Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan sees an epidemic (流行病) sweeping across America’s farmland. It has little to do with the usual challenges, such as flood, rising fuel prices and crop-eating insects. The country’s farmers are getting older, and there are fewer people standing in line to take their place. National agricultural census (普查) figures show that the fastest-growing group of farmers is the part over 65. Merrigan is afraid the average age will be even higher when the 2012 statistics are completed.

   Merrigan, a former college professor, is making stops at universities across the country in hopes of encouraging more students to think about careers in agriculture. Aside from trying to stop the graying of America’s farmers, her work is made tougher by a recent blog posting that put agriculture at No. 1 on a list of “useless” college degrees. Top federal agriculture officials are talking about the posting, and it has the attention of agricultural organizations across the country.

   “There couldn’t be anything that’s more incorrect,” Merrigan said. “We know that there aren’t enough qualified graduates to fill the jobs that are out there in American agriculture.”

   In addition, a growing world population that some experts predict will require 70% more food production by 2050, she said.

   “I truly believe we’re at a golden age of agriculture. Global demand is at an all-time record high, and global supplies are at all-time record lows,” said Matt Rush, director of the Texas Farm Bureau. “Production costs are going to be valuable enough that younger people are going to have the opportunity to be involved in agriculture. “

   The Department of Agriculture has programs aimed at developing more farmers and at increasing interest in locally grown food. The National Young Farmers’ Coalition has also been pushing for state and federal policy changes to make it easier for new farmers.

   Ryan Best, president of Future Farmers of America, has been living out of a suitcase, traveling the country and visiting with high school students about careers in agriculture. The 21-year-old Best hopes his message --that this is a new time in agriculture-- will motivate the next generation to turn around the statistics. “Never before have we had the innovations (創(chuàng)新) in technology which have led to agriculture in this country being the most efficient it has ever been,” he said. “There’s really a place for everybody to fit in. “

1.What is the new challenge to American agriculture?

   A. Fewer and older farmers.          B. Higher fuel prices.

   C. More natural disasters.           D. Lower agricultural output.

2.Why is Merrigan visiting universities across the country?

   A. To draw federal agriculture officials’ attention.

   B. To select qualified agriculture graduates.

   C. To clarify a recent blog posting.

   D. To talk more students into farming careers.

3.According to Matt Rush, American agriculture will provide opportunities for younger people because ________.

   A. the government will cover production costs

   B. global food supplies will be even lower

   C. investment in agriculture will be profitable

   D. America will increase its food export

4.What do the underlined words “to turn around the statistics” in the last paragraph mean?

   A. To re-analyze the result of the national census.

   B. To increase agricultural production.

   C. To bring down the average age of farmers.

   D. To invest more in agriculture.

 

【答案】

 

1.A

2.D

3.C

4.C

【解析】本文是一篇科技文，主要介紹了美國在農(nóng)業(yè)方面臨農(nóng)民人數(shù)少，年齡偏大的問題，同時還缺少專業(yè)大學生從事農(nóng)業(yè)生產(chǎn)。該怎么樣解決這個問題。 

1.細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第一段第三句“The country’s farmers are getting older, and there are fewer people standing in line to take their place”可知，A項正確。  

2.細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第二段第一句中“…is making stops at universities across the country in hopes of encouraging more students to think about careers in agriculture”可知，D項正確。 

3.推理判斷題。根據(jù)第五段中“Global demand is at an all-time record high, and global supplies are at all-time record lows”可推斷Matt Rush認為，全球?qū)r(nóng)業(yè)的需要達到了最高，而全球的供應則達到了最低，故在農(nóng)業(yè)上投資肯定會獲利，即C項正確。 

4.句意理解題�！啊璽his is a new time in agriculture —will motivate the next generation…”可推斷此處表示的是“農(nóng)業(yè)的新時機將會激勵下一代來參與，即農(nóng)民的平均年齡將會年輕化”，故C項正確。

 

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