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 plate”, is called “food miles”.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 modern 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 journey.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.
1.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.
2.The underlined word “available” in Paragraph 2 most probably means “______”.
A. easy to get B. not busy C. willing to talk D. impossible to get
3.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
4.The writer uses the LAST paragraph mostly to encourage readers to ______.
A. buy more local food B. increase international trade
C. travel long distances D. use imported materials
5.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
A few years ago, I worked a 12-hour night shift(夜班) and got home from work.
I was on my way back home and was very tired. I____at a restaurant to have breakfast. Right after I placed my order, I saw a man come in. He was carrying a small backpack and looked like he had seen better times. He reached in his pocket and pulled out some____He asked the waitress if 38 cents was____to buy a cup of coffee. She looked at his backpack and said, “____Have a seat.” (Coffee was 50 cents a cup at the time.) It really touched me how she had tried to protect his pride and how he hadn’t asked for any charity.
Shortly before my____came, I asked the waitress to come over. I said, “You know, I am not feeling well. I don’t think I am going to be able to eat my breakfast. Do you think there is____here who might eat it?” She first asked if I was OK and then she____She said, “I think so. Are you sure?” I told her that I was sure.
She then walked over to the gentleman and told him that I had ordered food and it was too____to stop the order but I didn’t feel like eating. Would he be so kind as to take it____they wouldn’t have to throw it away? I had walked to the cash register(收银台) and was paying for the meal. At the cash register, I asked if they had gift cards. They did. I bought one____$25.00 and asked them to give it to the gentleman after I left.
1.A. looked B. stood C. waited D. stopped
2.A. notes B. tickets C. change D. paper
3.A. enough B. short C. good D. able
4.A. Not really B. Never mind C. With pleasure D. Of course
5.A. menu B. food C. coffee D. bill
6.A. anyone B. everyone C. someone D. no one
7.A. accepted B. refused C. understood D. left
8.A. early B. late C. slow D. quick
9.A. because B. if C. so that D. unless
10.A. at B. for C. with D. by
— Excuse me, but can I sit here?
— _________. The man who sat here will be back soon.
A. Yes, please B. You’re welcome
C. No problem D. You’d better not
— The light in his room is still on. Do you know _________?
— To prepare for the coming exam, I think.
A. if he works hard B. why he stays up so late
C. why is he so busy D. when he will stop working
— Can’t you act like a gentleman?
— ________. A gentleman can’t buy the nice and cheap things among such a group of crazy women.
A. No, never B. Sorry, I won’t C. Yes, never D. Yes, I can
— Is there a library in Gaochun?
— Yes, a new library _______ and is now open to the public.
A. will be built B. was built C. has been built D. is built