1 . If you’ve scrolled through your Facebook feed recently, you may have noticed something surprising: lots and lots of short videos.

What makes this “Reels” feature strange is that it is hugely addictive, which I know quite well from my own personal experience. Last Friday, I took a break and hit on one short clip of someone making dinner and, well, the next time I looked up it was 20 minutes later and the blank document on my computer monitor was confirming to me that my work was still not done.

However, as silly as it seems, Reels-is actually super important, and is at the centre of a major battle between the world’s largest tech firms. The format (格式) was first pioneered by TikTok-the Chinese-owned video app that has taken the world by storm since it launched in 2016. Today, TikTok has around 23 million UK users every month-including basically every person you know under the age of 25. And that fact has made Facebook and its parent company, Meta, very nervous indeed. As TikTok has continued to boom, Facebook has actually fallen in popularity among “Gen Z”. The reason Tik Tok has proven such a powerful challenger to Facebook’s social media dominance is almost entirely down to these sorts of short-form videos.

The format is almost perfectly optimised to be as addictive as possible: Tik Tok’s app shows you a short-form video, and if you don’t like it, you can simply swipe it away and another one will start playing instantly. And because it is portrait, not landscape, videos look “right” when viewed on your phone. What’s also smart is that TikTok’s algorithm (算法) picks videos for you based on what you actually watch, and not what you say you want.

Facebook isn’t the only app trying to do what TikTok does so well. Instagram, which is owned by Facebook’s parent company Meta, has integrated Reels even more aggressively into its app. And even Google is nervous, launching its own TikTok-style video section of YouTube(which it owns)a couple of years ago. As things stand, though TikTok currently maintains a healthy lead in the category, both YouTube and Facebook have deep pockets-so expect to see even more Reels and Shorts popping up in your feed as this intense battle continues to rage. You won’t be able to take your eyes off them.

International Left-Handers Day is celebrated every year on August 13 in an effort     1     (recognize) the differences and uniqueness of left-handed individuals in our society. Most of us have grown up around right-handed people. Some of us have been taught that using our left hand to carry out some essential tasks     2     (be) disrespectful. Consequently, left-handed individuals often find     3     (they) in an awkward situation in a world that is mainly right-handed. Left-handers are often ignored when it comes to design and technology     4     are tuned to suit the requirements of the right-handed majority. Even simple chores like using     5     pair of scissors or using the ATM are inconvenient for most left-handers.

International Left-Handers Day     6     (observe) for the first time in 1976 by Dean R. Campbell. On this day, left-handers are confident that having a dominant left hand is     7     (absolute) normal. Left-handedness should be recognized     8     a unique strength instead of an oddity. This day is very significant as it spreads awareness about the importance of     9     (appreciate) left-handed persons across the globe. This ensures that the historical biases (偏见) against left-handers are corrected and that the world is made as     10     (comfort) for left-handed persons as it is for right-handers.

3 . How to overcome travel anxiety

Stress and anxiety around documents and procedures of travel is common. Here are some tips from experts on how to overcome travel anxiety and enjoy your holiday or trip.

    1     To be able to best cope with your travel anxiety, you need to have a good understanding of the things that actually cause it. Once you understand what triggers your anxiety, you can plan ahead for the best ways to handle it.

Plan out your trip details. One of the reasons for your travel anxiety is that you’re being taken out of your comfort zone and won’t have full control over everything.     2     That will give you a sense of control. However, it’s equally important to think of alternative plans for anything that could potentially not go as planned.

Make use of different relaxation techniques.     3     Another useful way to calm your mind is by meditating. To make sure you find the mindfulness technique that works best for you, try out a few different ones beforehand and use the most efficient one during your trip to set your mind at ease.

Have things with you that bring you joy. These can include physical item s like a book to read, or a game to play. It can be extremely useful in distracting you from your negative feelings. Alternatively, you can create a playlist of songs you love or have your favourite TV show with you.     4    

Don’t forget your physical health. Being physically active is a great way to reduce feelings of anxiety and stress.     5     Going outside and connecting with nature can have a positive effect on your physical and mental wellbeing, which in turn will help reduce your anxious thoughts.

4 . Torsongan Bullik, a 28-year-old athlete, has gone from being an amateur (业余的) cyclist to a professional cross-country skier. In Wenquan county he spent his childhood, when his athletic _______ began to show. In 2009, as a freshman in junior high, he was good at long-distance running and by 2016, he had _______ third in the Xinjiang Wusu International Marathon. His passion for cycling _______ during the Tour of Sayram Lake, which raised his _______ in the sport.

In 2012, his father _______ him a mountain bike worth 5,000 yuan. Torsongan used it frequently and participated in his first competition two years later, despite not having a _______ race due to losing balance on a steep slope.

