A new study gives us the warning that about thirty percent of the world's people may not have enough water by the year 2025.
A private American organization called Population Action International did the new study. It says more than three-hundred-thirty-five-million people lack enough water now. The people live in twenty-eight countries. Most of the countries are in Africa or the Middle East.
P-A-I researcher Robert Engelman says by the year 2025, about three-thousand-million people may lack water. At least 18 more countries are expected to have severe water problems. The demand for water keeps increasing. Yet the amount of water on Earth stays the same.
Mr. Engelman says the population in countries that lack water is growing faster than in other parts of the world. He says population growth in these countries will continue to increase.
The report says lack of water in the future may result in several problems. It may increase health problems. Lack of water often means drinking waters not safe. Mr. Engelman says there are problems all over the world because of diseases, such as cholera, which are carried in water. 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. This is true of Egypt, the Netherlands, Cambodia, Syria, Sudan, and Iraq. And the report says 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.
The Population Action International study gives several solutions to the water problem. One way, it says, is to find ways to use water for more than one purpose. Another way is to teach people to be careful not to waste water. A third way is to use less water of agriculture.
The report also says long-term solutions to the water problem must include controls on population growth. It says countries cannot provide clean water unless they slow population growth by limiting the number of children people have.__________ are expected to have severe water problems by the year 2025
| A．No countries | B．18 countries | C．46 countries | D．28 countries |
All the following are true except____________.
| A．Lack of water may cause conflict between countries |
| B．Egypt now has enough fresh water |
| C．There are solutions to the water problem |
| D．New industries need a lot of water |
It can be inferred that _____________.
| A．There is connection between providing clean water and slowing population growth |
| B．Lack of water may also result from international conflict |
| C．The ability of developing has nothing to do with lack of water. |
| D．It is not known whether diseases have something to do with lack of water |
What is the solution to the water problem for a long time?
| A．Not to waste water. | B．Less developing industries. |
| C．Less international conflict. | D．Control the population |
The best title of the passage would be __________.
| A．World Conflict | B．Diseases and Water |
| C．World Water Shortage | D．Population and Water |
For most caffeine(咖啡因)consumers, its chief benefit is that it helps you get more done. This is what makes it unusual, says Stephen Braun, author of Buzz: The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine.
“Its appeal is that it helps us earn more money,” he adds. “What makes it different from other drugs is that it’s used as a productivity tool –– not for pleasure.”
Many of history’s creative minds have also been associated with a large amount of caffeine consumption.
According to one biographer, the French novelist and playwright Balzac drank as many as 50 cups of coffee a day. “Were it not for coffee one could not write, which is to say one could not live,” he once insisted.
For seven years, the film-maker David Lynch ate at the same Los Angeles diner every day, drinking up to seven sweetened cups of coffee “with lots of sugar” in one sitting, which he said would guarantee that “lots of ideas” arrived.
Ludwig van Beethoven was said to have painstakingly counted out exactly 60 coffee beans per cup when he brewed(煮)coffee.
Perhaps recent tales of caffeine excess featured the singer Robbie Williams, who reportedly consumed 36 cups of black coffee and 20 cans of Red Bull a day.
It is the routine task itself, as much as the stimulating(刺激的)effects of caffeine, that makes the process so important, says Mason Currey, author of Daily Rituals: How Artists Work. “A lot of artists use the process of making coffee as a gateway to the creative process,” he adds. “You need to get into the right mindset to do that sort of work, and the preparation process provides a focus.”
One problem with attempting to control caffeine, says Braun, is that it affects everyone differently –– it is impossible to work out a “safe” limit that works for everyone. “Eventually, you have to become your own scientist –– there isn’t an alternative to careful self-experimentation,” he says.Stephen Braun mainly stresses caffeine’s _______.
| A．creating ideas | B．improving work efficiency |
| C．helping people to relax | D．stimulating people |
The examples of some famous people are given to show that _______.
| A．most artists like drinking coffee |
| B．drinking coffee helps artists make more money |
| C．there’s a link between drinking coffee and creating ideas |
| D．drinking coffee makes artists become more successful |
What leads to the artists’ creative process according to Mason Currey?
| A．Getting a good mindset. | B．Drinking the coffee. |
| C．Being lost in thought. | D．Brewing the coffee. |
What does Braun advise us to do in the end?
| A．To drink less coffee. |
| B．Never to take more coffee than you need. |
| C．Never to limit caffeine use. |
| D．To work out a safe level of caffeine use. |
The moment a college student arrives on campus, he or she is bombarded with credit card offers. Advertisements for student credit cards are everywhere: in bags at the bookstore, in the campus newspaper, in your regular mailbox, in the residence halls.
