East China’s Anhui Province is home to a village that shows China’s past glory with local features. People call it “a village in a Chinese painting”.

【小题1】 (lie) at the foot of the famous Mount Huangshan, the 900-year-old village of Hongcun has kept its 【小题2】 (peace) atmosphere (气氛) and classic buildings in Hui style from ancient times.

The beautiful halls and memorial archways (拱门) 【小题3】 (build) during the Ming and Qing dynasties with white walls and grey roofs. Its unique building style is shown in simple colors but 【小题4】 (have) fine carvings (雕刻) of different kinds. One of the 【小题5】 (good) examples is the Chengzhi Hall built by a rich salt seller in 1855, which is now open 【小题6】 the public. Visitors could appreciate the beautiful woodcarvings and the amazing doors and windows, 【小题7】 lots of gold powder (粉末) was used during the building.

Besides ancient houses, Hongcun also enjoys lovely water scenery. The Moon Pond, a large half-moon-shaped lake in 【小题8】 center of the village , is always in the spotlight. The mirror-like stillness of the water creates a quiet atmosphere.

In Chinese culture, the full moon symbolizes prosperity (繁荣). Then why wasn’t the pond created that way? It is said that although the full moon carries a good 【小题9】 (mean), the half moon appears for longer than the full moon in the lunar cycle. By choosing the shape of the half moon, the locals hoped 【小题10】 (keep) the prosperity of the village.

Ireland’s beautiful countryside has always had 【小题1】 great influence on its people and traditions. The country has a long history of 【小题2】 (produce) great writers and poets. The peaceful landscape of the “Emerald Isle” 【小题3】 (be) a true feast for the eyes with rolling green hills beautifully 【小题4】 (dot) with sheep and cattle. And down by the sea, the roar of the ocean waves and cries of the 【小题5】 (seabird) make up the music of the coast. On a quiet morning in the mountains, feel the sun on your skin, 【小题6】 breathe in the sweet scent of fresh flowers while birds greet the new day with their morning song. With all this beauty, it is not surprising that Ireland has developed strong traditions 【小题7】 include music, dancing, and dining. 【小题8】 (have) a chance of experiencing this, stop by a village pub and relax with a glass of wine or a local beer. Better yet, enjoy a delicious traditional Irish Beef Stew. If you’re 【小题9】 (luck), you might be able to enjoy some traditional music and dancing, too. And if you introduce 【小题10】 (you) to a friendly face, you are more than likely to experience local culture and customs first-hand.