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?
A．Water consumption drops.
B．It’s fairer to pay for water.
C．They’re installed for free.
D．People are more water wise.小题2:The passage implies that ________.
A．water meters are welcome by British people
B．people will be better off with water meters
C．everyone has become wiser to use water now
D．saving water is both good to economy and environment小题3:How many liters of water does an average family of four use in a day after installing a meter in Britain?
A．about 126 liters
B．about 158 liters
C．about 506 liters
D．about 632 liters小题4:The underlined word “evaporate” in the last paragraph means _________.
A．change into steam and disappears
B．absorb the heat of the day
C．sink into the soil
D．turn into ice小题5:According to Mr. Clarke, some good ways to save water are as follows EXCEPT ________.
A．using less on the garden
B．using a sprinkler
C．watering in the evening
D．gathering rainfall for garden use
小题1:C
小题2:D
小题3:C
小题4:A
小题5:B
题目分析：本文讲述的是在英国建议人们安装the water meter (计量器)来节约用水，以保护环境节约资源。
小题1:C 细节题。根据文章第五段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.可知安装这样的设备是要花钱，不是免费的。故C项说法错误。
小题2:D 细节题。根据第6段2,3行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.”可知这对于经济和环境都有很有大的好处的。故D正确。
小题3:C 计算题。根据第三段和最后一段In one hour, a sprinkler uses the same amount of water as the average family of four uses in a day—about 632 liters. 和In most homes, consumption drops by 20 percent.可知安装以后用水量减少了百分之20，大约506 l升。故A正确。
小题4:A 推理题。根据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. 说明建议我们在晚上浇灌花园，而不是白天，因为白天的水要被蒸发。故该词是指蒸发，A正确。
小题5:B 细节题。根据文章最后一段In one hour, a sprinkler uses the same amount of water as the average family of four uses in a day—about 632 liters.可知使用sprinkler的用水量是很大的。故B说法不是节水的好方法。
点评：本文讲述的是在英国建议人们安装the water meter (计量器)来节约用水。本文以细节题的考查为主，细节题是针对文中某个细节、某句话或某部分具体内容设置问题，正确答案的根据一定可以在原文中找到，即原文的改写往往成为正确选项。通常细节题的正确选项有以下特征：对原文句子中的关键词进行替换。把原文中的一些词换成意义相近的词，成为正确选项。词性或者语态的变化。把原文中的一些词变换一下词性，或者改变原文句子的语态，给考生制造障碍。语言简化。把原文中的复杂语言现象进行简化，成为正确答案。正话反说。把原文中的意思反过来表达而成为正确选项(适用于寻找错误选项的题目)。