But he was determined and kept testing his _______, which eventually resulted in winning medals in cycling competitions across all levels in China. On October 18, 2018, he _______ a striking victory by being the first to finish a high-altitude bike race in the Xizang autonomous region.

_______, his endurance (耐力) caught the attention of the national cross-country skiing team, who were _______ new talents for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Joining the team was a(n) _______ moment for Torsongan, yet it came with its own_______. He had to go through strict training during the day and improve his upper-body strength in the gym at night to _______ the team.

Although he didn’t make the final list for the Winter Olympics, he _______ as a technician helping with the operations of the event. Now, Torsongan remains enthusiastic about future competitions. “I will _______ with my efforts. As long as I don’t give up, I still have a chance to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics,” he says.

7 . The Great Smoky Mountain area is one of the most gorgeous vacation destinations in the USA. It would be no surprise if guests here book one of the amazing hotels.

Black Fox Hotel

Rooms at this lovely hotel come equipped with great amenities (便利设施) and feature s to make your stay as stress free as possible. Take a relaxing dip in the indoor swimming pool before heading back to your room. Guests will also enjoy taking advantage of the on-site restaurant and the fitness center.

Smoky Getaways Hotels

Smoky Getaways Hotels offer free parking, microwaves and fridges in all guest rooms! Each room comes equipped with a full kitchen and a grill — plus, they are pet friendly! Smoky Getaways Hotels are located close to Dollywood Amusement Park, so it is perfect for a family getaway.

The Resort at Governor’s Crossing

Here guests can enjoy a wide variety of exciting water park rides in both indoor and outdoor parks. From water basketball and water slides to a hot tub and a lazy river, utmost recreation and fun await at the indoor and outdoor pools, making it perfect for a family vacation.

Quality Inn Creekside

This hotel is sure to add comfort and convenience to your amazing trip. Guests will be able to enjoy a fun outdoor pool as well as amenities such as a mini-bar, a fitness center, and bicycles to rent. It is close to some amazing shopping centers and restaurants as well.

Browse through all of the hotels and the perfect one is just a click away!

My grandpa lived at the top of a mountain all by himself. This was my first time to stay with him. I was curious about everything around. Sometimes I went into the woods and pretended that I was Alex the Adventurer. I must stay near and I couldn’t go past the big rock alone. This way, Grandpa could always see me from the yard.

One morning, I raced up the path back to Grandpa’s yard as fast as I could. “Grandpa, I hear something strange in your woods!” I told him. He saw the excitement and fear in my eyes. “Let’s go to find out what it is.” He took my hand with his big and warm one. As we hiked toward the big rock, I held Grandpa’s hand tighter. I could feel my palms becoming sweaty.

Cack-cack-cack (呱呱呱)! There was that sound! I grabbed Grandpa’s leg. “What is that, Grandpa?” I whispered. “It’s the first sign of spring,” he said. “How about you going past the big rock a bit. See if you can find out what it is.” “By myself?” I hesitated, unsure of what to do next. “I promise it’s safe,” he gently encouraged me. “And I’ll stay here by the big rock where you can see me.”

“No.” I looked at Grandpa. His whole face seemed to be smiling, even his eyes. I wondered what an adventurer would do. I stood up straighter and made a brave face. “Grandpa,” I said, “I think I can do it.”

Crunch! Crunch! My feet stepped on the dead leaves as I got closer. Suddenly there was silence. I stopped and looked back. My face must not look so brave, because Grandpa said, “It’s all right, Alex. Just a little further.”

I stood up straighter and took a big step forward.     

A popular movie or TV drama has the power to make a city famous     1     promote a tourism boom. Moviegoers are no longer satisfied     2     merely watching the show on screen, but eager to step into the scenes and experience the daily lives of the characters. Over the past year, several films and TV dramas     3     (put) their shooting sites into the public spotlight.

Shanghai, often     4     (know) as the “magic city” in China, has once again caught the public’s attention with the recent     5     (popular) of the TV series Blossoms Shanghai (繁花). Key filming locations such as Huangh e Road, Peace Hotel, and Tai Sheng Yuan restaurant have become     6     (high) attractive tourist destinations. Dishes in the show,     7     (feature) delicate cooking techniques, such as Spare Ribs with Rice Cakes and Stir-fried Rice Noodles with Beef, have been favored by tourists. The iconic No. 27 on the Bund (外滩),     8     Miss Wang worked in the TV series, has transformed into Jiushi Art Museum. Since the release of the TV drama in December last year, searches for hotels along Nanjing Road and its     9     (surround) areas have welcomed 7.2 million tourists. This rapid rise in visitors contributed to     10     obvious increase of tourism consumption during the holiday.