Use of English

First Impressions of China

Anyone visiting China for the first time is likely to be (0) TAKEN aback by the sheer scale of everything. Cities seem to stretch far beyond the horizon, and even a quick trip to buy noodles can (1) .......... into a full adventure. One minute you are confidently following a map; the next, you are (2) .......... up in a market where nobody appears remotely surprised by your confusion. Yet this is precisely part of the charm. China has a remarkable capacity to (3) .......... visitors with moments that are both bewildering and delightful. Of course, it helps to keep an open mind. Customs may differ, meals may arrive in an order that leaves you wondering whether dessert has (4) .......... before dinner, and train stations can test your ability to remain calm under pressure. Even so, most travellers soon (5) .......... on to the rhythm of daily life and begin to enjoy the unpredictability. A stranger may go out of their way to help, a quiet street may suddenly (6) .......... into a festival, and an ordinary walk can provide stories for years. In the end, visiting China is less about sticking rigidly to a plan and more about being willing to (7) .......... with the unexpected. Do that, and you will almost certainly come (8) .......... with memories far better than anything in your guidebook.