Question

Life on earth depends on water, and there is no substitute for it. The current assumption is that our basic needs for water — whether for drinking, agriculture, industry or the raising of fish will always have to be met. Given that premise（前提）, there are two basic routes we can go: more access to water or more engineering solutions (more dams, for instance).

Looking at the engineering solution first, a lot of my research concentrates on what happens to wetlands when you build dams in river basins, particularly in Africa. The ecology of such areas is almost entirely driven by the seasonal regime of the river, or rather, the pulse of the water. And the fact is that if you build a dam, you generally spoil the downstream ecology. In the past, such problems have been hidden by a lack of information. But in the next century, governments will have no excuse for their ignorance. The engineers ability to control water flows has created new kinds of unpredictability. Dams in Africa have meant fewer fish, less grazing and less agriculture — none of which were expected.

The challenge for the next century is to find new means of controlling water. Although GM technology will allow us to breed better dry-land crops, there is no market stimulation for companies to develop crops suitable for the micro-climates of the Sahel and elsewhere in Africa. Who is going to pay for research on locally appropriate crops in the Third World?

This brings us to the key issue in any discussion of water: money. In the next century, just consider the problems of water supply in Mexico City or Delhi. If you’re rich, you drink mineral water and may even have a swimming pool — yet millions in such cities can’t get safe drinking water. People talk about the coming water crisis. I believe we have one now. It is a water crisis for the poor.

1. According to the passage, what are the two ways to solve the problem of water crisis? (no more than 8 words) (2 marks)

 

2. What will happen when dams are built in river basins in Africa? (no more than 6 words) (3marks)

 

3.Why are companies not willing to develop locally appropriate crops for Third World? (no more than 6 words) (3 marks)

 

4.What is the tone of the passage? (no more than 1 words) (2 marks)

 

 

Answer 1

1.More access to water or more engineering solutions.

2.The downstream ecology will be spoiled / destroyed.

3.Because there is no market stimulation.

4.worried / Concerned.

【解析】

試題分析：。

1.there are two basic routes we can go: more access to water or more engineering solutions可知，解決水危機的方法是：More access to water or more engineering solutions.多種方法取水；更多的工程方法如修建堤壩。

2.And the fact is that if you build a dam, you generally spoil the downstream ecology.可知，當非洲的大壩建起來時，下游的生態環境就會遭到破壞。所以回答：The downstream ecology will be spoiled / destroyed.。

3.there is no market stimulation for companies to develop crops suitable for the micro-climates of the Sahel and elsewhere in Africa.可知各個公司不愿意為發展中國家開發適合地方的莊稼是因為沒有市場激勵機制。所以填Because there is no market stimulation.。

4.worried / Concerned.。

考點：任務型閱讀。