A scientist who developed a way to calculate how much water is used in the production of anything from a cup of coffee to a hamburger was awarded the 2008 Stockholm Water Prize.
Professor John Anthony Allan of the University of London in Britain won the award for introducing the idea of “virtual water (虚拟水)”, a calculation method that has changed the nature of trade policy and research.
Allan has written seven books and published more than 100 papers.
The Stockholm International Water Institute said this idea is now embedded (埋藏) in the production of foods and industrial products. The institute said Allan’s work had made a big effect on global trade policy and research, especially in water-scarce (缺水的) regions.
“The improved understanding of trade and water management issues on local, regional and global scales are of the highest value for the successful and sustainable (可持续的) use of water resources,” it said.
“People do not only use water when they drink it or take a shower,” the institute said. “Behind the morning cup of coffee, there are 140 liters of water that was used to grow, produce, package and ship the beans.” That is about as much water as a person in England uses on average for all daily drinking and household needs.
“For a single hamburger, about 2,400 liters of water are needed. In the USA, the average person uses nearly 7,000 liters of virtual water every day.” It said that was more than three times the average use of a Chinese person.Allan was awarded the prize because _______.
| A．he wrote seven books on trade policy |
| B．he published more than 100 papers on water management |
| C．he found a new kind of water in water-scarce areas |
| D．he came up with the idea of virtual water |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The average American uses about 7,000 liters of water a day. |
| B．The average Chinese uses nearly 2,300 liters of virtual water a day. |
| C．An Englishman usually drinks about 140 liters of coffee a day. |
| D．A hamburger usually contains about 2,400 liters of water. |
What do we learn about John Anthony Allan from the passage?
A. He won the 2008 Nobel Prize. B. He has written over 100 books
.
C. He works at the University of London. D. He lives in the USA.What effect does the idea of virtual water have?
| A．It helps us realize the importance of trade. |
| B．It helps people do successful business. |
| C．It helps us make use of water scientifically. |
| D．It tells us how much water we use a day. |
C
chemistrynerd |
US High School Teacher |
As a science teacher, I also want to incorporate literacy(读写能力) and reading into science. I thought it would be cool to have something called “Article Fridays” (or monthly, and maybe a more creative name) where students read articles and summarize them on different chemistry topics that they find interesting. I’d have a couple students each time share what they found, and they’d all hand them in. I work on a block schedule(模块教学计划) so I’m not sure exactly how this would work. Does anyone have creative ideas on how to get kids thinking of science that’s in the ‘real world’? I’d probably do this with my Honors or AP classes.
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Caesar753 |
I like the idea, but not for just Honors/AP. I think that all students can work on improving their literacy. Besides, this is a good way to connect your content to current events. You’ll need to find high-interest articles that grab their attention and keep it. I’m not sure that I would devote an entire block to this activity because it might get boring even with high-interest articles.
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MyrisophilistHigh school Life Science |
I’m really into literacy and science as well, so PM me about it anytime! 
Do your students have Internet access in the classroom? If so, that opens up a world of resources. I put a ton of resources seeds on my website that relate to each class I teach. The New York Times Learning Blog has so many ideas on incorporating news into every subject. I highly recommend spending some time going through their resources. Here are a few I’ve bookmarked:
12 Ways to Learn Vocabulary with The New York Times
Great Ways to Teach Any Day’s Times
Teaching TopicsChemistrynerd is worried that ________.
| A．his students show no interest in his class |
| B．his students pay no attention to reading or writing |
| C．what his students learn is too difficult to understand |
| D．what his students need is not only science knowledge |
What can Caesar753 most possibly be?
| A．A college student | B．A college principal |
| C．A high school teacher | D．A high school student |
According to Myrisophilist, the underlined letters “PM” means ________.
| A．Private Message | B．Pardon Me |
| C．Password Maybe | D．Afternoon |
Myrisophilist’s teaching ways couldn’t be useful without ________.
| A．newspapers | B．the Internet |
| C．block schedules | D．other teachers’ help |
A listener from Brazil recently wrote to us asking for some advice. He’s planning a trip to the United States, and wanted to know about the best places to travel in America. Today, we tell about the most popular places to visit in the country, and hear about what makes them so appealing.
