Tai Chi Chuan is a type of ancient Chinese martial art. People ____16____ Tai Chi mainly for its health benefits. This centuries-old Chinese mind-body exercise is now gaining popularity in the United States. 

       The most familiar aspect of Tai Chi Chuan is the hand form, which is a series of slow-flowing movements with poetic names ____17____ “dragons stirring up the wind” and “wave hands like clouds.” These movements, forming an exercise system, ____18____ one to effortlessly experience the vital life force, or the Qi energy, in one’s body. 

       Tai Chi Chuan is not only a physical but also a ____19____ exercise. Psychologically, this exercise may increase communication between the body and the mind and enable one to deal with other people more effectively. It ____20____ stress and creates calmness and confidence. Relaxation and a feeling of joy are among the first noticeable differences in a Tai Chi student.

In the fall of 1973, in an effort to bring attention to the conflict between Egypt and Israel, World 

Hello Day was born. The objective is to promote peace all over the world, and to 26 barriers 

between every nationality. Since then, World Hello Day—November 21st of every year— 27 observed 

by people in 180 countries. 

Taking part couldn’t be 28 . All one has to do is say hello to 10 people on the day. However, in 

response to the 29 of this event, the concepts of fostering peace and harmony do not have to be 

confined to one day a year. We can 30 the spirit going by communicating often and consciously. It 

is a simple act that anyone can do and it reminds us that communication is more effective than conflict. 

      Saint Phalle’s sculptural park, “The Tarot Garden,” inspired by Tarot cards, is situated in the Italian province of Tuscany. __34__ The park contains sculptures of the symbols found on Tarot cards. The brightly colored combinations of buildings and sculptures reflect the metaphysical qualities represented by the 22 main tarot cards. The sculptures, however, have nothing to do with fortune telling. __35__ Saint Phalle passed away on May 21, 2002, in San Diego, California, at the age of 71. Her death meant the loss of a woman of diverse creative talents. (AB) The series is mostly composed of life-size dolls of women in various roles such as brides and new mothers. (AC) Work on the garden began in 1979, and it was officially opened to the public in May 1998. (AD) Many modern women artists create sculptures that have become iconic pieces of feminist movement. (AE) Through these joyful and powerful images of Nana, the artist sends a positive message to all women. (BC) Her rebelliousness created a series of conflicts with her family, which led to a nervous breakdown at age 23. (BD) Instead, the works focus on the elements of life experience, personality, and self-knowledge that the cards refer to.

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        Dimples are small folds or indentations on the cheeks of one’s face. Generally, they appear on both cheeks; a single dimple on one cheek is a relatively  31  phenomenon. Some cultures are found to show preference for dimples on one’s cheeks, as the feature is claimed to be a sign of  32  .
 Though often associated with beauty, most dimples are actually a genetic  33  caused by shortened facial muscles. When a person smiles, the shorter-than-normal muscle pulls up the facial skin, which in turn creates a small indentation—or dimple—in the skin. Such dimples tend to occur in families, and are assumed to be an inherited feature. In fact, some researchers believe that the  34  of dimples from parents to children takes only one gene. If neither of the parents has dimple genes, their children will not  35  the trait.
        Not all dimples are formed by a genetic defect, though; some may appear due to the  36  of excessive fat on the face. Such dimples are not a permanent trait, for they vanish when the excessive fat goes away. Many babies, for example, have dimples on their  37  cheeks. As they grow older and lose their baby fat, the dimples may  38  with time.
        For those people who were born without  39  dimples, various methods can be applied to successfully create them. These methods  40  from a simple step like makeup to a drastic one like surgery. It all depends on whether you think it is worth the effort. 

 

(AB) flaw (AC) exhibit (AD) chubby (AE) attractiveness (BC) fade (BD) rare (BE) range (CD) transfer (CE) natural (DE) presence

Capoeira is a martial art that combines elements of fight, acrobatics, drumming, singing, dance, and rituals. It involves a variety of techniques that make use of the hands, feet, legs, arms, and head. Although Capoeira appears dancelike, many of its basic techniques are similar to those in other martial arts. Capoeira was created nearly 500 years ago in Brazil by African slaves. It is believed that the martial art was connected with tribal fighting in Africa, in which people fought body to body, without weapons, in order to acquire a bride or desired woman. In the sixteenth century, when the Africans were taken from their homes to Brazil against their will and kept in slavery, Capoeira began to take form among the community of slaves for self-defense. But it soon became a strong weapon in the life-or-death struggle against their oppressors. When the slave owners realized the power of Capoeira, they began to punish those who practiced it. Capoeiristas learned to camouflage the forbidden fights with singing, clapping, and dancing as though it were simply entertainment. 

