题目内容
Farmers often employ fertilizer or other special chemicals to _____the growth of crops, as is well-known.
A. accelerate B. advance C. quicken D. promote
A
解析:
句意: 农民经常使用化肥或化学物质来促进庄稼的生长。根据句意,化肥能提到庄稼的生长速度,则有“动作加快;速度提高;促进生长”之意,符合题意。advance指使进步,发展;前进(to go or move something forward, or to develop or improve something);quicken 指加快速度、速率等promote多指促进发展、贸易、繁荣、谅解或增进友谊等。
![](http://thumb.zyjl.cn/images/loading.gif)
Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan sees an epidemic (流行病) sweeping across America’s 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 farmers.
Ryan Best, president of Future Farmers 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. “
【小题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. |
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. |
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 |
A.To re-analyze the result of the national census. |
B.To increase agricultural production. |
C.To bring down the average age of farmers. |
D.To invest more in agriculture. |
Today just as technology changed the face of industry, farms have undergone an “agricultural revolution”. On the farm of today, machines provide almost all the power.
One of the most important benefits will be the farm computer. A few forward-looking farmers are already using computers to help them run their farms more efficiently. The computers help them keep more accurate records so they can make better decisions on what crops to plant, how much livestock to buy, when to sell their products, and how much profit they can expect. Many computer companies have been developing special computer programs just for farmers. Programs are being written for hog producers, grain farmers, potato farmers, and dairy farmers. In the future, farmers will be able to purchase computer programs made to their needs. Because of the growing importance of computers on the farm, students at agricultural colleges are required to take computer classes in addition to their normal agricultural courses. There can be no doubt that farmers will rely on computers even more in the future. While the old-time farm depended on horse power, and modern farms depend on machine power, farms of the future will depend on computer power.
Another technological advance which is still in the experimental stage is the robot, a real “mechanized hired hand” that will be able to move and, in some ways, think like a human being. Agricultural engineers believe that computer-aided robots will make startling changes in farming before the end of the century. Unlike farmers of the present, farmers of the future will find that many day-to-day tasks will be done for them. Scientists are now developing robots that will be able to shear sheep, drive tractors, and harvest fruit. Even complex jobs will be done by robots. For example, in order to milk their cows, farmers must first drive them into the barn, then connect them to the milking machines, watch the machines, and disconnect them when they are finished. In the future, this will all be done by robots. In addition, when the milking is completed, the robots will automatically check to make sure that the milk is pure. The complete mobilization of the farm is far in the future, but engineers expect that some robots will be used before long.
1.Which sentence carried the main idea of the whole passage?
A.The first sentence of the first paragraph. |
B.The first sentence of the second paragraph. |
C.The first sentence of the third paragraph. |
D.The last sentence of the second paragraph. |
2. according to the passage, computers can not help farmers decide _______.
A.how much money they can earn from their products |
B.whether to plant a certain kind of crop |
C.what livestock to raise |
D.when to sell their products |
3.Which of the following statements is true?
A.Farmers in the future will depend totally on computers. |
B.Both computers and robots have been in use on today’s farms. |
C.Farmers mainly use machines on their farms at present. |
D.Students at agricultural colleges must take computer classes because they can do nothing without the help of computers on today’s farms. |
4.according to the engineers, _______will be done by robots in the near future.
A.all farm work |
B.milking cows |
C.most of the farm work |
D.some farm work |
5.What is the best title for the whole passage?
A.Computer, Farmers’ Best Friend |
B.Farmers in The Future |
C.The Agricultural Revolution |
D.Computers and Robots |
Today just as technology changed the face of industry, farmers have undergone an "agricultural revolution". On the farm of today, machines provide all the power.
One of the most important benefits will be the farm computer. A few forward-looking farmers are already using computers to help them run their farms more efficiently. The computers help them keep more accurate records so they can make better decisions on what crops to plant, how much livestock to buy, when to sell their products, and how much profit they can expect. Many computer companies have been developing special computer programs just for farmers. Programs are being written for hog(猪) producers, grain farmers, potato farmers, and dairy farmers. In the future, farmers will be able to purchase computer programs made to their needs. Because of the growing importance of computers on the farm, students at agricultural colleges are required to take computer classes in addition to their normal agricultural courses. There can be no doubt that farmers will rely on computers even more in the future. While the old-time farm depended on horse power, and modern farms depend on machine power, farms of the future will depend on computer power.
Another technological advance which is still in the experimental stage is the robot, a real "mechanized hired hand" that will be able to move and, in some ways, think like a human being. Unlike farmers of the present, farmers of the future will find that many day-to-day tasks will be done for them. Scientists are now developing robots that will be able to shear(修剪) sheep, drive tractors, and harvest fruit. Even complex jobs will be done by robots. For example, in order to milk their cows, farmers must first drive them into the special barn(畜棚), then connect them to the milking machines, watch the machines, and disconnect them when they are finished. In the future, this will all be done by robots. In addition, when the milking is completed, the robots will automatically check to make sure that the milk is pure. The complete mobilization of the farm is far in the future, but engineers expect that some robots will be used before long.
1.Which sentence carries the main idea of the whole passage?
A.The first sentence of the first paragraph. |
B.The first sentence of the second paragraph. |
C.The first sentence of the third paragraph. |
D.The last sentence of the second paragraph. |
2.Which of the following statements is true?
A.Farmers in the future will depend totally on computers. |
B.Both computers and robots have been in use on today's farms. |
C.Farmers mainly use machines on their farms at present. |
D.Farmers can do nothing without the help of computers on today's farms. |
3. According to the engineers,_____________ will be done by robots in the near future.
A.all farm work |
B.milking cows |
C.most of the farm work |
D.some house work |
4.What is the best title for the passage?
A.Computer—Farmers' Best Friend |
B.Farmers in the Future |
C.Robots in the future |
D.Revolution on the farm |