The long, wet summer here in the northeastern U.S. not withstanding, there's a world shortage of pure, fresh water. As demand for water hits the limits of finite supply, potential conflicts are brewing between nations that share transboundary freshwater reserves.
Many people ask why we cannot simply take it from the sea, using our sophisticated technology of desalinization but a good water supply must be hygienically safe and pleasant tasting and water containing salt would corrode machinery used in manufacturing in addition to producing chemical impurities. Since more than 95% of our water sits in the salty seas, man is left to face the reality that most water on the surface of the earth is not available for us.
One very feasible way of sustaining our supply of freshwater is to protect the ecology of our mountains. Mountains and water go together, a fact to which Secretary General Kofi Annan has drawn attention more than once. From 30 to 60% of downstream fresh water in humid areas and up to 95% in arid and semi-arid environments are supplied by mountains. Without interference nature has its own way of purifying water — even though chlorination and filtration are still necessary as a precaution. In a mountainous area, aeration, due to turbulent flow and waterfalls, causes an exchange of gases between the atmosphere and the water. Agriculture, industry, hydroelectric generators and homes that need water to drink and for domestic use depend on these resources and, thus, we must protect mountainous areas as a means of survival.
1.The author of this passage states that_______.
A.the problem of obtaining good drinking water has plagued man throughout time
B.palatability is synonymous with, purity of water
C.most of the world's water is unusable as a water supply
D.man no longer depends on desalinization for his water supply
2.The author believes that industry avoids salt water because_______.
A.water is needed for livestock
B.crops must be considered before man-made products
C.it is used in desalinization plants
D.it causes corrosion
3.Streams would purify themselves if not for_______.
A.human beings B.nature C.chlorination D.mountains
4.By saying that "nature has its own way of purifying water" (Line 4, Para. 3) the author is referring to_________.
A.aeration B.filtration C.chlorination D.absorption
5.The best title for this passage is "_______".
A.The Water Problem: The Dangers Ahead B.The Water Supply Problem: Our Options
C.The Mountains: Our Only Hope for Water D.Water Conservation: The Challenges Ahead
长难例句分析
［长难例句］Since more than 95% of our water sits in the salty seas, man is left to face the reality that most water on the surface of the earth is not available for us.
［结构分析］本句中，主干是man is left to face the reality。that引导的是同位语从句，修饰reality。前面的since引导的是原因状语从句。
［参考译文］由于我们95％以上的水资源都存在于含盐的海洋，人类只得面对现实：地球表面的大部分水资源我们无法获得。
全文参考译文
尽管美国东北部的夏季漫长而湿润，但在世界范围纯净淡水短缺。随着水的需求达到有限供应的极限，共享跨边界淡水资源的国家之间正酝酿着潜在的争端。
许多人问道，我们为何不利用先进的脱盐技术向海洋获取淡水呢？但是，良好的水资源必须健康安全，味道适宜，而盐水除了产生化学杂质外，还会腐蚀生产设备。由于我们95％以上的水资源都存在于含盐的海洋，人类只得面对现实：地球表面的大部分水资源我们无法获得。
维持淡水供应的一个非常可行的方法是，保护我们山区的生态。山水相伴而生，科菲·安南秘书长不只一次提醒过这个事实。湿润地区30％～60％，干旱、半干旱环境多达95％的下游淡水都是由山脉提供。在没有干预的情况下，大自然有自己的方式净化水源——尽管氯化和过滤仍是必要的预防措施。在山区，由于湍急的水流和瀑布，充气导致大气和水之间空气的交换。工农业、水力发电机以及家庭用水依赖于这些资源，因此，我们必须把山区作为生存手段加以保护。
题目答案与解析
1.本文作者声明：______。
A.获得良好的饮用水的问题一直困扰着人们
B.palatability与纯净水同义
C.地球表面的大部分水资源无法使用
D.人类不再依靠脱盐作用来获得水的供应
【答案】C
【解析】从第二段的末尾可知，地球表面的大部分水资源我们无法获得。因此C项为正确答案。
2.作者认为工业应避免使用盐水，原因是_________。
A.家畜需要水 B.比起人造产品，应优先考虑农作物
C.它被有脱盐作用的工厂所使用 D.它引起腐蚀
【答案】D
【解析】从第二段可知，海水腐蚀生产设备。因此D项为正确答案。
3.如果不是因为_________，河流会自我净化。
A.人类 B.大自然 C.用氯处理 D.山脉
【答案】A
【解析】从第三段可知，在没有干预的情况下，大自然有自己的方式净化水源。因此A项为正确答案。
4.通过说大自然“有自己的方式净化水源”（第三段第四行），作者指的是_________。
A.充气 B.过滤 C.氯化 D.吸收
【答案】A
【解析】本题中大自然净化水源的方式指的是后文提到的充气。因此A项为正确答案。
5.本文最恰当的标题是_________。
A.水的问题：面临的危险 B.水的供给问题：我们的选择
C.山脉：我们获取水的唯一希望 D.水的保护：面临的挑战
【答案】B
【解析】综观全文，本文探讨淡水资源的获取并且给出解决办法，因此B项为正确答案。
