In recent years,there has been an explosion in the number of different bottled waters available,with big distributors such as Coke and Pepsi jumping on the bandwagon.But are bottled drinking waters like Coke's Dasani brand,Pepsi's Aquafina,or Wal-Mart's store brand really any healthier than your tap water? Or would you be better off with a drinking water filtration system?

　　As we have learned more about the water we drink.the technology behind drinking water filters and purification systems has improved dramatically.There are filters to remove impurities,chemicals,heavy metals,bacteria and most every contaminant you can think of.With the right size and filter combination for your specific home.your tap water can be exceptionally pure and healthy.

　　Cost Comparison

　　Drinking water filtration systems have also become more affordable and easy to use.Although the initial cost of a whole house system usually amounts to several hundred dollars,that cost is often less than $100 each year if spread out over the life of the system.

　　There may be additional expenses to replace carbon filters,membranes in reverse osmosis drinking water filtration system,or lamps in an ultraviolet light water treatment device.These expenses can add another $100 0r so to the annual costs of operating drinking water filters and purification systems.

　　While some people may hesitate to spend so much each year for clean,safe drinking water,they are probably paying more for bottled drinking water.Calculations show that at a price of $l to $4 per gallon,bottled or delivered water costs an average of $400 each year,especially if you purchase individual bottles.And that doesn't take into consideration the gas needed to drive to the store or the environmental impact of all the empty plastic bottles.

　　Health Aspects

　　Many people who choose bottled drinking water understand that it is more expensive, bue they are still willing to pay the extra money because bottled water is thought to be safer and healthier than filtered drinking water. After all,bottled water is often marketed as "natural spring water" or "pure glacier water."

　　In reality, few bottled waters come from natural springs, and most of them use municipal tap water. The companies are able to get away with this false marketing because the regulatians and standards for bottled drinking water are less stringent than those for residential drinking sources.

　　The quality of bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administrarion (FDA), while drinking water systems are typically regulated by State regulations or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This doesn't mean that the FDA isn't doing their job.It's just that the rules for bottled water only require it to be as good as tap water, not better.

　　In addition, the FDA regulations only apply to bottled drinking water that is transported across state lines. If a company sells their bottled drinking water in the same state where it was bottled, the federal regulations don't apply. The result is that many bottled waters are not any healthier than filtered water. and in fact some are less pure.

　　This was demonstrated in a study which was conducted in 1999 by the Natural Resources Defense Council. They tested over 100 brands of bottled drinking water and found that about one third of the waters comtained contamination in the form of chemicals. bacteria, and arsenic. The study also,found that up to forty percent of bottled drinking waters come from a city water system.

　　How to Tell If Your Water Is Healthy

　　So how do you tell if the water you are drinking is healthy? With tap water, it is relativety easy. If your water comes from a municipal source. the suppliers are required by law to provide annual water quality reports. If you have a well, you can have an authorized lab test your water. It may cost $lOO or more, but it's a small price to pay for peace of mind. Or you can purchase a kit and test it yourself, but naturally the results may not be as conclusive or reliable as those produced by authorized labs.

　　When it comes to bottled drinking water. it can be more difficult to know what you are getting. Start by checking the label or the bottle cap. Some may tell you that the water comes from a municipal source or "community water system." which means tap water.

　　If the label doesn't give any information, you can call the bottler and ask.But don't be surprised if you get the run around and are transferred to several different departments. Some states have a bottled water program that tracks bottled drinking water and can tell you the origin of the source water as well as other information.

　　Safe and healthy drinking water has become big business. Thousands of companies are vying for your hard earned cash, and some are not always honest about what their products offer. The initial investment for a home drinking water filtration system can seem expensive at first, but over time, it is usually less expensive than bottled drinking water. And with a wafer filter. you at least know where the water you drink came from and how it was treated.

　　Before going out and spending your hard earned money for bottled drinking water that may be no better than your own tap water, it is obviously a good idea to do some research. You are likely to decide that a drinking water filtration system and/or purifier is the healthier choice and provides the best value as well.

　　練習題

　　1.In past decades, bottled drinking water was____________________.

　　A) more popular than tap water B) believed to be too expensive

　　C) inconveniently provided D) restricted to few choices

　　2.Now, tap water can also become exceptionally pure and healthy if_________________.

　　A) more fund is provided for protecting water resources

　　B) a right filtration system is installed in your home

　　C) measures are taken to guide the water suppliers

　　D) our environment can be free from pollution

　　3.Operating drinking water filters and purification systems costs______________ every year.

　　A) several hundred dollars B) less than a hundred dollar

　　C) about two hundred dollars D) about a hundred dollar

　　4.One of the disadvantages of bottled water is that the plastic bottles would___________________.

　　A) have to be delivered back to the suppliers

　　B) bring about impact on the environment

　　C) not be as safe as glass bottles

　　D) increase the production cost

　　5.Generally, the companies that use municipal tap water as bottled water___________.

