The world has always had to face water-based natural disasters, such as tsunami and hurricanes. In an interview, Water Management Monthly talks to Dan Smith, who works in ‘disaster mitigation’ for a government ministry.
‘Dan, could you tell us what disaster mitigation means?’
‘Disaster mitigation means attempting to minimize the impact of natural disasters both before and after they happen. My department and work in two specific areas in order to try and do this: risk reduction and risk analysis. They are both equally crucial in disaster mitigation.’
‘What do you mean by risk reduction?’
‘Risk reduction means many things. It is not just referring to big engineering projects like dams. Often, small community projects can be the most effective means of risk reduction. The main way floods can be prevented is by the construction and maintenance of earth wall defences, or levees. These block the progress of rising water.
However, even the best levees can’t protect against the destructive power of a tsunami. In this case, early-warning systems are lifesavers. They can let people know as early as possible if there is likely to be flooding.’
‘What types of risk analysis do you do?’
‘Firstly, risk analysis concerns flood mapping, where we identify the parts of the country which are at most risk from flooding. Secondly, there is mitigation planning, which means helping local communities plan for when disaster strikes. Thirdly, we make sure that the country’s dams all work properly and are safe. Although many people criticize dams because of their environmental impact, there are many benefits to them too, such as hydroelectricity, irrigation, water storage, water sports and, of course, flood control. In terms of a cost-benefit analysis, we are definitely ahead.’
‘Do you think countries are better prepared now for natural disasters than they were in the past?’
‘Definitely. We are constantly developing new flood-prevention solutions. An example of one such measure can be found in the UK, with the Thames Barrier. This is an enormous engineering project designed to prevent London from flooding.’
‘Aren’t programmes like that very expensive? What lower-cost alternatives are there?’
‘Flood prevention does not have to be expensive. Sandbags, for example, can be a highly effective way of stopping flood water.’
1.The two aspects involved in minimizing the impact of natural disaster are _______.
A.the construction and maintenance of earth wall defenses
B.flood mapping and mitigation planning
C.risk reduction and risk analysis
D.small community projects and early warning systems
2.Risk analysis includes all the following except _________.
A.ensuring all dams are well functioning
B.developing new flood-prevention solutions
C.assisting communities in planning for when disaster strikes
D.identifying which parts of the country will be threatened by flooding
3.Which can be inferred from the interview?
A.Individuals are better prepared for natural disasters now than before.
B.The city of London is at potential risk of flooding.
C.There are many low-cost flood prevention alternatives.
D.Despite the environmental impact of dams, they bring many benefits.
If the salinity of ocean waters is analyzed, it is found to vary only slightly from place to place. Nevertheless, some of these small changes are important. There are three basic processes that cause a change in oceanic salinity. One of these is the subtraction of water from the ocean by means of evaporation--conversion of liquid water to water vapor. In this manner, the salinity is increased, since the salts stay behind. If this is carried to the extreme, of course, white crystals of salt would be left behind.
The opposite of evaporation is precipitation(降水), such as rain, by which water is added to the ocean. Here the ocean is being diluted(稀释) so that the salinity is decreased. This may occur in areas of high rainfall or in coastal regions where rivers flow into the ocean. Thus salinity may be increased by the subtraction of water by evaporation, or decreased by the addition of fresh water by precipitation or runoff.
Normally, in tropical regions where the sun is very strong, the ocean salinity is somewhat higher than it is in other parts of the world where there is not as much evaporation. Similarly, in coastal regions where rivers dilute the sea, salinity is somewhat lower than in other oceanic areas.
A third process by which salinity may be altered is associated with the formation and melting of sea ice. When seawater is frozen, the dissolved materials are left behind. In this manner, seawater directly beneath freshly formed sea ice has a higher salinity than it did before the ice appeared. Of course, when this ice melts, it will tend to decrease the salinity of the surrounding water.
In the Weddell Sea, off Antarctica, the densest water in the oceans is formed as a result of this freezing process, which increases the salinity of cold water. This heavy water sinks and is found in the deeper portions of the oceans of the world.
1.What is the best title for the passage?
A.Typical Oceans and Their Respective Features
B.The Causes of the Changes in Salinity of Ocean Water
C.Different Oceans Have Different Salinity
D.The Precipitation and Evaporation of Oceans
2.Which of the following processes will increase salinity of ocean waters?
A.Evaporation B.Precipitation
C.Melting D.Dilution
3.According to this passage, the sea ________ is likely to have the lowest salinity.
A.in tropical areas B.off Antarctica
C.of high rainfall D.with abundant
4.The Weddell Sea _______.
A.is an example of increased salinity in freezing sea water
B.is much larger in area than the Arctic oceans
C.has a much lower salinity now than ever
D.has the denser water in its upper parts
It looked like a typical business meeting. Six men, neatly dressed in white shirts and ties filed into the boardroom of a small Jakarta company and sat down at a long table. But instead of ______ files or hearing reports, they closed their eyes and began to meditate, consulting the spirits of ancient Javanese kings. Mysticism touches almost every aspect of life in Indonesia and business is no ______. One of the meditators said his weekly meditation sessions are aimed mainly at bringing the peace of mind that makes for good decision-making. But the insight gained from mystic communication with spirits of wise kings has also helped ______ the profits of his five companies.
Mysticism and profits have come together since the 13th century introduction of Islam to Indonesia by Indian Moslem merchants. Those devout traders, called ‘Wali Ullah’ or ‘those close to God,’ energetically spread both trade and religion by ______ their appeals to the native mysticism of Java. Legends ______ magic power of foreknowledge to the Wali Ullah. These powers were believed to be gained through meditation and ______.
