Poyang Lake is China’s biggest freshwater lake. Although people have fished it for generations, these days, a new resource is being removed sand. Up to 10,000 tons of sand are dug up from the lake floor per hour, making this the world’s largest sand mine. Much of the sand is shipped to Shanghai-a city whose population has risen by 7 million since 2007—where it is used in the construction of high-rises, roads, and other structures. Massive mining operations exist not only in China but also in other nations, including Australia and the United States. Globally, the largest importer of sand is Singapore, which has used the resource to increase its territorial landmass by 20 square miles.
The consequences of sand mining are a major concern. Removing sand from water bodies increases water sediment, blocking out sunlight; this interferes with underwater plants’ production of oxygen, making survival for fish and other organisms difficult. In the case of Poyang Lake, sand removal has made the channels leading out of the lake much deeper and wider, doubling the amount of water flowing outward. Consequently, the lake’s water level has dropped dramatically. This threatens the water supply to neighboring wetlands, which are home to numerous bird species and other wildlife.
Many countries are becoming increasingly aware of the damage caused by sand mining. Demand for the resource has taken a toll on Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cambodia, which have banned sand exports in efforts to preserve local ecosystems. However, increasing demand means that when mining stops in one area, other areas take on the burden of supply. China’s Yangtze River, for example, was formerly a major sand-mining site, but by the late 1990s so much had been removed that bridges collapsed along with large sections of the riverbank. When sand mining was banned on the Yangtze in 2000, operations shifted to Poyang Lake. (290 words)
In China’s Poyang Lake, sand has been removed from the lake, and they are used to create artificial land in other countries. This is a problem because when a lot of sands floats because of removing sand from the bottom of the lake. Some plants under the water does not make oxgen for other animals there. Additionally, the action widens and deepens lake’s exits. Therefore, the amount of water flowing from there increased and lower the level of water of the lake. This situations are also bad for the ecosystem. Of course, considering this bad effects, many countries prohibit such movements, but other areas which are not banned such actions are suffering.(112 words)
お題：Will governments be able to keep up with increasing energy demands in the future? 和訳：政府は将来増えているエネルギー需要を満たし続けることができるのか？
私の回答
I think governments can keep on giving energy to the people and companies in the countries. Recently, a lot of energy resources were discovered in Africa. Additionally, advance in the technology can make it possible to turn garbage into energy. On top of that, governments tend to have much more money.
First, the amount of energy resrouces will increase in the future because the Cambridge University team found a large amount of oil in Africa last year. As a result, the prices of such fuels will decrease. Therefore, goverenments can continue to offer energy.
Second, the processes which are used to change litter such as household and plastic waste to electricity were found and they are likely to be implemeted worldwide in the near future. Consequently, they enable us to generate energy more easily and cheaply. Not only government but also others may not have to worry about energy problems.
Finally, according to the U.N. report, over 80% of countries’ governments earn a lot and get enough surplus every year. Moreover, they do not have to put earning money first unlike ordinary companies, so they are more likely to address such difficulties, if such bad things happened.
In conclusion, considering these reasons, the price of fuel can reduce and governments more likely to afford to solve these problems. Therefore, I think governments can keep up with increasing energy demands in the future.(233 words)
In conclusion, considering these reaons, ~と言うことが言える。Therefore, ~お題の文章（例、governments will be able to keep up with increasing energy demands in the future）である。
・First, the amount of energy resrouces will increase in the future because the Cambridge University team found a large amount of oil in Africa last year.
・Second, the processes which are used to change litter such as household and plastic waste to electricity were found and they are likely to be implemeted worldwide in the near future.
