Studies show farmland in Africa is often lacking in important nutrients. But researchers say combining different farming methods may help.
Since the world food crisis several years ago, researchers have directed more of their attention to small farms. Most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are only about one or two hectares. One of the goals is to increase production without necessarily clearing more land to grow additional crops.
American researchers say that can happen with greater use of an agricultural system called perennation. It mixes food crops with trees and perennial plants – those that return year after year.
Mr. Reganold, who is with Washington State University, says poor soil may have resulted from years of weathering that washed away many nutrients. He says some farmers may have done more harm than good.
He estimates that up to two billion dollars worth of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium is lost from African soil each year.
The scientist says the word perennation defines three systems that are already used in Africa. The oldest of the three is called evergreen agriculture. This is where farmers plant trees with their crops. John Reganold says farmers in Africa have been doing this for sixty years, but it seems to be growing in popularity.
The method is gaining widespread use in countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Zambia. The trees are planted among maize, millet or sorghum crops. They not only add nitrogen to the soil through their roots, but also through their leaves when they fall off and break down. At other times of the year, the trees can protect plants from strong sunlight.
Mr. Reganold was one of three researchers who wrote a report about perennation. It was published in the journal Nature.Farmland in Africa ________.
| A．is often small in size |
| B．can produce more than enough crops for Africans |
| C．is short of important nutrients |
| D．has got the attention of scientists around the world |
Researchers focused their attention on small farmlands for the reason that ________.
| A．Africa was going through a food crisis |
| B．most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are small |
| C．there are not enough farmlands |
| D．farmers may grow additional crops on farmland |
The word“perennation”mentioned in this passage ________.
| A．is a farming method of planting food crops with trees |
| B．is a new farming method |
| C．can help African people produce more food than they need |
| D．is gaining widespread use around the world |
We can infer from the passage that ________.
| A．perennation will be widely used by farmers in Africa |
| B．American government will help African countries increase food production |
| C．African countries is short of farmland |
| D．some farmers are destroying their farmland in Africa on purpose |
This report is mostly likely to be a journal of ________.
| A．food | B．environment | C．agriculture | D．gardening |
A new study warns that about thirty percent of the world's people may not have enough water by the year 2025.
A private American organization called Population Action International did the new study. It says more than three-hundred-thirty-five-million people lack enough water now. The people live in twentyeight countries. Most of the countries are in Africa or the Middle East.
PAI researcher Robert Engelman says by the year 2025, about three thousand million people may lack water. At least 18 more countries are expected to have severe water problems. The demand for water keeps increasing. Yet the amount of water on earth stays the same.
Mr Engelman says the population in the countries that lack water is growing faster than in other parts of the world. He says population growth in these countries will continue to increase.
The report says lack of water in the future may result in several problems. It may increase health problems. Lack of water often means drinking water is not safe. Mr Engelman says there are problems all over the world because some diseases, such as cholera, are carried in water. Lack of water may also result in more international conflicts. Countries may have to compete for water in the future. Some countries now get sixty percent of their fresh water from other countries. This is true of Egypt, the Netherlands, Cambodia, Syria, Sudan, and Iraq. And the report says lack of water would affect the ability to improve their economies. This is because new industries often need a large amount of water when they are beginning.
The Population Action International study gives several solutions to the water problem. One way, it says, is to find ways to use water for more than one purpose. Another way is to teach people to be careful not to waste water. A third way is to use less water of agriculture.
The report also says long-term solutions to the water problem must include controls on population growth. It says countries cannot provide clean water unless they slow population growth by limiting the number of children people have.From the first four paragraphs, we can learn __________.
| A．the fact of the global lack of water |
| B．the importance of water recourse |
| C．the way to solve water shortage |
| D．the study of the global lack of water |
Which of the following problems is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．It may bring about health problems. |
| B．It may bring about international conflict. |
| C．It may bring about the development of the economies. |
| D．It may bring about difficulties to new industries. |
Which of the following is the way to solve the water problem in the long run?
| A．To use water in a variety of ways. |
| B．To become aware of the water problem. |
| C．To reduce the use of agricultural water. |
| D．To limit the rising birthrate of the earth. |
Which of the following shows the structure of the passage?
| A．①②③→④⑤→⑥⑦ |
| B．①②③④→⑤→⑥⑦ |
| C．①②③④→⑤⑥→⑦ |
| D．①②③→④→⑤→⑥⑦ |
With the popularity of Harry Potter novels, the number of children applying to boarding schools has risen, many of them hoping to find their own version of Hogwarts. However, others have interpreted this trend as a reaction to longer working hours and the break up of more marriages. The boarding schools of. fiction are presented as one long midnight feast with pillow fights making firm friendships. However, some people say the reality is children having more homesickness and a lack of individual attention. Modern boarding schools have done much to get rid of the image of the mass dormitories with 40 or more beds in one room, some going as far as providing private rooms with bathrooms. Similarly, they make great announcements for their academic advantage, particularly in light of the increase in exams, homework and university entrance requirements facing children wishing to succeed in the modern world.
Alongside these more conventional schools, two types of boarding schools have also become more popular recently. Sports academies and stage schools seek to cater for children with particular interests and talents, while so-called troubled-teens have been able to turn to a range of religious or wilderness schools to solve their problematic behavior.
Boarding schools allow children a safe space in which to accomplish greater control and independence over their daily lives. Teachers and staff can look after and support but they are unlikely to be over-protective. This can be a great preparation for university or for working away from home in later life as it provides an intermediate step between childhood and full independence.
