Short-form videos, which gained popularity on the Chinese platform Douyin, have given rise to a new trend in entertainment: ultra-short (超短) dramas.     1     (tailor) to our fast-paced lifestyles, ultra-short dramas are far more likely to attract people to try them out than traditional television series. In the past, committing     2     a show meant investing upwards of 40 minutes, but with ultra-short dramas, only a few minutes is enough for     3     taste.

Despite the initial success of ultra-short dramas, Chinese authorities     4     (tighten) regulations and intensifying monitoring on them. Currently, most of these ultra-short dramas revolve around clichéd (陈词滥调的) romantic plots, often     5     (feature) a wealthy individual getting together with a poor person. This narrative trend bears the potential     6     (shape) young minds’ perceptions of reality and their approaches to real-life challenges.

What’s equally concerning is     7     ultra-short dramas are designed to catch the viewers’ attention with bite-sized runtimes. In a world dominated by smartphones,     8     attention spans are already declining, frequent     9     (expose) to ultra-short videos can only worsen the issue.

It’s natural for us to seek entertainment. But it’s also worth pausing to consider the consequences     10     diving into ultra-short dramas.

BEIJING — A strong earthquake hit a remote part of western China overnight killing at least 118 people and injuring more than 200, the state news agency Xinhua reported Tuesday.

The tremblor hit Jishishan County, in the southwestern part of Gansu province near the border with Qinghai province —     1    mountainous region populated, in part, by members of the Tibetan, Hui, Dongxiang and Salar ethnic groups.

Xinhua said the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.2.     2    the dead, 100 were in Gansu and another 11 in Qinghai. The quake damaged water, electricity, transport, communications and other infrastructure (基础设施) in the area, it said. Chinese leader Xi Jinping quickly called for all-out efforts in search and rescue and    3     (treat) the injured. He also urged the hasty deployment of relief materials and infrastructure    4    (repair) , because the area is at high altitude and the winter weather is cold.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 5.9,     5     reported several aftershocks. Rescue teams told Chinese media that frozen roads made driving into the towns and villages in Jishishan county, the area most    6    (affect) difficult. It’s a area inhabited by numerous ethnic minority groups, including Tibetans and Salars. Rescuers are now working in average temperatures of about 14 degrees Fahrenheit, well below    7     (freeze).

About 10 hours later,     8     (far) west, a 5.5 magnitude earthquake in the Xinjiang region     9    (strike) near China’s border with Kygyzstan. The earthquake happened in a remote area. So far, no casualties or building damage    10    (report).

The FIFA World Cup is     1     international association football competition contested by men’s national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Qatar will be the first country in the Middle East     2     (host) the FIFA World Cup. The tournament will be held from 21 November to 18 December 2022,     3     the average temperature in Qatar ranges from 24-28 degrees Celsius. The tournament was moved to winter in Qatar to protect athletes and attendees     4     the summer heat.

As the flagship tournament of the most popular sport in the world, no event has such an extraordinary global reach as the FIFA World Cup™. With the     5     (participate) of 32 national football teams, fans from all around the world and an international event management and volunteer workforce, Qatar     6     (expect) to host as many as one million visitors during the tournament.

Unique stadium     7     (design) reflect the cultural heritage of Qatar and the Arab region. Al Bayt Stadium, which will host the opening match of the FIFA World Cup™, features a giant tent structure     8     (cover) the entire stadium. The stadium takes its name from ‘bayt al sha’ar’ — tents     9     (historical) used by nomadic peoples (游牧民族) in Qatar and the Gulf region. Lusail Stadium, the largest stadium,     10     (celebrate) the region’s ancient tradition of craftsmanship. Its golden vessel design takes its inspiration from intricate bowls used across the Middle East for centuries.

This year, August 15th marked China’s first National Ecology Day,    1    aims to raise awareness of environmental protection and address unlawful activities and safeguard the development of forestry and grassland resource    2    law.

The establishment of National Ecology Day will enhance ecological understanding among the public and help the nation    3    (well) participate in global environment and climate governance.