With so many college students graduating with large amounts of credit card debt (figures vary, but most are at least in the thousands), learning how to manage a student credit card can be an important lesson for any student. While using a card wisely can be an important part of building credit and making it through a difficult time, knowing how to use a card wisely can be the hard part.
Stick to the following rules when, and if, you need to use a credit card:
You can repay the charge(s) within the card’s next billing cycle.
You must meet your basic needs, like food, clothing and shelter, but set rules and be aware that you will need to repay those charges at the end of the month.
You can talk to the financial aid office in your school for an alternative in “emergency” situations.
If you do want a credit card, just be smart about it. (They let you in to that school because of your brain, right?) Don’t automatically get the first one you find. Shop around for a card that has the lowest interest rate possible, and consider places that may not be advertising on campus. Additionally, be aware of any card’s repayment options: When will payments be due? How much will they be? A credit card is not like a loan that comes with a grace period(宽限期)after you graduate and waits until you are done with school. That new sweater and nice dinner out will need to be paid back right away.What does the underlined phrase in Paragraph 1 mean?
| A．Be confused by. | B．Be terribly hurt by. |
| C．Be attracted by. | D．Be surrounded by. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．A college freshman should be careful when choosing a credit card. |
| B．Students should take a lesson about how to use a credit card wisely. |
| C．A credit card will be the only help for students in emergency situations. |
| D．The author doesn’t appreciate the idea of having a credit card on campus. |
What’s the best tittle for this passage?
| A．Economic Tips for College Students |
| B．Dos and Don’ts in Using Student Credit Cards |
| C．Mistakes about Student Credit Cards Use in College |
| D．Student Credit Cards –– What You Need to Know |
If this is a passage of a college newspaper, in which column can we read it?
| A．Entertainment. | B．Advertisement. |
| C．Economy. | D．Education. |
A lot of people say math is not their strong suit. One New Jersey parent wants to help change that. Laura Overdeck grew up with numbers. She always helped measure ingredients when her mother baked, and she learned about angles from her father. She went on to major in astrophysics in college. Overdeck knew she wanted her own children to be good at math, too.
“And when our first child was about two, we just started giving her a math problem every night,” Overdeck said. The problem was usually a story, involving animals, cars or candies that let the kid count. “Our third child started, at age two, yelling that he wanted his own math problem because he saw his brother and sister doing it. And we thought, ‘Wow, we have a household where math is the popular thing at bedtime,’” Overdeck said.
In February, Overdeck launched Bedtime Math, an Internet website where she posts daily puzzles for children. Overdeck is particularly keen to hook children on numbers before they go to school. So why introduce little ones to math so early?
Sain Beilock, an expert on performance anxiety, says the more fun and familiar math is early on, the less likely children will feel nervous when they start to learn math in school. “My lab has shown recently that kids as early as first grade report feeling anxious about doing math,” Beilock said.
“You can hear totally educated adults say, ‘You know I’m just not that good at math.’ or ‘I’m kind of afraid of math.’ And that’s a totally acceptable thing for a well-educated person to say, but you never hear them say, ‘Well, you know, I’m just not that good at reading,’” Overdeck said. She wants children and their parents to become as fluent in numbers as they are in Harry Potter.Overdeck majored in astrophysics because she _______.
| A．was really fond of mathematics |
| B．hoped to change math education in the US |
| C．had an interest in physics |
| D．would like her children to be good at math |
What can be inferred from Paragraph 2?
| A．Toys can be used to encourage kids in solving math problems. |
| B．Math will become more popular in every household. |
| C．Math is enjoyable in Overdeck’s family. |
| D．The third child is cleverer than his brother and sister. |
Beilock’s attitude towards Overdeck’s idea is _______.
| A．agreeable | B．puzzled |
| C．anxious | D．critical |
The unfavorable situation of the US in math ability is shown by _______.
| A．the popularity of Bedtime Math |
| B．children’s performance anxiety in school |
| C．people’s response to math |
| D．adults’ great fondness for Harry Potter |
Product Description
Life Without Limits helps you clarify what you want in every area of your life. By using Bassett’s powerful techniques you will change; therefore your life will change. You control your life. And only you can take steps to change it. Life Without Limits helps you take back your power.