Each of the 50 states in America has interesting things to offer visitors, but some are more popular than others. Washington, D.C. is famous for its historical places, like the White House and the Lincoln Memorial. Visitors to Los Angeles, California can see the Hollywood Walk of Fame or shop the stores on Rodeo Drive where they may see a star or two. The Grand Canyon in Arizona appeals to hikers, climbers and nature lovers, as does Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.
Trip Advisor is a website where people can write reviews about their travel experiences. There are also ratings for hotels, restaurants, and places people have visited around the world. Every year, Trip Advisor makes a list of the top 25 cities to visit in the United States. The results are based on the opinions of visitors to the website.
America’s major cities are still the most popular destinations for visitors. This is probably because of the good quality of services they provide tourists.
“They do a great job of giving travelers what they want when they’re on vacation. I think they kind of cater to every type of traveler need. So whether you’re traveling alone, you’re traveling for business, you’re traveling with your family - whatever it is, those destinations are really tuned in to delivering amazing experiences and just a lot of different opportunities when you’re there.” said Brooke Ferencsik, a tourist from Germany.The author is most possibly ________.
| A．a radio announcer | B．a journalist |
| C．a university professor | D．a tour guide |
Which of the following is the best place to visit if you want to know about American history?
A. Yellowstone National Park B. The Grand Canyon
C. Los Angeles, California D. Washington D.CAccording to Brooke Ferencsik, ________ make America’s major cities the most popular destinations for visitors.
| A．city residents’ kindness and care |
| B．the good services |
| C．great opportunities of jobs |
| D．the varieties of cities |
Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
| A．Welcome to Trip Advisor |
| B．America’s Major Tourist Attractions |
| C．The Power of the Internet |
| D．It’s Tourists Who Decide Where to Go |
Carrying a passenger on a bicycle is an offence punishable by law. Everyone knows that but still some of us do it.
I had done it many times before until something happened to teach me never to do it again. It was not the police. Rather it was an unforgettable, and unpleasant, experience.
It happened one evening when my friend Segaran and I wanted to go and visit another friend who lived some distance away. I had a bicycle. Segaran did not. So, as usual, he sat side-saddle on the horizontal bar of the bicycle while I pedalled. We had done it many times before, so it should not be any problem.
Near my friend’s house, we got onto a gravel(碎石) path made slippery by the recent rain. Still we managed to move along, thoroughly enjoying the rough ride.
As we passed by a stream, I made the mistake of going too near the bank. The rain had softened the soil and it could not hold our combined weight. One moment we were going along merrily, the next we were tumbling head over heels into the stream.
Splash! Splash! Splash! We plunged into the river bicycle first, followed by Segaran, then me. Normally the stream is only a few centimetres deep with clear water. When we fell in, it was a metre deep with smelly black water. The water prevented us from getting badly injured but we also had to pay the price of swallowing some of it. It tasted horrible. Segaran got the worst of it for being sandwiched between the bicycle and me. Our pride was far more hurt.
We walked all the way home. I had to push the bicycle because its front wheel was bent out of shape. From that moment I promised never to carry anyone on a bicycle again.________ taught the author never to carry a passenger on a bicycle again.
| A．The police | B．The experience |
| C．Segaran | D．The visited friend |
Where did they land when they fell off the bike?
| A．Into the dirty river | B．Onto the friend’s house |
| C．Onto the gravel path | D．Into the softened soil |
The author felt hurt mainly because ________.
| A．he swallowed some dirty water |
| B．he got badly injured in the water |
| C．he made Segaran sandwiched and hurt |
| D．he failed in a thing he had thought was easy |
Where does the following paragraph go back into the passage?
We retrieved ourselves and the bicycle from the stream. We were both dirty and wet. Obviously we were in no condition to visit anyone. So we decided to go home.
| A．Between Paragraph 3 and 4 |
| B．Between Paragraph 5 and 6 |
| C．Between Paragraph 6 and 7 |
| D．After the last paragraph |
Everyone has some opinion about history, no matter how ill-informed. Walking through a parking lot in a university in Miami, I noticed a bumper sticker (车尾贴纸) that said, “Ruin a Liberal’s (自由派) Day—Recite Historical Fact!” But Marwick thinks this sort of opinion is just fine; it is unavoidable that we all feel a sense of ownership of history.
