Dickson Despommier, a public health professor at Columbia University in New York City developed an idea with his students nine years ago. They imagined people in cities growing crops inside a tall building. Tomatoes could grow on one floor of the skyscraper(摩天大楼), potatoes on the next, small animals and fish on the floor above.
This vertical(垂直的) farm, or farmscraper, could have space for restaurants and other places that serve food, like schools or hospitals. They could serve foods that are truly locally grown.
But why would anyone want to build a farm indoors in a city? Dickson Despommier believes it will bee necessary. The world needs to find places to produce enough food to feed the growing population. Space, he says, is an all-important issue.
The professor also points to the problems of traditional farms. They use a lot of freshwater. Their fertilizer and animal waste can pollute water resources. And their growing seasons can be limited.
But inside the vertical farm, crops could grow all year. And there would be no wind to blow away soil. Farmers would not have to worry about too much or too little rain, or about hot summers, freezing winters or insects. And without insects there would be no need for chemicals to kill them.
Farm machines that .use fossil fuels, like tractors, would not be needed either. And water could be recycled for drinking. The vertical farm reuses everything, so there is no waste, says Professor Despommier.
Even buildings could be saved. Old buildings could bee new farms and provide jobs.
The professor has been actively proposing the idea to cities as far away as Dubai and Canada. But so far it exists only in plans and drawings, and a model at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.
Critics say building a farmscraper would cost too much, especially considering the price of land in many cities. Dickson Despommier estimates the cost at about twenty to thirty million dollars.
But he says the building would not have to be very tall. And his graduate students have found many empty lots and unused buildings in New York City that could provide space.
【小题1】According to the passage the purpose of proposing the idea of a farm scraper is to .A．find places to produce enough foodB．serve food that are truly locally grownC．prevent polluting the limited landD．save fresh water【小题2】Which is one of the advantages of a farm scraper?A．It costs lessB．It saves labor power.C．It consumes too much energyD．It is more environmentally friendly.【小题3】Those against the idea of farm scrapers argue thatA．it uses too much land in citiesB．it costs too much to build oneC．it causes people to lose their jobsD．it exists only in unrealistic plans【小题4】Which of the following is true according to the passage?A．A vertical farm has been built in Chicago.B．Old buildings could be changed into new farms.C．Traditional farms use less water but pollute more waterD．There are some vertical farms being put into use in Canada.A
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(答案→)A
解析：本文讲述了一种新型的农业—空中农场。把农业推广到空中进行，介绍了具体的信息，并说明这种农业很环保高效。
【小题1】A 细节题。根据文章第三段前三行But why would anyone want to build a farm indoors in a city? Dickson Despommier believes it will bee necessary. The world needs to find places to produce enough food to feed the growing population.可知他们主要是为了找出更多的空间来生产出更多的粮食，故A正确。
【小题2】D 推理题。根据文章3,5段Farm machines that .use fossil fuels, like tractors, would not be needed either. And water could be recycled for drinking.
They use a lot of freshwater. Their fertilizer and animal waste can pollute water resources. And their growing seasons can be limited.可知很多方面都是很环保的，不产生什么污染，故D正确。
【小题3】B 细节题。根据文章倒数第二段Critics say building a farmscraper would cost too much, especially considering the price of land in many cities. Dickson Despommier estimates the cost at about twenty to thirty million dollars.可知这种农业的成本很高。故B正确。
【小题4】B 细节题。根据文章最后一段But he says the building would not have to be very tall. And his graduate students have found many empty lots and unused buildings in New York City that could provide space.可知很多的空置的楼房可以成为农场。故B正确。