For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes Io translate a passage from Chinese into English.
宋朝始于960年，一直延续到1279年。这一时期，中国经济大幅增长，成为世界上最先进的经济体，科学、技术、 哲学和数学蓬勃发展。宋代中国是世界历史上首先发行纸币的国家。宋朝还最早使用火药并发明了活字(movable- type). 印刷。人口增长迅速，越来越多的人住进城市，那里有热闹的娱乐场所。社会生活多种多样。人们聚集在一起观看和交易珍贵艺术品。宋朝的政府体制在当时也是先进的。政府官员均通过竞争性考试选拔任用。
The Song Dynasty began in 960 and continued until 1279. In this era of substantial economic growth, China became the world’s strongest economy where science, technology, philosophy and mathe¬matics flourished. China back then was the first country in the world history to issue paper money. It is also in the Song Dynasty that gunpowder began to be used and movable-type printing was invented for the first time. With a booming population, more and more people migrated to cities where bustling places of entertainment could be found. There was a diversity of social activities. For example, citizens often gathered to appreciate and trade precious artworks. The governmental structure of the Song Dynasty was also advanced, with government officials all selected and appointed through competitive examinations.
