We use an average of 158 liters of water a day in Britain, for which we pay a bargain price of 28p a liter, but much of this is just cash down the drain, according to water companies.
Most are campaigning to cut the amount we use. And the frontline weapon in their campaign is the water meter (计量器). They want us all to have one and one company is seeking powers to make this compulsory.
The Government is anxious for us to use less water, too. Elliot Morley, the Environment Minister, says he is impressed by the savings when a meter is installed. In most homes, consumption drops by 20 percent.
He also thinks consumers get a good deal from meters. He said, “Most people would find that they would either be exactly the same or better off with water meters and it is a fairer way of paying for water.”
At present, only 25% of households have meters and most of those are in East Anglia. They are installed by water companies, and households then have about ￡43 added to each bill to cover the cost of installing and reading the meter.
Barrie Clarke, a spokesman for Water UK, said, “We want everyone to be more water wise—to think about the amount of water they use. But with our climate change and different weather patterns, over time it will make economic and environmental sense to think how we use water. This may mean meters.”
Mr. Clarke believes the easiest way to save water is to use less in the garden. In one hour, a sprinkler uses the same amount of water as the average family of four uses in a day—about 632 liters. He said that gardeners should water in the evening so that it dose not evaporate in the heat of the day and that every household should have a water butt to collect rainwater for use in the garden.
【小题1】Which of the following is NOT the advantage of installing water meters?

完形填空（20分）

Not so long ago, if you avoided drinking water during a workout（训练）, you were considered tough. Today, most experts     36   , you would be considered unintelligent.

Even in you don’t sweat much or feel    37   and even if there is a nice breeze,    38     experts say drinking water- or something    39   is necessary before, during and after all warmer-weather   40  .

Only a few years ago, many coaches   41   players from drinking anything during the game----they thought it was   42   for them to rinse(漱口) their mouths,   43  swallowing anything might slow them down.

Now, there’s   44   plenty of water on the sidelines for athletes to drink. The National Hockey League even   45   goalkeepers to put water bottles on top of their nets.

These new practices   46  be lost on the recreation(消遣) athlete. Some   47  advise you to drink about two cups of water 15 minutes or so after you   48  exercising and the same amount every 15 minutes. In some types of exercises-running, for example-others encourage drinking a cup or two of water   49  the workout.

Don’t drink any more, experts say too much fluid makes   50 and exercise uncomfortable. In   51   continuous hot-weather exercise,   52   can sweat and breathe away 1.8 kilograms of   53   an hour.

Drinking water does two things: restore some   54   and allow you to keep sweating so the skin can be kept  55  . Doctors say drinking six or eight cups a day can help digestion.

36. A. discover                     B. suggest                     C. agree                       D. fear

37. A. thirsty                       B. hungry                     C. hot                          D. tired

38. A. labour                       B. children                   C. water                       D. exercise

39. A. else                          B. instead                           C. fresh                        D. tasteful

40. A. seasons                     B. lessons                     C. days                         D. activities

41. A. excused                           B. discouraged                    C. prevented                 D. saved

42. A. possible                           B. unnecessary              C. difficult                   D. right

43. A. but                                  B. then                         C. therefore                  D. though

44. A. seldom                     B. forever                     C. usually                     D. sometimes

45. A. allows                      B. promises                  C. forbids                     D. guides

46. A. couldn’t                           B. wouldn’t                  C. shouldn’t                  D. mustn’t

47. A. teachers                           B. parents                     C. players                     D. doctors

48. A. stop                           B. start                         C. give up                    D. begin with

49. A. after                          B. before                     C. with                         D. from

50. A. walking                           B. breathing                  C. swallowing              D. drinking

51. A. heavy                        B. easy                         C. pleasant                    D. everyday

52. A. a patient                    B. a drinker                  C. an athlete                 D. an expert

53. A. air                            B. atmosphere              C. oxygen                     D. water

54. A. sweat                         B. weight                           C. breath                     D. height

55. A. warm                        B. strong                     C. cool                         D. safe

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

    It was a dark day, one of depression, sorrow and anger. As I climbed out of the   36    , after witnessing my time in the 100 yard freestyle, I did not feel like speaking to anyone. I saw the bright smiles of swimmers who had just   37  a best time.   38    , I had failed. Or at least that is what I thought at the time.

    I was lying on my cool bed when an idea   39   me. Success is the   40   to go from failure to failure without losing your   41   . At practice the next day, I told my swimming teammates about my goal time and they all either laughed or replied with a   42   similar response like, “You can’t do it” or “Probably not”. Believe it or not, these are the responses that make my goal   43  .

    Finally came the day when I had to   44   to myself and others that with     45     there is no limit to your achievements.

    With the starting gun   46   , I dived with perfect form into the pool. I felt the cool water running   47   my back. I swam like a fish, bouncing off each    48    at the wall as if it was a spring board. On the   49   turn, I came back to the wall with every piece of strength I had. I   50   the final wall with my fingertips and I knew that I had swum the   51   race.

