Each day water-related diseases kill 3,900 of the world's children. Across the world, 1.1 billion people have no access to clean drinking water. More than 2.6 billion people lack basic sanitation . The combination proves deadly. Each year, diseases related to inadequate water and sanitation kill between 2 and 5 million people and cause an estimated 80 percent of all sicknesses in the developing world. Safe drinking water is a precondition for health and the fight against child death rate, inequality between men and women, and poverty. Consider these facts: * The average distance that women in Africa and Asia walk to collect water is 6 kilometres. * Only 58 percent of children in sub-Sharan Africa are drinking safe water, and only 37 percent of children in South Asia have access to even a basic toilet. * Each year in India alone, 73 million working days are lost to water-borne diseases. Here are three ways you can help: 1) Write Congress Current U.S. foreign aid for drinking water and sanitation budgets only one dollar per year per American citizen. Few members of Congress have ever received a letter from voters about clean drinking water abroad. 2) Sponsor a project with a faith-based organization Many U.S. religious groups already sponsor water and sanitation projects, working with partner organizations can make safe water a reality for thousands of people. 3) Support nonprofit water organizations Numerous U.S. based nonprofits work skillfully abroad in community led projects related to drinking water and sanitation. Like the sample of non-profits noted as follows, some organizations are large, others small-scale, some operate world-wide, others are devoted to certain areas in Africa, Asia, Latin America. Support them generously. The intended readers of the passage are _ . A) Americans B) overseas sponsors C) Congressmen D) U.S. based water organizations
A
It was very cold and I had been watching a homeless man make himself comfortable in a "shelter" on the river bank. His "shelter" was a tarpaulin tied to rocks to keep the wind from blowing it away. He had been living there for over a month. I never saw him with warm clothing or food. I knew what I wanted to do. When I told my parents what I wanted to do they were _ . They said I could be putting myself at risk, taking a box to a homeless person at night! But I knew, in my deep heart, that I would be safe. I got a box. My parents watched as I added warm gloves, a heavy blanket ... into the box until it was full! Then, I put a Christmas card on top. It said, "Even though we hardly know each other, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas!" I put ten one-dollar bills inside it as well. My father insisted he went there with me as it was 10 pm on Christmas Eve. I said he could drive me but he had to stay in the car. He agreed. I took the box and walked towards his "house". I called, "Sir, I have a Christmas box for you!" "Go away!" he shouted. "Sir," I repeated. "Go away!" he shouted. "Why?" I asked him. He walked over and I expected to see an angry face. Instead I saw two of the most beautiful, gentle, blue eyes I have ever seen. "Merry Christmas!" I said. "Why are you doing this?" he asked. "Because you matter to me," I said. With that I gave him the box. Tears came to his eyes and he thanked me. I got back to the car and watched him carry the box like it was filled with gold. I didn't want to embarrass him by watching him any more so Dad and I left. When the homeless man saw the author first, he was _ . A) quite angry B) very excited C) quite puzzled D) very curious
A
Q: He met her at the party. She was so outstanding, with many boys around her, while he was so normal, with nobody paying attention to him. At the end of the party, he invited her to have coffee with him. She was surprised, but due to being polite, she agreed. They sat in a nice coffee shop. He was too nervous to say anything, and she felt uncomfortable, thinking, "Please let me go home." Suddenly he asked the waiter, "Would you please give me some salt? I'd like to put it in my coffee." Everybody stared at him---so strange! His face turned red, but, still, he put the salt in his coffee and drank it. She asked him curiously, "Why do you have this hobby?" He replied, "When I was a little boy, I lived near the sea. I liked playing in the sea, and I could feel the taste of the sea, just like the taste of the salty coffee. Now every time I have the salty coffee, I always think of my childhood. I miss my hometown so much. I miss my parents who are still living there." While saying that, tears filled his eyes. She was deeply touched. That's his true feeling, from the bottom of his heart. A man who can tell about his homesickness must be a man who loves home, cares about home, and has a good sense of responsibility. Then she also started to speak, about her faraway hometown, her childhood, her family. That was a really nice talk, also a beautiful beginning of their story. They continued to date. She found that actually he was a man who meets all her demands: he was kind-hearted, warm and careful. He was such a good person but ! Thanks to his salty coffee! Then the story was just like every beautiful love story, the princess married the prince, then they were living a happy life...And, every time she made coffee for him, she put some salt in the coffee. After 40 years, he passed away, leaving her a letter which said, "My dearest, please forgive my whole-life lie. This was the only lie I said to you ---the salty coffee." "Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous at that time. Actually I wanted some sugar, but I... It is implied in the passage that the woman _ when reading the letter left by her husband. A) was confused about his behavior B) was touched by his white lie C) felt sorry to know the truth too late D) felt angry about his dishonesty
A: B
(Q).
Many Americans have been leaving their cars at home and riding to work on bicycles. Andy Clark is the leader of the League of American Bicyclists. His group supports bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation. Clark says this is good news for the environment. He says riding a bicycle to work does not burn fossil fuel or creates dangerous pollutions. Experts say the effects are the most important on short trips. The Department of Transportation says fifty percent of Americans drive eight kilometers or fewer to work. Shorter car trips set out more pollution into the air for each kilometer drive. This is because the car engine will set out the harmful air when it warms up before it can work well. James, a members of Congress , is a strong supporter of bicycle use. He says cities, counties, state governments and state highway transportation agencies are planning the roadways of the future. They are creating roads and paths for bicycles in cities and between communities. Last year, Portland, the Pacific Northwest city in the state of Oregon, had the highest percentage of bicycle users in the United States. Portland has been doing progressive city planning for many years to create special paths for bike riders. What happened in America now according to the news? A) Many Americans lost jobs now. B) Many Americans prefer short trips. C) There are more and more bicyclists now in America. D) The pollution is getting worse and worse in America.
(A).
C