1 . THE MILLION POUND BANK NOTE
Narrator: Two rich brothers, Roderick and Oliver have made a bet. Oliver believes that with a million-pound bank note a man could live a month in London. His brother Roderick doubts it. They see a poor young man walking outside their house. It is Henry Adams.Roderick: Young man, would you step inside a moment, please?
Henry:Who? Me, sir?
Roderick: Yes, you.
Servant:(opening a door) Good morning, sir. Would you please come in?
(Henry enters the house.)
Roderick: How do you do, Mr ... er ...?
Henry:Adams. Henry Adams.
Oliver:Come and sit down, Mr Adams.
Henry:Thank you.
Roderick: You’re an American?
Henry:That’s right, from San Francisco.
Roderick: May we ask what you’re doing in this country and what your plans are?
Henry:Well, I can’t say that I have any plans. As a matter of fact, I landed in Britain by accident.
Oliver:How is that possible?
Henry:Well, I had my own boat. About a month ago, I was sailing, and towards night. I found myself carried out to sea by a strong wind. The next morning I was spotted by a ship.
Oliver:And it was the ship that brought you to England.
Henry:Yes. l went to the American consulate to seek help, but ... Anyway, I didn’t dare to try again. (The brothers smile at each other.)
Roderick: Well, you mustn’t worry about that. lt’s an advantage.
Henry:I’m afraid I don’t quite follow you, sir.
Roderick: Tell us, what sort of work did you do in America?
Henry:I worked for a mining company. Could you offer me work here?
Roderick: Patience. lf you don’t mind, may l ask you how much money you have?
Henry:Well, to be honest, I have none.
Oliver:(happily) What luck! Brother, what luck!
Henry:Well, it may seem lucky to you but not to me! lf this is your idea of some kind of joke, I don’t think it’s very funny. Now if you’ll excuse me, I ought to be on my way.
Roderick:Please don’t go. You mustn’t think we don’t care about you. Oliver, give him the letter.
Oliver:Yes, I was about to go get the letter. Wait! (getting it from a desk and giving it to Henry) The letter.
Henry:(taking it carefully) For me?
Roderick: For you, (Henry starts to open it.) Oh, no, you’d better not open it. You can’t open it until two o'clock.
Henry:Oh, this is silly.
Roderick: Not silly. There’s money in it.
Henry:Oh, no. I don’t want your charity. I just want a job that earns an honest income.
Roderick: We know you’re hard-working. That's why we’ve given you the letter. (to the servant)Show Mr Adams out.
Henry:Well, why don’t you explain what this is all about?
Roderick:You’ll soon know. In exactly an hour and a half.
Servant:This way, sir.
Roderick: Not until 2 o’clock. Promise?
Henry:Promise. Goodbye.
1. Scan the text and find out the following information.
When | What happened |
| When in America | |
| About a month ago | |
| Towards night | |
| The next morning | |
| Later | |
| After he arrived in London | |
| While walking outside the two brothers’ house | |
| At last |
2. Why do you think Henry does not want the brothers’ charity?
3. Why do you think the brothers chose Henry for their bet?
2 . THE MILLION POUND BANK NOTE
Narrator: Two rich brothers, Roderick and Oliver have made a bet. Oliver believes that with a million-pound bank note a man could live a month in London. His brother Roderick doubts it. They see a poor young man walking outside their house. It is Henry Adams.Roderick: Young man, would you step inside a moment, please?
Henry:Who? Me, sir?
Roderick: Yes, you.
Servant:(opening a door) Good morning, sir. Would you please come in?
(Henry enters the house.)
Roderick: How do you do, Mr ... er ...?
Henry:Adams. Henry Adams.
Oliver:Come and sit down, Mr Adams.
Henry:Thank you.
Roderick: You’re an American?
Henry:That's right, from San Francisco.
Roderick: May we ask what you’re doing in this country and what your plans are?
Henry:Well, l can’t say that l have any plans.As a matter of fact, l landed in Britain by accident.
Oliver:How is that possible?
Henry:Well, l had my own boat. About a month ago, l was sailing, and towards night. I found myself carried out to sea by a strong wind. The next morning l was spotted by a ship.
Oliver:And it was the ship that brought you to England.
Henry:Yes. l went to the American consulate to seek help, but ... Anyway, I didn’t dare to try again. (The brothers smile at each other.)
Roderick: Well, you mustn’t worry about that. lt’s an advantage.
Henry:I'm afraid I don’t quite follow you, sir.
