Question

    Looking out the window of his truck, Bob Fitzgerald sees large, undesirable plants growing in the fields. Visitors to his neighborhood around the Chesapeake Bay mainly see dying forests and empty farmland. Fitzgerald says the land has been in his family since the 17th century,and it has been sinking for hundreds of years. As sea levels rise salt water is entering rivers and other waterways. As a result, the ground is becoming too salty for crops to grow.

Around the world, scientists warn that coastal (沿海 ) farms are under threat from rising seas and salt water. A World Bank report predicts that rice production in coastal areas may fall by 15 percent by the year 2050. Another study found that hundreds of millions of people will be forced to move inland because of rising waters.

Kate Tully, an agroecologist(农业生态学家) wants to keep coastal farmers in business as the seas rise. The United States Department of Agriculture gave Tully and other researchers $ 1.1 million to study the problem. She and her team hope to give farmers ways to stay on their land. She told media that they are testing different crops on pieces of land around the coastal areas.

"Sorghum is my new favorite crop because it Can grow without rain and it can grow with lots of rain. So this is actually a pretty good option. " The grain crop may be a good choice to feed the nearly 600 million chickens raised in the area each year. As farmers know, chickens can deal with salt, dry weather conditions and heavy rains. Tally's group is also testing other kinds of grain and a few crops that they believe can grow in the salt.

Yet just being able to grow a crop is not enough. The crop has to be profitable. So an economist on the team will be looking at the numbers. But continuing to farm the land may not be the best plan of action. Some people believe the land should he given back to nature. They say the fields should be turned into wetlands, which are popular with duck hunters. "There's money in duck hunting," fully said. Hunting organizations will pay farmers for a permit to hunt on their land. Farmers could earn a lot of money from duck hunters, she said.

Tully and her team are just getting started. It will be a few years before they really understand how to save the farms.

1.In Bob Fitzgerald's neighborhood               .

A. forests have been turned into farmland

B. the coastal land becomes unfit for farming

C. production of sea salt takes place of farming

D. environmental pollution has caused the death of forests

2.What does the underlined phrase "under threat" mean?

A. Out of reach. B. In ruins.

C. Under discussion. D. In danger.

3.To help the farmers, Kate Tully's team have          .

A. raised money for costal farmers

B. turned the farmland into wetland

C. tested different kinds of grain and crops

D. encouraged the farmers to raise chicken and ducks

4.What is the best title for the passage?

A. The Search of Crops That Will Grow in Salt Water

B. The Past of the Historic Farm Becomes Important

C. Rising Seas Force Changes on Historic Farms

D. The Research on the Effects of Rising Seas

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.C

4.C

【解析】

本文为说明文。随着海平面上升，海水进入河流和其他水道，沿海农场受到海平面上升的威胁。这迫使历史悠久的农场发生了变化。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段中的As a result, the ground is becoming too salty for crops to grow.（结果，土地变得太咸，庄稼无法生长）可推知，在鲍勃·菲茨杰拉德的邻近地区，沿海的土地变得不适合耕种。故B选项正确。

2.词义猜测题。根据第二段中的A World Bank report predicts that rice production in coastal areas may fall by 15 percent by the year 2050. Another study found that hundreds of millions of people will he forced to move inland because of rising waters.（世界银行的一份报告预测，到2050年，沿海地区的水稻产量可能会下降15%。另一项研究发现，由于海平面上升，数亿人将被迫迁往内陆）可知，沿海农场正受到海平面上升和海水上涨的威胁。由此推知under threat意为“处于威胁中”。故D选项正确。

3.细节理解题。根据第三段中的She and her team hope to give farmers ways to stay on their land. She told media that they are testing different crops on pieces of land around the coastal areas.（她和她的团队希望能让农民们有办法留在他们的土地上。她告诉媒体，他们正在沿海地区测试不同的作物）可知，为了帮助农民，凯特·塔利的团队测试了不同种类的谷物和农作物。故C选项正确。

4.标题判断题。通读全文可知，本文主要介绍了随着海平面上升，海水进入河流和其他水道，沿海农场受到海平面上升的威胁，这迫使历史悠久的农场发生了变化。由此可知，C项“海平面上升迫使历史上的农场发生变化”适合做本文最佳标题。故C选项正确。