题目内容

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan sees an epidemic (流行病) sweeping across Americas farmland. It has little to do with the usual challenges, such as flood, rising fuel prices and crop-eating insects. The country's farmers are getting older, and there are fewer people standing in line to take their place. National agricultural census (普查) figures show that the fastest-growing group of farmers is the part over 65. Merrigan is afraid the average age will be even higher when the 2012 statistics are completed.

Merrigan, a former college professor, is making stops at universities across the country in hopes of encouraging more students to think about careers in agriculture. Aside from trying to stop the graying of America's farmers, her work is made tougher by a recent blog posting that put agriculture at No.1 on a list of "useless" college degrees. Top federal agriculture officials are talking about the posting, and it has the attention of agricultural organizations across the country.

“There couldn't be anything that's more incorrect," Merrigan said. "We know that there aren't enough qualified graduates to fill the jobs that are out there in American agriculture.

In addition, a growing world population that some experts predict will require 70% more food production by 2050, she said.

“I truly believe we're at a golden age of agriculture. Global demand is at an all-time record high, and global supplies are at all-time record lows," said Matt Rush, director of the Texas Farm Bureau. "Production costs are going to be valuable enough that younger people are going to have the opportunity to be involved in agriculture”.

The Department of Agriculture has programs aimed at developing more farmers and at increasing interest in locally grown food. The National Young Farmers' Coalition has also been pushing for state and federal policy changes to make it easier for new fermers.

Ryan Best, president of Future Fanners of America, has been living out of a suitcase, traveling the country and visiting with high school students about careers in agriculture. The 21 -year-old Best hopes his message-that this is a new time in agriculture-will motivate the next generation to turn around the statistics.“Never before have we had the innovations (创新)in technology which have led to agriculture in this country being the most efficient it has ever been” he said. “There’s really a place for everybody to fit in”

1.What is the new challenge to American agriculture?

A. Fewer and older farmers.                                           B. Higher fuel prices.

C. More natural disasters.                                              D. Lower agricultural output.

2.Why is Merrigan visiting universities across the country?

A.To draw federal agriculture officials' attention

B.To select qualified agriculture graduates.

C.To clarify a recent blog posting.

D.To talk more students into farming careers

3.According to Matt Rush, American agriculture will provide opportunities for younger people because__________.

A.the government will cover production costs

B.global food supplies will be even lower

C.investment in agriculture will be profitable

D.America will increase its food export

4.What do the underlined words "to turn around the statistics" in the last paragraph mean?

A.To re-analyze the result of the national census.

B.To increase production.

C.To bring down the average age of farmers.

D.To invest more in agriculture.

 

【答案】

 

1.A

2.D

3.C

4.C

【解析】

试题分析:文章大意为:主要介绍了美国在农业方面临农民人数少,年龄偏大的问题,同时还缺少专业大学生从事农业生产。该怎么样解决这个问题。

1.A细节理解题。根据第一段第三句“The country’s farmers are getting older, and there are fewer people standing in line to take their place”可知,A项正确。

2.D细节理解题。根据第二段第一句中“…is making stops at universities across the country in hopes of encouraging more students to think about careers in agriculture”可知,D项正确。

3.C推理判断题。根据第五段中“Global demand is at an all-time record high, and global supplies are at all-time record lows”可推断Matt Rush认为,全球对农业的需要达到了最高,而全球的供应则达到了最低,故在农业上投资肯定会获利,即C项正确。

4.C 细节理解题。根据最后一段第二句中“…this is a new time in agriculture —will motivate the next generation…”可推断此处表示的是“农业的新时机将会激励下一代来参与,即农民的平均年龄将会年轻化”,故C项正确。

考点:科技类短文阅读。

 

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B.heavy drinkers have the slightest chance of cancer
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The satellite could also equip astronauts with real-time communications, which will benefit the county s future manned space flights, he said.

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B.To carry some astronauts into space to do some research.

C.To send more information and clearer pictures to mobile phones on the earth.

D.To promote the country's satellite communication network for space docking'

2.From the passage we know           .

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B.the satellite was developed by China Manned Space Engineering Office

C.it was less than three years since China launched its first date relay satellite of this kind

D.the satellite could help track and command space vehicles in orbits because it's lower in position

3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the news report?

A.Shenzhou Ⅷ is a manned spaceship.

B.Tiangong- I will dock with three Shenzhou spaceships next year.

C.the satellite is of great importance to China's space exploration.

D.china’s first ^a06 docking will be done in the second half of next year.

4.The best title of the passage could be _____.

