Lindsay Renwick, the mayor of Deniliquin, a country town in New South Wales, misses the constant whir（嗡嗡声）of the rice mill whose giant fans dried the rice. The Deniliquin mill, the largest rice mill in the Southern Hemisphere (南半球), once processed enough grain to meet the needs of 20 million people globally. But six years of drought have had a destructive effect, reducing Australia's rice crop by 98 percent and leading to the mothballing of the mill last December.

    Drought affects every agriculture industry based in Australia, not just rice – from sheep farming, the country's other backbone, to the cultivation of grapes for wine, the fastest-growing crop there, with that expansion often coming at the expense of rice. The drought's effect on rice has produced the greatest impact on the rest of the world, so far. It is one factor contributing to skyrocketing prices, and many scientists believe it is among the earliest signs that a warming planet is starting to affect food production.

    Researchers are looking for solutions to global rice shortages – for example, rice that blooms earlier in the day, when it is cooler, to fight against global warming. Rice plants that happen to bloom on hot days are less likely to produce grains of rice, a difficulty that is already starting to emerge in inland areas of China and other Asian countries as temperatures begin to climb. 'there will be problems very soon unless we have new varieties of rice in place,” said Reiner Wassmann, climate change director at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The recent reports on climate change carried a warning that could make the news even worse: that existing models for the effects of climate change on agriculture did not yet include newer findings that global warming could reduce rainfall and make it more variable.

    Yet the effects of climate change are not uniformly bad for rice. Rising concentrations (浓度) of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, can actually help rice – although the effect reduces or disappears if the plants face unnecessary heat, inadequate water, severe pollution or other stresses. Still, the flexibility of farmers here has persuaded some climate experts that, particularly in developed countries, the effects of climate change may be relieved, if not completely avoided. “I'm not as negative as most people,” said Will Steffen, director of the Fenner School of Environment and Society at Australian National University. “Farmers are learning how to do things differently.”

    Meanwhile, changes like the use of water to grow wine grapes instead of rice carry their own costs, as the developing world is discovering. “Rice is an essential food,” said Graeme Haley, the general manager of the town of Deniliquin. “Wine is not.”

    The news media in the U. S. consist of radio, television and newspapers. Together they are everywhere on the lives of many Americans and influential on their daily routines. Many Americans begin their day by reading the newspaper or watching a morning news program on television while drinking their coffee.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Throughout the day the news is broadcast repeatedly on the radio and television.

    In the evening news is a main feature on television with up to two hours of news in the early evening and more news late at night. For those who prefer reading, the evening newspaper offers the reader the possibility of reading the news others see and hear on television.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}It is up to the general public to choose what to read, watch or listen to. Therefore, the media must have sensitivity to the interests of the public.

    News is a big business. However, it is a very competitive business, as each station or each newspaper competes for audiences and readers.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} When an item becomes news worthy, such as an election or a war, Americans will become familiar with the details as the news media try to be as informative as possible.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The news media report the same news items regarded as the most interesting and impressive.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} However, most Americans would not criticize their news media too harshly. The truth of the news media is generally acknowledged and accepted by the American public.

A. Americans don't have to pay for the services.

B. The news media are free of government control.

C. But the result is that the news becomes repeated.

D. Sometimes they have to bear boring advertisements.

E. Each tries to present the news Americans want to know.

F. While driving to work, the news can be heard on the car radio.

G. Listeners, viewers or readers might find it difficult to be selective.

    Are you truly happy? Do you ever know what it means to be happy and what it takes to achieve happiness? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} The following are a few tips that I follow to create happiness in my life. Make a plan for achieving goals that you believe will make you happy. Your moods will very likely increase（增加） if you are going after something you value.

    Surround yourself with happy people. It is easy to begin to think negatively（消极的）. When you are surrounded by people who think that way. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}When something goes wrong, try to figure out a solution instead of being absorbed in self pity.

    Truly happy people don't allow setbacks（挫折）to affect their mood because they know that with a little thought they can turn the things back to their favor.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} These few minutes will give you the opportunity to focus on the positive things in your life and will lead you to continuous happiness.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}  Whether you treat yourself to lunch, take a long, relaxing bath or simply spend a few extra minutes on your appearance, you will be putting yourself in a better mood.

    Finding the humor in situations can also lead to happiness. Find a way to make light of a situation that would otherwise make you happy.

    Keeping healthy is another way to achieve happiness. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. There are some tips in life that lead to happiness.

B. It's also important to take some time each day to do something nice for yourself

C. On the contrary, if you are around people who are happy, their emotional state will be easily passed to you.

D. Being overweight or not eating foods containing nutrition have a negative effect on your mood.

E. What makes one person happy may be very different from what makes someone else happy.

F. These are important questions for anyone who is seeking happiness to ask themselves.

G. Spend a few minutes each day thinking about the things that make you happy.

How to Deal With Gossip (流言蜚语)

Gossip is a double-edged sword. Not only can it be incredibly harmful for you, but also others may be affected. Do a serious favor for your friends and yourself — quit your gossip habit and become a better and more positive person. It's good to find ways to get started dealing with gossip.