　　A) sell their water at a lower price

　　B) purify the water before bottling

　　C) are severely punished by law

　　D) can escape punishment by law

　　6.The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for supervising the quality of____________.

　　A) drinking water B) bottled water

　　C) municipal tap water D) underground water

　　7.In a study by____________, many bottled drinking water was found not to be as healthy as expected.

　　A) the Food and Drug Administration

　　B) the Environmental Protection Agency

　　C) the Natural Resources Defense Council

　　D) the National Association for Health Freedom

　　8.It is required that the quality of tap water by a municipal source be provided by its supplier in________________.

　　9.When the bottled water is claimed to come from a"community water system," it is actually_____________________.

　　10.If you need to know any information about the bottled water, you can either ask the bottler for it or get it from the state's__________________.

　　答案詳解

　　1.[D][定位]根據題干中的past decades和bottled drinking water查找到第2段。

　　解析：選項D是對原文該段第2句中的few choices的近義改寫，故為本題答案。該段最后一句提到了獲取瓶裝水的途徑，這些途徑都很方便，因此，選項C不正確。其余兩個選項均無原文依據。

　　2.[B][定位]根據題干中的tap water，pure，healthy等查找到第4段最后一句。

　　解析：原文該句中的filter combination與選項B中的filtration system所指相同，可見，選項B為本題答案。

　　3.[C][定位]根據題干中的cost，every year等查找到第1個小標題Cost Com parison部分的開頭兩段。

　　解析：原文該部分首段和第2段分別列舉了使用飲用水過濾和凈化系統的花費，其首段末句提到的less than $100 each year和第2段末句提到的another $100 0r so相加，就是一年的總花費，由此可見，一年的總費用為大概$200，可見，本題應選C。

　　4.[B][定位]根據題干中的disadvantages，bottled water，plastic bottles等查找到第1個小標題Cost Comparison部分的末段末句。

　　解析：原文該段指出了瓶裝水的缺點，最后一句的environmental impact與選項B中的impact on the environment同義，因此本題答案為選項B。

　　5.[D][定位]根據題干中的companies，municipal tap water等查找到第2個小標題Health Aspects部分的第2段。

　　解析：原文該段第2句中的get away with...表明虛假銷售的公司都不會受到懲罰，選項D中的escape punishment與get away基本同義，故選項D為本題答案。

　　6.[A][定位]根據題干中的Environmental Protection Agency查找到第2個小標題Health Aspects部分的第3段首句。

　　解析：原文該句提到了FDA和EPA兩個機構，以及它們各自的職能，后者負責管理drinking water systems，也就是說，EPA監控drinking water的質量，因此本題答案為選項A。

　　7.[C][定位]根據題干中的study查找到第2個標題Health Aspects部分的最后一段第1句。

　　解析：原文雖有提及選項A、B和C的三個機構名稱，但只有選項C的機構與study有關，原文沒有提及其他兩個機構有參與任何的研究，因此，選項C為本題答案。

　　8.[the annual water quality reports]

　　[定位]根據題干中的quality,tap water, municipal source查找到第3個小標題How to Tell If Your Water Is Healthy郜分的首段第2、3句。

　　解析：空白處應為名詞成分。原文這兩句都是針對tap water的內容，題目是對這兩句話的近義改寫，只要對比兩句，就可發現題目缺了的部分為the annual water quality reports。

　　9.[tap water]

　　[定位]根據題干中的“community water system”雀找到第3個小標題How to Tell If Your Water Is Healthy部分的第2段末句。

　　解析：空白處應為名詞成分或形容詞成分。原文該句末的非限制性定語從句是對之前信息的補充說明，表明這些瓶裝水的真正性質，因此定語從句中的tap water為本題答案。

　　10.[bottled water program]

　　[定位]根據題干中的information，bottler和state's等詞查找到第3個小標題How to Tell If Your Water Is Healthy部分的第3段末句。

　　解析：空白處應為名詞成分。原文該段提供了獲得瓶裝水信息的兩個途徑，題目提到了前一個，后一個可從該段末句找到，根據state's這個提示，可以確定答案為bottled water program。

　　參考譯文

　　飲用水的保健作用——瓶裝水比過濾的自來水更加有益于健康嗎?

　　水是健康的飲食與生活中一個重要的成份。飲用水有許多的保健功能。它有助于沖洗我們體內的雜物和毒素。還有助于輸送氧氣和營養素。實際上，我們身體的幾乎每個系統都依靠水的作用。但如果你每天喝的水是對健康有害的，那將會怎么樣?

　　[1]在過去幾十年里，人們對于自來水及其對總體健康的影響的關注導致某些人轉向飲用瓶裝水。但是，當時瓶裝水的種類很少。你可以花錢讓某家公司送來用于水冷卻器的大塑料瓶裝水。或者你可以在雜貨店購買加侖裝的蒸餾水或“飲用水”。

　　近年來，市面上瓶裝水種類迅速增加，像可口可樂和百事可樂這樣的大經銷商獲得了巨大的成功。但是，像可口可樂Dasani品牌、百事可樂Aquafina品牌、或沃爾瑪超市品牌的各種瓶裝飲用水真的要比自來水更有益健康嗎?在家里使用飲用水過濾器是否會更好呢?

