Question

Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in the numbered by using the information from the passage.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Ready to give up long showers, water parks, and unlimited water gushing（喷涌） out of your taps? A new study says more than three-hundred-thirty-five-million people are faced with water shortage now. The oceans are full, of course. But the liquid—fresh, clean water for drinking and watering crops is in short supply in many parts of the world. Rivers are running low, lakes are shrinking, streams have stopped flowing, and groundwater is being pumped dry. However, the demand for water keeps increasing. So there comes inevitably the water crisis!

What is causing the crisis? Experts say it is a complex combination of climate change and rapid population growth. On the one hand, global climate change threatens to reduce water supplies due to decreased rainfall. On the other hand, population growth is driving explosive demand for water, prompting rivers in thirsty countries to be tapped for nearly every drop and driving governments to pump out so-called fossil water.

Lack of water may result in several problems. It may increase health problems. Lack of water often means drinking waters are not safe. Lack of water may also result in more international conflict. Countries may have to compete for water in the future. Some countries now get sixty percent of their fresh water from other countries. And lack of water would affect the ability of developing to improve their economies. This is because new industries often need a large amount of water when they are beginning.

One partial answer to the world water shortage, at least for countries near the sea, is to build more desalination plants that change seawater into fresh water. Another suggested solution is for water-rich countries, such as Canada, to sell water to countries which are poor in water. A third suggestion is for countries to adopt ways of increasing the freshwater supply, such as teaching farmers in Africa methods to get clean rainwater. And nearly everyone agreed that the amount of water on our planet can’t be changed, but the way we use it can be if more people realized the problem. Last and the most important, public should be aware of saving water to defeat the water crisis.

Title: 1. .

I. Present situation:

★ Rivers are 2. .

★ Lakes are shrinking.

★ Streams have stopped flowing.

★ 3. is drying up.

II. 4. :

★ climate change →decreased rainfall →5. water supplies

★ population growth →rivers6. and fossil water to be pumped out

III. Consequences:

★ health problems

★7..

★ the affected ability of developing to improve economies

IV. 8. :

★ turning seawater into freshwater

★ water-rich countries selling water to 9. countries

★ exploring methods of getting clean rainwater

★ changing the way people use water

★ arousing10. of saving water

Answer 1

1.Water Shortage/Crisis

2.running low

3.Groundwater

4.Causes / Reasons

5.reduced

6.to be tapped

7.international conflict

8.Solutions/Answers

9.water-poor

10.public awareness / the public’s awareness

【解析】

试题分析：本文就全球水荒说明了现状、导致缺水的原因和结果，最后提到一系列解决的方法。水危机已经到了危机人的生命的严重地步，应该引起全世界各国的关注。

1.So there comes inevitably the water crisis! 可知，本文的主题即题目就是是水危机Water Shortage/Crisis。

2. 文中的Rivers are running low, lakes are shrinking, streams have stopped flowing, and groundwater is being pumped dry. 等都是水短缺的现象，第一条就是Rivers are running low。所以根据需要这里填running low。

3.文中的Rivers are running low, lakes are shrinking, streams have stopped flowing, and groundwater is being pumped dry. 等都是水短缺的现象，列举的最后一条是Groundwater is being pumped dry。所以根据需要这里填Groundwater。

4.第三段说明水危机的原因。所以这个标题应该是Causes / Reasons。

5.根据On the one hand, global climate change threatens to reduce water supplies due to decreased rainfall.可知，气候变化导致降雨量减少，降雨量减少造成谁的供应减少。所以这里填reduced。

6.根据On the other hand, population growth is driving explosive demand for water, prompting rivers in thirsty countries to be tapped for nearly every drop and driving governments to pump out so-called fossil water.可知，人口的增加导致人们对水的需求量增加，结果是河流被抽出成饮用水甚至打出所谓的矿泉水。所以根据需要这里填to be tapped。

7.文章第三段介绍由于缺少水导致了一些问题。1.健康问题；2.国际冲突；3.影响经济的发展。所以根据需要这里填international conflict。

8.文章最后一段主要说明解决水荒的办法。所以填Solutions/Answers。

9.解决水荒的办法有：1.海水变淡水；2.水资源丰富的国家卖水给水匮乏的国家。3.储存雨水；4. 改变人们的用水方法；5. 激发人们的节水意识。所以这里填water-poor。

10.解决水荒的办法有：1.海水变淡水；2.水资源丰富的国家卖水给水匮乏的国家。3.储存雨水；4. 改变人们的用水方法；5. 激发人们的节水意识。所以这里填public awareness / the public’s awareness。

考点：任务性阅读。