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. “

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.

2.Why is Merrigan visiting universities across the country?

   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.

3.According to Matt Rush, American agriculture will provide opportunities for younger people because ________.

   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

4.What do the underlined words “to turn around the statistics” in the last paragraph mean?

   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.

There was a time when I thought my dad didn’t know a thing about being a good father. I couldn’t   31 him ever saying the words “I love you.” It seems to me his only purpose in life was to say “__32_  ” to anywhere I wanted to go and anything I wanted to do, including getting a   33 .  Some parents bought their kids cars when they got their driver’s licenses. Not my dad ---- he said that I’d have to get a job and buy my own.

So that is what I did. I got a job at a very nice restaurant and   34  every penny I could and   35 I had enough to buy my car, I did! The day I brought that car home, my dad was the first one I wanted to   36  to. “Look, dad, a car of my own. If you ever want a ride, I’ll only   37 you five dollars.” I offered with a smile.

“I see,” was all he said.

One day, there was something wrong with my father’s truck. So he needed a   38 to work. . The sun wasn’t even up when we left the house,   39  it was already getting warm out. It was going to be a(n)   40 day. As I dropped my dad off, I   41  him, dressed in his work clothes, getting his   42  from the trunk of my car. Watching his sun-weathered face, and even from a distance I could tell there were   43  lines than I ever remembered being there before. I realized how hard my dad works for the family. My father is a cement finisher. In that instant, it   44 to me that he actually got down on his hands and knees to sweat over hot concrete to make a living for his family. And he did this day in and day out,   45  hot it got. Never, not once, had I heard him   46  about it. To him we were “worth” it. And never once did he “charge” us for it.

When he closed the trunk, his tools set off to the side, he walked over to my window to   47  me five dollars. I rolled down the window and said “Good-bye, dad. Keep your five dollars. It’s my   48. Don’t work too hard. I love you.” His   49 met mine, then glanced away in the direction of his waiting tools, he   50  his throat and said, “Oh, and… me, too.”

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从第31至第40小题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

Dear Mr. Takashhi,

I am writing to apologize for any misunderstandings that occurred when I showed you around Beijing the other day. I noticed that you were a bit   31  when I put the business card you gave me in my   32  without looking at it. And   33  did not know why you kept making an OK sign and why you   34  so many things. After reading a magazine article, I know that Japanese people give out their business cards   35  they greet others and they would like others to look at their cards carefully. So I should have read your   36  before I put it in my pocket. And I also know why you bought so many things   37 . Because gift-giving is expected in Japan and on a trip, you must bring back lots of   38 . As for the OK sign, I now know it is a request for small change.

I feel very sorry for not having known these   39  habits earlier. I hope you can forgive me for all these misunderstandings. I hope   40  our next meeting will be happier.

Yours sincerely,

Li Hualing

1. A. pleased       B. upset            C. excited          D. encouraged

2. A. hand          B. box              C. watch            D. pocket

3. A. I             B. you              C. we               D. nobody

4. A. made          B. saw              C. bought           D. eat

5. A. unless        B. before           C. after            D. when

6. A. faces         B. books            C. cards            D. clothes

7. A. there         B. here             C. home             D. everywhere

8. A. gifts         B. photos           C. pictures         D. sweets

9. A. strange       B. rare             C. unusual          D. cultural

10. A. which        B. that             C. when             D. where

I was in a department store with my mom, aunt, and my sister a few days ago.  16 , I am one of those people who do not like to go shopping with my family. However, I decided this time to 17 them.

   My aunt and I were 18 for some things to buy for our family when I noticed two 19 on the side. One of them had a little girl sitting on it with her 20 nearby and the other one was 21 . So, I decided to sit down. While I was 22  my own thing there, I 23 that the family were not in front of the  24  anymore. I saw the girl 25 and look around for her family. She came back and I saw her in 26, crying.

   I knew that she 27 her family and was all by herself . Now, I am sure that almost everybody has been lost in a department store or 28 big before and we all know that feeling. 29 I went up to her and asked what was 30 and in between tears she told me she was lost. I 31 her a smile card I just bought. You should have seen the 32 on her face when she read it. Then I went up to customer service center and 33 them what happened. People there promised to 34 her. After I left, the little girl’s parents went there and I could see them looking around for the person who had found their daughter and given her the35. Little did they know it was a regular teenager who did it.

1.A. Luckily       B. Usually          C. Sadly            D. Surprisingly

2.A. help          B. encourage        C. join             D. support

3.A. answering     B. looking          C. preparing        D. calling

4.A. chairs         B. children         C. signs            D. toys

5.A. friends        B. book             C. family           D. bags

6.A. clean         B. large            C. empty            D. beautiful

7.A. studying       B. carrying        C. buying           D. doing

8.A. noticed        B. believed         C. doubted          D. understood

9.A. shop          B. gift             C. girl             D. lady

10.A. get up            B. come up          C. give up         D. make up

11.A. return            B. detail          C. vain            D. tears

12.A. hated             B. raised           C. lost             D. lived

13.A. somewhere     B. something        C. everywhere      D. everything

14.A. If                B. As               C. So               D. Or

15.A. important         B. wrong            C. strange          D. different

16.A. lent          B. gave             C. sent             D. posted

17.A. smile             B. hope             C. puzzle           D. worry

18.A. reminded         B. warned           C. asked            D. told

19.A. look out for     B. take care of     C. wait for      D. call up

20.A. courage           B. money            C. explanation     D. card

I grew up in a small town. My father raised chickens and ran a construction company. I was barely 10 years old when my dad gave me the responsibility (责任) of feeding the chickens and cleaning up the stable. He believed it was important for me to have those jobs to learn responsibility. Then, when I was 22, I found a job in Natchbill at a country music club called the Natchbill Palace, I washed dishes and cooked from 4: 00 pm to 9: 00 pm and then went on stage and sang until 2:00 in the morning. It wasn’t long before I became known as a singing cook. I had been rejected so many times by record companies that it was hard not to be discouraged. One night, a woman executive (懂事) from a company named Warner Brothers Records came to hear me sing. When the show was over, we sat down and talked and after she left, I said to myself it was one more rejection. A few weeks later, my manager received a phone call — Warner Brothers wanted to sign me to a record deal. Soon after, I released my first record in June 1986. It sold over 2 million copies. My best efforts had gone into every job I’ve ever held. It was the sense of responsibility that made me feel like a man. Knowing that I had done my best filled me with pride. I still feel that way today, even though I have become a well-known singer.

Why was the writer once known as the singing cook?

A. Because he was a cook at a country-music club.

B. Because he sang for guests while he worked as a cook.

C. Because he often sang while cooking.

D. Because he liked singing better than cooking.

Who first recognized his talents and helped make his career successful?

A. Wamer Brothers.                    B. His manager.    

C. His father.                              D. A businesswoman.

What made the writer proud of himself?

A. His ability to live independently.

B. His sense of responsibility in whatever he did.

C. His courage in the face of rejections.

D. His hard work in his early days.