SECTION A
In this section you will hear a mini-lecture. You will hear the lecture ONCE ONLY. While listening to the lecture, take notes on the important points. Your notes will not be marked, but you will need them to complete a gap-filling task on ANSWER SHEET ONE after the mini-lecture. Use the blank paper for note-taking.
Complete the gap-filling task. Some of the gaps below may require a maximum of THREE words. Make sure the word(s) you fill in is (are) both grammatically & semantically acceptable. You may refer to your note.
About Wetlands in the U.S.A.
People enjoy a famous soup (SHE-CRAB SOUP) in North Carolina because the days of the regional soup may be getting fewer and fewer: "no wetlands, no seafood".
Ⅰ. The current situation of wetlands:
1) California has lost (1) of wetlands--91 percent, (1) ______
and the rate of loss of wetlands is an acre per minute.
2) 21 other states have losted at least half of their (2) . (2) ______
Ⅱ. The key value of wetlands:
1) Each acre of wetland is worth (3) more money than (3) ______
an acre of ocean in the benefits;
2) Wetlands act like sponges and (4) like our kidney: (4) ______
A. filtering out hazardous materials like dirt, chemicals,
pesticides and fertilizers;
B. serving as large (5) areas. (5) ______
3) More important than ocean (6) in the diversity of species supported. (6) ______
Ⅲ. The possible measures to protect wetlands:
1) Convince people to stop (7) or doing business in former wetlands; (7) ______
2) Encourage developers and businesses to stay in (8) cities; (8) ______
3) Get the government to stop developers from building in wetlands;
4) Raise (9) of this serious issue; (9) ______
5) Protest the destruction of wetlands when we see it.
Ⅳ. The only solution:
An increase in (10) in favor of protecting wetlands, (10) ______
which both the builders and the government will listen.