Nowadays,the food that you buy comes from many different countries. Have a look in your fridge,cupboard,and fruit bowl and check the origins (来源) of the food. Perhaps there are apples from California,lamb from New Zealand,or potatoes from Egypt. You will probably be surprised how far food travels to get to your plate. This journey,from "field to plate1”is called " food milesM  A food mile is the distance that food travels from the farmer's field to the person who buys the food. Nowadays,food often travels thousands of miles to get to the consumer (消费者) . Why is this,and what are the effects (影 响) of these long distances?

    Traditionally,farmers sold their food in the local market,so the food didn't have to travel very far. The consumers also did not travel very far because they went to their local market to buy the food. This was a good system for farmers and consumers. However,there were some disadvantages. For example,consumers could only buy food that farmers produced locally. In addition,they could only get food that was in season. Now,because of modem technology,food comes from all over the world. We do not have to wait for spring or summer to buy strawberries or tomatoes. They are available in winter if we want.

    Some countries have to import (进口 ) most of their food. This is because they have difficult climates. The United Arab Emirates ( UAE) ,for example,gets 85% of its food from other countries. Even food made in the UAE often uses imported materials.

    What's wrong with ”food miles" ? Is this not a good way of increasing international trade? I believe these miles are worrying for a number of reasons. First of all,because food travels such long distances,we need more planes,lorries,and ships to move the food. This means we use more oil or petrol,so there is more pollution and more global (全球的) warming. In addition,food that travels a long way is not fresh and usually not very tasty. Tomatoes,for example,are picked early and stored for their long journeys. For this reason,they are usually tasteless when they get to the consumer. Local food has a better taste,and it also reduces the amount of global pollution. We need to buy more local food.

53. What is called "food miles"according to this passage?

   A. The origins of the food.

   B. The effects of long distances.

   C. The journey from field to plate.

   D. The disadvantages of imported food.

54. Some countries,like the United Arab Emirates,have to import most of their food because of

   A. long distances

   B. difficult climates

   C. fresh and tasty food

   D. modern technology

55. This passage is mainly about .

   A. how local food travels from field to plate

   B. what "food miles" is and its effects

   C. how some countries import their food

   D. where different kinds of food come from

        Why does the sky change colors?

   What is the sky? How high is it? What color is it? What birds can live above it? These questions are difficult to answer,aren’t they?

    In fact,the sky has no color. Then why does the sky look blue?

    We know that there is air around the world. When planes fly,they need air to lift their wings. Planes can9t fly very high. That is because the air gets thinner when they go higher. The same will happen to us if we go high enough. If we go up about 1,200 kilometers from the earth,we’ll find no air there. Some birds can fly into the sky as high as a plane,but they cannot fly or live without air.

    Looking up above us,you will see the blue sky with white clouds. It is usually light blue. The color will be bluer when you see on the top of a high mountain. And you will see fewer clouds in the sky between you and the sun.

   Sometimes the sky doesnH look blue. When the sun rises or falls,you will see red,orange,and other colors in the sky. Such are the most beautiful moments of the day.

    Who can see the colors of the sky high above the earth? The astronauts!They can see those beautiful colors of the sky from the outer space. However,before flying into the outer space,they sit in a spaceship high above the earth,and there is no air at all. The sky will be that dark and its color will be black.

   Now you may understand that we see colors because the air scatters (使散射) the sunlight. Light travels through the air. Without air,there would be no light or colors.

52. Planes can't fly as high as possible because .

   A. the sky is blue

   B. the wings are heavier

   C. the sky has no color

   D. the air becomes thinner

53. When you stand on the top of a high mountain,you will see

   A. more air       B. bluer skies

   C. more colors   D. more clouds

54. In Huzhou,we might see many colors in the sky at during the day.

   A. 6:00 a. m.      B. 9:00 a.m.

   C. 1 :00 p. m.     D. 3:00 p. m.

55. The sky changes colors because.

   A. it's colorful itself

   B. the world is colorful

   C. the sunlight has colors

   D. the air scatters the sunlight

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