Roderick: Tell us, what sort of work did you do in America?
Henry:I worked for a mining company. Could you offer me work here?
Roderick: Patience. lf you don’t mind, may l ask you how much money you have?
Henry:Well, to be honest, I have none.
Oliver:(happily) What luck! Brother, what luck!
Henry:Well, it may seem lucky to you but not to me! lf this is your idea of some kind of joke, l don't think it's very funny. Now if you'll excuse me, l ought to be on my way.
Roderick:Please don't go. You mustn’t think we don't care about you. Oliver, give him the letter.
Oliver:Yes, I was about to go get the letter. Wait! (getting it from a desk and giving it to Henry) The letter.
Henry:(taking it carefully) For me?
Roderick: For you, (Henry starts to open it.) Oh, no, you'd better not open it. You can’t open it until two o'clock.
Henry:Oh, this is silly.
Roderick: Not silly. There's money in it.
Henry:Oh, no. I don't want your charity. I just want a job that earns an honest income.
Roderick: We know you're hard-working. That’s why we’ve given you the letter. (to the servant) Show Mr Adams out.
Henry:Well, why don’t you explain what this is all about?
Roderick:You'll soon know. In exactly an hour and a half.
Servant:This way, sir.
Roderick: Not until 2 o’clock. Promise?
Henry:Promise. Goodbye.
Narrator: Henry is walking along the street holding the bank note in his hand. His coat is worn inseveral places. He sees a sign for a tailors shop.
Henry:(entering the shop) I'd like to have a suit coat.
1st Clerk: (in a rude manner) See him there.(pointing to another clerk)
2nd Clerk: Ready-made suits? Downstairs.
Henry: (after going down some stairs) Can you show me a suit, please?
3rd Clerk: Yes, I can,sir. This way, please. Ah, here we are, the very thing you need.
1st Clerk: (pulling the 3rd clerk aside and whispering) Mr Reid says you’d better serve him quick and get him out quick.
3rd Clerk: I know what I'm doing. I've got eyes haven’t I?
Henry: It's a little too bright, isn’t it?
3rd Clerk: (looking at him with a frown) It’s all we have in your Size.
Henry: Well, I suppose it ought to do for now. I'll take it.
3rd Clerk: Good. Shall I put it in a box?
Henry: No, I’ll wear it. Oh, I’d rather not pay you now. I’d like to pay in a month. You see I don’t have any small change.
3rd Clerk: (trying not to show he’’ angry) I suppose a gentle man like you only carries very large bills.
Henry: Now, you shouldn’t judge people by their clothes. I just don’t want to cause you trouble with a large note.
3rd Clerk: It’s no trouble at all
Henry: In that case, there’s no problem. (He gives the clerk the bank note. The clerk drops Henrys coat. Then he folds the bill and slowly unfolds it again, as if looking at something he can’’ believe is there.)
Owner: Well, what seems to be the trouble?
Henry: I'm just waiting for my change.
Owner: Give him his change, Todd. Get going… (after getting the bank note from Todd) Would it…could it be the one I saw in the papers last week? I remember thinking that never would I hold such a note as this..to Henry) Oh, take off this coat, sir. (to Todd)Go get the others, Todd! (to Henry again) Allow me, sir! This way, sir.
(in another part of the shop, where there is a wide range of options for Henry to choose from)
Henry: This is nice, but I really don’t need it.
Owner: Never mind.(with a broad smile) Oh, it’s perfect! It was made for some king but he’ll just haveto wait. You’ll need many suits for many occasions. Yes, indeed you will .
Henry: Wait a minute. I only came here to get a suit coat to wear today. I dare not buy all these things.You would have to wait a long time to get paid.
Owner: A long time,sir? Why, you don’t have to worry about that.
3rd Clerk: Yes, we can wait forever!
Henry: Well, all right. I’ll take the suit coat for now and get the others later
Owner: Fine, fine. Your address, sir?
Henry:I don't have one. Er… I'm moving.
Owner:Of course you are! That’s very normal! A busy man, I’m sure.
1. Read the text and summarize the main idea.
2. Scanning and filling the blanks
交代背景(地点、人物):Henry, holding the bank note, goes into a
主要情节:At first, the
结尾: They ask Henry to see a lot of well-made clothes and the
My elder brother Steve, in the absence of my father who died when I was six, gave me important lessons in values that helped me grow into an adult.
