【明報專訊】SWARMS of locusts (蝗蟲) are paying visits to East African countries. The insects devour crops. Numbering 100 to 200 billion, they have ravaged 2,400 square kilometres of Kenyan land. Countries in the region might run into a famine that will affect more than 10 million people if the insects are not wiped out. Fending them off is hard. Not only has heavy rainfall made them easier to breed, extremist groups' (極端組織) control over some areas has also ''sheltered'' them from the spraying of pesticides.

A new MTR line opens

PHASE one of the Tuen Ma Line opened on February 14. The section connects Kai Tak to Wu Kai Sha through Diamond Hill, Hin Keng and Tai Wai, essentially extending the Ma On Shan Line. It reduces the time needed to travel between Kai Tak and Hong Kong Island. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, there were still plenty of people getting up earlier and joining the opening ceremony.

Dos and don'ts about alcohol

CAN we use alcohol for disinfection? Normally we don't use it directly for this purpose, and you should wash your hands with soap or handrubs. Methanol (甲醇), a kind of alcohol, is for industrial use and is toxic. You should only use safe ones like ethanol (乙醇) for cleaning. Don't spray it as it won't disinfect the air. Furthermore, a higher alcohol percentage does not make disinfection more effective. (photo.3)

■Gear up

According to the passages on this page, circle the correct answer.

(1) Phase one of the Tuen Ma Line was opened before the coronavirus outbreak. ( True / False )

(2) We should not use methanol for cleaning because it is harmful. ( True / False )

(3) Extremist groups in East Africa help fight the locusts. ( True / False )

(Answers on next text)

■Glossary

devour (v) 吞食

pesticides (n) 殺蟲劑

disinfection (n) 消毒

spray (v) 噴灑

[Smarties' Power English 第271期]