History never stands still, as Marwick says at the beginning of The Nature of History, “The shape and content of history, too, vary according to the methods and materials available to different generations.” Marwick’s goal is to explain, in plain language, the changes in the way history is done up to the present; one method is to connect history with advances in the physical sciences. Marwick examines a number of case studies toward the end of the book. He ends the book with a refreshing collection of aphorisms (格言) about history. History truly belongs to each and every man and we all belong to history; with the proper education, history can be made more accessible to everyone.
Marwick relates how inventions and the physical sciences have driven historical changes. Dropping a ball in a vacuum will reveal the same properties (性质) each time the experiment is conducted, providing the conditions are the same. But historians obviously do not have the luxury of reproducing such conditions; historians view the past through the present which depends on invention and science.
By looking at the changing nature of history, Marwick feels the study progressing. Although Marwick suspects some people would accuse a historian of creating job security with the endless views of the past, he insists it is imperative based on the philosophy, science, and new materials of the age. History, according to Marwick, must be for everyone and not remain locked behind the walls of academia.The author mentions the bumper sticker in order to ________.
| A．show his own opinion about history |
| B．introduce the readers to Marwick |
| C．explain the freedom of understanding history |
| D．make the readers know about the argument between historians |
Which of the following best describes the statement “History never stands still”?
| A．Marwick explains the changes in the way history is done up to the present. |
| B．Marwick connects history with advances in the physical sciences. |
| C．He ends the book with a refreshing collection of aphorisms about history. |
| D．The shape and content of history vary according to the methods and materials available. |
In paragraph 3, Marwick gives the example of dropping a ball in a vacuum to prove ________.
| A．the changeable nature of history |
| B．the difficulty of historical study |
| C．changeable ways of historical study |
| D．the difficulty of scientific study |
The text is intended to ________.
| A．state a historian’s ideas |
| B．argue against a historian |
| C．attract readers to study history |
| D．describe the story of a historian |
The U.S. government’s push to decrease the nation’s output of greenhouse gases by increasing the fuel efficiency of the cars Americans drive is arousing again an emotional argument: Does driving a small, fuel-efficient car make you more likely to die on the road?
Engineers and statistical analysts can point to data that suggest more-efficient cars don’t necessarily put motorists at greater overall risk. But most of us care less about the “overall” risk than we do about ourselves. Driving a big Chevrolet Tahoe SUV makes many of us believe we are safer than we would be in a smaller car — even if statistical measures across a large population of vehicles and all kinds of car accidents suggest the advantage of safety isn’t quite as wide as SUV owners believe.
The Obama government has put the fuel-efficiency and safety question back on the front burner by calling for new-vehicle fuel economy to rise to an average of 35 miles per gallon (加仑) by 2020 from about 25 mpg today. That goal could move higher if the government decides to adopt California’s requirement to cut vehicle greenhouse-gas giving off, which would result in stricter mileage standards.
Those moves, and the effects of last summer’s gas-price shock, are driving auto makers to offer cars such as the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and Daimler AG’s Smart For Two — which get the kind of mileage today that law says should be the average in a decade. Beyond that, auto makers will launch a wide range of new compact (紧凑的) vehicles, and decrease production of large, body-on-frame SUVs.
That’s leading to new concerns about “green safety”, a term for managing the balance between reducing vehicle size for efficiency and adding safety and protection features that tend to make vehicles heavier and less efficient. Undoubtedly, further work has to be done before Americans make the choice.The U.S. government requires to improve the fuel efficiency in order to ________.
A. push Americans to drive smaller cars
B. reduce the output of greenhouse gases
C. drive auto makers to produce fewer SUVs
C. cause Americans to make an argumentAccording to Paragraph 2, engineers and analysts’ idea ________.
| A．fails to relieve people of their worry about safety |
| B．persuades people to purchase smaller cars instead of SUVs |
| C．is based on research and therefore persuasive enough |
| D．makes people think of their safety as well as others’ |
About the Obama government’s new moves, the auto makers are ________ and average
Americans are ________.
| A．uncertain; positive | B．doubtful; uncertain |
| C．supportive; positive | D．positive; uncertain |
The best title for the text should be ________.
| A．New Law Reduces Greenhouse Gases Output |
| B．Can Small Cars Overcome Accident Fears? |
| C．New Compact Cars Gets Popular in the U.S. |
| D．Do We Have to Follow the Government? |