A.China Launched a New Space Shuttle

B.China's Plan for Space Exploration

C.China’s Progress m China's Space Exploration

D.New Satellite Helps China's Space Exploration

 

People in Shanghai can quench their thirst with high quality water if the Shanghai Water Authority (SWA) is able to make good on its word. It has vowed to make the city’s water match its status as a world class city.

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    By 2020, the water of the Huangpu River will be treated to reduce the amount of organic waste in it. Major water works that draw water from the Huangpu will need more treatment facilities to improve the colour, texture, ammonia(氨)and nitrogen content before 2010.

    These treatment facilities are expected to cost 4 billion yuan, something that could affect the price of water, according to Chen Yin, SWA’s deputy director general.

    Chen said that replacing water pipes was also a key project. The city’s aged pipes are mostly to blame for the bad water quality.

    The SWA has started the water facilities renovation(更新)work, including the more than 14,000 kilometres of indoor piping, 107,000 tanks on top of the buildings, and more than 6,000 underground facilities.

    World Water Day came on March 22, and this year’s theme is “Water for the future”. Beijing is also drawing up plans during China’s Water Week, which runs until March 28.

    By 2010, the water for the Shanghai EXPO is to be above World Health Organization standards. And, the people of Beijing will be able to drink their tap water as well.

1.People in Shanghai can drink their tap water_____.

   A. by 2020       B. in the first half of this year     C. by 2010      D. by 2008

2.What step need not be taken in order to improve the tap water?

A. The water of the Huangpu River will be treated.    B. Aged water pipes will be treated.

C. Water facilities must be renovated.                   D. Water fountains must be found.

3.Which is the correct statement according to the passage?

A. The tap water quality in Shanghai hasn’t met national standards.

B. World Water Day fell on March 22 this year.

C. The people of Beijing cannot drink their tap water now.

D. The treatment of the water of Huangpu River has been finished.

4.What is the main idea of the passage?

A. The cost of treating the tap water.

B. How to reach the water standards of developed countries.

C. The project for making tap water drinkable in Shanghai and Beijing.

D. The progress of treating the water of Huangpu River.

 

阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项。

C

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“The slowdown gives such firms the opportunity to enhance(提高) their competitive edge through better technologies.”

(From China Daily 2009-01-11)

1.How many people are mentioned in this passage?

A.Only 2.

B.No more than 3.

C.Not more than 4.

D.At least 5.

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A.more

B.less

C.the most

D.the least

3.The underlines word “extent” probably means ______.

A.sense

B.degree

C.size

D.depth

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Haiti was considered to be in crisis long before the earthquake in January. The deputy executive director of UNICEF, Hilde Johnson, says the quake has only made the need for aid more immediate. But she says children all over the world have the right to the same assistance as children everywhere else.

The "Humanitarian Action Report" discusses several issues that UNICEF says increasingly threaten the basic rights of women and children. It says climate change has caused droughts and food insecurity in many areas. High food prices and the global financial crisis of two thousand eight-two thousand nine have only added to poverty and malnutrition (营养不良). And armed conflict continues to threaten the lives of millions.

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UNICEF deals with about two hundred emergencies around the world every year. The greatest need last year was in sub-Saharan Africa. The report says drought, food insecurity and civil unrest affected about twenty-four million people.

Violence and displacements of people were especially bad in Sudan, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic.

In Asia, UNICEF expects its financial assistance needs to more than double this year. This is partly the result of adding Pakistan and the Philippines to the latest report. In Pakistan, it says, more than two million people have been forced from their homes by the conflict in the Swat Valley and other areas of the northwest. And in the Philippines, more than two hundred thousand people are still living in shelters after severe storms last year.

This year's UNICEF report talks about the value of public and private partnerships in helping children and families in emergencies.

And that's the VOA Special English Development Report, written by June Simms. For a link to the UNICEF report listing the twenty-eight countries and territories in crisis, go to www.unsv.com. I'm Steve Ember.

1.According to Hilde Johnson, the most easily affected peens suffering from conflicts and disasters are          .

A.women

B.children

C.the old

D.the disabled

2.From this passage we know that the most serious problems in Asia are         .

A.earthquakes and malnutrition

B.displacemerds, and storms

C.seminal violence and other rights violations

D.droughts and food insecurity

3.By saying “… the quake has only made the need for aid more immediate.” Hilda Johnson probably intends to energy the idea that “       ”.

A.everything must have a beginning

B.grass never grows where the wide blows

C.cloudy herrings turn to clear evenings

D.it never rains but pours

4.Which of the following might serve as a suitable tickle for this passage?

A.Haiti was in crisis due to the earthquake in January.

B.Violence in the twenty – eight countries and territories

C.UNICEF Appeals for And for Women and Children

D.the vatic of public and private partnerships in helping

 

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