Question

Food prices have risen sharply over the past few years. The good news is that the rate of increase has slowed. The bad news is that prices will not go down anytime soon.

Also，the rate of global agricultural production is slowing. Yet it needs to increase 60% over the next 40 years to feed a growing world population.

These are among the findings from the OECDFAO(the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development & the Food and Agriculture Organization)Agricultural Outlook(展望)2012－2021.

FAO Director­General Jose Graziano da Silva spoke at a news conference in Rome when the report was released. Mr.Da Silva said that，not surprisingly，the world's poorest people will feel the greatest effects of higher prices.

“For the millions and millions of extremely poor people， the effects of high food prices are clear—they might have to change their diets，usually to ones with poorer nutrition quality， ”he said.

In middle­income countries， people are gaining weight as they eat fewer fruits and vegetables and more of the cheaper but less nutritious foods.

The report also shows that farmers in poorer countries will be leading efforts to feed an expected 9,000,000,000 people by 2050.The outlook predicts that farmers in Latin America，the Caribbean and sub­Saharan Africa will drive agricultural production in the future.

Angel Gurria，Secretary­General of the OECD，said：“We can feed 9,000,000,000 people by 2050 on this planet. But we have to organize ourselves better.” But there are plenty of challenges.One­fourth of all agricultural land is damaged. Many countries face water shortages(短缺)．And experts believe climate change is driving increasingly unusual weather patterns.

The report says farmers need to use more growing methods that can't cause damage to the environment.At the same time，it says governments should end economically harmful supports and spend more money to increase agricultural production.Mr.Gurria says rich and poor nations need to treat agriculture more like a business.

“In many cases，agriculture is related in people's minds to the poorest. It's related to aid. It's related to very poor living conditions，etc. We have got to shake that image away，”he said.

1.Why are people gaining weight in countries with average incomes?

A．They eat more food.                               B．They eat less nutritious foods.

C．They eat cheaper fruits.                         D．They eat cheaper vegetables.

2.It can be inferred from the text that poorer countries ______.

A．are damaging a great part of their agricultural land

B．will play a great role in feeding the growing world population

C．are spending lots of money increasing agricultural production

D．will not be so seriously affected by food prices as rich nations

3.What can be done to deal with the slow agricultural production?

A．Improving the growing methods.

B．Finding more agricultural land.

C．Preventing governments' involvement.

D．Improving farmers' living conditions.

4.Which of the following might Angel Gurria agree with?

A．Agriculture means difficulty and sadness.

B．Food prices will go down in the near future.

C．It's almost impossible to feed 9,000,000,000 people by 2050.

D．Both rich and poor countries should take agriculture seriously.

Answer

1.B

2.B

3.A

4.D

【解析】

试题分析 本文是说明文。农业一直不受人重视，增长的人口给农业带来巨大的压力，所以农产品价格一直在上涨，虽然现在速度有所缓慢但不会下降多少。对农民和政府提出很多的要求，更重要的是转变思想，当做生意的角度来进行大力的发展。

1.B 细节题。根据第六段In middle­income countries， people are gaining weight as they eat fewer fruits and vegetables and more of the cheaper but less nutritious foods，人们发胖是因为很少吃水果和蔬菜，吃得更多的是便宜而没有营养的食物。故选 B项。

2.B 推断题。根据第四段the world's poorest people will feel the greatest effects of higher prices贫穷的国家会影响粮食的价格，故选B 项。.

3.A 细节题。根据倒数第二段The report says farmers need to use more growing methods that can't cause damage to the environment.At the same time，it says governments should end economically harmful supports and spend more money to increase agricultural production。文中 提出农民应采取一些不破坏环境的方法。政府应花费更多的金钱在增加农业产量上。故选 A项。

4. D细节题。根据最后一段In many cases，agriculture is related in people's minds to the poorest. It's related to aid. It's related to very poor living conditions，etc. We have got to shake that image away。在某种程度上，农业与落后的思想联系在一块，农业会联想到救济，与贫穷的生活条件有关等待。我们应该改变这种景象。故排除ABC三个选项。选D项。

考点  农业类阅读。