江蘇 于 艷

在荷蘭這樣地勢低洼的國家，漂浮在水面上的房子大有用武之地。

主題語境：人與社會 篇幅：364詞 建議用時：7分鐘

1When a heavy storm hit, residents of the floating community of Schoonschip in Amsterdam had little doubt about whether they could ride it out.They tied up their bikes and outdoor benches,and checked with neighbors to ensure everyone had enough food and water as their neighborhood slid up and down its steel foundational pillars (支柱),rising along with the water and going back to its original position after the rain stopped.

2“We feel safer in the storm because we are floating,”says Siti Boelen,a Dutch television producer who moved into Schoonschip two years ago. As sea level rises and supercharged storms cause waters to rise,floating neighborhoods offer an experiment in flood defense that could allow coastal communities to better fight against climate change.

3A floating house can be constructed on any shoreline and is able to deal with rising seas by remaining on the top of the water's surface.Unlike houseboats,which can easily be moved and relocated,floating homes are fixed to the shore and are usually connected to the local sewer(污水管道)system and power grid.They are structurally similar to houses built on land, but instead of a basement, they have a concrete hull (船體), allowing them to remain stable in the water.

4Severe wind and rain, or even the passing of large cruise ships, can make the buildings rock.Siti Boelen, the Schoonschip resident, says that when she first moved in,stormy weather made her think twice.“You feel it in your stomach,”she says, adding that she has gotten used to the feeling.Floating homes also require extra infrastructure (基礎設施)and work to connect to the electricity grid and sewer system.

5But the benefits may outweigh the costs.“If there are floods,it's expected that many people will move to higher ground. But another choice is to stay close to coastal cities and explore expansion onto the water. If you consider that in the second half of the century,hundreds of millions of people will be displaced by sea level rise. We need to start now to increase the scale of floating developments,”says Rutger de Graaf.

Reading Check

1.How did Schoonschip residents feel when a heavy storm hit?

A.Doubtful. B.Concerned. C.Unworried. D.Indifferent.

2.What can be learned about Siti Boelen?

A.She shows a sense of security in a storm.

B.She gets along badly with her neighbors.

C.She invented TV sets used in the storm.

D.She was used to fighting against climate change.

3.How does the author describe the floating houses in paragraph 3?

A.By listing data. B.By giving examples.

C.By giving reasons. D.By making comparisons.

4.What does the fifth paragraph focus on?

A.The influences of stormy weather.

B.The importance of thinking twice.

C.The costs of building floating houses.

D.The advantages of floating houses over disadvantages.

Language Study

熟詞生義

Severe wind and rain,or even the passing of large cruise ships,can make the buildingsrock.狂風暴雨，甚至是大型游輪的經(jīng)過，都會使該建筑物輕輕搖晃。

rockv.（使）輕輕搖晃；緩緩擺動

e.g.The boat rocked from side to side in the waves.小船在波浪中搖蕩。