For instance, Steve taught me to face the results of my behavior. Once when I returned in tears from a Saturday baseball game, it was Steve who took the time to ask me what happened. When I explained that my baseball had scared through Mrs. Holt’s basement window, breaking the glass with a crash, Steve encouraged me to confess (认罪) to her. After all, I should have been playing in the park down Fifth Street and not in the path between buildings. Although my knees knocked as I explained to Mrs. Holt, I offered to pay for the window from my pocket money if she would return my ball.
I also learned from Steve that personal property is a sacred (神圣的) thing. After I found a shiny silver pen in my fifth-grade classroom, I wanted to keep it, but Steve explained that it might be important to someone else in spite of the fact that it had little value. He reminded me of how much I’d hate to lose to someone else the small dog my father carved from a piece of cheap wood. I returned the pen to my teacher, Mrs. Davids, and still remembered the smell of her perfume as she patted me on my shoulder.
Yet of all the instructions Steve gave me, his respect for life is the most vivid in my mind. When I was twelve I killed an old brown sparrow in the yard with a BB gun. Excited with my accuracy. I screamed to Steve to come from the house to take a look. I shall never forget the way he stood for a long moment and stared at the bird on the ground. Then in a dead, quiet voice, he asked, “Did it hurt you first, Mark?” I didn’t know what to answer. He continued with his eyes firm,” The only time you should even think of hurting a living thing is when it hurts you first. And then you think a long. long time.” I really felt terrible then, but that moment stands out as the most important lesson my brother taught me.
1. Why did the author weep when returning from a baseball game? (no more than 12 words)2. The underlined part can be replaced by
3. How did the author kill the old brown sparrow? (no more than 5 words)
4. What important lessons did the author learn from Steve? (no more than 20 words)
5. How are you inspired by the lesson? Explain in your own words. (no more than 20 words)
4 . WELCOMETO CHINATOWN!
The Chinatown in San Francisco is the biggest in America, and also the oldest. It is a very popular tourist draw that receives more visitors each year than even the Golden Gate Bridge. The climate is mild all year round, meaning it is always a good time to visit.
Historically, Chinese immigrants settled in the area during the railroad construction and gold rush period. What started as a residential area for Chinese immigrants then turned into a centre for Chinese culture. The majority of residents in Chinatown are still ethnic Chinese, many of whom do not speak English fluently. This allows visitors to experience a real taste of China.
Most of Chinatown was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake, but the city and residents rebuilt it, taking care to include lots of Chinese architecture. Traditionally, visitors enter Chinatown through the legendary Dragon Gate, which was built using materials donated from China. Other famous sites include the Tin How Temple and Bank of Canton, to name but a few. Visitors can also spend hours just exploring the interesting sights, smells, and sounds of China. Portsmouth Square is also a key site, being the centre of Chinatown. It has a long and famous history, with the author Robert Louis Stevenson having spent much time writing there. These days, the square is a great place to see traditional Chinese culture in real life, such as games of Chinese chess, and people practising tai chi.
The stores in the Chinatown offer a unique range of souvenirs, goods, and clothing. All kinds of traditional Chinese herbal medicine can be found, too, and there are Chinese tea stores, where visitors can taste and buy varieties of Chinese tea.
But perhaps what many tourists and San Franciscans treasure most about Chinatown is its food. There is Chinese food to suit everyone's taste, with traditional dishes from all over China.
Chinatowns are an important part of the diverse culture of the USA. They allow visitors who have never been to China to experience traditional Chinese culture first hand.
(1)”Look at the title and picture and predict what kind of article is this?
(2)”Who are the target readers?
(3)”What is the writer’s purpose of writing this text?
2. Activity 2： Reading for main idea
Read the text quickly and match the main idea of the passage.
| A.The characteristic of Chinatown. B.The history of Chinatown. C.The introduction of Chinatown’s shops and products. D.The origin of Chinatown. E.The existence value of Chinatown. F.The famous food and drinks of Chinatown. |
Para.2
Para.3
Para.4
Para.5
Para.6
3. Activity 3 :Reading for details
Read the passage again and answer the questions.
(1)”What are the famous tourist sites in the Chinatown of San Francisco?
(2)”Which is the best season to visit the Chinatown in San Francisco?
(3)”What else can you do there?
5 . A SUCCESSFUL FAILURE
Perce Blackborow joined an expedition with Sir Ernest Shackleton to Antarctica on the ship Endurance in 1914. Shackleton was one of the most famous explorers of his day and it was considered a great honour to be part of his expeditions. Below are some of Blackborow’s diary entries.
