ST_012
听力音频：
综合写作
The Mediterranean island of Malta is home to a puzzling archaeological site that consists of a collection of pairs of parallel lines, or grooves, carved into the rock of the ground. These grooves, thought to be at least a few thousand years old, can be quite long, and they seem to connect various locations on the island. There are several theories that attempt to explain the origin of the grooves.
One theory suggests that the grooves were carved as irrigation channels to carry water. Ancient societies, like those on Malta, depended heavily on agriculture, and agriculture requires having enough water for crops to grow. The grooves are large enough to carry a significant volume of water, and given that Malta has limited freshwater resources, it may be that the grooves served the purpose of irrigation.
Another view is that the grooves were made by wheeled vehicles, such as carts used to transport objects. If carts traveled over the same path repeatedly, their wheels could have created noticeable grooves in the rock. Similar-looking tracks have been found at other locations around the world, but the Maltese grooves stand out because they are much deeper. This may be because the rock in Malta consists mostly of soft limestone, which can easily be worn away, especially when wet. Given the softness of the Maltese limestone, it is possible that carts left the deep grooves.
Finally, the Maltese grooves may have been created to serve some astronomical purpose. Many ancient cultures closely studied the planets and stars, and some of those cultures carved marks or grooves into rock that appear to have been used to make astronomical observations. Some ancient stone grooves found elsewhere in Europe have been shown to have connections to the movements of the Sun and planets. So the Maltese grooves may also have been made by ancient astronomers who used them to predict the locations of the Sun and planets.
学术写作：
教授：为了保护环境，政府应该做点什么来鼓励人们用电车？
Claire：多建电桩。
Paul：给电动车修专用道。
Doctor Achebe: As countries work to reduce emissions and protect the environment, many governments are encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles through new policies. This week we will discuss ideas for policies that could promote electric vehicle usage. In your post, I would like you to address this question: What policies should the government implement to promote electric vehicles for environmental protection?
Claire: More charging stations are key to getting people to buy electric cars. It’s frustrating when you can’t charge your car. The government should offer big tax credits to businesses to build charging stations. If charging spots are everywhere, range anxiety will go away and electric car sales will take off. We need that to help the Earth.
Paul: The government needs to create entire highways just for electric cars. These special roads could have charging stations along the way so range anxiety disappears. Exclusive electric highways would show electric cars are the transportation of the future. We’d see tons more Teslas on the road helping clear the air.
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