Read the following passage about The Last Rainforests: Guardians of Planetary Health and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet t...

Read the following passage about The Last Rainforests: Guardians of Planetary Health and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 18 to 22.

The erosion of press freedom in Hong Kong represents one of the most dramatic and alarming transformations in modern media history. (18)_________, that fundamentally altered the territory's journalistic landscape and silenced numerous critical voices. Reporters (19)_________ and profound professional uncertainties. The authorities intensified crackdowns on dissent; consequently, prominent pro-democracy outlets like Apple Daily and Stand News were forced to shut down permanently. What remains deeply troubling for global observers, however, (20)_________.

Hong Kong's worldwide ranking plummeted from 18th to approximately 140th; this staggering decline reflects the systematic dismantling of independent editorial institutions. Writers and editors increasingly avoid controversial subjects, (21)_________. Sources have grown reluctant to communicate with correspondents, understanding that their identities might be exposed during investigations. This pervasive atmosphere of caution extends far beyond explicitly political coverage, affecting documentation of cultural, social, and financial matters alike.

Despite these formidable constraints, certain dedicated practitioners continue seeking innovative methods to preserve authentic storytelling. Underground networks and overseas digital platforms have emerged as alternative channels for disseminating uncensored information. Nevertheless, the overall trajectory remains discouraging, (22)_________. The foreign community watches with concern as this once-vibrant publishing hub gradually transforms into an environment where genuine investigative work becomes increasingly perilous and rare.

https://apnews.com/z

Question 18:

A. It was the growing self-censorship among local media outlets

B. It was the tightening of censorship measures after 2019

C. It was the national security law, imposed by Beijing in 2020

D. It was the changing relationship between journalists and authorities

Question 19:

A. who had once covered sensitive governmental affairs now have faced legal repercussions

B. who previously covered sensitive governmental affairs continue to face legal uncertainty

C. who once covered sensitive governmental affairs would face unprecedented legal threats

D. who once covered sensitive governmental affairs fearlessly now face unprecedented legal threats

Question 20:

A. is that self-censorship has become an ingrained survival mechanism among remaining news professionals

B. is whether shuttered outlets will resurface as authorities liberalize licensing rules across HongKong

C. is how watchdogs can reconstruct credibility once civic trust erodes under unrelenting disinformation

D. is why audiences migrate overseas when local reporting loses legitimacy amidst pervasive surveillance

Question 21:

A. responding cautiously to audience backlash or declining public trust in media

B. fearing prosecution under sedition statutes or economic retaliation from officials

C. anticipating reputational damage from partisan disputes or polarized debate

D. adjusting editorial priorities amid financial strain or competitive pressures

Question 22:

A. with public communication having been increasingly fragmented across transnational and digitally mediated information networks

B. with political discourse having been visibly displaced into encrypted platforms and informal cross-border exchanges

C. with journalistic practices having been gradually reshaped by market-driven technological and audience-oriented pressures

D. with expressive liberties having been substantially curtailed across the territory's entire communicative ecosystem