31 Oct 1914
… Well, it so happened that one morning I bought a newspaper and read the advertisement about the Antarctic expedition.
An expedition to the South Pole with the great Sir Ernest Shackleton — this is the adventure that I have been dreaming of. And I was ready for it. At the age of 19, I am fit and full of vigour. However, when I applied to join the expedition, Shackleton turned me down because he thought I was too young and wasn’t qualified. But I was so enthusiastic about the idea of going along with them that I secretly went aboard his ship, the Endurance, and hid in a small cupboard. Unfortunately, three days after we set off I was discovered. Shackleton did not want to turn back so he offered me a job, but only after he promised me, “If anyone has to be eaten, then you will be the first!” He assigned me to be a steward, and I now serve meals for twenty-eight men, three times a day.
How everyone will envy me when I come back and tell them about the amazing places I have been to!
21 Nov 1915
The journey has not been easy. Endurance became stuck in the ice as we approached Antarctica. The ice froze around us and we were well and truly stuck! We saw the ship get crushed by the ice. And when the ship sank, our hearts sank with it.
Before we abandoned the ship, Shackleton calmly called us together and told us to rescue our most essential supplies — the small boats, our food, the cook stove, candles, clothes, and blankets. This was no time to panic. We were not allowed to take most of our personal belongings, and Shackleton himself threw away all his gold. But to our surprise, he allowed Hussey to keep his banjo. Hussey often plays it to keep our spirits up.
We are now camped on the ice and we have been managing to survive, but spring is coming, and the ice will soon begin to melt.
20 May 1916
We have been struggling for days, but things on Elephant Island are going from bad to worse. We are now crowded together under one of our boats on the rocky shore of this miserable place. Soon after we arrived, Shackleton left us to find help on South Georgia Island, 1,320 kilometres away — the voyage was too dangerous and difficult for all of us to make it in our small boats. If Shackleton fails, will we have any hope of rescue? No. No navy in the world ever stops at Elephant Island, and no one else knows that we are here.
I feel low. It’s cold and windy. The island has no plants. Sometimes we are able to catch a seal or a penguin to eat. Otherwise, there is no food. I try to think of happier things: decent food, warm and dry clothes, a cosy bedroom, sunny days, and my mother’s face … However, these happy memories are soon interrupted by a sudden cold rush of air.
I shouted, “Shut the door!”
“Hold on now, Perce. Don’t you go turning into another Tom,” came the reply. “We’ve caught another penguin, so it’s penguin soup tonight!”
Bless Frank Wild, the kindest man there is after our leader, Ernest Shackleton. How could I become as selfish and bad-tempered as Thomas Orde-Lees!
Without Frank and Ernest, we’d all be dead by now. Their genuine concern for others, their perseverance, and their resolve fill me with hope.
Perhaps there is a chance we will return home, after all.
2. What happened to Endurance? What did the crew members have to do?
3. What did Shackleton do to make sure they could survive?
6 . We watched as Shackleton and the boat sailed away from Elephant Island. It was easy to imagine the danger ahead of them. Would they ever return to find us? What might happen to them? What if they were delayed? We felt so alone and desperate. But it was not for long. There was nothing like a good dinner and some music to cheer us up.
Life fell into a regular pattern. Staying alive took all our time and energy. For example, we needed water, and Elephant Island had none. We found that we could melt ice from the ocean and drink the water from it. But how could we make fire? There were no trees growing on Antarctica and no oil, so the only fuel we could use was animal fat. This gave off oily, black smoke, but it stayed burning even in strong winds.
Food was also a problem, as we did not find any vegetables or fruit on the island. One of our group members, Lionel Greenstreet, noted in his diary about how bored he was with the meals: “The food now is pretty well all meat of sea creatures.” If it weren’t for sea animals, we would all starve. As a chef, it was my duty to cook, so I tried to vary the meals in whatever way I could. But it was difficult.
We had to be careful not to go outside too often, as the changing temperatures could make us ill. It was almost as dangerous to become too hot from wearing too many clothes as to become too cold from wearing too few. The sweat could freeze very quickly. Many of us also became ill from the black smoke of the animal fat we burnt for our fires. It damaged our eyes and burnt our lungs.
The twenty-two of us lived like this in the cold for four months. Our discipline and team spirit kept us optimistic and helped us deal with our fears in a positive and successful way. We also celebrated our birthdays, festivals, and even the times when we caught a sea animal. This was an episode in my life that I would never forget.When we were finally rescued, we felt such relief and joy that many of us could not hide our tears. We were at last free to go home to warm beds, good food, and the care of our family and friends. Our optimism and faith in Shackleton had helped us persevere in staying alive. And he paid us back by his commitment to save us from a slow but painful death.
