Question

    Fruit growers in the United States depend heavily on immigrants to grow and harvest their crops. Most immigrants working on American farms are Hispanic and come from Mexico or Central America. Many of them entered the United States, and have settled in rural communities across the country. They often raise families by working in the fields. Just like US citizens, they should perform some duties and tax is also often paid on their goods and services.

Recently, in the eastern state of Pennsylvania, fruit farmers are concerned about the government's immigration policies. The fear is that they will not have enough workers to stay in business. Spring is pruning season for apple trees in Adams County, Pennsylvania. Hispanic immigrant workers care for the trees in many of the area's apple orchards （果园）.

The work takes many hours and is tiring and repetitive. An apple grower says very few Americans are willing to do this kind of work anymore. She helps monitor her family's farm and orchard in Adams County. And, she worries that immigration officers will take her work- ers away.

Some of the immigrants who secretly came to America and now work on the farms live in the town of York Springs. Almost half of the people in the town speak Spanish. But, these days, they would rather stay at home than go out on the streets in the community. They are fearful now because of recent arrests by immigration officers.

An estimated 800,000 workers harvest crops in the United States. About 40 percent of them arc thought to be immigrants who entered the country secretly.

The Rice Fruit Company is the largest apple-packing house in the eastern United States. It prepares apples from Adams County farms for shipping to buyers across the country. But, if inmigrant workers start to leave the area, Rice says his company will be forced to reduce operations.

Rice says the company is exploring ways to reduce labor costs now, including using more machinery and robots. He says his company may also need to work with only the most profitable, efficient orchards.

1.What can We learn about immigrants in America from the text?

A.They have to pay taxes.

B.Most of them are from Africa.

C.None of them entered America secretly.

D.They often monitor their farm owners* families.

2.What are American farmers most worried about recently?

A.They will lose their workers.

B.Their work is tiring and repetitive.

C.They will face immigration officers' questioning・

D.Their orchards are short of harvesting machinery.

3.Why do many immigrants in York Springs choose to stay inside now?

A.To fight for higher pay.

B.To protest for proper working conditions.

C.To avoid being driven out of America・

D.To stay away from working in the fields.

4.What is the Rice Fruit Company doing now?

A.Stopping its operations.

B.Encouraging immigrants to stay.

C.Asking for help from the local government.

D.Considering using more technological equipment.

Answer

1.A

2.A

3.C

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了大部分秘密偷渡到美国的移民在果园里做工，但由于美国移民局的政策，这些移民可能会被驱逐，造成果园工人短缺，这使得果园主人非常担心。

1.细节理解题。根据文章第一段中“Just like US citizens, they should perform some duties and tax is also often paid on their goods and services.”（ 就像美国公民一样，他们应该履行一些义务，他们的商品和服务也经常要交税。）由此可知，移民们也应纳税。结合选项，故选A。

2.细节理解题。根据文章第二段中“Recently, in the eastern state of Pennsylvania, fruit farmers are concerned about the government's immigration policies. The fear is that they will not have enough workers to stay in business.”（ 最近，在东部的宾夕法尼亚州，果农对政府的移民政策感到担忧。人们担心的是，他们将没有足够的工人继续经营下去。）由此可知，美国农民担心他们将会失去工人。结合选项，故选A。

3.推理判断题。根据文章第四段中“But, these days, they would rather stay at home than go out on the streets in the community. They are fearful now because of recent arrests by immigration officers.”（ 这些天，他们宁愿呆在家里，也不愿去社区的大街上。他们现在很害怕，因为移民官员最近在逮捕他们。）由此可知推断出，移民们待在家的原因是怕被移民局的人逮捕从而被驱逐。结合选项，故选C。

4.推理判断题。根据文章最后一段中“Rice says the company is exploring ways to reduce labor costs now, including using more machinery and robots.”（ 赖斯说，公司目前正在探索降低劳动力成本的方法，包括使用更多的机器和机器人。）由此可以推断出，Rice Fruit Company正在考虑使用更多的技术设备。结合选项，故选D。