Question

  The long years of food shortage in this country have suddenly given way to obvious abundance. Stores and shops are choked with food. Yet,instead of joy,there is widespread uneasiness and confusion. Why do food prices keep on rising,when there seems to be so much more food about? Is the abundance only temporary,or has it come to stay? Does it mean that we need to think less now about producing more food at home? No one knows what to expect.

  The recent growth of export surpluses (过剩) on the world food market has certainly been unexpectedly great,partly because of two strange successful grain harvests. North America is now being followed by a third. Most of Britain's overseas suppliers of meat,too,are offering more this year and home production has also risen. 

  But the effect of all this on the food situation in this country has been made worse by a rise in food prices,due chiefly to the gradual cutting down of government support for food. The shops are overstocked with food not only because there is more food available,but also because people,frightened by high prices,are buying less of it.

  Moreover,the rise in domestic prices has come at a time when world prices have begun to fall,with the result that imported food,with the exception of grain,is often cheaper than the homeproduced variety. And now grain prices,too,are falling. Consumers are beginning to ask why they should not be enabled to benefit from this trend.

  The significance of these developments is not lost on farmers. The older generations have seen it all happen before. Despite the present price and market guarantees,farmers fear they are about to be pressed between cheap food imports and a shrinking home market. Present production is running at 51 percent above prewar levels,and the government has called for an expansion to 60 percent by 1956;but repeated Ministerial advice is carrying little weight and the expansion programme is not working very well.

(   ) 1. Why is there " widespread uneasiness and confusion”about the food situation in Britain?

   A. The abundant food supply is not expected to last.

   B. Britain is importing less food.

   C. Despite the abundance,food prices keep rising.

   D. Britain will cut back on its production of food.

(   ) 2. The main reason for the rise in food prices is that         .

   A. people are buying less food

   B. the government is providing less financial support for agriculture

   C. domestic food production has decreased

   D. imported food is driving prices higher

(   ) 3. The government's expansion programme didn't work very well because         .

   A. farmers were uncertain about the financial support the government guaranteed

   B. farmers were uncertain about the benefits of expanding production

   C. farmers were uncertain about whether foreign markets could be found for their produce

   D. the older generation of farmers were strongly against the programme

(   ) 4. What did the future look like for Britain's food production at the time this article was written? ^

   A. The fall in world food prices would benefit British food producers.

   B. An expansion of food production was at hand.

   C. British food producers would receive more government financial support.

   D. It looks depressing despite government guarantees.

Answer 1

1. C从第1段的Why do food prices keep on rising,when there seems to be so much more food about可知，人们不安的是食品价格不断增长。

2. B从第3段的due chiefly to the gradual cutting down of government support for food可知，价格增长的原因是政府农业投人少。

3. B从末段农民所感受到的压力可知，他们不知道扩大规模能否带来相应的效益。

4. D从上文及最后一句可推出没有政府的支持，粮食生产前景暗淡。