
代號:2301 
頁次:6
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請依下文回答第 46 題至第 50 題: 
California on Wednesday suspended its mandatory statewide 25 percent reduction in urban water use, telling 
local communities to set their own conservation standards after a relatively wet winter and a year of enormous 
savings in urban water use. The new rules are a  sharp change in policy for a state struggling to manage one of the 
worst droughts in its history. They came after a winter in which El Niño storms fell short of what  meteorologists 
projected — particularly in the southern part of the state — but still partly filled parched reservoirs in Northern 
California and, more critically, partly replenished the mountain snowpack that provides water into the spring and 
summer. The state has long struggled to find ways to get water in the north to the people in the south. The state’s 
two largest and most important reservoirs are both above their historical averages for this time of year. But 
reservoirs farther south remain far below average. “The snowpack this year was close to historical levels. But 
warm weather has melted a lot of it away," said Michael Anderson, the state climatologist. However, the rules do 
not apply to agriculture, which is covered by different regulations and makes up the bulk of water use in the state. 
State officials said that the drought, already in its fifth year, was not over and that Californians had to adapt to 
permanently more arid times because of climate change. Even as officials eased up on the regulations, the state 
made permanent prohibitions against washing down sidewalks and driveways, using a hose without a shut-off 
valve to wash cars and banning the use of water on road medians. Under the new rules, which take effect on June 
1, communities would set reduction guidelines based on their own projection of water supplies, assuming that the 
next three years here continue to be uncommonly dry. 
46 Why did the state change the rules for water use? 
Water conservation for the spring and summer is not enough. 
A lot of snow fell in the mountain area during the winter. 
Bulk of water use in the state is needed for farming areas. 
The drought has been over because of climate change. 
47 According to the passage which area of the state is worst in water conservation? 
in the east  in the west    in the south  in the north 
48 What is permanently prohibited by the state despite the new rules? 
watering lawns and gardens  washing cars and trucks 
filling up bathtubs    washing down driveways 
49 What is the main issue of the new rules? 
Twenty-five percent reduction in urban water use has been halted. 
It is mandatory to have 25 percent reduction in urban water use. 
A new conference was held on coping with climate change in the state. 
It is required to keep water in the reservoirs above averages. 
50 Which statement is NOT true according to the passage? 
Agriculture is not covered by the new rules. 
It is expected that the draught will continue. 
The new rules allow communities to set their own reduction standards. 
It is simple and easy to send water in the north to the people in the south.