拯救阿托亚克河

李全忠

阿托亚克河从墨西哥一直延伸到太平洋，这条河在墨西哥人的生活中起着关键的作用，但现在却是墨西哥受污染最严重的水体之一。

1 The Atoyac River is one of Mexicos most polluted bodies of water. It stretches for more than 75 miles， from this country all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

2 The river plays a key role in Mexican life. It is home to plants， animals， and unique native species， and its water is used to irrigate （灌溉） crops.

3 How did the river become so polluted？ The trouble began in the 1800s， when four textile factories were built in Puebla. More factories and industries followed. Over the decades，  companies  have  dumped  waste  into  the  river.  Nearly  25%  of  the  rivers  pollution is thought to be caused by nearby textile production. The contamination （污染） has also caused harmful air pollution.

4 But people in Mexico are taking action. The government has shut several of the industries that caused the pollution. Non?profit organizations are also monitoring management of the river. One organization， Módulo de Información del Río Atoyac， educates the areas nearly 3 million residents about the importance of the river in daily life. An agreement between the state governments of Tlaxcala and Puebla is helping to clean up the river. Companies are also doing their part by installing wastewater treatment plants that prevent contamination of the Atoyac. Individuals and families can help by being aware of how much water they use.

5 “People who previously used the clean waters of the Atoyac River to water the vegetables we later eat in the city now have no choice but to use the polluted waters，” biologist Constantino   Villar   Salazar   said.   He   leads   the   non?profits   environmental   education programs. Villar also explained that local plants absorbed the metals and other pollutants in the water. Consuming these plants can eventually lead to serious diseases.

6 “The rescue of a river is everyones job. Its important that we should start by

teaching children， so they know everything that can be done to rescue the river. We should realize that we do not own nature. We are part of it and depend on it to survive，” Villar said.

1. Which word can best describe the Atoyac River in Mexican life？

A. Disastrous.

B. Meaningless.

C. Useful.

D. Productive.

2. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about？

A. The Atoyac Rivers length.

B. The reason why the Atoyac River was polluted.

C. Air pollution around the Atoyac River.

D. Economic development near the Atoyac River.

3. What has been done to save the Atoyac River？

A. Some industries have been closed.

B. Non?profit organizations are managing the river together.

C. Businessmen have been educated on the rivers importance.

D. More plants and vegetables are being planted along the river.

4. Which of the following statements may Villar agree with？

A. The rescue of a river is governors job.

B. Plants can be used to cure some diseases.

C. Humans own most of the things in nature.

D. Children should be taught to rescue the Atoyac River.

Useful expressions

stretch from...to 从……延伸至……

be home to 是……的所在地/家园

textile factories 纺织厂

be caused by 由……引起

dump waste into 把废物倒入……

pollution/contamination 污染

be aware of 意识到

clean up the river 清理河流

water the vegetables 给蔬菜浇水

have no choice but to do 除了做……，别无选择

depend on...to survive 依靠……生存