At first, Capoeira was considered illegal in Brazil. However, a man known as Mestre Bimba devoted a great deal of time and effort to convincing the Brazilian authorities that Capoeira has great cultural value and should become an official fighting style. He succeeded in his endeavor and transformed the martial art into Brazil’s national sport. He and Mestre Pastinha were the first to open schools, and the Capoeira tree grew, spreading its branches across the world. Nowadays, it is performed in movies and music clips. Capoeira is also believed to have influenced several dancing styles like breaking and hip-hop.

        Advertising can be persuasive communication not only about a product but also an idea or a person. __32__ Although political ads are supposed to be concerned with the public welfare, they are paid for and they all have a persuasive intent. __33__ A Bush campaign ad, for instance, did not ask anyone to buy anything, yet it attempted to persuade American citizens to view George Bush favorably. __34__ Critics of President Clinton’s health care plan used advertising to influence lawmakers and defeat the government’s plan.
        __35__ For instance, the international organization Greenpeace uses advertising to get their message out. In the ads, they warn people about serious pollution problems and the urgency of protecting the environment. They, too, are selling something and trying to make a point.
 (AB) Political advertising is one example. (AC) To put it another way, ads are communication designed to get someone to do something. (AD) Advertising can be the most important source of income for the media through which it is conducted. (AE) They differ from commercial ads in that political ads “sell” candidates rather than commercial goods. (BC) Aside from campaign advertising, political advertising is also used to persuade people to support or oppose proposals. (BD) In addition to political parties, environmental groups and human rights organizations also buy advertising to persuade people to accept their way of thinking.

   An ancient skull unearthed recently indicates that big cats originated in central Asia—not Africa as widely thought, paleontologists reported on Wednesday. 

   Dated at between 4.1 and 5.95 million years old, the fossil is the oldest remains ever found of a pantherine felid, as big cats are called. The previous felid record holder—tooth fragments found in Tanzania—is estimated to be around 3.8 million years old. 

   The evolution of big cats has been hotly discussed, and the issue is complicated by a lack of fossil evidence to settle the debate. 

   “This find suggests that big cats have a deeper evolutionary origin than previously suspected,” said Jack Tseng, a paleontologist of the University of Southern California who led the probe. 

   Tseng and his team made the find in 2010 in a remote border region in Tibet. The fossil was found stuck among more than 100 bones that were probably deposited by a river that exited a cliff. After three years of careful comparisons with other fossils, using DNA data to build a family tree, the team is convinced the creature was a pantherine felid. 

   The weight of evidence suggests that central or northern Asia is where big cats originated some 16 million years ago. They may have lived in a vast mountain refuge, formed by the uplifting Himalayas, feeding on equally remarkable species such as the Tibetan blue sheep. They then dispersed into Southeast Asia, evolving into the clouded leopard, tiger and snow leopard lineages, and later movements across continents saw them evolve into jaguars and lions. 

   The newly discovered felid has been called Panthera Blytheae, after Blythe Haaga, daughter of a couple who support a museum in Los Angeles, the university said in a news release.

   Most of us understand the results of not controlling our reactions __(34)__ stress. Forty-three percent of all adults suffer terrible health effects __(35)__ stress. Most physician office visits are for stress-related illnesses and complaints. Stress is linked to the six __(36)__ causes of death— heart disease, cancer, lung disease, accidents, liver disease, and suicide. Currently, health care costs account for __(37)__ twelve percent of the gross domestic product. 

   Yet, while stress may damage our health, it is sometimes necessary, __(38)__ desirable. Exciting or challenging events __(39)__ the birth of a child, completion of a major project at work, or moving to a new city generate __(40)__ much stress as does tragedy or disaster. And without stress, life would be dull. 

   Fortune cookies, commonly served after meals at Chinese restaurants in the U.S., are characterized by a fortune, which is written on a small piece of paper tucked inside the cookie. There are several 31 stories about the origin of the fortune cookie. None of them, however, has been proven to be entirely true. 

   One of these stories 32 the cookie’s origin back to 13 th - and 14th -century China, which was then occupied by the Mongols. According to the legend, notes of 33 plans for a revolution to overthrow the Mongols were hidden in mooncakes that would ordinarily have been stuffed with sweet bean paste. The revolution turned out to be 34 and eventually led to the formation of the Ming Dynasty. This story may sound highly credible, but there seems to be no solid evidence that it inspired the creation of the 35 we know of today as fortune cookies.

    Another 36 claims that David Jung, a Chinese immigrant living in Los Angeles, created the fortune cookie in 1918. Concerned about the poor people he saw wandering near his shop, he made cookies and passed them out free on the streets. Each cookie 37 a strip of paper inside with an inspirational Bible quotation on it. 

