In the middle of the Pacific Ocean lies the tiny island nation of Tuvalu, the fourth smallest country in the world. This group of four islands and five atolls (islands made of coral rock) is famous for its sandy beaches and turquoise (青绿色的) waters and has long been a popular tourist destination for nearby New Zealanders. However, the nation of Tuvalu is at the risk of soon no longer existing, not because of war or political change, but because it will be covered by the rising ocean.

Tuvalu is experiencing the harmful effects of global warming. As the global temperature rises, so does the ocean temperature. Due to the scientific law of “thermal expansion”, when water heats, it gets bigger. 【小题1】. Most experts claim that the effects of climate change will make Tuvalu uninhabitable within the next 50 years. Problems are already emerging. As sea level rises, ocean water containing high levels of salt is travelling further and further inland, destroying the little amount of soil Tuvaluans have to grow crops in.

Even before Tuvaluans began to suffer from the effects of climate change, the life in Tuvalu was tough. 【小题2】. Most of the land on an atoll is rock-hard and arid and the soil that exists on it is usually thin and poor for growing crops. The nation has always had to import food apart from fish.

More serious than Tuvalu’s lack of home-grown food has been its lack of drinking water. 【小题3】. Therefore, Tuvaluans depend almost entirely on rainwater for their water needs. Unfortunately, due to a geographical phenomenon known as La Nina, Tuvalu often suffers from long periods of drought. In the autumn of 2010, after seven months of no rain, the Prime Minister had to declare a state of emergency not only because of a lack of drinking water, but also because the water left was polluted with cholera (霍乱).【小题4】.

Tuvalu’s problems have led some of its 11,000 inhabitants to consider migrating to Australia or New Zealand. 【小题5】. They know they’ll have to someday, but for as long as possible, they want to remain and make the world aware of what is happening to their homeland due to climate change.

Small talk is a good way to make friends. If you travel to other countries or have friends from abroad, do you know how to use small talk to make conversation?

In Britain, the best topic is the weather. British weather is changing all the time. 【小题1】

Besides weather, it's good to talk about gardens with British. You could say "Those roses look really beautiful, don't they?'* 【小题2】 So it's also nice to start with "What a lovely dog! What is his name?”

In America, people like to talk about sports news, such as American football and basketball. 【小题3】 So you might say "It's a nice shirt! Where did you get it?" Weather is a safe topic there, too.

【小题4】 Don't ask people "How old are you?" Never ask: "How much money do you make?"It makes people uncomfortable. Don't ask strangers weather they are married. 【小题5】 There are others in our daily life.