英语听力精选进阶版 7172（在线收听）

Background:对环境保护意识向来非常强的巴黎人现在可以从当地政府免费提供的公共饮水器中喝到汽泡水。

The Jardin de Reuilly, a park east of Paris, has the first fountain of its kind in France - called La Petillante - thanks to the publicly owned water company Eau de Paris.

The fountain offers ordinary tap water, chilled to seven centigrade, and infused with carbon dioxide to give it bubbles. The supply is unlimited and there are separate taps for still, refrigerated or unrefrigerated.

The water company says it wants to show that the French love of bottled water - on average the French drink around 130 litres a year - does not need to involve large amounts of oil and packaging.

If the fountain in the Jardin de Reuilly is a success, the idea is to open more in other public spaces. The water company says Parisians no longer need to buy bottled water, though it's as yet unclear, when it comes to home consumption, whether the park will be preferable to the supermarket.

Glossary 词汇表

of its kind 同类之中 

publicly owned 公有的 

tap water 可饮用的自来水 

infused with 加入，灌输 

unlimited 无限的 

still 不起泡的水 

packaging 包装 

as yet 到目前为止 

consumption 喝（某物） 

preferable 更好的，更适合的

Questions and Answers

Is Eau de Paris a private company? 

No, it is publicly owned; it is owned by the French government.

How is the water made fizzy? 

A gas called carbon dioxide is added to the water.

Why is the water company offering free fizzy water? 

The water company wants to show that there is no need to manufacture so many bottles to carry water. Bottles can be reused.

What will happen if lots of Parisians use the fountain? 

The city authorities might open more fountains in areas used by the public.