阅读试题

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."

阅读试题

59. 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.

60. 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.

61. 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

62. 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.

参考译文

农业部副部长凯瑟琳·玛丽甘见证了一种流行病横扫美国农场。它与常规的挑战，如洪水、不断上涨的燃料价格以及吃作物的昆虫，没有多大关系。该国的农民们在逐渐变老，但是接替他们的人却很少。国家农业人口普查的数据显示，增长最快的农民群体是年龄超过65岁的部分。玛丽甘博士担心当2012年统计完成时，农民的平均年龄将会更高。

前大学教授玛丽甘博士在全国各地的大学建立了站点，希望鼓励更多的学生考虑从事农业这一行业。除了尽力遏制美国农民的老龄化，她的工作因为一则把农业排在榜首的大学“无用”学位排行榜的帖子而显得更加艰难。联邦农业局的高级官员们正在讨论帖子，同时他们也在关注全国的农业组织。

“一切都是正确的，”玛丽甘博士曾说：“我们知道，没有足够的合格毕业生来填补美国农业工作的空缺。”

她说，此外，世界人口越来越多，一些专家预测到2050年粮食产量要比当下高70%。

德州农场局的主任马特·拉什说“我相信我们正处于农业的黄金时代。全球需求量创历史新高，全球供给量则处于历时最低。生产成本足够有价值以至于年轻人有机会参与农业。”

农业部的项目旨在要发展更多的农民，并增加本地种植的食物的价值。国家青年农民联盟也推动了州和联邦的政策变化以便利于新农民。

美国未来农场协会主席瑞安·贝斯特一直是拿着提箱过日子，他走遍了全国，拜访从事农业的高中学生。21岁的贝斯特希望农业新时代这一信息能够激励下一代从事农业，扭转局面，改变统计数据。“我们之前在科技上从来没有过像如今这样能让我国农业生产达到史无前例的高效的革新”，他说，“会有这么个地方，人人都可以融入。”

答案解析

59. A 考查细节理解。根据第一段的第三句”The country's farmers are getting older, and there are fewer people standing in line to take their place. "可知,越来越少的人从事农业工作，且农民的岁数越来越大，故选A。

60. D 考查细节理解。根据第二段的第一句”Merrigan, a former college professor, is making stops at universities across the country in hopes of encouraging more students to think about careers in a agriculture.”可知D项正确。

61. C 考查推理判断。根据第五段中的”Global demand is at an all-time record high, and global supplies are at all-time record lows...in agriculture. "可推知，Matt Rush认为，美国农业将为年轻人提供许多机会是因为投资农业会带来收益。

62. C 考查词义推测。最后一段第二句中的”this is a new time in agriculture - will motivate the next generation”表示的是”农业的新时代将会激励下一代来参与”，即农民的平均年龄将会年轻化，故C项正确。