1 . Can wine corks(酒瓶塞) be used in architecture? This is the innovation(创新) that Yan Sze Hon, a 31-year-old Hong Kong man, is striving for in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Great Bay Area(GBA).

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Yan came to Guangzhou in 2021 after several years of doing remodeling projects for old houses in Portugal. With the establishment of the GBA, “I saw the great opportunity and market prospects(前景) in the area,” Yan said.

Yan wanted to bring back an innovative idea from Portugal—using wine corks as an environmentally friendly building material.

“I love wine, and Portugal is the largest cork producer in the world,” Yan said. “It occurred to me that by recycling the corks, we can actually use them inside doors and walls to make them more sound-proof, which can provide a quieter private space for people.” According to Yan, he was one of the first to put this idea into practice, and obtained success in Portugal.

“Now I want to be the one that takes the first step in China,” Yan said.

Yan said that companies like his have benefited a lot from the supportive policies of the GBA. Since the establishment of the GBA, Guangdong has built 13 innovation and entrepreneurship bases, providing resources and services for nearly 600 Hong Kong and Macao entrepreneurship teams. He chose Guangzhou’s Tianhe district because it offers cheaper accommodation and office space to Hong Kong and Macao businessmen. “Also, the opening of new ports has made it very convenient for the flow of goods and talented people,” Yan said.

“I’m sure GBA will be the right place for me to start my business on the Chinese mainland,” Yan said. One day, he wants his business to operate in Shanghai, Zhejiang and more places.

1. What innovation is Yan Sze Hon trying to achieve in the GBA?

A．Designing environment-friendly buildings.

B．Using wine corks as a building material.

C．Establishing an architectural enterprise.

D．Remodeling projects for the old houses.

2. What can we know about the wine corks?

A．They are accessible in the world.

B．They can create a soundless place.

C．They do harm to the environment.

D．They have been recycled in Portugal.

3. How have companies like Yan Sze Hon’s benefited from the local support?

A．They have access to cheaper accommodation and offices.

B．They have been able to hire talented people to the GBA.

C．They have been granted loans for innovative projects.

D．They have received financial support from the 13 bases.

4. Which of the following can best describe Yan Sze Hon?

A．Intelligent and humorous.	B．Cautious and far-sighted.
C．Ambitious and creative.	D．Supportive and outgoing.