①Does a lake on fire soundimpossible？If you think that water can't burn，you need to learn more about pollution.
②Let's go and see Bellandur Lake inthe city of Bengaluru in India. Bengaluru is the center for many heavyindustries. Electrical and electronic goods，computer parts andparts for planes and space rockets are produced there. Much of the waste fromthese and a large amount of the wastewater from local people run into the lake.
③These harmful mixed things have ledthe lake to become covered with a thick white foam （泡沫） that looks like snow when seen from far away. When the level of thewater rises，the foam does too and covers nearby areas，even roads. When a fire breaks out on the lake，it is both frightening and dangerous. People who live or work nearthe lake also get seriously ill because of the pollution.
④The fire has drawn a great deal ofattention recently，but burning lakes are nothing new.Pollution mainly happens in developing countries like India today. In the past，it mainly took place in Europe and America. Cuyahoga River，a river in America，had caught fire at least13 times. The fire that caused the most attention was in 1969 when oil-coveredareas on the river were set on fire by sparks from a passing train. The firereached a height of over five floors and burned for about half an hour. By thattime，people in America were more aware of its dangersand wanted to change.
⑤As a result，the Environmental Protection Agency （EPA） was founded in 1970 and the Clean Water Act （1972）was put into use. This Act required allrivers throughout America be clean enough to safely allow swimmers and fish topass through by 1983.Due to these efforts，the CuyahogaRiver has never had another fire and over 60 different species of fish live inthe river.
⑥If history is a guide，will it be possible for people in India to bring an end to thepollution by changing the laws in their country，too？Like many nations，it's necessary to raiseawareness of environmental protection among the general public. All of us mustact!
