WASHINGTON: Chinese scientist Yuan Longping and Dr Monty Jones of Sierra Leone were named co－winners of the 2004 World Food Prize here on Monday for their contribution to world food security and rice production.

　　In announcing the recipients in a ceremony held at the US State Department, President of the World Food Prize Foundation Kenneth Quinn lauded both scientists for their “breakthrough scientific achievements” which have significantly increased food security for millions of people from Asia to Africa.

　　Quinn said it was particularly fitting that the two pioneering rice breeders rewarded the prize during the United Nations International Year of Rice, the crop identified as the staple(主要的) diet of more than 3 billion people around the world.

　　Professor Yuan Longping is director－general of the China National Hybrid Rice(杂交水稻) Research and Development Centre in Hunan Province, China. Jones is presently executive secretary of Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa.

　　Yuan is credited with(功劳在于……) developing the world's first successful and widely grown hybrid rice varieties, revolutionizing rice cultivation in China and tripling production over a generation.

　　Jones's work recaptured the genetic(遗传的) potential(潜能) of ancient African rice by combining African and Asian rice species.

　　Present at the ceremony hosted by US Secretary of State Colin Powell were UN Food and Agriculture Director－General Jacques Diouf, US Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman and Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy Lan Lijun.

　　The World Food Prize will be formally presented to Professor Yuan and Jones on October 14 this year in Iowa, the United States.

1．Which of the following is the best title?

[　　]

A．A．pioneer of the genetic research.

B．Passion for hybrid rice.

C．Scientists from China, Africa share food prize.

D．What is the World Food Prize?

2．The underlined word “lauded” can be replaced by ________.

[　　]

3．Jones won the 2004 World Food Prize for his achievements in ________.

[　　]

A．breeding(培育) hybrid rice

B．breeding hybrid wheat

C．improving ancient African rice

D．finding the genetic secret of rice

4．Which of the following is NOT true?

[　　]

A．The ceremony was held at the US State Department

B．Professor Yuan Longping attended the ceremony hosted by US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

C．Professor Yuan and Jones will go to the USA．in October to receive the World Food Prize.

D．3 billion people around the world live on rice.

BEIJING — China's education authority will tighten the widely criticized policy of “extra credits” for the national college entrance examination to ensure a fairer chance for all exam-takers.

Under the policy, high school students who win awards in national Olympic competitions could get ‘‘extra credits’，up to 20 points for the national college entrance exam. Students with talent in sports and students who are from ethnic groups can also benefit from this policy. The extra credits have increased these students' chances of being admitted by famous universities. Some parents were found to have helped their children fabricate(伪造)award experiences or falsify qualifications to get extra credits.

“It has harmed education equality，” the ministry said.

Xiong Bingqi, vice-chief of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, said the policy is designed to help students who have special talents but may be weak in academic performance to have a chance to receive higher education. uIt will still be needed but it is time to make the rules fairer," he said.

The ministry said it will reduce the range of competitions whose winners can get extra credits, and limit the winners, privileges(优先权).

The new policy will apply to students who begin high school in 2011, it said.

Chen Lei, a mother of a 10-year-old girl, said she welcomed the ministry's policy adjustment as she does not want her daughter to become an Olympic competition geek.

But not all the Chinese parents welcomed the new policy. “It is like a thunderbolt for me. My - 13-year-old son has spent so much time studying Olympic math，and participated in so many technological competitions during vacations. It is useless now,” said Dong Wen, a 43-year-old mother.

A student said, “Many students have changed the current study plan, and they can abandon the competition. I will be interested in learning the courses which can improve my abilities.”　

Yuan Guiren, minister of education, told China Daily that the reform is an attempt to consider the overall quality of an applicant. “But the country will not stop the national college entrance examination as it is still the most objective way to evaluate talent in China，” lie said.