Question

Poor families in some countries spend as much as eighty percent of their money on food. Rising prices in recent months have created the worst food crisis(危机) in more than thirty years. The United Nations World Food Program says high food prices could push one hundred million people into hunger.

Nathan Childs is an expert on rice markets. He notes that the harvest for the latest growing season was the largest on record. But India, Vietnam and others have restricted exports(限制出口) to keep prices down at home and protect supplies.

Thailand’s agriculture minister says his country will never restrict rice exports. He told the Reuters news agency Thursday that Thailand has enough supplies to meet demand at home and for export.

Thailand is the world’s largest rice exporter. Recent signs of an increase in supplies have helped ease record prices for Thai rice. Prices rose last week above one thousand dollars a ton.

Vietnam, the second biggest exporter, has banned(禁止) exports until June. And Vietnamese officials have now warned that non-food traders who buy rice for speculation(投机活动)will be severely punished.

Some experts say speculation is a necessary part of market activity. But the head of the U.N. Environment Program blames it for the high food prices. “We have enough food on this planet today to feed everyone.” Achim Steiner told the Associated Press.

Earlier, a member of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission didn’t accept the idea that speculators are the main cause. Bart Chilton blamed reduced harvests and grain supplies and the falling value of the dollar.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called heads of major international agencies to a meeting this week in the Swiss capital, Bern. He says high food prices could harm world trade, economic growth, social progress and political security.

1.What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Vietnam has banned rice exports to other countries.

B．Thailand is the largest rice exporter in the world.

C．Some families are too poor to afford enough food.

D．Rising prices of food have led to the world food crisis.

2.Which country restricted food exports according to the passage?

A. Thailand.    B. Switzerland.    C. Vietnam.    D. The USA.

3.All of the following are the results of rising prices of food EXCEPT ____.

A．the worst food crisis

B．reduced harvests and grain supplies

C．people spending more money on food

D．pushing one hundred million people into hunger

4.What is the reason for the speculation according to the head of the U.N. Environment Program?

A．High food prices.

B．The falling value of the dollar.

C．Enough rice supplies in some countries.

D．Restricted food exports in some countries.

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.D

2.C

3.B

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文报告了世界范围的粮食危机，分析了具体的原因以及不同的人对此不同的观点。

1.D 主旨大意题。根据文章第一段前3行可知本文主要讲述的是粮食价格的上涨导致世界粮食危机的话题。故D正确。

2.C 细节题。根据文章2,4段But India, Vietnam and others have restricted exports(限制出口) to keep prices down at home and protect supplies.

Vietnam, the second biggest exporter, has banned(禁止) exports until June

可知越南严格限制大米的出口。故C项正确。

3.B 细节题。根据第二段前3行Nathan Childs is an expert on rice markets. He notes that the harvest for the latest growing season was the largest on record. But India, Vietnam and others have restricted exports(限制出口) to keep prices down at home and protect supplies.可知粮食实际上取得了丰收。故B项说法是错误的。

4.A 细节题。根据文章倒数第三段1,2行Some experts say speculation is a necessary part of market activity. But the head of the U.N. Environment Program blames it for the high food prices.可知他把这归咎与高昂的食品价格。故A正确。

考点：考查新闻报告类短文阅读

点评：本文报告了世界范围的粮食危机，分析了具体的原因以及不同的人对此不同的观点。本文要求考生在阅读理解整体语篇的基础上，把握文章的真正内涵。要吃透文章的字面意思，从字里行间捕捉有用的提示和线索，这是推理的前提和基础;要对文字的表面信息进行挖掘加工，由表入里，由浅入深，从具体到抽象，从非凡到一般，通过分析、综合、判定等，进行深层处理，符合逻辑地推理。不能就是论事，断章取义，以偏概全。要忠实于原文，以文章提供的事实和线索为依据。