Question

    Can small, organic agriculture really feed the world? Won’t we need science to produce enough food as the world population is growing to 9 billion by 2050? The answer to both questions is YES—but that science may look different than you think.

We have been told that the only way we will be able to feed the growing population is through the science of GM(转基因) crops and chemicals. But the latest scientific studies are saying just the opposite. In study after study, the message about agriculture is: To feed the world, we need to support sustainable(可持续的) agriculture on different, local, family farms that work with nature.

In 2008, an international study found that sustainable agriculture, not GM crops, shows more hope of ending hunger. The International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science, and Technology for Development (known as the IAASTD), calls for a change of the world’s food and farming systems.

The Assessment said that industrial agriculture has greatly destroyed the world’s soils and other natural resources, and now is doing harm to water, energy, and weather safety. The report warns that expensive, short-term ways—including GM crops—are not likely to cut down long-term hunger, and could even make environmental and social problems worse in many places.

A recent report by the UN Environment Program shows that food problems will become more serious because of environmental problems and strongly supports sustainable agriculture on small family farms. It also showed that a worldwide change to organics could actually increase the world’s food production by as much as 50%—enough to feed a population of 9 billion people with the land we have now. GM crops, once popular, are now being questioned worldwide.

1.How can we feed the growing population of the world according to the passage?

A.In expensive, short-term ways.

B.By encouraging industrial agriculture.

C.By developing small, organic agriculture.

D.Through the science of GM crops and chemicals.

2.We can learn from the passage that there will be no food problems if _____________ .

A.the world supports sustainable agriculture

B.we increase a lot of farm land

C.the environmental problems are solved

D.all the small family farms are used

3.Which of the following best describe sustainable agriculture?

A.The science of GM crops.

B.Working on small family farms.

C.A fast way to increase the world’s food production.

D.An approach to agriculture without harming the environment.

4.What might be talked about if there is one more paragraph?

A.The causes of food problems.

B.The disadvantages of GM crops.

C.The development of industrial agriculture.

D.The disadvantages of sustainable agriculture.

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.D

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。最新的科学研究表明，转基因作物可能减少长期饥饿，甚至可能使许多地方的环境和社会问题恶化。如果世界各国支持可持续农业的发展，就不会有食物问题。

1.细节理解题。根据文章最后一段倒数第二句“It also showed that a worldwide change to organics could actually increase the world’s food production by as much as 50%—enough to feed a population of 9 billion people with the land we have now.”可知，研究表明，全球范围内改变为有机农业的做法实际上可以使世界粮食产量增加多达50％，即利用我们现在拥有的土地就足以供养90亿的人口。由此可知，通过发展小型有机农业可以养活世界上不断增长的人口。故选C。

2.推理判断题。根据第二段的“In study after study, the message about agriculture is: To feed the world, we need to support sustainable agriculture on different, local, family farms that work with nature.”和第三段的“In 2008, an international study found that sustainable agriculture, not GM crops, shows more hope of ending hunger. ”可知，为了养活人们，各国需要支持本地家庭农场发展可持续农业。2008年，一项国际研究发现，可持续发展农业而非转基因作物显示出消除饥饿的更大希望。由此判断出，如果世界各国支持可持续农业的发展，就不会有食物问题。故选A。

3.推理判断题。根据文章倒数第二段最后一句“The report warns that expensive, short-term ways — including GM crops — are not likely to cut down long-term hunger, and could even make environment and social problems worse in many places.”可知，昂贵的短期方法，例如转基因作物，不能解决长期的饥饿问题，并且可能让环境问题和社会问题更加严重；由上一题的分析可知，文章倡导可持续发展的农业，因此相对于昂贵的短期方法，可持续性农业是一种长期的，不伤害环境的农业模式。故选D。

4.“GM crops, once popular, are now being questioned worldwide.”可知，曾经受人欢迎的转基因作物现在正受到全世界的质疑。由此判断出文章接下来最有可能说的是转基因作物的缺点。故选B。