综合写作：
Writing | Question 1 of 2
The desert locust is a large flying insect native to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Desert locusts sometimes migrate in vast swarms (groups) of millions or even billions of insects, destroying human crops along the way. Because of this insect’s negative impact on agriculture, scientists are investigating several ways of controlling locusts in the wild.
Pesticides
One way of preventing destructive locust swarms from developing is to apply pesticides (chemicals that kill insects) to locations where locusts are actively breeding (reproducing). Pesticides can be dropped from an airplane on such locations to prevent locust numbers from getting large enough for swarms to develop and destroy crops. Because spraying pesticides over wide areas can harm the environment, only known locust breeding spots should be targeted.
Natural Enemies
Some scientists believe that another effective strategy to control locusts is to use their own natural enemies against them. In particular, they are investigating the use of parasitic fungi (microorganisms) that infect and kill locusts in the wild. Scientists can grow these fungi in a laboratory and dissolve them in a liquid. The liquid can then be applied to locusts in the wild or to the plants they are eating. Once infected with the fungi, the locusts will spread the infection as they join other locust groups and expose them to the fungi, causing large numbers of locusts to die.
Releasing Sterile Insects
A third option involves creating sterile insects (insects that are unable to breed) in the laboratory and releasing them into the wild. When wild insects mate with sterile insects, they are unable to produce the next generation. The sterile-insect technique can result in a significant decrease in the reproduction rate of insects. Since this strategy has worked successfully for a number of other species of insects, some scientists think it may be the best way of controlling the desert locust.
学术写作：
Your professor is teaching a sociology class. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.
In your response, you should do the following.
- Express and support your opinion.
- Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Doctor Diaz:
This week, we’ve been discussing ways to protect the environment. One way is to require companies to pay penalties, such as higher taxes or large fines, when they pollute and damage the environment. We’re going to explore this topic in depth tomorrow, but first, I’d like to get your thoughts: Do you think imposing these taxes and fines would be a good way to stop companies from harming the environment?
Andrew:
I don’t think it will be effective. Where I live, the local government imposes fines on polluting companies, but it doesn’t stop them. I know of one business that created a lot of water pollution. Instead of changing their ways, they just paid a fine. No one was really punished, and the pollution is still a problem.
Claire:
I think it’s an excellent idea. As long as there is no penalty for polluting the environment, these companies will not bother searching for alternatives to practices that contribute to air, water, or land pollution. And it should be a financial penalty because every company worries about money.
