1 . Singapore uses about 430 million gallons of water every day—a number it expects could double in the next four decades. That kind of consumption (消费) is increasing pressure on the Asian city state to solve growing problems about global water shortage. So it is building new technology to prepare itself for a future where getting clean water will be even more difficult.

Rapid urbanization (城市化) and rising global temperatures are making access to natural water sources increasingly hard to get. Meanwhile, Singapore is home to more than five million people and is covered in fountains, reservoirs(水库) and other water features—including the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, a 130-foot facility that pumps 10,000 gallons of water per minute. But it has no natural water sources of its own, instead relying heavily on recycled water and imports from its neighbors.

There’s a big desire to become water independent—to control the future—and that is largely dependent on the technologies being developed. One development: A small, black sponge (海绵) can clean waste water. The sponge absorbs (吸收) 190 times its weight in waste like contaminants (污染物) and microplastics. The material is really useful and will be further developed for commercial use. Another one is a lightweight filtration device (过滤装置) that has already provided clean drinking water to more than 75,000 people across Southeast Asia. One of the most creative aspects of the product is its simplicity. Besides, the water filtration device is no bigger than a bicycle pump, but it can provide clean water to villages of 100 people for up to two years.

Everyone is very lucky to have access to clean drinking water. For people in the world, clean water is a basic aspect for life on earth. What’s more important, it is everyone’s responsibility to pay attention to water shortage and take action.

1. What can we learn about the future?

A．It may be easier to get clean water.	B．Water shortage may be worse.
C．The population may become larger.	D．Water consumption may become less.

2. What does the author describe about Singapore?

A．Some natural water sources are found everywhere.

B．Five million people go to find water sources.

C．Singapore has the tallest natural waterfall.

D．Rapid urbanization partly causes water shortage.

3. What is paragraph 3 mainly about??

A．Why Singapore is short of water.	B．Whether there is water shortage.
C．How we solve water shortage.	D．What water shortage is.

4. What’s the author’s attitude towards dealing with water shortage?

A．Supportive.

B．Negative.

C．Unclear.

D．Disapproving.

2 . A woman’s husband divorced her because she spent too much time on the Internet. But she continued to surf the World Wide Web. She did this so often that she forgot to take her children to the doctor or get the kids enough food. Her husband asked the court for the children.

But he needed someone to support her illness. “I had to write a letter to the judge,” said Dr. Jonathan Kandell. “The judge did not believe there was such a thing as Internet addiction.”

Is there? Some psychologists say that Internet addiction is real, just like gambling or drug abuse.

At the University of Maryland, a doctor started an Internet addiction support group after he watched a few addicted students nearly failed school.

How can you tell if you have an abnormal pattern of Internet use? Do you need to spend increased amounts of time on the Internet to achieve satisfaction? And when you’re not online, do you have fantasies or dreams about the Internet?

Tyler Johnson, 17, a high school senior in Abbotsford, British Columbia, spends more than six hours a day online and more than an hour reading his email.

Tyler dropped out of school sports, and now, every day after school until 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning, he plays games on the Internet.

Dr. Kandell guesses that many addicts don’t get help because they don’t know they have a problem. “I think we’re about a year away from having people recognize it’s really a problem,” he said. “It’s out there. There’s no question.”

1. Why did the author mention this divorce case in the first paragraph?

A．To stress the value of the professor’s letter.

B．To prove that Internet addiction does exist.

C．To show the husband’s struggle in marriage.

D．To explain the increasing high divorce rate.

2. Who are likely to have Internet addiction?

A．A mother forgetting to cook meals for kids after school.

B．An engineer adding time to search for information online.

C．A worker making a dream to change the Internet world.

D．A freshman having crazy ideas of Internet when not online.

3. What can we know about Tyler?

A．He has an Internet addiction without realizing it.

B．His Internet addiction has an effect on his health.

C．He has already taken up all his study time online.

D．Schools should strictly manage his Internet access.

4. What is Dr. Kandell’s attitude towards people with Internet addiction?

A．They could ignore the effect of Internet addiction.

B．They should be forced to quit their bad habit.

C．It is a must for them to be aware of the harm.

D．Medication is necessary to take control of it.

5 . It was a comfortable sunny Sunday. I was going to meet an old university friend I hadn’t seen for years, and was really excited.

My train was running a little late, but that was no big problem—I could text him to say I would be delayed. He would understand. But … where was my mobile phone? I had that familiar sinking feeling. Yes, I’d left it at home.

No mobile phone. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling anxious, on edge and worried when I don’t have my phone with me. In fact, I know I’m not alone: two－thirds of us experience “nomophobia (无手机恐惧症)”， the fear of being out of mobile phone contact.

That’s according to a study from 2012 which surveyed 1，000 people in the UK about their relationship with mobile phones.

It says we check our mobile phones 34 times a day, and that 18—24－year－olds, especially girls, are the most likely to suffer fear of being without their mobiles: 77% of them say they are unable to be apart from their phones for more than a few minutes.

Do you have nomophobia?

● You never turn your phone off.

● You frequently check for texts, missed calls and emails.

● You always take your phone to the bathroom with you.

● You never let the battery run out.

It’s funny to think that around 20 years ago the only people with mobile phones would be businessmen carrying their large, plastic “bricks”. Of course, these days, mobile phones are everywhere. A UN study from this year said there would be more mobile phones than people across the world by the end of 2020.

And when there are more phones than people in the world, maybe it’s time to ask who really is in charge? Are you in control of your phone, or does your phone control you?

So, what happened with my university friend? When I arrived a few minutes late he just laughed and said: “You haven’t changed at all—still always late!” And we had a great afternoon catching up, full of jokes and stories, with no desire to check my phone.

Not having it with me felt strangely free. Maybe I’ll leave it at home on purpose next time.

1. The underlined phrase “on edge” in Paragraph 3 probably means “________”．

A．energetic

B．nervous

C．brilliant

D．amazed

2. What’s the author’s attitude towards using mobiles?

A．Worried.

B．Positive.

C．Neutral (中立的).

D．Negative.

3. According to the passage, who is most likely to be addicted to (对……上瘾) mobiles?

A．A successful manager.	B．A 21－year－old girl.
C．A 21－year－old boy.	D．A lonely middle－aged person.

4. What does the passage talk about?

A．The history of mobile phones.

B．The story of meeting an old university friend.

C．The attraction of playing mobile phone.

D．The terrible feeling of being without their mobiles.