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 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 (创新) 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 |
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
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 (创新) 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.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
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 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 (创新) 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 |
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
If you want to see the chairman, you’d better make an with his secretary first.
A. amusement B. achievement
C. appointment D. argument
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
If you want to see the chairman of the department, you’d better make an _________ with his secretary first.
A.assumption B.appointment C.agreement D.admission
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
What is the woman?
A. A secretary. B. An air hostess. C. A waitress.
高二英语短对话简单题查看答案及解析
Not until he called the secretary three times ______ that the manager went to an important meeting.
A.did he tell B.he told C.was he told D.he was told
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
1.The secretary arranged a c____ time and place for all the applicants to have an interview.
2.The purse found in the dorm matches the ____ (描述) made by Mary, so it must be hers.
3.It is impossible for them to a____(完成) the complicated task in a short time.
4.E ____to the sunlight too long, one's skin will be harmed.
5.The boy a ____ (专注) in reading books in the classroom now is the one who won the first prize in English Contest held last week.
高二英语单词拼写中等难度题查看答案及解析
The idea for the book Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone came to Joanne Kathleen Rowling in 1990. It took her seven years to finish writing it. During those seven years she had a number of jobs, including one job as an English teacher in Portugal.
Rowling sent the book to four publishers before one of them bought it. She was very happy to sell her book because it was her life's dream to be a published writer. Before she sold her book, Rowling was living in a small apartment with her daughter and was so poor that she could not afford heat in the winter.
Harry Potter became very successful with children and adults in England. The book also really took off in the United States. After her second and third books were published, the three Harry Potter books filled the top three places on many newspapers' lists of best-sellers. Then the books were made into popular movies. Without question, Rowling's life had completely changed, in just three years.
Harry Potter books have now sold more than 30 million books around the world and have been translated into more than thirty-five languages. In 1997, Rowling was earning £70 (about US$110) a week. By the end of 2001, she had earned over £150 million ($250 million), making her one of the most successful female writers of all time.
1.This reading is about _________.
A. Harry Potter's life B. the writer's life
C. how the book became a movie D. why Harry Potter is popular
2.Which sentence is true about the first Harry Potter book?
A. Four publishers bought it.
B. It took the writer several years to finish it.
C. It was first published in Portugal.
D. Rowling got the idea from her daughter.
3.Rowling's dream was _________.
A. to be a magician B. to make a movie
C. to have her books published D. to be an English teacher
4.How many languages has Harry Potter been translated into?
A. more than 35 B. about 135 C. about 90 D. more than 150
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Many animals recognize their food because they see it.So do humans.When you see an apple or a piece of chocolate you know that these are things you can eat.You can also use other senses when you choose your food.You may like it because if smells good or because it tastes good.You may dislike sonic types of food because they do not look,smell or taste very nice.Different animals use different senses to find and choose their food.A few animals depend on only one or their senses,while most animals use more than one sense.
Although there are many different types of food,some animals spend their lives eating only one type.The giant panda eats only one particular type of bamboo.Other animals eat only one type of food even when given the choice. A kind of white butterfly will stay on the leaves of a cabbage,even though there are plenty of other vegetables in the garden.However,most animals have a more varied diet.The bear eats fruits and fish.The fox eats small animals,birds and fruits.The diet of these animals will be different depending on the season.
Humans have a very varied(广泛的)diet.We often eat food because we like it and not because it is good for us. In countries such as France and Britain,people eat foods with too much sugar.This makes them overweight,which is bad for their health.Eating too much red meat and animal products,such as butter,can also be bad for the health. Choosing the right food,therefore,has become an area of study in modern life.
1.We can infer from the text that humans and animals .
A. depend on one sense in choosing food B. are not satisfied with their food
C. choose food in similar ways D. eat entirely different food
2.Which of the following eats only one type of food?
A. The white butterfly. B. The small bird.
C. The bear. D. The fox.
3.Certain animals change their choice of food when .
A. the season changes
B. the food color changes
C. they move to different places
D. they are attracted by different smells
4.We can learn from the last paragraph that .
A. food is chosen for a good reason
B. French and British food is good
C. some people have few choices of food
D. some people care little about healthy diet
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Many animals recognize their food because they see it. So do humans. When you see an apple or a piece of chocolate you know that these are things you can eat. You can also use other senses when you choose your food. You may like it because it smells good or because it tastes good. You may dislike some types of food because they do not look, smell or taste very nice. Different animals use different senses to find and choose their food. A few animals depend on only one of their senses, while most animals use more than one sense.
Although there are many different types of food, some animals spend their lives eating only one type. The giant panda(大熊猫)eats only one particular type of bamboo(竹子). Other animals eat only one type of food even when given the choice. A kind of white butterfly(蝴蝶)will stay on the leaves of a cabbage, even though there are plenty of other vegetables in the garden. However, most animals have a more varied diet(多样化饮食). The bear eats fruits and fish. The fox eats small animals, birds and fruits. The diet of these animals will be different depending on the season.
Humans have a very varied diet. We often eat food because we like it and not because it is good for us. In countries such as France and Britain, people eat foods with too much sugar. This makes them overweight, which is bad for their health. Eating too much red meat and animal products, such as butter, can also be bad for the health. Choosing the right food, therefore, has become an area of study in modern life.
56. We can infer from the text that humans and animals _________.
A. depend on one sense in choosing food
B. are not satisfied with their food
C. choose food in similar ways
D. eat entirely different food
57. Which of the following eats only one type of food?
A. The white butterfly. B. The small bird
C. The bear. D. The fox.
58. Certain animals change their choice of food when ___________.
A. the season changes B. the food color changes
C. they move to different places D. they are attracted by different smells
59. We can learn from the last paragraph that __________.
A. food is chosen for a good reason
B. French and British food is good
C. some people have few choices of food
D. some people care little about healthy diet
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析