Businessman Hadisiko said his group fasts and meditates all night every Thursday to become closer to God and to contact the spirits of the great men of the past. ‘If we want to ______ someone at the managerial level, we meditate together and often the message comes that this man can’t hold onto money or he is ______. Or maybe the spirits will tell us he should be hired.’ Hadiziko hastened to add that his companies also hold modern personnel management systems and that formal ______ are essential for a candidate even to be considered. Perspective investments also are considered through mystic meditation. ‘With the mind relaxed and open, it is easier to be ______ in judging the risk of a new venture. Meditation and contact with the wisdom of the old leaders sharpens your own insight and intuition. Then you have to apply that intuition to the information you have and work hard to be successful.’ Mystic meditation helped ______ a business slide his companies experienced in the mid-1980. Operating with normal business ______, he lost more than $ 3 millions in that year alone. Meditation brought back his peace of mind. Putting the right persons in the right jobs and gaining confidence in his business decisions were the keys to a turning around that has brought ______ and profitability. The mysticism in Handspike’s boardroom is part of a growing movement in Indonesia called Kebatinan – the ‘search for the inner self.’
One of his managers, Yusuf Soemado, who studied business administration at Harvard University, compared the idea of mystic management to western system of positive thinking. “Willpower and ______ mind are recognized as important factors in business. Such ______ as psycho-cybernetics, Carnegie’s think and growth rates, or the power of positive thinking are western attempts to tap the same higher intelligence that we contact through meditation,” he said.
1.A.documenting B.consulting C.managing D.persuading
2.A.exception B.mission C.decision D.distraction
3.A.decrease B.rise C.lose D.boost
4.A.introducing B.adapting C.applying D.discussing
5.A.dedicate B.devote C.attribute D.confer
6.A.meeting B.profits C.fasting D.mysticism
7.A.promote B.fire C.dispatch D.employ
8.A.disrespectful B.inflexible C.untrustworthy D.indispensable
9.A.minds B.qualifications C.religions D.presentations
10.A.objective B.compulsive C.decisive D.imperative
11.A.improve B.reverse C.save D.help
12.A.managers B.employees C.companies D.procedures
13.A.expansion B.involvement C.benefit D.experience
14.A.unconscious B.academic C.psychological D.subconscious
15.A.courses B.minds C.approaches D.touches
There is no denying that students should learn something about how computers work, just as we expect them at least to understand that the internal-combustion engine has something to do with burning fuel, expanding gases and pistons 1. (drive). For people should have some basic idea of how the things that they use do 2. they do. Further, students might be helped by a course that considers the computer’s impact on society. But that is not what is meant 3. computer literacy. Computer literacy is not a form of literacy; it is a trade skill that should not be taught as a liberal art.
Learning how to use a computer and learning how to program one are two distinct activities. A case might be made that the competent citizens of tomorrow 4. free themselves from their fear of computers. But this is quite different from saying that all ought to know how to program one. Leave that to people who have chosen programming as a career. While programming can be lots of fun, 5. while our society needs some people who are experts at it, the same is true of auto repair and violin-making.
Learning how to use a computer is not that difficult, and it gets easier all the time as programs become more “user-friendly”. Let us assume that in the future 6. is going to have to know how to use a computer to be a competent citizen. What does the phrase learning to use a computer mean? It sounds like “learning to drive a car”, that is, it sounds 7. there is some set of definite skills that, once 8. (acquire), enable one to use a computer.
In fact, “learning to use a computer” is much more like “learning to play a game”, but learning the rules of one game may not help you play 9. second game, 10. rules may not be the same. There is no such a thing as teaching someone how to use a computer. One can only teach people to use this or that program and generally that is easily accomplished.
语法填空
Once upon a time there lived a painter named Bill. He was a bit 1. (smart) than any other painter around him. In his city there lived a woman who was almost particular about anything.
One day，when the woman 2. (shop)，she saw a vase that she loved very much. She 3. (immediate) paid for it and took it home. She loved the vase so much that she decided to have her house 4. (paint) the same color as the vase. Then she sent for a painter and told him what she wanted to do， 5. the color of the vase was special and the painter couldn’t find the paint of that color. The woman sent for some other painters. But none of them managed 6. (find) the paint the woman wanted. At last，Bill was sent for. The woman told him that she had asked some other painters to do the same work but none did the work 7. (satisfying). Bill promised he’d do the work well. He said he’d go to look 8. paint with the vase so that he’d find the exact paint he wanted. The woman agreed.
Bill then bought some paint that was in the similar color of 9. vase and repainted it. When the woman saw the paint，she knew it was what she wanted. Then Bill 10. (ask) to repaint her house with the paint.
What's the easiest way to stay warm in the super cold？1.. At least that's what Santa Claus told me.
Over Christmas, Dennis and I went to Finland. We brought back some tips for keeping warm in a cold temperature.
Three layers（层）work wonders.
Start with the base layer, which sits right on your skin: choose something absorbent（有吸收力的）.2..
A sweater is a good choice. The most important layer is the outer clothes, which should be waterproof（防水的）and windproof.
3..
You lose heat from every millimeter of uncovered skin, which was the biggest lesson I learned on the trip. My whole body was well covered. But I missed one spot: my face. So it often felt like the wind was going to blow my nose off.
Exercise and don't just stand still.
When it's cold, exercising may be the last thing you feel like doing, but be smart.4.. When we first got to Finland, we were freezing. But after a couple of minutes jumping around, we felt less cold.
Have a heater.
You may want to turn it on all the way up, but it's best to keep it between 18 and 20 degrees.5.. Remember not to create a huge difference between inside and outside.
A. Grow a crazy beard
B. Cover every bit of your skin
C. The key is what you layers are
D. That will keep you comfortable
E. Don't forget to keep your hands and feet warm, too
F. The middle layer keeps your body heat from getting away
G. Take a walk, faster than your normal speed, and you will feel the difference