The move     4    (see) as part of China’s efforts to build an ecological civilization, a concept that glorifies balanced and sustainable development and harmonious coexistence between    5    (human) and nature    6    promotes the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

China’s laws and administrative regulations    7    (involve) the environment and ecology,    8    (base) on what environmental difficulties villagers are eager to solve and what ecological measures should be taken urgently from their opinions, have laid a solid legislative (立法的) foundation for the ecological civilization.

    9    makes Aug. 15 special is that on that day in 2005, the concept of “lucid waters and lush mountains” was first put forward, being    10    (value) assets.

On Saturday, an activity to experience farming culture     1     (hold) in Temple of Agriculture in Beijing.

As     2     important ritual architectural complex near the central axis (中心轴) of Beijing, the temple used to be a place for emperors of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911)     3     (dynasty) to perform sacrifices in the hope for good harvests, and     4     (have) become a witness of China’s farming civilization.

    5     (organize) by the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum, the activity this time included a ceremony to start harvest, scholars’     6     (introduce) of 24 solar terms and Temple of Agriculture, and an experience activity in     7     people were invited to reap crops with their own hands.

The activity aims to make more people understand the humanistic spirit of     8     (respect) and valuing agriculture, revering nature and seeking harmonious coexistence     9     human and nature, and feel the profoundness of traditional Chinese farming culture and the wisdom and hard work of the Chinese people.

The activity helps people     10     (well) understand traditional farming culture in China.

Giant panda Ya Ya returned home to Beijing Zoo early on Monday after spending 20 years in the United States.

In 2003, Ya Ya and male giant panda Le Le, traveled to Memphis Zoo in the US state of Tennesse    1    part of a China-US giant panda protection and research program. In 2006, Ya Ya began to shed her fur, a condition that    2    (worse)in 2014. Experts at Memphis Zoo and in China tried various treatments, but were    3    (able)to solve the problem. Then Memphis Zoo announced that it would return the pandas. However, in February, Le Le passed away due to heart disease. On April 8, the zoo hosted a farewell party for Ya Ya, with hundreds of people    4    (attend)the event.

On April 27,giant panda Ya Ya arrived in Shanghai and was then quarantined（检疫） for a month    5    delivered to Beijing. During the quarantine period,    6    (experience) keepers and veterinarians provided round-the-clock care for Ya Ya due to her old age and changed living environment. Shanghai Zoo offered support    7    (ensure) her safety and health.

Beijing Zoo has prepared    8    special feeding place for Ya Ya as well as tailor-made feeding,    9    (measure),care, medical support and nutrition plans. Besides, Beijing Zoo received a special delivery of fresh bamboo from Chengdu, Sichuan province, which    10    (airlift) to make sure that each panda at the zoo could have fresh food.

Austria’s Vorarlberg is a pioneer in sustainable design,     1    (attract) lots of architects and curious visitors who draw inspiration from its breathtaking buildings.

Communities in the westernmost state of the Alpine country     2    (choose) beauty, comfort and a careful use of resources since the 1960s. There is a     3    (prefer) for local building materials: white pine and earth replace concrete whenever possible. Architecture in Vorarlberg is described as the clear, compact and functional design,     4     it does not cut corners on aesthetics (美学). As well as architects, the carpenters and craftspeople in Vorarlberg enjoy great international recognition and     5    (be) in high demand.

Economy is a guiding principle of the “Vorarlberg school”,     6     does not prevent them from using prefabricated (预制的) parts     7    (reduce) costs — and prioritizes (优先) energy efficiency. A lot of houses     8    (build) to “passive house” standards, which stand for buildings with minimal energy needs due to perfected insulation (绝缘), specific ventilation (通风), and the equipment of solar panels and heat pumps.

“    9     I’m most proud of is that people are united by a common sense,” said Arnold Hirschbuehl, a former mayor of Krumbach who championed the architecture. He praised the way people used “resources in     10     most sustainable way possible, while staying true to themselves”.