surface water temperature is unusually high. It affects world weather in a variety of ways, but one of its effects is to cause trade winds in the South Pacific to weaken or to change direction and blow to the east. Scientists believe that E1 Nino phenomena were unusually frequent around the time of the Lapita expansion, and again when early Polynesians began their even more distant journeys.
The success of the Lapita and the Polynesian may have been because of their own sailing skills, of reverse (反向的) trade winds, of a mixture of both, or even of facts still unknown. But it is certain that by the time Europeans came to the Pacific, nearly every piece of land, hundreds of islands in all, had already been discovered by the Lapita and the Polynesians.
A few years ago, I took a sightseeing trip to Washington, D.C. Standing outside the Ronald Reagan Center, I heard a voice say, "Can you help me?" When I turned around, I saw an elderly blind woman with her hand extended. In a natural reflex, I reached into my pocket, pulled out all of my loose change and placed it on her hand without even looking at her. I was annoyed at being bothered by a beggar. But the blind woman smiled and said, "I don't want your money. I just need help finding the post office."
In a moment, I realized what I had done. I judged another person simply for what I assumed she had to be. I hated what I saw in myself. This incident re- awakened my belief in humility (谦恭), even though I'd lost it for a moment.
The thing I had forgotten about myself is that I am an immigrant. I left Honduras and arrived in the U.S. at the age of 15. I started my new life with two suitcases, my brother and sister, and a strong, serious-minded mother. Through the years, I have been a dishwasher, mechanic and pizza delivery driver among many other humble jobs, and eventually I became a network engineer.
In my own life, I have experienced many open acts of prejudice (偏见). I remember a time, at age 17 — I worked as a waiter, and I heard a father tell his little boy that if he did not do well in school, he would end up like me. I have also witnessed the same treatment of my family and friends, so I know what it's like, and I should have known better.
But now, living in my American middle-class lifestyle, it is too easy to forget my past, to forget who I am and where I have been, and to lose sight of where I want to be going. That blind woman on the streets of Washington, D.C., cured me of my blindness. She reminded me of my belief in humility and to always keep my eyes and heart open. By the way, I helped that lady to the post office. And in writing this essay, I hope to thank her for the priceless lesson.
A volunteering vacation can be a meaningful way to spend your time off, but to make the trip satisfying both for you and the cause you are supporting, several factors need to be considered. Here is some advice on planning the ideal vacation:
There are hundreds of causes to volunteer for, and finding one close to your heart will lead to a more worthwhile trip. Possibilities include wildlife conservation, education, environmental protection, health and nutrition. Also, consider any personal and professional skills that you can contribute.
Choose your destination and setting. Your volunteering trip will be more enjoyable if you use it to reach a favorite destination. If Southeast Asia is on your mind, helping with tree-planting programs in Bali would benefit the environment and let you appreciate the scenic island.
Is volunteering outdoors in a hot or snowy climate appealing, or do you prefer being in an air-conditioned office?
Ask the right questions. Be aware that most volunteering programs require a weeklong commitment. Ask other questions like: How many hours of work per day is required? Are there days off? Will you be working individually or as part of a team? And what are the goals of your efforts? Ask if the cost includes only accommodations or meals and transportation too.
A. Figure out your cause.
B. Find a well-respected organization.
C. And think about the surroundings you want.
D. Your duty there is to help, as well as to rest and relax.
E. The more you know about your trip, the more successful it will be.
F. Despite the word “volunteer”, these vacations usually cost you some money.
G. If you're a doctor, for example, working at a health clinic could be an ideal fit.
Last fall I hung outside my window a bird feeder(喂鸟的食槽). Knowing 1about wild birds, I 2that3 I hung this bird feeder outside, numbers of beautiful birds would be swooping(飞扑)to my new addition. However, days, weeks, and months4, NO BIRDS.
I asked so many people, “What to do？5 was I doing wrong？”“Nothing, ”most of them replied, “just6！”So I waited and waited and waited, trying everything7to attract these birds. I cleaned off the deck(平台), 8the feed, and washed the feeder. I9 made the cat go out the other door！But nothing seemed to10. So I waited with patience and11.
Two months later, on a Saturday afternoon, I 12 ！What came to my eyes was the most beautiful bird I have ever seen in my life！All of a13 , hundreds of birds were14 from everywhere!
What a beautiful15I learned from this little creature！Patience and hope will16 the beautiful things in life. Yet I had never17how much patience I really do have and how much I do rely on hope to 18 the questions in my heart.
So I 19hoping and waiting, waiting and hoping. I will try to use this “little lesson” with so many other things in my life. I guess patience is a 20 after all.
To any soldier
I served as a second lieutenant (少尉) in a war thirty years ago. Married for only a year and a half, I missed my wife and baby daughter a lot. In the years before cell phones and Wi-Fi, we had limited opportunities (communicate) with loved ones.
One night while sitting by myself, I investigated the "Any Soldier" mailbox, a cardboard box with letters and packages from Americans. I chose one shoebox-size package. Inside I found about 20 greeting cards children. At the bottom was a letter written by their teacher (explain) how her kids had put the box together and how they supported our efforts in the war. Truly touched at that very moment by this gesture, I decided to write a letter of gratitude. I thanked the teacher for her children had done—its impact on my patriotism, my morale, and, (significantly), my uplifted faith. For security reasons, I was able to sign only my name.
Around 2013, I received a Facebook friend request from a woman with I shared no contacts. I replied that we were friends, I could not accept her request. She responded with one question: "Are you Second Lieutenant Bartholomew?" I replied that I had been at one time.
"Dear sir," she wrote. "We have never met, but thirty years ago I was a second-grade teacher at a school in Ohio and our classroom sent a care package (address) to Any Service Member.' The thank-you letter you composed was framed and it (post) on the wall of the school for more than 20 years. I wanted to again thank you for your service to our country."
We never spoke again, but this gracious teacher strengthened my belief in doing what my mother always taught me: Write thank-you notes— never know how many people your kindness can touch.
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（^），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下面划一横线，并在该词下面写出改正后的词。
注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；2．只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Dear Brown，
Last summer I take a parttime job in the International Camp for children. I have been told one more worker will needed this year and I think you are fit to it. How about join us? The camp is at the foot of a small hill close to a river. It is so a beautiful place！We can hear birds singing happy all around. Everybody sleeps in tents，that is very exciting. We usually work only five hours a day，so they will have plenty of spare time to visit the area and have a fun. I am sure it will be an unforgettable experience. If you have interests in it，reply to me soon.
1）宽慰他； 2）给予改进学习的建议（至少两点）； 3）邀请周末去打篮球。
注意：1）字数100字左右；
2）可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3）开头和结尾已给出，不计入字数。
参考词汇：宽慰comfort
Dear Mike，
I'm sorry to hear that you failed in the last exam.
Hoping everything will be fine with you.
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
