Forests of longleaf pine trees once covered two-thirds of the southeastern US. About 95% of those forests     1    （cut）since the beginning of the last century. But now these forests are returning.

The wood of the tree is very strong. Most buildings in the southern US used to contain longleaf pine wood. Today, after longleaf pine is no     2    （long） wanted to build houses, people are reusing the wood because it’s still good and resists water and insect damage. The tree is also     3    （value）to the environment since it stores CO₂ in its wood.

The US government has several programs to protect and expand longleaf pine forests, one of     4     is the Safe Harbor Program.     5     uses voluntary agreements with private landowners     6    （help）endangered animals. Now, farmers and landowners     7    （live）in the southeastern US are growing new longleaf pine trees. Instead of cutting the trees     8     wood, they are finding ways to make money from the forest of trees. One way is by selling the     9    （leaf）or needles of the trees as a ground cover. Another way is to sell hunting rights. Hunting wild pigs     10    （be） a popular sport in the southern US and the fight to hunt on land can cost from $200 to $1,000 a day.

Edgar McGregor, a climate activist, spent hundreds of days straight picking up litter     1     (drop) on the roads in Eaton Canyon, which is part of the Angeles National Forest in southern California.

McGregor was committed to clearing up litter while     2     (post) his progress on Twitter. His Twitter account quickly rose from one     3     (follow) to more than 17,000! McGregor was motivated to start this journey by the news     4     Los Angeles would be hosting the Olympic Games in 2028. He thought the litter-infested (垃圾遍布的) forests would be a “national embarrassment” for the United States. He decided to start with cleaning Eaton Canyon since he lived close to it.

Many people are thankful     5     his work, as this area is now free of waste. Recently, McGregor     6     (public) announced that there was no longer trash to be found in the area. However, his work was not complete. He planned to go back there     7     (maintain) its clean condition.   

When asked about his experience, McGregor said, “    8     it was burning hot or pouring with rain, I would be out there for at least an hour every single day, cleaning up my area.” All of the recyclables he finds     9     (turn) in and the money goes to charity. Up to now, many     10     (organize), such as World Central Kitchen and rural schools in Uganda have received donation from McGregor.

Recently, Guangzhou has successfully hosted the “Understanding China” International Conference 2023, the 5th World Media Summit, and other significant events, once again highlighting its role as    1    window for the world to comprehend China’s high-quality development. So,     2    Guangzhou? Let’s find out.

    3    (gain) a deeper understanding of China, one must experience its history and culture. With a history of over 2, 000 years and a rich cultural heritage, Guangzhou offers a variety of historical and cultural    4    (treasure). In this city, you can sip a cup of coffee while watching Cantonese opera in Yongqingfang or taste Cantonese dim sum while gazing at Western-style architecture on Shamian Island.

Economy is another crucial aspect in understanding China. In recent years, Guangzhou has    5    (active) participated in the Belt and Road international cooperation, gradually    6     (establish) a comprehensive, multi-level, and wide-ranging pattern of opening-up. As a thousand-year-old commercial city known for the Canton Fair, Guangzhou has drawn    7    (globe) attention with its open genes and prosperous economy.

Connecting with the world also requires a highly    8    (develop) transportation network. Guangzhou has constructed a modern three-dimensional transportation system that links airports, seaports, railway ports, and digital ports, providing easy access    9    both domestic and foreign participants.

Guangzhou’s openness, inclusiveness, vitality, and innovative spirit make it an ideal choice for hosting international events, which, in turn,     10     (help) the economic and social development of the city.