Question

【题目】Food production does great harm to our environment. There are many procedures involved in the manufacture of food that result in greenhouse gases and other pollutants. Some procedures require the consumption of large amounts of fossil fuels, such as the transportation and storage of food products. Other factors that cause great damage to our environment include the overuse of fresh water.

The production of beef is more damaging to the environment than that of any other food we consume. Raising large numbers of cattle requires the production of large amounts of food for the animals. it's estimated that producing one pound of beef requires seven pounds of feed.

Land use is also a problem. If the cattle are free-range cattle, large areas of land are required for them to live on. This has led to disastrous forest cutting and the loss of rare plants and animal species, particularly in tropical rain forests in Central and South America.

Another problem specific to beef production is methane emissions (甲烷排放). Although many people are aware of the damaging effects of carbon dioxide, they don't realize methane's global warming potential is 25 times worse, making it a more dire problem.

Unfortunately, beef consumption is growing rapidly. This is the result of simple supply and demand factors. Specifically, there are two main causes of demand that are encouraging the production of more supply. First, the increase in the world population means there are more people to consume meat. The second factor is socioeconomic advancement. As citizens in developing nations become financially stable, they can afford to buy more meat.

Therefore, one way to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions is for people around the world to significantly cut down on the amount of beef they eat.

【1】Which of the following is TRUE?

A. Raising free-range cattle is eco-friendly.

B. People cut down trees for animal habitats.

C. Producing beef can damage the environment.

D. Carbon dioxide causes far more harm than methane.

【2】The underlined word "dire" in Para. 4 means _______.

A. common

B. urgent

C. beneficial

D. avoidable

【3】Beef production is growing rapidly because_______.

A. more people are in demand of beef

B. developing countries raise more cattle

C. more land is available to raise cattle

D. the cost of raising cattle is relatively low

【4】The author writes this article to_______.

A. describe the booming of the beef production

B. emphasize the advantages of beef production

C. criticize the cutting of the rain forest

D. argue for a decrease in beef consumption

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】B

【3】A

【4】D

【解析】请在此填写整体分析!

【1】C

细节理解题。根据第二段第一句The production of beef is more damaging to the environment than that of any other food we consume.可知，生产牛肉会损害环境。故选C。

【2】B

词义猜测题。根据第四段第二句Although many people are aware of the damaging effects of carbon dioxide, they don't realize methane's global warming potential is 25 times worse, making it a more dire problem.可知，尽管许多人意识到二氧化碳的破坏性影响，但是他们没有意识到甲烷的全球变暖潜力是25倍，这让它成为一个更dire的问题。由此推出划线词的意思是“可怕的，严重的”，故选B。

【3】A

细节理解题。根据倒数第二段第一句Unfortunately, beef consumption is growing rapidly.可知，牛肉产量增长迅速因为有更多的人需要牛肉。故答案为A。

【4】D

目的意图题。根据最后一段one way to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions is for people around the world to significantly cut down on the amount of beef they eat.可知，作者写这篇文章是为了减少牛肉的消耗。故选D。