1 . We all want to live in good neighborhoods, but not everyone lives in a good neighborhood. How can you build a better community for yourself and your family? There are many things you can do.
Paint your intersection (十字路口). A street intersection is not something you think of as interesting. However, In Portland, people in some neighborhoods have made them really worth stopping for. Some paint, creative people and a bright design are all it takes to bring neighbors together and produce something the whole community can be proud of.
Make a poetry box. The idea is simple, really-create a box with a glass or clear plastic front. Put this box on a post. Write your own poem or print out your favorite classic and display it in the box for all your neighbors to see. You can also set up a drop box and encourage neighbors to write their own poems and drop them in the box. Display the poems from your neighbors as the poems come in.
Set up a tool library. How often do you need a leaf blower? Or a chain saw? And how often do you use that electric cake mixer? Too libraries have space where neighbors can drop their hardly used tools to share. Check with a local business, community center or church group about space that can house a tool library.
Turn your front yard into your backyard. How often do you meet your neighbors in your backyard? Probably never. Moving your typical (典型的) backyard activities to the front immediately makes you more visible (可见的). You can create front-yard gardens, build community benches and even just barbecue in your front yard. They are all great ways to connect with your community.
With effort, you’ll make your neighborhood a much better place.
1. Which of the following is NOT true?| A．Writing poems is a good way to connect with your neighbours. |
| B．Each family may have hardly used tools for others to share. |
| C．In Portland, the intersections in some neighborhoods are very attractive. |
| D．Move your backyard activities to the front yard and you’ll have chances to meet your neighbors. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
A new study warns that about 30% of the world people may not have enough water by the year 2025.
A private American organization called Population Action International (PAI) did the new study. It says more than three hundred and thirty-five million people lack enough water now. These people live in twenty-eight countries. Most of the countries are in Africa or the Middle East.
PAI researchers Robert Engelman says by the year 2025， about three thousand million people may face water problems. At least 18 more countries are expected to lack enough water. The need for water keeps increasing. Yet the amount(数量) of water on the earth stays the same.
The report says lack of water in the future may cause several problems. It may increase health problems. Lack of water often means drinking water is 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 lead to more international conflict(冲突). Countries may have to fight for water in the future. Some countries now get sixty percent of their water from other countries. This is true of Egypt， the Netherlands， Cambodia， Syria， Sudan， and Iraq. And the report says lack of water would influence the ability to improve their economies(经济). This is because new industries often need a great 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 for agriculture.
The report also says a long-term solution to the water problem is to control population growth. It says countries cannot provide clean water unless they slow population growth by limiting the number of children people have.
1. The PAI study shows that countries will lack water by the year 2025.
| A．at least 46 | B．at most 46 |
| C．18 | D．28 |
| A．It may bring about a lot of health problems. |
| B．It may cause more international conflict. |
| C．It may lead to the improvement of new industries. |
| D．It may influence the development of economies. |
| A．To use water in different ways. |
| B．To realize the water problem. |
| C．To reduce water for farming. |
| D．To limit the rising birth rate. |
| A．①②→③④→⑤⑥ | B．①②③→④→⑤⑥ |
| C．①②③④→⑤→⑥ | D．①②③→④→⑤→⑥ |
| A．begin to fight for water |
| B．try to find ways to save water |
| C．increase the amount of water |
| D．move house to the Middle East |