   However, the more generally accepted story is that the fortune cookie first 38 in either 1907 or 1914 in San Francisco, created by a Japanese immigrant, Makoto Hagiwara. The fortune cookie was based on a Japanese snack, but Hagiwara sweetened the recipe to appeal to American 39 . He enclosed thankyou notes in the cookies and served them to his guests with tea. Within a few years, Chinese restaurant owners in San Francisco had copied the recipe and 40 the thank-you notes with fortune notes. Such fortune cookies became common in Chinese restaurants in the U.S. after World War II. 

(AB) account (AC) appeared (AD) competing (AE) contained (BC) replaced (BD) secret (BE) successful (CD) tastes ( CE ) traces (DE) treats

     In certain forests, when you look up you will see a network of cracks formed by gaps between the outermost edges of tree branches. It looks like a precisely engineered jigsaw puzzle, each branch growing just perfectly so it almost,  11  , touches the neighboring tree. This beautiful phenomenon is called crown shyness.

     Scientists have been discussing crown shyness since the 1920s, proposing  12  explanations for the phenomenon. Some researchers point out that as trees often grow close together, treetops can easily collide and break when swayed by the wind. In order to protect their branches from breakage, trees maintain “shyness gaps”—spaces large enough to prevent them from touching their neighbors.

     Other scientists suggest that plants, like animals,  13  resources—nutrients, water, space, and light. In forested areas with thick tree crowns, there is intense struggle for these resources. Gaps in the treetops resulting from crown shyness may allow trees to increase their  14  light and enhance photosynthesis. Additionally, by having branches that do not touch those of their neighbors, trees may be able to limit the spread of leaf-eating insects, and potentially also the transmission of diseases from tree to tree.  15  decades of investigation, there is no consensus on exactly what causes the beautiful and mysterious phenomenon of crown shyness.

        The practice of burning paper money or paper model offerings at funerals in Chinese society can be traced back to the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD). Chinese people believe that when someone passes away, there is a death of the body, but the  21  continues to live in the next world. This “next world” is a mirror of the human world, where the “residents” need places to live, money to spend, daily necessities, and entertainment just like when they were  22  . Some of these necessities are buried with the deceased, while most others are “shipped” to them by burning paper models. As the ashes fly high, the offerings are  23  by the residents in the next world. Relatives of the deceased want to see their beloved family members live comfortably in the next world, so the paper houses are big and the cars are very  24  , mostly Mercedes-Benzes. A complete package of paper offerings may include a couple of servants, cash, and credit cards so that the deceased will have all their  25  satisfied. 

        These traditional paper offerings were sold only at specialty stores in the past. The style and variety of the products were  26  . For example, “houses” looked all the same and were built by pasting paper around a bamboo frame, with  27  of a door, windows, and a roof printed on it. There were no trendy, modern supplies to choose from. Now, the  28  can be made on the Internet. And with the incorporation of new materials and designs, paper offerings come in many more varieties. The old one-style-fits-all houses have been  29  by buildings that are fully equipped with decorations, furniture, and household appliances. Digital cameras, iPhones, and even skin care products are also  30  . It seems that, with the help of a simple click, this old Chinese tradition has been given a face-lift. 

(AB) replaced (AC) mortal (AD) spirit (AE) available (BC) journey (BD) luxurious (BE) collected (CD) purchase (CE) alive (DE) needs (ABC) limited (ABD) images

       A stable, cheap source of protein in Indonesia for centuries, tempeh is a fermented food originating from the island of Java. It was discovered during tofu production when discarded soybean residue caught microbial spores from the air and grew certain whitish fungi around it. When this fermented residue was found to be edible and tasty, people began producing it at home for daily consumption across the country. This has given rise to many variations in its flavor and texture throughout different Indonesian regions. 

       Tempeh is high in protein and low in fat, and contains a host of vitamins. In fact, it is the only reported plant-based source of vitamin B12. Apart from being able to help reduce cholesterol, increase bone density, and promote muscle recovery, tempeh has a lot of polyphenols that protect skin cells and slow down the aging process. Best of all, with the same protein quality as meat and the ability to take on many flavors and textures, tempeh is a great meat substitute—something the vegetarian and vegan communities have been quick in adopting. 

       In addition to its highly nutritional makeup, tempeh has diverse preparation possibilities. It can be served as a main course (usually in curries) or a side dish to be eaten with rice, as a deep-fried snack, or even blended into smoothies and healthy juices. Though not yet a popular food among international diners, you may find tempeh-substituted BLTs (bacon, lettuce, tomato sandwiches) in San Francisco as easily as you can find vegetarian burgers with tempeh patties in Bali. 

       For the people of Indonesia, tempeh is not just food but also has cultural value. With the Indonesian traditional fabric batik being recognized by UNESCO as “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,” tempeh has great potential for this honor as well.