If you want to disturb the car industry, you’d better have a few billion dollars: Mom-and-pop carmakers are unlikely to beat the biggest car companies. But in agriculture, small farmers can get the best of the major players. By connecting directly with customers, and by responding quickly to changes in the markets as well as in the ecosystems(生态系统), small farmers can keep one step ahead of the big guys. As the co-founder of the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC, 美国青年农会) and a family farmer myself, I have a front-row seat to the innovations among small farmers that are transforming the industry.
For example, take the Quick Cut Greens Harvester, a tool developed just a couple of years ago by a young farmer, Jonathan Dysinger, in Tennessee, with a small loan from a local Slow Money group. It enables small-scale farmers to harvest 175 pounds of green vegetables per hour—a huge improvement over harvesting just a few dozen pounds by hand—suddenly making it possible for the little guys to compete with large farms of California. Before the tool came out, small farmers couldn’t touch the price per pound offered by California farms. But now, with the combination of a better price point and a generally fresher product, they can stay in business.
The sustainable success of small farmers, though, won’t happen without fundamental changes to the industry. One crucial factor is secure access to land. Competition from investors, developers, and established large farmers makes owning one’s own land unattainable for many new farmers. From 2004 to 2013, agricultural land values doubled, and they continue to rise in many regions.
Another challenge for more than a million of the most qualified farm workers and managers is a non-existent path to citizenship — the greatest barrier to building a farm of their own. With farmers over the age of 65 outnumbering(多于) farmers younger than 35 by six to one, and with two-thirds of the nation’s farmland in need of a new farmer, we must clear the path for talented people willing to grow the nation’s food.
There are solutions that could light a path toward a more sustainable and fair farm economy, but farmers can’t clumsily put them together before us. We at the NYFC need broad support as we urge Congress to increase farmland conservation, as we push for immigration reform, and as we seek policies that will ensure the success of a diverse and ambitious next generation of farmers from all backgrounds. With a new farm bill to be debated in Congress, consumers must take a stand with young farmers.
1.The author mentions car industry at the beginning of the passage to introduce .
A. the progress made in car industry B. the importance of investing in car industry
C. a trend of development in agriculture D. a special feature of agriculture
2.What does the author want to illustrate with the example in paragraph 2?
A. Small farmers may gain some advantages over big ones.
B. Loans to small local farmers are necessary.
C. Technology is vital for agricultural development.
D. Competition between small and big farms is fierce.
3.What is the difficulty for those new farmers?
A. To gain more financial aid. B. To hire good farm managers.
C. To have farms of their own. D. To win old farmers’ support.
4.What should farmers do for a more sustainable and fair farm economy?
A. Invest more to improve technology. B. Expand farmland conservation.
C. Become members of NYFC. D. Seek support beyond NYFC.
高二英语阅读理解困难题
If you want to disturb the car industry, you’d better have a few billion dollars: Mom-and-pop carmakers are unlikely to beat the biggest car companies. But in agriculture, small farmers can get the best of the major players. By connecting directly with customers, and by responding quickly to changes in the markets as well as in the ecosystems(生态系统), small farmers can keep one step ahead of the big guys. As the co-founder of the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC, 美国青年农会) and a family farmer myself, I have a front-row seat to the innovations among small farmers that are transforming the industry.
For example, take the Quick Cut Greens Harvester, a tool developed just a couple of years ago by a young farmer, Jonathan Dysinger, in Tennessee, with a small loan from a local Slow Money group. It enables small-scale farmers to harvest 175 pounds of green vegetables per hour—a huge improvement over harvesting just a few dozen pounds by hand—suddenly making it possible for the little guys to compete with large farms of California. Before the tool came out, small farmers couldn’t touch the price per pound offered by California farms. But now, with the combination of a better price point and a generally fresher product, they can stay in business.
The sustainable success of small farmers, though, won’t happen without fundamental changes to the industry. One crucial factor is secure access to land. Competition from investors, developers, and established large farmers makes owning one’s own land unattainable for many new farmers. From 2004 to 2013, agricultural land values doubled, and they continue to rise in many regions.
Another challenge for more than a million of the most qualified farm workers and managers is a non-existent path to citizenship — the greatest barrier to building a farm of their own. With farmers over the age of 65 outnumbering(多于) farmers younger than 35 by six to one, and with two-thirds of the nation’s farmland in need of a new farmer, we must clear the path for talented people willing to grow the nation’s food.
