Water
From the beginning, water has furnished (提) man with a source of food and a highway to travel upon. The first civilizations arose (51) water was a dominant element in the environment, a challenge (52) man’s ingenuity (聪敏，才智) . The Egyptians invented the 365-day calendar in response to the Nile’s annual flooding. The Babylonians (巴比伦人) , (53) were among the most famous law-makers in ancient times, invented laws (54) water usage. Water inspired the Chinese to build a 1,000- (55) c, a complex system which, after nearly 2,500 years, remains still practically (56) and still commands the astonishment of engineers. But (57) never found complete solutions to their water problems. The Yellow River is also known as "China’s Sorrow"; it is so unpredictable and erous (58) in a single flood it has caused a million (59) . Floods slowed the great (60) of the Indus River Valley, and inadequate drainage ruined (61) of its land. Today water dominates man (62) it always has done. Its presence continues to (63) the location of his homes and cities; its violent variability (多变) can () man or his herds or his crops; its routes links him (65) his fellows; its immense value may add to already erous political conflicts. There are many examples of this in our own time.
Water