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 pleted.
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.”
【小题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.【小题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.【小题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【小题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.A
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(答案→)A
解析：这是一篇新闻报道，报道了“美国农业缺少专业大学生从事农业生产”的问题。
【小题1】细节理解题。根据首段第二、三句“It has little to do with…The country’s farmers are getting older, and there are fewer people standing in line to take their place.”可知答案是A。
【小题2】细节理解题。根据第二段首句“Merrigan, …is making stops at universities across the country in hopes of encouraging more students to think about careers in agriculture.”可知答案是D。
【小题3】细节理解题。根据第五段最后一句“Production costs are going to be valuable enough that younger people are going to have the opportunity to be invloved in agriculture.”可知答案是C。
【小题4】短语意思猜测题。根据尾段关键词“a new time in agriculture”“innovations in technology”“for everybody to fit in”结合目前美国农业现状“fewer and older farmers”可知答案是C（降低农民平均年龄）。