Pieter Hoff retired from the flower export business seven years ago. Now, he is trying to help people grow trees and plants in the desert—and save water.
In many places, much of the freshwater supply is used for irrigation. Yet most of that water may be lost through evaporation(蒸發(fā)) into the air. So Pieter Hoff has invented a simple plastic device called the Groasis Waterboxx. He says “If you look at nature, and I give an example, if you look to the Rocky Mountains, you find trees all over the mountains. So trees are actually able to grow on rocks. They have very strong roots. ”
He says the trick is that nature does not dig a hole like we humans do to plant seeds. Nature plants the seeds through birds or animals on top of the soil. Their waste then acts as a cover. It prevents the humidity(濕度) in the soil from evaporating. The Dutch inventor says he is simply copying that system.
Some people call the Waterboxx a water battery. The cover has deep ridges. These collect rainwater. But the device is designed to collect water even when there is no rain. The cover gets cold during the night and creates condensation(凝結(jié)).
The water is collected through two holes through which water is carried to the soil. Pieter Hoff says the nice thing is that, once collected, the water is not able to evaporate anymore.
The roots of the plant may have to grow several meters deep to reach groundwater. Once growth is established, the box can be removed and used to start another planting.
Pieter Hoff says he is now doing experiments with twenty thousand Waterboxxes in countries including Pakistan, Ecuador and the United States. The reusable box now sells for about fifteen dollars.
64. The reason why Pieter Hoff invented the Groasis Waterboxx is probably that he tried to _______ .
A. solve the problem of evaporation
B. provide freshwater in the desert
C. do experiments with the Waterboxx
D. irrigate more trees and flowers
65. Pieter Hoff got his idea of inventing Groasis Waterboxx by _______ .
A. doing the flower export business
B. carrying fresh water for irrigation
C. studying the system of nature’s planting seeds
D. collecting water when there’s no rain
66. According to Paragraphs 2 and 3, Pieter Hoff actually means _______ .
A. you can find trees on the Rocky Mountains
B. most fresh water is used to water plants
C. nature can save water by itself
D. humans dig holes to plant seeds
67. According to the passage, we can infer the Waterboxx _______ .
A. is needed before the roots of plants come out
B. cannot create condensation through its cover
C. sells well in many countries
D. can only be used once
obby felt at that moment.
se he found some money on the way home.