Life Without Limits helps you to achieve satisfaction and fulfillment personally, professionally, and financially. Once you have defined what success means for you, you will clarify your dreams and start pursuing them.
Product Details
Published in: 2001-12
Released on: 2001-12-24
Original language: English
Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.7 x 8 inches
Binding: Paperback
304 pages
About the Author
Lucinda Bassett is the founder and CEO of one of the most successful self-help companies in the country, the Midwest Center for Stress and Anxiety, Inc. Author of the national bestseller From Panic to Power, Lucinda Bassett produces and hosts the award-winning infomercial, Attacking Anxiety. She has shared her techniques with such clients as McDonalds, Chrysler, and AT&T. She has appeared on numerous talk shows, including Operah and The View, and been featured in Family Circle, Reader’s Digest, and many more.
Customer Reviews
This book has helped me to gain hope and courage to cope with all my fears and worries. Lucinda writes with such a great understanding and sympathy. She herself had problems with panic and worry. Her positive thinking tips are easy to follow. I don’t get lost in a lot of mental problems. It’s as if she were holding your hand, sitting right beside you, cheering you on! I believe I can do anything I set my mind to after reading this book. However, there are some other readers holding the contrary views.What is Life Without Limits about?
| A．It shows readers what Lucinda Bassett is. |
| B．It encourages readers to realize their dreams. |
| C．It describes how hard the actual life is. |
| D．It implies it is hard to control your life. |
Lucinda Bassett works as all the following except _______.
| A．hostess | B．teacher | C．writer | D．businesswoman |
We can conclude from the last paragraph that _______.
| A．Lucinda has made a lot of money from the book |
| B．all the customers have some mental problems |
| C．Lucinda talks with the customer face to face |
| D．all the customers don’t agree with what Lucinda wrote |
What is the first thing you notice when you walk into a shop? The products displayed(展示)at the entrance? Or the soft background music?
But have you ever notice the smell? Unless it is bad，the answer is likely to be no．But while a shop’s scent may not be outstanding compared with sights and sounds，it is certainly there．And it is providing to be an increasing powerful tool in encouraging people to purchase．
A brand store has become famous for its distinctive scent which floats through the fairly dark hall and out to the entrance，via scent machines. A smell may be attractive but it may not just be used for freshening air．One sports goods company once reposed that when it first introduced scent into its stores，customers’intension to purchase increased by 80 percent．
When it comes to the best shopping streets in Pairs，scent is just as important to a brand’s success as the quality of its window displays and goods on sales．That is mainly because shopping is a very different experience to what it used to be．
Some years ago，the focus for brand name shopping was on a few people with sales assistants’disproving attitude and don’t-touch-what-you-can’t afford displays．Now the rise of electronic commerce(e-commerce)has opened up famous brands to a wider audience．But while e-shops can use sights and sounds，only bricks-and-mortar stores(实体店)can offer a full experience from the minute customers step through the door to the moment they leave．Another brand store seeks to be much more than a shop，but rather a destination．And scent is just one way to achieve this．
Now a famous store uses complex man-made smell to make sure that the soft scent of baby powder floats through the kid department，and coconut(椰子)scent in the swimsuit section．A department store has even opened a new lab，inviting customers on a journey into the store’s windows to smell books，pots and drawers，in search of their perfect scent.According to the passage，what is an increasingly powerful tool in the success of some brand store?
| A．Friendly assistant． | B．Unique scents． |
| C．Soft background music | D．attractive window display． |
E-shops are mentioned in the passage to_____．
| A．show the advantages of brick-and-mortar stores |
| B．urge shop assistants to change their attitude |
| C．push stores to use sights and sounds |
| D．introduce the rise of e-commerce |
The underlined word“destination”in Paragraph 5 means_____．
| A．a platform that exhibits goods |
| B．a spot where travelers like to stay |
| C．a place where customers love to go |
| D．a target that a store expects to meet |
The main purpose of the passage is to________．
| A．compare and evaluate | B．examine and assess |
| C．argue and discuss | D．inform and explain |