(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
The U.S. state of California is going through the worst drought in its history. Water supplies are now at dangerously low levels. The state government has introduced many laws to try to prevent water shortages. California farmers have stepped in to do their part in helping to conserve water. California's agriculture sector has agreed to cut back on its water use by 25 per cent. This will be on a voluntary basis. The agreement follows a move by California's governor Jerry Brown to cut water use in cities by 25 per cent. This was introduced as an emergency measure and it made many city residents angry. They did not want to be the only people having to cut back on water.
California's water system serves over 30 million people and irrigates nearly six million acres of farmland.It is the world's largest and most productive water system. It is also one of the most difficult systems because too many people want too little water. There is a great demand for water in the state. Farmers sayit is important they get water first because growing food is essential. However, some crops, like almond trees, need a lot of water. People in the cities say they need water the most to be able to live. There is also demand from California's many golf courses and for the swimming pools of the wealthy people in the state. California's population will be almost 50 million people by the year 2020.
中文翻译
美国加州正在遭受史上最严重的干旱
。目前,供水量处于相当紧缺的状态 。加州政府已经出台了一系列法律来避免水资源短缺 。就保护水资源来说,加州农民也做出了自己的努力 。在自愿的基础之上,加州农业部门同意减少25%的用水 。协议签订之前,加州州长杰瑞·布朗已经命令让各个城市减少25%的生活用水 。这是一次应急措施,然而却引起了许多民众的不满 。他们不希望成为唯一限水的人群 。加州的水资源系统能够提供3000多万人的用水,灌溉面积将近600万英亩
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重点讲解
1.cut back on 削减
例句:We shall have to cut back on our spending.
我们将不得不削减我们的经费
。2.be able to 能够
例句:We want a man who must be able to cost.
我们需要一个能计算成本的人
。3.step in to 介入
例句:But Thomas Hertel, an economist at Purdue University, says those markets can help solve our planetary problem — especially if we step in to make those markets work better.
但是,柏杜大学经济学家托马斯•赫特尔认为这些市场有助于解决地球问题——尤其当我们介入使得市场运转更顺畅时
。4.on a voluntary basis 在自愿的基础上
例句:Other officials suggested the term implies debtholders agreeing on a voluntary basis to accept laterrepayment.
其他官员暗示,这暗示债权人同意在自愿基础上接受延迟偿债.
听力题目
1. How bad is the drought for California, historically?
a) not as bad as some
b) the worst
c) the second worst
d) average
2. How low are the water levels in California?
a) a little lower than usual
b) pretty low
c) lower than 10 metres
d) dangerously low
3. Who stepped in to help with the water shortages?
a) city residents
b) gold course owners
c) farmers
d) water workers
4. Who is Jerry Brown?
a) California's governor
b) a water conservation professor
c) a gold course owner
d) a swimming pool company CEO
5. Who was angry that the water supply was cut by 25%?
a) gold course owners
b) city residents
c) water companies
d) farmers
6. How many people use California's water system?
a) more than 30,000,000
b) just under 30 million
c) over 3,000,000
d) around 300,000
7. Where is the world's most productive water system?
a) Brazil
b) Germany
c) California
d) Japan
8. Which nut mentioned in the article needs a lot of water to grow?
a) the almond
b) the peanut
c) the cashew
d) the macadamia
9. What do California's wealthy need water for?
a) air conditioning
b) water parks
c) washing Ferraris
d) swimming pools
10. When will California's population be around 50 million?
a) May 2020
b) just after 2020
c) by 2020
d) in 2020
听力答案
1.b
2.d
3.c
4.a
5.b
6.a
7.c
8.a
9.d
10.c