语法填空
From deserts and beaches to playgrounds,
sand is a common sight. But you might not know that sand is also a useful
resource. Sand is the second most-used resource in the world after water, the
BBC reported. However, the UN said that sand is not limitless and that we might
be running out of {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.
Sand is made up of very small {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (piece) of rock, soil and minerals(矿物质). It can take tens of
thousands of years to form. But now we are using sand more{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (quick) than it is being formed. According to the
BBC, we use about 15 billion tons of sand every year {#blank#}4{#/blank#} build houses, roads and other things. People
also put sand in the{#blank#}5{#/blank#} [si:] to make new islands. For example, the
Palm islands are made up of three{#blank#}6{#/blank#} [lɑːdʒ]
man-made islands in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In 2010, they {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (take) 94 million cubic meters of sand to
build. If people keep{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(use)
this much sand, it will run out in many places. For example, Vietnam may run
out of construction sand by 2020, Live Science noted.
{#blank#}9{#/blank#} [sins] people need so much sand, they are
trying to mine(开采)
more of it. But this is bad for the environment. Mining sand may {#blank#}10{#/blank#} beaches to disappear and more floods to happen
in places close to the sea. Also, this may affect the habitats (栖息地) of many plants and animals.
