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The need to feed a growing population is putting much pressure on the world's supply of water.With
97% of the world's water too salty to be drunk or used in agriculture, the worldwide supply of water
needs careful management, especially in agriculture.Although the idea of a water shortage(短缺)seems
strange to someone fortunate enough to live in a high rainfall country, many of the world's agricultural
industries experience constant water shortages.
Although dams can be built to store water for agricultural use in dry areas and dry seasons, the costs
of water redistribution(重新分配)are very high.Not only is there the cost of the engineering itself, but
there is also an environmental cost to be considered.Where valleys(山谷)are flooded to create dams,
houses are lost and wildlife homes destroyed.Besides, water may flow easily through pipes to fields, but
it cannot be transported from one side of the world to the other.Each country must therefore rely on the
management of its own water to supply its farming requirements.
This is particularly troubling for countries with agricultural industries in areas dependent on irrigation (灌溉). In Texas, farmers' overuse of irrigation water has resulted in a 25% reduction of the water stores.
In the Central Valley area of southwestern USA, a huge water engineering project provided water for
farming in dry valleys, but much of the water use has been poorly managed.
Saudi Arabia's attempts to grow wheat in desert areas have seen the pumping of huge quantities of
irrigation water from underground reserves.Because there is no rainfall in these areas, such reserves can
only decrease, and it is believed that fifty years of pumping will see them run dry.

1. From the first two paragraphs we learn that________.

A. much of the world's water is available for use
B. people in high rainfall countries feel lucky
C. the costs of water redistribution should be considered
D. water can be easily carried through pipes across the world

2. Which of the following is true?

A. The water stores in Texas have been reduced by 75%.
B. Most industries in the world suffer from water shortages.
C. The underground water in Saudi Arabia might run out in 50 years.
D. Good management of water use resulted from the project in the Central Valley.

3. What is most likely to be discussed in the paragraph that follows?

A. Steps to improving water use management.
B. Ways to reduce the costs of building dams.
C. Measures to deal with worldwide water shortages.
D. Approaches to handling the pressure on water supply.

4. The text is mainly about________.

A. water supply and increasing population
B. water use management and agriculture
C. water redistribution and wildlife protection
D. water shortages and environmental protection

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