March 20th is World Water Day every year. According to a report from the United Nations, more than half of the world's major rivers have serious water loss and are polluted.

    The Yellow River, the world's fifth longest river, watered some of the oldest farms on earth.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Its source（源头）on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is drying up. In most of the past 35 years, it didn't reach the sea.

    The Nile in Egypt, running 6, 650 km, is the longest river in the world.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Now it is down to 2 billion m³ or so. Australia's Murray River reaches the sea only every other year. One fifth of America's Rio Grande has no water, either.

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    Mostly it's damming（筑坝）and global warming that make rivers dry.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Now about 45, 000 of them lie across the world's rivers. They hold back around 15% of the world's fresh water from running to the sea.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Warmer weather takes water away. The glacier（冰川）are becoming smaller. The source of the Yellow River is drying up because of it. Global warming has had certain effects on water sources. Droughts （干旱） happening around the world make people pay more attention to this fact.

    Is it difficult for you to get up in the morning? Are you often late for work or school? Yes? Then a scientist called Mike has a special bed for you. His Bed will get you up in the morning! Here is how it works!

    The bed is connected to an alarm clock. First, the alarm clock rings. You have a few minutes to wake up. Next, a tape recorder in the bed plays soft music and then your girlfriend's beautiful voice comes, “Wake up, darling, please.” A few minutes later, loud music comes from the tape recorder. At the same time, you may hear the voice of your boss. Your boss shouts angrily, “ Wake up at once, or you'll be late!” If you don't get up after that, you'll be sorry! A plastic “foot” is in the bed. It kicks you in the head. Then the bed waits for a few more minutes. What! You're still in bed! Slowly the top of the bed rises higher and the foot of the bed goes lower. Finally, you fall off the bed and onto the floor. You are out of the bed and awake!

    Mike made his bed because he wanted to take part in a competition. Mike won one of the top prizes for his bed.

    Do you have any difficulties while studying? In fact, to learn with success is not a very difficult task if you follow some basic rules. I hope they will help you study successfully.

    All problems can be solved by working hard. It makes the fool wise, the poor rich, the weak strong. It makes a wonderful difference. In learning, a hard—working fool gets more than a lazy wise.

    To set our heart on one thing at a time and give up all other thoughts is also a good way. Those who often change their subjects will never succeed. For this reason, while you are learning one subject, don't consider learning another one in order to be successful.

    Constancy (持之以恒) makes a certain (必然). On the other hand, inconstancy often results failure(失败).If we study day after day, than is nothing that can not be achieved. We should remember a worthy saying "'Constant dropping of water wears away a nonce"

    Besides, to be on time is another rule. It helps to achieve your dream. The habit of keeping certain hours is of very importance to successful learning. Work while you wok; play while you play. Every man will certainly become strong and wise as long as we does so.

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