Week 11 TuesdayTask 1：阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项2012·江苏，B)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.”【语篇解读】 文章主要介绍美国农业人口缺乏，从事农业者年龄偏大。
一些政府官员呼吁大学生以及其他年轻人从事农业生产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.答案 A [细节理解题根据第一段的第二、三句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.可知]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.答案 D [细节理解题。
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 agriculture.可知]3．According to Matt Rush, American agriculture will provide opportunities for younger people because________．A．the government will cover production costsB．global food supplies will be even lowerC．investment in agriculture will be profitableD．America will increase its food export答案 C [细节理解题根据倒数第三段的最后一句“Production costs are going to be valuable enough that younger people are going to have the opportunity to be involved in agriculture.”可知。
]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 C [推理判断题to turn around the statistics 的本意是“将统计数字翻转过来”，本文前面一直介绍农业人口缺乏，从事农业者年龄偏大，因此，此处“将统计数字翻转过来”意味着使从事农业者年龄下降]Task 2：词汇积累1．sweep across 席卷2．have little to do with 和……没有关系3．stand in line 站队4．statistics n．统计资料5．aside from 除……以外6．organization n．组织7．be involved in 涉及到8．fit in 适应Task 3：攻克长难句1．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. 分析：两个破折号之间的内容是对前面名词message的解释。
motivate意为“激发，激励”2．Never before have we had the innovations in technology which have led to agriculture in this country being the most efficient it has ever been. 分析：Never before have we是否定词提前的部分倒装句；which have...是定语从句，先行词为innovations；其后是结构lead to sth (sth’s) doing，意为“导致……”。