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根据网考网考试中心的统计分析，以下试题在2015-12-2日考研考研英语习题练习中，答错率较高，为：75%
【分析解答题】As the American West enters its fifth year of drought—the longest stretch in 108 years—the region’s cities are instituting sweeping water-usage restrictions and conservation programs. In Aurora, Colo., where the reservoir system is at just 26% capacity and is expected to reach only half of normal levels by summer, planting new trees and shrubs is prohibited, and privately owned pools may not be filled. 

In the thirsty, growing cities of Southern California, however, simple conservation simply won’t do the trick. This region imports more than 80% of its water from neighboring states. And even though it jealously guards those arrangements, they won’t be enough to compensate for the rapid growth that lies just ahead: San Diego County’s population alone is projected to rise about 29% by 2020, from 2.84 million to 3.67 million.

Drastic times call for drastic measures, so state water agencies are turning to desalination, a technology that makes ocean and brackish water drinkable by stripping it of salt and other minerals. California has plans in various stages to build 13 desalination plants along its coastline. The projects will cost billions, but planners say they’ll provide a far more reliable supply for California residents than waiting for Mother Nature to adjust her weather patterns.

Since just 3% of water on earth is fresh, this is a step that would have to be taken anyway as the global population grows. “Desalination will create a drought-proof supply of water,” says Bob Yamada, the San Diego Water Authority’s seawater-desalination program manager. He adds that 20 years from now, 10% to 20% of the state’s water could come from the ocean. The American Water Works Assn., a Denverbased nonprofit dedicated to improving drinkingwater quality and supply, predicts that the market for desalination plants and equipment, now just $2 billion, will grow to more than $70 billion over the next two decades.

Environmentalists embrace desalination. Studies show that pumping the cooling water and concentrate back into the ocean raises its salinity by less than 1%, which is equivalent to the natural rise and fall. Barry Nelson, a senior policy analyst with the Natural Resources Defense Council, says he became a proponent of desalination when a June, 1999, California report demonstrated that it was cheaper than building new dams, which often have a huge environmental impact.
Nelson still worries about energy consumption and coastal disruption. But he adds that “desalination is no longer on the lunatic fringe. It has entered the mainstream. That means we look at desalt projects on a case-by-case basis, as we would any other legitimate water policy.”

As the technology continues to improve, experts say it’ll fast become a solution not only for municipalities but for hotels and resorts, corporations, and, someday, homeowners. Privately held water-treatment outfit Matrix Water, based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is installing a desalination plant that will process 800,000 gallons of water per day for the new Emerald Bay Four Seasons Resort in the Bahamas. And the new U.S. Homeland Security Dept. is investigating ways of using reverse osmosis to protect the nation’s water supply from bioterrorism.
31. Water conservation programs alone wont solve the problem in Southern California because .
A. it is confronting an unprecedented drought in 108 years
B. private citizens are consuming a lot more water than before
C. it imports a large proportion of its water from other states
D. population in the cities of this area is always growing fast

32. The third paragraph is written to . 
A. discuss the cause of the decline of water supply
B. introduce a solution to the issue of water shortage
C. explain the way in which desalination develops
D. exemplify the different ways to solve the problem

33. Barry Nelson became a supporter of desalination owing to its .
A. universal support among environmentalists 
B. contribution to natural resources 
C. low cost and little damage to environment
D. advantage to natural defense

34. Nelson’s attitude towards desalination programs can best be described as one of . 
A. qualified approval B. unreserved support
C. slight indifference D. absolute pessimism
35. The expression “reverse osmosis” most probably refers to .
A. costal disruption B. technology
C. antiterrorism policies D. desalination

，答错率：75%
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