    Face the source of the rumor directly. If you know for sure who's responsible for spreading a rumor about you, don't take it lying down. When you have a chance, walk right up to him or her and say that you don't appreciate the mean things she/he has said. Stay calm when you do this. You don't want to adopt the cruel words this person has.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Alert your friends. If you learn that someone's been spreading nasty rumors about you, your first action should be to consult with your close friends. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Tell them the facts of the situation. If the rumor's not true, they'll be sure to fight the spread of the rumor. If the rumor is true, they can still help stop its spread by sticking up for you.

    Ignore it. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} When you hear gossip about yourself, laugh it off. Act as if it's ridiculous! Share a chuckle(窃笑) about it! Turn the tables by making the person who started the rumor the butt (笑柄) of the joke.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If nasty rumors and gossip are a frequent problem, or if someone's told a rumor that might get you in trouble for something you didn't do, talk to a teacher, counselor, or administrator. These people can help you work through the problem. They can give you advice on how to proceed, make you feel better, and even discipline people who've started the rumor.

    Stay away from people who gossip. The single best way to avoid having gossip told about you is to stay away from the kinds of people who tell mean gossip! As popular or cool as they may seem, these people are sad and desperate. They can't have a good time without spreading hurtful rumors about someone else. Don't bother with them. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Remember a friend who stabs you in the back by telling a nasty rumor isn't much of a friend at all.

A. When you're worried about a piece of gossip, change the way you live.

B. Tell an authority about it.

C. Gossip is often best dealt with by paying no attention to it at all.

D. They should be people you know and trust.

E. Work out a plan to avoid being laughed at.

F. Find friends who don't get enjoyment from hurting people.

G. You also don't expect to give bystanders the impression that the rumor's true.

    Challenges are regular visitors in our life, and nobody is immune(不受影响)to them. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}However, we can use these challenges to make positive changes in our life. For instance：

    Develop your passion. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} When you are setting your goals, you always want to be passionate about those goals, because if you love what you do, you will be driven by the desire to achieve success.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}When you have doubts about yourself, you are doing damage to your progress. Therefore, you are supposed to see yourself as a winner, and trust yourself. Feeding your mind with positives will reinforce your beliefs and sweep any doubts out of your system.

    Track your progress. It is important that you take note of every improvement you make. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Every step forward will give you a boost, and accelerate your efforts to the achievement of your ultimate goal.

    Learn how to control your emotions. It is important that you use your emotional intelligence when you encounter problems in your life. You are a product of your thoughts and feelings. Any negative emotions that show up can negate(否定)the positive forward movement you enjoyed earlier. So approach any challenge with a positive attitude.  {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Instead, strongly believe that you have all the tools you need in order to make positive changes in your life. It is in your hands to make the changes necessary and to take your life to new heights.

A. Practice makes perfect.

B. Consider confidence as a must for Success.

C. This will motivate you to work even harder.

D. They can make us lose hope and even give up.

E. Don't feel negative when you meet with difficulties.

F. There is nothing to be gained from delaying decisions and thoughts.

G. Having an enthusiasm for something will inspire you to achieve your goals.

    It is believed that raisins were discovered in the Middle East, where they were treasured. Any food that wouldn't spoil in the hot sun was very valuable. Prehistoric drawings in France show that raisins have been enjoyed in southern Europe for thousands of years.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} In 1000 B. C. the Jews paid their taxes with raisins. Two jars of raisins in ancient Rome could buy one slave boy{#blank#}2{#/blank#} In North America, the original mistake of leaving grapes to wither(枯萎)on the vine was not the only time raisins accidentally became popular. In the 1870s many people were growing grapes in California. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Most Americans had never heard of raisins at that time. In September, 1873 a severe heat wave struck the area. Before the growers could pick all their grapes, the heat shriveled(使枯萎)them on the vine. The grapes were lost. One grower took the dried grapes to a grocer in San Francisco. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The new accidental raisins grew into a major industry in California. Today almost all the raisins eaten in the United States are grown in California. California produces a third of the world's raisins.  {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Raisins also provide potassium, magnesium, calcium and certain B vitamins. Without added preservatives(防腐剂), raisins will stay fresh, delicious and nutritious if kept in a cool place. Raisins are tiny, portable and above all delicious.

A. The grapes were either eaten as fresh fruit or were made into wine.

B. The grocer's customers discovered that raisins made a delicious treat.

C. They have been used for necklaces and as religious symbols.

D. The grocer was unwilling to buy the dried grapes.

E. Raisins are high in iron, which is important to children's growing bodies.

F. Roman doctors believed raisins could cure anything from mushroom poisoning to old age.

G. Raisins are children's favorite snacks