1. What did the men eat and drink on the island?2. What were the dangers of living on the island?
3. How did the men stay in good spirits while waiting to be rescued?
4. What do you think were the key reasons for their survival?
5. If you were one of the men on Elephant Island, would you have trusted Shackleton? Why or why not?
6. Summarizing the key elements of the story.
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CLIMATE CHANGE REQUIRES THE WORLD’S ATTENTION
We have known about climate change for decades. There is little doubt that Earth is getting warmer and warmer (see the graph). A warming ocean and atmosphere along with melting ice and rising sea levels provide evidence of a dramatic change in the global climate.
In 2013, a lot of people were shocked by a news photo of a dead polar bear that was found on Norway’s Arctic island of Svalbard. According to the scientists who found its dead body, all that remained of the polar bear was “skin and bones”. An expert who has studied polar bears for many years said that from the position of its dead body, the bear appeared to have starved and died. Experts claimed that low sea-ice levels caused by climate change meant the bear could not hunt seals as before, so it had to travel greater distances in order to find food. This alarming case showed how the increase in temperature had an impact on Earth’s ecology.
Then what is causing the increase in the global average surface temperature? Climate scientists often mention a key climate process called the “greenhouse effect”, which has two common meanings: the “natural” greenhouse effect and the “man-made” greenhouse effect. The “natural” greenhouse effect refers to the fact that heat from the sun enters the atmosphere and warms Earth’s surface as short-wave radiation. The heat is released back into space at longer wave lengths. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as methane and carbon dioxide, trap some of the heat, keeping Earth’s climate warm and habitable. Without this process, Earth could not sustain life. However, the “man-made” greenhouse effect has now become a big problem. When people produce huge amounts of extra greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels, more heat energy is trapped in the atmosphere and causes Earth’s surface temperature to rise quickly.
There is strong and comprehensive evidence that the rise in temperature has led to an increase in extreme weather and natural disasters worldwide, not only causing serious damage, but also costing human lives. Climate scientists have warned that if we do not take appropriate actions, this warming trend will probably continue and there will be a higher price to pay. In fact, news reports are frequently broadcast about extreme rainstorms and heatwaves causing deaths and economic losses.
Continued greenhouse gas emissions will result in further warming and long-lasting changes to the global climate. This requires the attention of people all over the world. Governments need to consider making policies and taking appropriate actions and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We as individuals can also reduce our “carbon footprint” by restricting the amount of carbon dioxide our lifestyles produce. It is our responsibility to seize every opportunity to educate everyone about global warming, along with its causes and impacts, because this is the most serious issue affecting all of us on this planet. So what will you do to help?
1. What happened to the polar bear in the photo? Why did the writer write about it?2. Why is the “natural” greenhouse effect important and necessary?
3. What are the consequences of high greenhouse gas emissions?
4. Why did the author mention the climate scientists' warning?
5. What is the author’s purpose of writing this text?
WHY DO WE CELEBRATE FESTIVALS?
Festivals are celebrated all around the world. They have a wide range of origins, such as the seasons of the year, religions, famous figures, and important events. Every festival has its different customs and unique charms. However, no matter how different they may seem, all over the world, the spirit of sharing joy, gratitude, love, or peace is common in all festivals.
Of all the traditional festivals, the harvest festival can be found in almost every culture. This important agricultural festival takes place after all the crops have been gathered in. People celebrate to show that they are grateful for the year’s supply of food. In ancient Egypt, the harvest festival was celebrated during the springtime— the Egyptian harvest season. It featured a parade and a great feast with music, dancing, and sports. Today, in some European countries, people decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit, and get together to celebrate over a meal. During the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, families gather to admire the shining moon and enjoy delicious mooncakes.
Customs play a significant role in festivals, but sometimes they can change over time. With the development of modern society and the spread of new ideas, some traditions may fade away and others may be established. One example is the typical Chinese Spring Festival custom of lighting firecrackers to drive away the evil spirits and celebrate the new year. Nowadays, many big cities have given up this custom in order to avoid air pollution. Another example is Halloween, which slowly became an exciting festival for children, in spite of its religious origins.
Festivals are becoming more and more commercial, with businesses taking advantage of the celebrations. Online shopping websites and social media apps have made it much easier for the public to spend more on gifts for their loved ones. Although some believe festivals should not be commercialised, others believe the increase in spending is good for the economy and public happiness.