　　隨著我們更多地了解我們所飲用的水，飲用水過濾器和凈化系統的技術得到了巨大改進。過濾器能除去雜質、化學品、重金屬、細菌，以及幾乎所有你能想到的各種污染物。[2]假如你的家里配上大小合適的過濾器組合，你家里的自來水會變得格外純凈并且有益于健康。

　　成本比較

　　而且，飲用水過濾系統已經變得更加便宜而容易操作。[3]雖然整個家用系統的最初成本通常要花幾百美元，但是把費用分攤到系統的整個使用期限.每年的費用一般不到100美元。

　　也許更換飲用水過濾系統的活性炭過濾器、反滲透膜、或水處理設備的紫外線燈需要增加額外的費用。[3]這些費用可能會使飲用水過濾器和凈化系統的年成本增加100美元左右。

　　雖然有人可能不愿意每年花這么多錢使用清潔、安會的飲用水，但他們卻可能買更貴的瓶裝飲用水。測算表明，以每加侖1至4美元的價格計算，瓶裝水或公司送來的水年平均費用為400美元，如果你購買的是特殊的瓶裝水的話尤其如此。[4]這還不算開車到商店的汽油費和所有空塑膠瓶對環境的影響。

　　健康方面

　　許多選擇瓶裝飲用水的人都知道，瓶裝飲用水更加昂貴，但是他們還是愿意支付這筆額外的費用，因為人們認為瓶裝水要比過濾飲用水更加安全和更加有益于健康。畢竟，瓶裝水經常被冠以“天然泉水”或”純凈的冰川水”之名進行銷售。

　　[5]事實上，沒有多少瓶裝水來自天然泉水，大多是來自當地的自來水。這些公司能夠逃脫虛假銷售的罪名，主要是因為瓶裝飲用水的法規和標準沒有居民飲用水源的法規和標準那么嚴格。

　　[6]瓶裝水的質量屬食品和藥物管理局(FDA)的管轄范圍，而飲用水系統通常由國家條例規定，或者由環境保護局(環保局)管理。這并不是說，食品和藥物管理局沒有履行自己的職責。只不過瓶裝水的各項規則只要求它們同自來水一樣好，而不是更好。

　　此外，食品和藥物管理局的法規僅僅是針對跨州運輸的瓶裝飲用水。如果某公司的瓶裝飲用水生產和銷售都在同一個州，則不屬于聯邦政府的法規管理范圍之內。其結果是，許多瓶裝水并不比過濾水更有益于健康，事實上，有些反倒沒有過濾水那么純凈。

　　[7]這在1999年自然資源保護委員會進行的一項研究中得到了證明。他們測試了1OO多個牌子的瓶裝飲用水，發現約有1/3的水含化學物質、細菌、砷一類的污染物。研究還發現，高達40%的瓶裝飲用水來自城市供水系統。

　　如何判斷所喝的水是否有益于健康?

　　那么，你如何判斷你飲用的水是否有益于健康呢?[8]就自來水而言，這相當容易。如果你用的水是來自奉市自來水廠，法律要求供應商每年提供水質報告。如果你家有一口井，你可以請一家權威試驗室測試你家的井水。也許費用在100美元或更多，但連筆小小的費用買到了心境安寧。或者你也可以購買一套測試工具自己進行測試。但結果自然不會像權威試驗室的試驗結果那么確定可靠。

　　至于瓶裝飲用水，可能更難知道自己會得出什么樣的結果。首先檢查標簽或瓶蓋。[9]有些上面會說明，水來自市自來水系統或者“社區供水系統”，也就是自來水。

　　如果標簽沒有給出任何信息，你可以打電話到瓶裝飲用水企業咨詢。但如果你輾轉于各個部門之間也得不到站果，那也不要覺得奇怪。[lO]有些州有追蹤瓶裝飲用水的計劃。你可以從中了解你所買瓶裝飲用水的來源以及其他的信息。

　　安全和健康的飲用水已經成為巨大的商業。數以萬計的公司都在覬覦你的血汗錢，一些公司對于自己的產品所能提供的東西并不總是誠實。一套零庭飲用水過濾系統最初的投資成本可能看起來會昂貴一些，但是隨著時間的推移，它往往比瓶裝飲用水要便宜一些。況且，如果使用濾水器的話，你至少知道喝的水采自何處，是怎么被處理的。

　　在你準備出去花費你來之不易的錢購買不比自來水好多少的瓶裝飲用水之前，做一些調查研究顯然是一個好主意。你很可能會決定，一套飲用水過濾系統和/或者凈化器是使你更加健康的選擇，并且也是你省錢的最佳方案。