1、Unit 5 Working the Land阅读理解AOrganic food (有机食品)is very popular.It is also expensive.Some organic food costs twice as much as nonorganic food.Some parents and pet owners pay up to 200 percent more for organic food while some people think organic food is a waste of money. There is one main difference
2、between organic and nonorganic food. Organic farms do not use agricultural chemicals, such as pesticides (杀虫剂). This makes sure that the products are natural. Some people think “organic” means “locally grown”. At the beginning, this was true. Over time organic farming became more difficult. The dema
3、nd for organic food grew larger than the supply. Small companies had to sell out to large companies. There werent enough organic materials. This made it difficult for many organic companies to stay in business. Today, many large companies have an organic line of products. Is organic food more nutrit
4、ious (有营养的)? This is part of the debate. Many farmers and consumers (消费者) believe it is. They think agricultural chemicals cause health problems, such as cancer.Many health experts disagree. Few studies prove that organic food prevents health problems. Health experts worry more about bacteria (细菌).
5、These can come into contact with organic and nonorganic food.Doctors recommend washing produce very carefully. Most people agree that naturally grown food tastes better. Is tastier food worth the extra money? This is a matter of opinion. Whether it is healthier or not may require more research. Howe
6、ver, organic consumers argue it is better to be safe than sorry. 本文介绍了有机食品很受欢迎，虽然价格很贵，但是味道好，吃得放心，有机食品消费者认为安全第一。1What is probably the major concern(关注) of organic food consumers?APrice. BSafety. CFreshness. DVariety. 答案：B解析：细节理解题。根据最后一段However, organic consumers argue it is better to be safe than sor
7、ry.(然而，有机食品消费者认为安全比后悔好。)可知只要安全，消费者宁愿多花点钱，故选B。2What is the doctors suggestion? AGrow your own food. BReduce the use of pesticides. CMake sure the food is clean. DBuy large companies products. 答案：C解析：细节理解题。 根据第四段的最后一句Doctors recommend washing produce very carefully.(医生建议清洗时要非常小心。)可知医生建议食品要清洗干净，故选C。 3.
8、Which of the following do most people agree on organic food? AIt tastes better. BIt is easier to grow. CIt contains more fat. DIt is more nutritious.答案：A解析：细节理解题。根据最后一段的第一句 Most people agree that naturally grown food tastes better.(大多数人都同意自然生长的食物味道更好。)可知有机食品尝起来很好，故选A。 4.Where does this text probably
9、 come from? AA health magazine. BA medical report. CA chemistry paper. DA menu of a restaurant.答案：A解析：细节理解题。本文介绍的是有机食品，价格贵却很受欢迎，安全健康第一，所以跟健康有关，故选A。BIll admit Ive never quite understood the obsession (难以破除的成见) surrounding genetically modified (GM) crops.To environmentalist opponents，GM foods are simp
10、ly evil，an understudied，possibly harmful tool used by big agricultural businesses to control global seed markets and beat local farmers.They argue that GM foods have never delivered on their supposed promise，that money spent on GM crops would be better channeled to organic farming and that consumers
11、 should be protected with warning labels on any products that contain genetically modified ingredients.To supporters，GM crops are a key part of the effort to sustainably provide food to meet a growing global population.But more than that，supporters see the GM opposition of many environmentalists as
12、fundamentally antiscience，no different than those who question the basics of manmade climate change.For both sides，GM foods seem to act as a symbol: youre proagricultural business or antiscience.But science is exactly what we need more of when it comes to GM foods，which is why I was happy to see Nat
13、ure devote a special series of articles to the GM food controversy.The conclusion: while GM crops havent yet realized their initial promise and have been dominated by agricultural businesses，there is reason to continue to use and develop them to help meet the enormous challenge of sustainably feedin
14、g a growing planet.That doesnt mean GM crops are perfect，or a onesizefitsall solution to global agriculture problems.But anything that can increase farming efficiencythe amount of crops we can produce per acre of landwill be extremely useful.GM crops can and almost certainly will be part of that sui
15、te of tools, but so will traditional plant breeding，improved soil and crop managementand perhaps most important of all，better storage and transport infrastructure (基础设施) especially in the developing world.(It doesnt do much good for farmers in places like subSaharan Africa to produce more food if th
16、ey cant get it to hungry consumers.) Id like to see more nonindustry research done on GM cropsnot just because wed worry less about prejudice，but also because seed companies like Monsanto and Pioneer shouldnt be the only entities (实体) working to harness genetic modification.Id like to see GM researc
17、h on less commercial crops，like corn.I dont think its vital to label GM ingredients in food，but I also wouldnt be against itand industry would be smart to go along with labeling，just as a way of removing fears about the technology.Most of all，though，I wish a tenth of the energy thats spent endlessly
18、 debating GM crops was focused on those more pressing challenges for global agriculture.There are much bigger battles to fight.这是一篇说明文。文章讲述了关于转基因农作物的讨论。作者认为与其关注转基因农作物，不如花时间来关注一下全球农业面临的更紧迫的挑战。1. How do environmentalist opponents view GM foods according to the passage?AThey will eventually ruin agricu
19、lture and the environment.BThey are used by big businesses to dominate agriculture.CThey have proved potentially harmful to consumers health.DThey pose a big threat to current farming practice.答案：B解析：推理判断题。第一段To environmentalist opponents，GM foods are simply evil，an understudied，possibly harmful too
20、l used by big agricultural businesses to control global seed markets and beat local farmers.指出奉行环境保护主义的反对者们反对转基因食品是因为转基因食品邪恶、没有经过充分研究并可能成为大型农业公司控制全球种子市场和压榨当地农民的工具。由此可见，B的意思符合文意，即转基因食品是一种被大型农业公司用以垄断的工具，故选B。2What does the author say is vital to solving the controversy between the two sides of the deba
21、te?ABreaking the GM food monopoly (垄断). BMore friendly exchange of ideas.CRegulating GM food production. DMore scientific research on GM crops.答案：D解析：细节理解题。第二段首句就提到了题干中的two sides，表明对双方而言，转基因食品标志着你是亲农业还是反科学。第二句中But science is exactly what we need more of when it comes to GM foods接着指出，当涉及转基因食品时，我们更需要的
22、是科学，故答案为D。3What is the authors view on the solution to agricultural problems?AIt has to depend more and more on GM technology.BIt is vital to the sustainable development of human society.CGM crops should be allowed until better alternatives are found.DWhatever is useful to improve farming efficiency
23、 should be encouraged.答案：D解析：细节理解题。第三段That doesnt mean GM crops are perfect，or a onesizefitsall solution to global agriculture problems.But anything that can increase farming efficiencythe amount of crops we can produce per acre of landwill be extremely useful.指出，转基因农作物并不是解决全球农业问题“一劳永逸”的办法，但是任何提高耕作效
24、率的方法都是极为有用的，故答案为D。4What does the author think of the ongoing debate around GM crops?AIt arises out of ignorance of and prejudice against new science.BIt distracts the public attention from other key issues of the world.CEfforts spent on it should be turned to more urgent issues of agriculture.DNeither side is likely to give in until more convincing evidence is found.答案：C解析：观点态度题。答案定位在末段，作者在定位段中指出，人们应该拿出花在无休止讨论转基因农作物上的时间的十分之一来关注一下全球农业面临的更紧迫的挑战，故答案为C。