There are solutions that could light a path toward a more sustainable and fair farm economy, but farmers can’t clumsily put them together before us. We at the NYFC need broad support as we urge Congress to increase farmland conservation, as we push for immigration reform, and as we seek policies that will ensure the success of a diverse and ambitious next generation of farmers from all backgrounds. With a new farm bill to be debated in Congress, consumers must take a stand with young farmers.
1.The author mentions car industry at the beginning of the passage to introduce .
A. the progress made in car industry B. the importance of investing in car industry
C. a trend of development in agriculture D. a special feature of agriculture
2.What does the author want to illustrate with the example in paragraph 2?
A. Small farmers may gain some advantages over big ones.
B. Loans to small local farmers are necessary.
C. Technology is vital for agricultural development.
D. Competition between small and big farms is fierce.
3.What is the difficulty for those new farmers?
A. To gain more financial aid. B. To hire good farm managers.
C. To have farms of their own. D. To win old farmers’ support.
4.What should farmers do for a more sustainable and fair farm economy?
A. Invest more to improve technology. B. Expand farmland conservation.
C. Become members of NYFC. D. Seek support beyond NYFC.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
If you want to correct your composition, you’d better be more careful ________I have crossed out paragraphs for you.
A. that B. when C. what D. where
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
You’d better practice more and play better if you want to make a good ______ on the audience at the concerts.
A.decision B.impression C.harmony D.conclusion
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
If you want to improve your English 1. (rapid), you’d better listen to BBC English 2. is part of the BBC World Service. It broadcasts all kinds of programmes, such 3. difficult grammar 4. (point), life in Britain, differences between written and 5. (speak) English and so on. So far BBC English 6. (become) a popular learning course. If you want to know some information about the programmes, you just need to write to BBC English 7. (ask) for it. 8. , 9. is easy for you to find out the information and follow the programmes.
In China there are English programmes like Follow Me on the radio. They are usually easy to receive and understand and they are very 10. (use) to you.
高二英语语法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
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 fully enjoy your vacation, then you’d better check the Durban City Tours! This is actually one of the best choices in South Africa today.
There is nothing more relaxing than to think about it that there is a place to go and relax, right? City life is stressful, but you can escape this situation and be in the place where there is noting but fun. Here in Durban you will get to see all the amazing tourist attractions. If you love animals and want to see some elephants wandering around the streets, then Durban is the place to go. You can even get to ride one if you want!
Here you will also get to taste all the delicious South African food. You can choose from Italian cooking to its native dishes. Durban is a great place to tour with your friends and family. You will learn a lot about its history through the landmarks you will see down the streets. Tourists and even the local villagers just can’t get enough of these treats!
However, it is important that you make the necessary arrangements. There are actually lots of tour guides that will help you as you make your journey along the streets of Durban. But if you prefer the best tour guides here in Durban, then you’d better settle for the Street Scene Tours. Their staff are all well-trained and professional. They will certainly make your stay here an unforgettable one. No wonder tourists prefer the Street Scene Tours when it comes to Durban City Tours.
1.What is the main idea of Paragraph 2?
A. Durban is a relaxing city.
B. City life means high pressure.
C. It is good to have a place to relax.
D. One can have fun riding elephants.
2. If you walk in the street of Durban, what will impress you most?
A. Tourists from all over the world.
B. The buildings and many kinds of animals.
C. The streets and some wandering elephants.
D. The friendly local people and the scenery.
3.. What does the last sentence in Paragraph 3 show?
A. The food can’t satisfy them.
B. They are bored with the streets.
C. They are treated very well here.
D. They never get tired of the sights.
4. The author wrote the last paragraph mainly to ________.
A. attract tourists to Durban
B. help readers make arrangement
C. introduce the tour guides in Durban
D. persuade tourists to choose the Street Scene Tours
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Due to the fact ____there is plenty to see, it would be better if you make a list of____ you want to go in advance.
A.that; where B.what; where C.that; which D.which; when
高二英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析
If you want to do the experiment again, you had better be more careful ________ you made a mistake.
A. when B. why C. where D. that
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
You had better take something to read when you go to see the doctor____ you have to wait.
A.even if | B.as if | C.in order that | D.in case |
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析