Air Pollution andAcid Rain
The increasing variety and prevalence of pollution presents the world with many extremely daunting problems, air pollution in particular ranks among the most serious. In the following text, air pollution and acid rain caused by automobiles will be discusseD、Certain solutions to the problem will be provided in the conclusion.
It is widely known that cars are the main cause of air pollution in cities, accounting for 60% to 90% of all air pollution. This will get worse as the number of cars increases in urban areas. How do cars cause air pollution First we must examine how a car works. There’s a mixture of petrol in the car’s internal combustion engine which create the force for the automobile to move. Unfortunately, in this process there are some poisonous chemicals which remain; these poisonous chemicals mainly come out of the car through the exhaust, it’s not just what comes out of the car exhaust that is dangerous, the brake system also causes pollution.Brakes on cars release asbestos, it is a highly dangerous substance and it can kill humans.Also, the tires themselves give off small rubber particles which are not very healthy.
Acid rain caused by air pollution has strongly influenced people’s lives. It is almost impossible to describe the mathematical relationship between what goes up as pollutant emissions and what comes down as acid rain. However, we do know the primary source of acid rain is the pollution released by power plants. The pollutants combine with moisture in the atmosphere and then fall as an acid rain. Germans often call it royal water, because it can break down golD、
The royal water falls in the form of rain or snow on the GermanBlack Forest and attacks the soil. Microorganisms within the soil perish and metals harmful to trees like aluminum leak into the grounD、At the same time, the acid rain attacks the trees’ leaves and dissolves their waxy coating. The leaves then shrivel and die.About one in every ten trees in theBlack Forest is a fir. 76% of all firs in theBlack Forest are dying. 41% of all spruce are diseased, 43% of all pine are diseased, 26% of beech trees and 16% of all other trees are dying.Environmental groups like Green Peace campaign aroundEurope trying to stop the causes of acid rain.
We need to find solutions to this problem. First, we should try and discourage the overuse of cars. We could do this by raising taxes on petrol or by making cars more expensive.
Second, we can encourage alternative methods of transportation. For example, in Shanghai recently, a subway has been built underground, which takes some of the pressure off the roads. Some people would rather use the underground than drive their cars. Next, we could develop and use cleaner fuels instead of petrol. For example, we might use natural gas in the future or we might experiment with battery powered cars.
Finally, the actual by-products of vehicle emissions must be manageD、
A、[■] Scientists and engineers are now trying to use mechanical means for reducing the amount of chemicals that are emitted from cars’ exhaust pipes.
B、[■] Germany is now leading the way in attacking this part of the problem.
C、[■] In order to clean up motor vehicle emissions, all new cars in Germany must now meet new emission standards and be fitted with a device called a catalytic converter.
D、[■] This is a device that is fixed over the exhaust and controls the carbon monoxide and other dangerous chemicals that cars give off. Like Germany, the United States also introduced strict clean air-controls on motor vehicle emissions in the mid-70s as part of their efforts to reduce acid rain. It’s unlikely that any one of these solutions will work on its own. It will take a combination of all four of these solutions to help solve the air pollution problem. In Paragraph 7, the autho

Family Matters
This month, Wyoming passed a bill that would give legal teeth to the moral obligation to support one’s parents.Called the Maintenance of ParentsBill, it received the backing of the Government.
That does not mean it hasn’t generated discussion. Several members of the Parliament opposed the measure. Others who acknowledged the problem of the elderly poor believed it a disproportionate response. Still others believe it will subvert relations within the family, cynics dubbed it the "Sue Your Son" law.
Those who say that the bill does not promote filial responsibility, of course, are right. It has nothing to do with filial responsibility. It kicks in where filial responsibility fails.All the law can do is to provide a safety net where this morality proves insufficient. Wyoming needs this bill not to replace morality, but to provide incentives to show it up.
Wyoming faces the problems of an increasing proportion of people over 60 years of age.Demography is inexorable. In 1980, 7.2% of the population was in this bracket.By 2030, the proportion is projected to be 26%. The problem is not old age persen. It is that the ratio of economically active people to economically inactive people will decline.
But no amount of government exhortation or paternalism will completely eliminate the problem of old people who have insufficient means to make ends meet. Some people will fall through the holes in any safety net.
Traditionally, a person’s insurance against poverty in his old age was his family care and support for one’s parents is a universal value shared by all civilized societies.
The problem in Wyoming is that the moral obligation to look after one’s parents is unenforceable.A、father can be compelled by law to maintain his children.A、husband can be forced to support his wife.But, until now, a son or daughter had no legal obligation to support his or her parents.
In 1989, anAdvisoryCouncil was set up to look into the problems of the ageD、Its report stated with a tinge of complacency that 95% of those who did not have their own income were receiving cash contributions from relations.But what about the 5% who aren’t getting relatives’ support They have several options:
(a) get a job and work until they die;
(b) apply for public assistance (you have to be destitute to apply); or
(c) starve quietly. None of these options is socially acceptable.And what if this 5% figure grows, as it is likely to do, as society ages
The Maintenance of ParentsBill was put forth to encourage the traditional virtues that have so far kept Wyoming from some of the breakdowns encountered in other affluent societies. This legislation will allow a person to apply to the court for maintenance from any or all of his children. The court would have the discretion to refuse to make an order if it is unjust.
Those who deride the proposal for opening up the courts to family lawsuits miss the point. Only in extreme cases would any parent take his child to court. If it does indeed become law, the bill’s effect would be far more subtle.
First, it will reaffirm the notion that it is each individual’s—not society’s—responsibility to look after his parents. Wyoming is still conservative enough that most people will not object to this ideA、
Second, and more important, it will make those who are inclined to shirk their responsibilities think twice.A、[■]But to be sued by one’s parents would be a massive loss of face. It would be a public disgrace.B、[■] The hand of the conciliator would be immeasurably strengtheneD、C、[■] It is far more likely that some sort of amicable settlement would be reached if the recalcitrant son or daughter knows that the alternative is a public trial.D、[■]
It would be nice to think Wyoming doesn’t need this kind of law. Those of us who pus

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