题目内容
It is considered no use ________ against the deadly disease.
- A.struggling
- B.struggle
- C.to struggle
- D.for struggle
Sustainable development is applied to just about everything from energy to clean water and economic growth, and as a result it has become difficult to question either the basic assumptions behind it or the way the concept is put to use. This is especially true in agriculture, where sustainable development is often taken as the measure of progress without a proper appreciation of historical and cultural perspectives.
To start with, it is important to remember that the nature of agriculture has changed markedly throughout history, and will continue to do so. Medieval agriculture in northern Europe fed, clothed and sheltered a mainly rural society with a much lower population density than it is today. It had minimal effect on biodiversity, and any pollution it caused was typically localized. In terms of energy use and the nutrients captured in the product it was relatively inefficient.
Contrast this with farming since the start of the industrial revolution. Competition from overseas led farmers to specialize and increase yields. Throughout this period food became cheaper, safer and more reliable. However, these changes have also led to habitat loss and to reducing biodiversity.
All this means that agriculture in the 21st century will have to be very different from how it was in the 20th. This will require thorough thinking. For example, we need to move away from the idea that traditional practices are certainly more sustainable than new ones. We also need to abandon the notion that agriculture can be “zero impact”. The key will be to abandon the rather simple and static(稳定的)measures of sustainability, which centre on the need to maintain production without increasing damage. Instead we need a more dynamic interpretation, one that looks at the pros and cons of all the various way land is used. There are many different ways to measure agricultural performance besides food yield: energy use, environmental costs, water purity, carbon footprint and biodiversity. It is clear, for example, that the carbon of transporting tomatoes from Spain to the UK is less than that of producing them in the UK with additional heating and lighting. But we do not know whether lower carbon footprints will always be better for biodiversity.
What is important is recognizing that sustainable agriculture is not just about sustainable food production.
【小题1】How do people often measure progress in agriculture?
A.By its impact on the environment | B.By its contribution to economic growth |
C.By its productivity | D.By its sustainability |
A.Localized pollution | B.The shrinking of farmland |
C.the decrease of biodiversity | D.competition from overseas |
A.They are not necessarily sustainable | B.They have not kept pace with population growth |
C.They have remained the same over the centuries | D.They are environmentally friendly |
A.It will abandon traditional farming practices | B.It will mainly keep traditional farming |
C.It will go through complete changes | D.It will cause zero damage to the environment |
A.To remind people of the need of sustainable development. |
B.To urge people to rethink what sustainable agriculture is. |
C.To advance new criteria for measuring farming progress. |
D.To suggest ways of ensuring sustainable food production. |
Museum of the Moving Image(MMI)(Monday Closed) As the best museum in New York City and with a balance of hands-on(实际操作的)activities and information, it’s the rare bird that can entertain and educate people of different ages. It’s a perfect destination for a family trip of a couple hours. Pros—Excellent movie screenings. Easy subway access. Cons—Difficult to reach by Car. |
New York Hall of Science(NYHS)(Monday Closed) Being New York City’s only hand son science and technology center, it is an interactive science museum focusing on its audience of children. It has the most hands-on exhibits in an NYC museum, and it’s a fun destination for ages 5 and up. Older folks might take great interest in the NASA rockets outside the museum, but don’t bother unless you’ve kids to keep you company. Pros—Cool interactive science exhibits, the rockets. Cons—Hard to reach by public transportation. |
Queens County Farm Museum(QCFM)(Year-round 7 days a week) It is an actual farm in New York City and home to animals your kids can feed and a yard full of a climbing plant whose fruit can be made into wine. Good chance to meet sheep, goats, pigs, chickens and cows! The animals are mostly readily accessible to visitors. And the museum sells feed for young hands willing to get licked by sheep and goats. Pros—Outdoor fun. Cons—Expensive festivals, long bus ride, no subway. |
Queens Museum of Art(QMA)(Monday and Tuesday Closed) Opened in 1972 to serve as a cultural center in New York City, it exhibits art by local and international artists. Its best exhibits are on the two World’s Fairs. and of course,the Panorama of New York City, a giant , highly detailed diorama(透景画)of all five New York City boroughs. 行政区) Pros—The Panorama, Great gift shop. Easy subway access. Cons—Not much for kids. |
1.The least likely choice for 5-year-old Jack to make among the museums is______.
A.T MMI B.T NYHS C.QMA D.QCFM
2.According to the text, which of the following is NOT true?
A.All the museums mentioned above lie in New York City.
B.No other museum in New York City is better than MMI.
C.Lucky visitors can see grapes in one of the museums.
D.NYHS has the most hands-on activities in America.
3.We can know from the text that______.
A.visitors can pay a visit to all the museums by subway
B.people can visit only one of the any day
C.there is often a rare bird flying in the sky above MMI
D.the Panorama is, as a matter of fact, a great gift shop
4.In which museum can you enjoy outdoor fun?
A.MMI. B.NYHS. C.QCFM. D.QMA.