Humanity uses a little less than half the water available worldwide. Yet occurrences of shortages and droughts (干旱) are causing famine and distress in some areas, and industrial and agricultural by-products are polluting water supplies. Since the world's population is expected to double in the next 50 years, many experts think we are on the edge of a widespread water crisis.
But that doesn't have to be the outcome. Water shortages do not have to trouble the world---if we start valuing water more than we did in the past. Just as we began to appreciate petroleum more after the 1970s oil crises, today we must start looking at water from a fresh economic perspective. We can no longer afford to consider water a virtually free resource of which we can use as much as we like in any way we want.
Instead, for all uses except the domestic demand of the poor, governments should price water to reflect its actual value. This means charging a fee for the water itself as well as for the supply costs.
Governments should also protect this resource by providing water in more economically and environmentally sound (健康的) ways. For example, often the cheapest way to provide irrigation water in the dry tropics is through small-scale projects, such as gathering rainfall in depressions (凹地) and pumping it to nearby cropland.
No matter what steps governments take to provide water more efficiently, they must change their institutional and legal approaches to water use. Rather than spread control among hundreds or even thousands of local, regional, and national agencies that watch various aspects of water use, countries should set up central authorities to coordinate (调整) water policy.
1.What is the real cause of the potentials water crisis.
A. Only half of the world's water can be used.
B. The world population is increasing faster and faster.
C. Half of the world's water resources have been seriously polluted.
D. Humanity has not placed enough value on water resources.
2.As is indicated in the passage, the water problem _________ .
A. is already serious in certain parts of the world.
B. has been exaggerated by some experts in the field
C. poses a challenge to the technology of building reservoirs(水库)
D. is underestimated by government organizations at different levels
3. According to the author, the water price should _______ .
A. be reduced to the minimum B. stimulate domestic demand
C. go with its real value D. take into account the occurrences of droughts
4.In order to raise the efficiency of the water supply, measures should be taken to ______ .
A. guarantee full protection of the environment
B. centralize the management of water resources
C. increase the sense of responsibility of agencies at all levels
D. encourage local and regional water resources
They huddled （挤在一起） inside the storm door – two children in dirty old coats.
“Any old __36___ , lady?”
I was __37__ with my household budget (预算). I wanted to say no --- until I looked down at their __38__ . Thin little sandals (凉鞋), __39__ through. “Come into the front room and I’ll make you a cup of hot __40__ .” There was no conversation. Their wet sandals left __41__ upon the hearthstone (壁炉的石头).
I __42__ them cocoa and bread with jam (果酱) to __43__ against the cold outside. Then I went back to the kitchen and started __44__ on my household budget.
I __45__ the silence in the front room and looked in. The girl held the empty __46__ in her hands, looking at it. The boy asked in a flat voice, “Lady ... are you rich?”
“Am I rich? No!”
The girl put her cup back in its saucer (碟子) – __47_ . “Your cups __48__ your saucers.” Her voice was old, with a __49__ that was not of the stomach.
They left then, holding their newspapers __50__ the wind. They hadn’t said __51__ . They didn’t need to. They had done more than that. Plain blue pottery cups and saucers. __52__ they matched. I tasted the potatoes and stirred (搅拌) the gravy (肉汁). Potatoes and brown gravy, a roof over our heads, my man with a good steady job – these things matched, too.
I moved the chairs back from the fire and cleaned the living room. The muddy prints of small sandals were __53__ wet upon my heart. I let them be. I want them there __54__ I ever forget again how very__55__ I am.
1.A. cups B. newspapers C. food D. clothes
2.A. worried B. excited C. sad D. busy
3.A. dress B. faces C. feet D. socks
4.A. wet B. cold C. worn D. broken
5.A. cocoa B. soup C. gravy D. tea
6.A. snow B. water C. raindrops D. marks
7.A. made B. served C. offered D. sent
8.A. protect B. warm C. fight D. beat
9.A. then B. off C. again D. over
10.A. hated B. wondered C. found D. noticed
11.A. spoon B. cup C. bowl D. plate
12.A. carelessly B. carefully C. hurriedly D. heavily
13.A. suit B. fit C. match D. complete
14.A. hunger B. hope C. sound D. anger
15.A. with B. against C. in D. along
16.A. thank you B. goodbye C. nothing D. sorry
17.A. Though B. As C. So D. But
18.A. still B. even C. once D. ever
19.A. because B. even though C. in case D. as if
20.A. kind B. happy C. serious D. rich
--- They are quiet, aren’t they? --- Yes. They are accustomed __________ at meals.
A. to talk B. to not talk C. to talking D. to not talking
Occasions are quite rare ____ I have the time to spend a day with my kids.
A. who B. which C. why D. when
By the time he realizes he ____ into a trap, it’ll be too late for him to do anything about it.
A. walks B. walked C. has walked D. had walked
After studying in a medical college for five years, Jane _______ her job as a doctor in the countryside.
A. set out B. took over C. took up D. set up