    I had done it! I had achieved my best time! Joy filled my   52   like water does a cup. I saw the   53   on all of my friend’s face as I   54   out of the pool; their jaws dropped to the ground. I began to laugh and gave them the thumbs up.

    I have   55   in life that having belief in yourself opens all gates. Never forget that anything the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.

1.A. pond                    B. sea                           C. pool                         D. river

2.A. made          B. achieved                 C. reached                  D. realized

3.A. Otherwise           B. However                 C. Besides          D. Overall

4.A. occurred             B. broke                      C. came                       D. hit

5.A. opportunity        B. action                 C. cause                        D. ability

6.A. enthusiasm         B. interest                   C. strength                  D. friendship

7.A. somehow            B. somewhat               C. anyhow                   D. anywhere

8.A. available              B. reasonable        C. reliable           D. achievable

9.A. promise               B. provide                   C. present                   D. prove

10.A. considerationB. Impression    C. belief                     D. desire

11.A. setting out        B. going off                 C. breaking out D. getting off

12.A. through             B. above                 C. across                  D. to

13.A. turn          B. jump                        C. struggle                   D. shoot

14.A. next                            B. previous                 C. very                         D. last

15.A. pushed              B. reached                  C. got                           D. touched

16.A. whole                B. perfect              C. first                           D. best

17.A. heart                 B. head                  C. mind                         D. mood

18.A. expressions      B. emotions                C. feelings                   D. responses

19.A. ran                     B. climbed                   C. stood                       D. jumped

20.A. acquired           B. dreamed                 C. learned                   D. Remembered

Drinking a lot of water does not do any good to the body, according to two experts in the United States. In fact, they warn, drinking too much water could be, in certain cases, harmful.
In a study, Dr Stanly Goldfarb and Dr Dan Negoianu, both of the Renal, Electrolyte and Hypertension Division at the University of Pensylvania, the United States, have denied the popular belief that drinking a lot of water clears body toxins（毒素）better, improves skin, and helps reduce weight.
Dr Goldfarb and Dr Negoianu say that they found little proof to back the public opinion that drinking 8 glasses of water every day benefits health. At the same time, they fond little proof of harm in drinking 8 glasses of water every day.
It is widely believed that in some cases-such as athletes, people who live in hot, dry environments, and those with certain medical conditions-drinking a lot of water indeed helps, but no studies have been done to prove the benefits of this practice in average, healthy people, the website medheadlines.com reports.
The study at the University of Pennsylvania also examined reports that some people experienced increased headaches when their consumption（消耗）of water was low. In one small study, which the doctors reviewed, the group drinking the most water reported fewer headaches than the control group, “but the difference in the number of headaches was o small between the two groups as to be considered unimportant.”
The researchers concluded that there is no scientific proof to support that average, healthy people need to drink at least 8 glasses of water each each day.
The website medheadines.com says that, according to an Indian doctor, drinking too much water is harmful. If water enters the body more quickly than it can be removed, problems can occur.
【小题1】What’s the key message delivered in the passage?

Drinking a lot of water does not do any good to the body, according to two experts in the United States. In fact, they warn, drinking too much water could be, in certain Cases, harmful.

In a study, Dr Stanly Goldfarb and Dr Dan Negoianu, both of the Renal, Electrolyte and Hypertension Division at the University of Pennsylvania, the United States, have denied the popular belief that drinking a lot of water clears body toxins (毒素) better, improves skin, and helps reduce weight.

Dr Goldfarb and Dr Negoianu say that they found little proof to support the public opinion that drinking 8 glasses of water every day benefits health. At the same time, they found little proof of harm in drinking 8 glasses of water every day.

It is widely believed that in some cases — such as athletes, people who live in hot, dry  environments, and those with certain medical conditions — drinking a lot of water indeed helps,  but no studies have been done to prove the benefits of this practice in average, healthy people, the  website medheadlines. com reports.

The study at the University of Pennsylvania also examined reports that some people experienced increased headaches when their consumption of water was low. In one small study, which the doctors reviewed, the group drinking the most water reported fewer headaches than the control group, “but the difference in the number of headaches was so small between the two groups as to be considered unimportant.”

The researchers concluded that there is no scientific proof to support that average, healthy people need to drink at least 8 glasses of water each day.

The website medheadlines. com says that, according to an Indian doctor, drinking too much water is harmful. If water enters the body more quickly than it can be removed, problems can occur.

1. What’s the key message delivered in the passage?

A. Drinking too much water might bring harm.

B. Whether to drink enough water makes no difference.

C. Drinking too much water may cause headaches.

D. Average, healthy people should drink more water.

2. We can learn from the passage that 8 glasses of water every day ________.

A. proves good for the body             B. has scientific proof of harm

C. is sure to reduce headaches            D. is generally considered necessary

3. Who may agree that drinking lots of water helps to lose weight?

A. Two experts.                     B. General public.

C. An Indian doctor.                  D. A website.

4. According to the passage, we know that ________.

A. the website medheadlines. com is developed by an Indian doctor

B. the study was carried out by two experts with an Indian doctor

C. the two experts performed the study at the University of Pennsylvania

D. drinking 8 glasses of water every day can cure certain diseases