Festivals are an important part of society. They reflect people’s wishes, beliefs, faiths, and attitudes towards life. They are occasions that allow us to relax and enjoy life, and forget about our work for a little while. They help us understand where we came from, who we are, and what to appreciate. And if you study festivals carefully, you may be surprised to find that different cultures actually have a lot in common after all.
1. What’s mainly talked about in the text?From the title, we can predict the passage is mainly about
2. Match the main idea with each paragraph.
| a.The harvest festival. b.Festivals are an important part of society. c.Festivals are celebrated all around the world. d.The customs in festivals. e.The commercialised festivals. |
Para.2
Para.3
Para.4
Para.5
9 . REDUCING WATER POLLUTION IN THE LI RIVER
The beautiful Li River and its amazing surrounding scenery is one of the most well-known tourist destinations in China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It attracts millions of domestic and foreign visitors each year. However, its reputation as a top destination has had negative effects on the river’s water quality. This report looks at the problem of water pollution and some actions that have been taken to deal with it.
Previously, water quality in the Li River had suffered greatly from an increasing volumeof tourists, many of whom frequently threw garbage into the river. Many tour boats contributed to the problem too. Kitchens on board were using lots of oil, which was often thrown into the water. The growth in tourism also meant the local population rose rapidly, as well as the number of commercial and industrial enterprises. Water pollution levels increased, with more household and commercial waste ending up in the river. In order to feed more people, more chemicals were used to increase crop production. These chemicals led to severe water quality issues, causing a decrease in the number of fish species. Local officials were concerned that the pollution was damaging the natural environment and felt that urgent steps should be taken to restore the river’s original beauty.
A comprehensive initiative was started, with a number of measures that addressed the issues. The construction of waste water treatment facilities improved the water quality and water conservation. The collection and transport of household waste was also improved. Dozens of polluting enterprises were closed or moved. The local government set up strict regulations regarding further industrial development. New rules were also introduced regarding tour boat routes and garbage disposal methods. Furthermore, the local authorities began to use the media to spread environmental awareness and encourage greater use of clean energy. At the same time, they started to carry out inspections regularly and fine tourist organisations for abuses. With these measures, it is believed that the beauty of the Li River will be preserved for generations to come.
In addition, the ambitious “Water Ten Plan” is also now tackling water pollution across the country. Other initiatives, such as the “River Chief System”, hold senior officials responsible for reducing water pollution. With such campaigns in effect, China’s waterways are heading towards a clean and sustainable future.
2. What measures have been taken to improve the Li River’s water quality?
3. What is the "River Chief System”?
10 . REDUCING WATER POLLUTION IN THE LI RIVER
The beautiful Li River and its amazing surrounding scenery is one of the most well-known tourist destinations in China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It attracts millions of domestic and foreign visitors each year. However, its reputation as a top destination has had negative effects on the river’s water quality. This report looks at the problem of water pollution and some actions that have been taken to deal with it.
Previously, water quality in the Li River had suffered greatly from an increasing volume of tourists, many of whom frequently threw garbage into the river. Many tour boats contributed to the problem too. Kitchens on board were using lots of oil, which was often thrown into the water. The growth in tourism also meant the local population rose rapidly, as well as the number of commercial and industrial enterprises. Water pollution levels increased, with more household and commercial waste ending up in the river. In order to feed more people, more chemicals were used to increase crop production. These chemicals led to severe water quality issues, causing a decrease in the number of fish species. Local officials were concerned that the pollution was damaging the natural environment and felt that urgent steps should be taken to restore the river’s original beauty.
A comprehensive initiative was started, with a number of measures that addressed the issues. The construction of waste water treatment facilities improved the water quality and water conservation. The collection and transport of household waste was also improved. Dozens of polluting enterprises were closed or moved. The local government set up strict regulations regarding further industrial development. New rules were also introduced regarding tour boat routes and garbage disposal methods. Furthermore, the local authorities began to use the media to spread environmental awareness and encourage greater use of clean energy. At the same time, they started to carry out inspections regularly and fine tourist organisations for abuses. With these measures, it is believed that the beauty of the Li River will be preserved for generations to come.
In addition, the ambitious “Water Ten Plan” is also now tackling water pollution across the country. Other initiatives, such as the “River Chief System”, hold senior officials responsible for reducing water pollution. With such campaigns in effect, China’s waterways are heading towards a clean and sustainable future.
2. What do you think might have caused water pollution in the Li River?
