Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan sees an epidemic(流行病) sweeping across Americas 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 fanners 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(联邦的) 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：美国的农业遭遇到了危机。最大的问题是从业人员不多，而且年龄越来越大。农业专家预测将来从事与农业有关的职业会收益颇丰的。所以年轻人应该把农业作为一项事业来做。
【小题1】细节理解题。由“ The country’s farmers are getting older, and there are fewer people standing in line to take their place. ”可知农业面临的最大问题是更少并逐渐年迈的农民。故选A。
【小题2】细节理解题。由第二段第一句，“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，Merrigan想说服更多的学生考虑从事农业方面的工作。故选D。
【小题3】推理判断题。麦特?拉什说：农业生产成本使生产有足够的利益，年轻人有机会从事农业工作。与C项的意思（投资农业会有钱可赚的。）一致。故选C。
【小题4】词意猜测题。根据本句和下面的意思：21岁的贝斯特希望“现在是农业的新时代”这一信息能够激励下一代改变以上的数据。“以前从未有过的技术创新使这个国家的农业达到空前的高效，这里给每个人都提供了发展空间。”贝斯特说道。判断，与C的意思：（年轻人从事农业方面的工作会使农场主老龄化的情况得以扭转。）一致。故选C。