-
The need to feed a growing population is
putting much pressure on the world's supply of
water.
With 97% of the world's water
too salty to be drunk or used in agriculture, the
worldwide supply
of
water
needs
careful
management,
especially
in
agriculture.
Although
the
idea
of
a
water
shortage(
短缺
)seems
strange to someone fortunate enough to live in a
high rainfall country, many
of the
world's agricultural industries experience
constant water shortages.
Although dams can be built
to store water for agricultural use in dry areas
and dry seasons,
the
costs
of
water
redistri
bution(
重新分配
)are
very
high.
Not
only
is
there
the
cost
of
the
engineering
itself,
but
there
is
also
an
environmental
cost
to
be
considered.
Where
valleys(
山
谷
)are flooded to create dams,
houses are lost and wildlife homes destroyed.
Besides, water may
flow easily through
pipes to fields, but it cannot be transported from
one side of the world to the
other.
Each country must therefore rely on the management
of its own water to supply its farming
requirements.
This is particularly
troubling for countries with agricultural
industries in areas dependent on
irrigation (
灌溉
).
In Texas, farmers' overuse of irrigation water has
resulted in a 25% reduction of
the
water stores. In the Central Valley area of
southwestern USA, a huge water engineering project
provided water for farming in dry
valleys, but much of the water use has been poorly
managed.
Saudi
Arabia's
attempts
to
grow
wheat
in
desert
areas
have
seen
the
pumping
of
huge
quantities
of
irrigation
water
from
underground
reserves.
Because
there
is
no
rainfall
in
these
areas, such reserves
can only decrease, and it is believed that fifty
years of pumping will see them
run dry.
1.
From the first two paragraphs we learn
that________.
A. much of the world's
water is available for use
B. people in
high rainfall countries feel lucky
C. the costs of
water redistribution should be considered
D. water can be easily carried through
pipes across the world
2. Which of the following
is TRUE?
A. The water stores in
Texas have been reduced by 75%.
B.
Most industries in the world suffer from water
shortages.
C. The underground water
in Saudi Arabia might run out in 50 years.
D. Good management of water use
resulted from the project in the Central Valley.