Most of us probably live without vegetables, but a world without chocolate? Now that would be hard! According to chocolate makers it could happen if we don’t act soon.

There are two main causes of the chocolate shortage --- chocolate’s growing popularity and less production of cocoa, the plant from which chocolate is made. With more and more people in India and China loving chocolate, not much can be done about the first cause.

Therefore, the only thing we can do is to increase cocoa production. However, new plant diseases and little rain in Ivory Coast and Ghana, the world’s largest producers, have reduced cocoa production by 40 percent in the past 10 years. What’s worse, many cocoa farmers in Africa and other cocoa-producing countries like Indonesia and Venezuela are changing to easier-to-grow crops such as corn or rubber. This way, the farmers can make more money.

To prevent more farmers from changing, researchers at the newly opened International Cocoa Control Centre, in the UK, are trying to create new cocoa plants that are stronger and faster growing. But first they must make sure the new plants are safe to grow. This takes a long time.

First, each new plant is stored at the Control Centre for six months to make sure it is healthy. It is then planted in the Centre’s fields, studied and tested for another two years. Only after scientists are certain that they’re disease-free, will the plants be sent to farmers in West Africa or wherever else they are needed.

To create new stronger types of cocoa, scientists at the Centre are combining the best parts from different cocoa plants. Though the world is facing a serious chocolate shortage, there is now hope!

1.The first paragraph tells us that______.

A. chocolate is healthier than vegetables

B. the world could soon be without chocolate

C. people love vegetables more than chocolate

D. it’s not necessary to eat so much chocolate

2.In which countries has chocolate become more popular in recent years?

A. Venezuela and Indonesia. B. Ivory Coast and Ghana.

C. Indonesia and China. D. China and India.

3.Cocoa farmers are choosing to grow rubber and corn because these crops______.

A. can make them more money

B. need less rain to grow

C. can be planted more times each year

D. are not damaged by plant diseases

4. How long does it take scientists at the Centre to make sure a cocoa plant is safe to grow?

A. 6 months. B. 12 months. C. 24 months. D. 30 months.

5.What is one of the purposes of the Cocoa Control Centre?

A. To introduce cocoa production to more countries.

B. To provide more chocolate for British people.

C. To produce stronger types of cocoa plants.

D. To make sure that cocoa is healthy to eat.

Ten years ago, when I was in high school,Mrs. White was my language teacher. One day at lunch time, I was about to eat my cold fish sandwich and she suddenly asked me if she could buy my lunch from me. She explained that I could use the money to buy a hot lunch from the cafeteria(食堂). I was very pleased. I had never thought of going to the cafeteria to buy my lunch like other students. The food at the cafeteria was too expensive for my family.

Kids always complained about the cafeteria food but I really wanted to buy it. When we finished lunch that day, she told me that she was a Catholic and Catholics don’t eat red meat on Fridays --- they eat fish on Fridays. From then on, every Friday Mrs.White bought my fish sandwich and with the money I could buy a hot lunch from the cafeteria.

One year later, I learned from a classmate that Mrs.White was not a Catholic and her family was not rich. She bought my cold sandwich because she saw a little girl that was excited to have a hot lunch. She wanted to help me! I couldn’t help crying. I will never forget her kind heart. I will remember my dear Mrs.White all my life.

1.Why didn’t the writer go to the cafeteria to have lunch?(no more than 4 words)

2.How did the writer feel when Mrs.White wanted to buy her cold fish sandwich?(no more than 4 words)

3.What did the writer do with the money from Mrs. White?(no more than 5 words)

4.Was Mrs. White a Catholic?(no more than 3 words)

5.What kind of person was Mrs. White?(no more than 5 words)

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