WATER

Water is perhaps man's most important natural resource. He needs it for drinking and home uses, for
agriculture, for the power to run his machines. and even for boating, fishing and relaxation. But usable water
is not as abundant as the demand for it has been. For centuries men have fought each other over their rights to
use springs, streams, and rivers which are so essential to life. Because the earth's water supply is not
distributed evenly, one area suffers from floods while another is parched and dried up and still another enjoys
ideal conditions. Much of man's energy has been spent in diverting rivers and streams and digging wells and
canals. Unfortunately, man has not been very successful in his efforts to redistribute his water supply evenly.
Man's efforts to control water were not always successful. Although wonderful progress was made
in some areas, such as when desert regions became, green and fertile, in other areas great harm was done.
The delicate balance of nature is upset by lowering water levels or by polluting rivers with industrial wastes.
Sometimes the whole climate of an area is affected by water changes. In earlier centuries, man
satisfied his needs by living only were water was abundant. If the land became damaged, he would move to a
better location.
Hydrologists have already discovered many possible ways to help the earth's water problems, but a
practical application of many of them is not yet possible, mainly because of the expense.
Vocabulary:
resource = recurso
century = sculo
to flight = lutar, combater
evenly = uniformemente, igualmente
flood = inundao

parched = ressequido, tostado

spring = fonte, primavera, mola espiral
although = apesar de, no obstante
harm = dano, prejuizo
main = principal

1. Choose the right translation:

For centuries men have fought each other over their rights to use springs, streams and rivers.
a) Durante sculos os homens lutaram sobre seus direitos para usar as fontes, correntes e rios.
b) Por sculos, os homens lutaram pelos seus direitos em usar as fontes, correntes e rios.
c) Durante sculos os homens lutaram pelos seus direitos de usar fontes, correntes e rios.
2. "Unfortunately, man has not been very successful in his efforts to redistribute his water supply evenly".
a) Infelizmente, os homens no foram bem sucedidos em seus esforos para redistribuir seu provisionamento de
gua com igualdade.
b) Infelizmente, os homens no foram muito bem sucedidos em seus esforos para redistribuir sua proviso de
gua uniformemente.
c) Infelizmente, o homem -no foi bem sucedido em seu esforo para redistribuir a sua proviso de gua
igualmente.
3. "Although, wonderful progress was made in some areas, in others great harm was done".
a)
b)
c)
d)

Apesar de que um maravilhoso progresso foi feito Em algumas reas, em outras foi feito um grande benefcio.
Apesar de que, em algumas reas um grande progresso foi feito, em outras foi feito um grande dano.
Apesar de que um maravilhoso progresso foi obtido em algumas reas, em outras um grande dano foi feito.
Apesar de que um grande progresso foi feito em determinadas reas, em outras um grande prejuzo foi feito.

4. "If the land became damaged, he would move to a better location".

a)
b)
c)
d)

Se a terra fosse danificada, ele se mudaria para um lugar melhor.

Se a terra ficasse prejudicada, ele mudaria para uma localidade melhor.
Se a terra ficasse arruinada, ele mudaria para uma localidade melhor.
Se a terra ficasse estragada, ele mudaria para um lugar melhor.

5. Write "T" (True) or "F" (False) in the parentheses.

The text says that:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)

Man's most important resource is water.

Usable water is as abundant as the demand for it has been.
Springs, streams, and rivers are not so essential to life.
Man has been successful in redistributing his water supply evenly.
Man's efforts to control water were not always successful.
The climate of an area is not affected by water changes.
In earlier centuries man lived only where water was abundant.
In earlier centuries man moved to wherever the land was damaged.
Earth's water problems are easily helped by the hydrologist's discoveries.

6. Em poucas palavras, qual o assunto principal tratado no texto:

___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Respostas:

01 C
02 C
03 C
04 A

05 - A - T / B - F / C - F / D - F / E - T / F - F / G - T / H - F / I - F

06 - A necessidade do homem proteger seu mais importante recurso natural - a gua.