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.”

How to Calm Down at Work

    The workplace can be a stressful place. Anxiety, conflict, bad management and overwork can lead to frustration and stress.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Keep something you like to look at within sight. A photo of a loved one or a favorite personal souvenir are the best examples. Keep such an item somewhere you can glance at it whenever you wish to do so.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Take a moment to engage your body. If you're unable to leave your work area, stand and stretch for a moment. Muscle tension exercises can also help you calm down.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}For instance, start by squeezing all of your face muscles as tightly as you can for twenty seconds and slowly releasing them.

    Write down the reason why you are upset.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Getting your thoughts and feelings out on paper can help clarify the issue you're having. Writing down your thoughts can even help you determine the best way to address your frustration or anxiety and move forward.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}If you and another co-worker are constantly frustrated with one another, set up a time to speak with him or her. Say something like, "Hey, Sarah, let's sit down sometime soon and chat to make sure we're on the same page about our upcoming project."

A. Turn to your workmates for help

B. Communicate with your workmates

C. A vase of flowers on your desk is another good example

D. Focus on one particular muscle or muscle group at a time

E. Here are the steps you can take to help you calm down at work

F. Engage your body by rolling your head, shoulder, and ankles while sitting

G. The best way to figure out exactly what's bothering you is to write it down

    Managing your time is a lot like managing money.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} With 24 hours a day multiplied by seven days a week, your weekly time budget is 168 hours per week.

    Step 1:{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Estimate(估计) the amount of time per week you spend on each activity, such as class time, athletics fitness, socializing with friends and other hobby time and so on.

    Step 2: Assess your use of time.

a) Add together the total time you will use per week.

b) Now subtract(减去)the total time from 168 hours.

    If the number you get is negative, you have used more time than there is in a week. You should cut back in certain area.

    If you have time left over, ask yourself what choices can be made.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Volunteering? Friends? If your time used equals 168, great! Now take a look at any hours you may be spending in some areas that you want to start using in other ways.

    Step 3: Determine a goal and plan of action for better time use.

    What would you most like to do to better manage your time? You should consider using a calendar or planner(记事簿).{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Some tips: Color-code your calendar or planner by the activities listed above, and once you make a schedule, do your best to stick with it.

Step {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    You'll want to take a look at this again at the start of each term, if you get a job, or if you notice any changes in your physical or emotional condition.

    Besides, it is advisable to make a long-term goal in the first year and work towards it in the very beginning.

A. You are in trouble.

B. This is a good start.

C. Repeat, when necessary.

D. Do you have time for more sleep?

E. Figure out how you use your time each week.

F. Once you spend it, it's gone, so you have to make it all count.

G. It can help you keep track of time, projects, tasks and be more efficient.

    The history of writing instruments, with which humans have recorded and conveyed thoughts and feelings, is the history of civilization itself. This is how we know about our ancestors and their life.

    The handy sharpened-stone was adapted into the first writing instrument. Around 24 000 BC, the cave man started drawing pictures with the stone onto the walls of his cave. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Walls at the Apollo site in Namibia are believed to be the oldest rock paintings to date.

    Before paper came along, people used clay or wax tablets on which they wrote with sharp objects such as metal sticks or bones. Around 6000 years ago, the Egyptians invented the first paperlike material called papyrus. The word "paper" actually comes from the word "papyrus".

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Bones or metal sticks were no longer useful as the papyrus could not be scratched. So the Egyptians created a reed-pen perfect for the papyrus. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} And thus, ancient Egyptians transformed bamboo stems (茎) into an early form of a fountain pen.

    Another writing instrument that remained active in history for a long period was the quill (鹅毛) pen. Introduced around 700 AD, the quill was a pen made from a bird feather. Goose feathers were most common. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} For making fine line drawings, crow feathers were the best.

    When writers had better inks and paper and handwriting had developed into both an art form and an everyday occurrence, man's inventive nature once again turned to improving the writing instrument. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Now something was needed to write upon the papyrus.

B. The papyrus became the most popular material at that time.

C. Swan feathers were of a high quality, being rare and most expensive.

D. Bamboo stems were better and much more expensive than goose feathers.

E. This led to the development of the modem fountain pen in the 19th century.

F. These were mostly the stems of grasses, especially from the bamboo plant.

G. These drawings showed events in daily life like the planting of crops or hunting victories.

    The most universal facial expression is the smile --its function is to show happiness and put people at ease. A smile says, "I like you. You make me happy."

    That's why dogs make such a hit. They are so glad to see us that they almost jump out of their skins. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    A baby's smile has the same effect. Have you ever been in a doctor's, waiting room and looked around at all the sad faces waiting impatiently to be seen? There were six or seven patients waiting when a young woman came in with a nine-month-old baby. She sat down next to a gentleman who was more than a little impatient about the long wait for service. The baby just looked up at him with that great big smile that is so characteristic of babies,{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Soon he struck up a conversation with the woman about her baby and his grand-children and then the entire reception room joined in, and the boredom and tension were changed into a pleasant and enjoyable experience {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Telephone companies throughout the US have a program called "phone power" which is offered to employees who use the telephone for selling their services or products. In this program they suggest that you smile when talking on the phone. Your "smile" comes through in your voice.

    You don't feel like smiling? {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. If you are alone, force yourself to whistle or hum a tune or sing. Act as if you were already happy, and that will tend to make you happy.

    Your smile is a messenger of your goodwill.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}.To someone who has seen a dozen people frown or turn their faces away, your smile is like the sun breaking through the clouds Especially when someone is under pressure from his bosses, his customers, his teachers or parents or children, a smile can help him realize that all is not hopeless that there is joy in the world.

A. He smiled back at the baby

B. Your smile brightens the lives of all who see it

C. Smile gets much easier with practice

D. So, naturally, we are glad to see them

E. Well, force yourself to smile

F. We should give others a real smile, a smile that comes from within

G. The effect of a smile is powerful, even when it is unseen

    If you are already making the time to exercise, it is good indeed! With such busy lives, it can be hard to try and find the time to work out. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Working out in the morning provides additional benefits beyond being physically fit.

    Your productivity is improved. Exercising makes you more awake and ready to handle whatever is ahead of you for the day. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Your metabolism(新陈代谢) gets a head start. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you work out in the mornings, then you will be getting the calorie(卡路里) burning benefits for the whole day, not in your sleep.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Studies found that people who woke up early for exercise slept better than those who exercised in the evening. Exercise energizes you, so it is more difficult to relax and have a peaceful sleep when you are very excited.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you work out bright and early in the morning, you will be more likely to stick to healthy food choices throughout the day. Who would want to ruin their good workout by eating junk food? You will want to continue to focus on positive choices.

    There are a lot of benefits to working out, especially in the mornings. Set your alarm clock an hour early and push yourself to work out! You will feel energized all day long.

A. You will stick to your diet.

B. Your quality of sleep improves.

C. You prefer healthy food to fast food.

D. There is no reason you should exercise in the morning.

E. You can keep your head clear for 4-10 hours after exercise.

F. After you exercise, you continue to burn calories throughout the day.

G. If you are planning to do exercise regularly, or you're doing it now, then listen up!