However, parents are a child's most natural support and best role models to learn from. If they are separated from them for long periods of time, this may damage their relationship and leave the child feeling anxious or alone. Schools are unlikely to be able to copy the detailed knowledge of each individual child that a parent has and therefore cannot be as effective in supporting the child.
To sum up, boarding schools have both their advantages and disadvantages, so it is up to you to decide whether to send your children to boarding schools or not.What do we know from the passage?
| A．More and more children go and visit Hogwarts on their own. |
| B．Pillow fights in boarding schools make firm friendships in reality. |
| C．More children want to go to boarding schools because of Harry Potter novels. |
| D．There aren't special schools for the particularly talented children. |
What kind of schools may be the most suitable for the so-called troubled-teens?
| A．sports academies |
| B．Wilderness schools |
| C．Conventional schools |
| D．Stage schools |
We learn from Paragraph 4 that __________.
| A．teachers of boarding schools are the best examples for children to learn from |
| B．children can be more independent if they are separated from their parents |
| C．parents know their children better than teachers of boarding schools |
| D．schools are much more effective than parents in supporting children |
What is the author's opinion of boarding schools?
| A．Neutral. |
| B．Negative. |
| C．Positive. |
| D．Critical. |
Does your pet have a slim figure? According to the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), about half of all dogs and nearly 60% of all indoor cats are overweight. Larry Kornegay, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, says he sees an overweight pet nearly every day, and usually the owner is overweight. So talking about the topic can be touchy. "I talk about their pet's health. Still, some clients take it personally."
Here are some tips for pet weight loss:
See the vet (兽医). Have your vet put together a plan and treat any existing medical problems. Pain relief and diet changes may be required for arthritic (患关节炎的) pets, which will allow for exercise to at least begin.
Skip the crash diet (an attempt to lose weight quickly by strictly limiting the diet). A special weight-loss diet may be suggested. For example, look for the supplement which burns fat and builds muscle mass in foods. Never place any pet on a crash diet, especially cats, which can suffer a potentially fatal liver disease as a result. There's a safe weight-loss drug for dogs you can ask your vet about.
Dine alone. "Cut out treats and resist temptation by keeping pets out of the room you're dining in, " says Chicago vet Sheldon Rubin. You can buy low-calorie treats for dogs and cats. Rubin also recommends mini carrots, small apple slices or blueberries for dogs. What's important is finding other ways, aside from food, to show your love. Play with your cat using an interactive toy, and take your dog for walks. Walks are great for bonding, and good for you. Studies show people are actually more willing to lose weight themselves if it also will help their pet.
Feed pets at special times. Pre-measure food carefully—don't give them a larger meal than ever—and leave it in various places, so pets sniff it out and use the stairs. It's fun, and it's good exercise.The underlined word "touchy"in Paragraph 1 probably means __________.
| A．sensitive |
| B．exciting |
| C．moving |
| D．pleasant |
What can be inferred from the passage?
| A．Overweight people usually like overweight pets. |
| B．Pets' weight is easier to lose than humans'. |
| C．Cats have a greater chance of serious liver disease. |
| D．Overweight people often ignore their pets' weight. |
Which of the following methods is healthy for your pets?
| A．Providing them with mini carrots or blueberries. |
| B．Keeping them with you when you're dining. |
| C．Supplying them with larger meals or drinks. |
| D．Leaving the food in a fixed place for your pets. |
What does the passage mainly tell us?
| A．How to feed pets without a crash diet. |
| B．The importance of pet weight loss. |
| C．How to help pets lose weight. |
| D．The problems that pets will meet. |
Speaking in his first National Day Rally speech on 15 August 9 Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore's education system was set for more reforms in the years ahead, particularly for the primary and secondary education. Read the summary of his thoughts on education below.
For a start, the Government is prepared to send an additional 3, 000 teachers to Singapore schools, cut the courses of study even further and change the way the mother tongue, especially Chinese, is taught. But, for the changes to be successful, parents need to help.
Singapore has a devoted group of teachers and principals and quite a few of them are. outstanding, but the Republic's schools can be even better. To help the schools make a jump in quality, the Government plans that within the next 6 years, it will send 1, 000 more teachers to primary schools, 1, 400 to secondary schools and 550 more to junior colleges. Each school would decide how to use its extra teachers. Some may want to make classes smaller so students get more individual attentions while others may have new teachers assist more senior teachers, but the overall goal is to give teachers the time and space to come up with ways to bring out the best in their students.
More teachers must not mean more homework, however. In fact, the Prime Minister wants to see the courses cut down so that there is less pressure on the students. Good grades are important but they should not be the only goal students have. PM Lee is convinced that "we must teach less so that our children can learn more."
Another change will be in the teaching of the mother tongue so that students can become more fluent. The key is to teach Chinese as a living language not just an academic subject like Latin. Therefore, the focus should be on speaking and reading the language. To do this, there must be an environment outside the classroom that is contributing to strengthening the Chinese lessons. The text is mainly about __________ in Singapore.
| A．the education reform |
| B．adding more teachers |
| C．the mother tongue |
| D．ways of teaching |
The general goal of using extra teachers is to __________.
| A．make classes smaller |
| B．assist more senior teachers |
| C．teach more |
| D．help teachers improve teaching quality |
PM Lee holds that the students should __________.
| A．do more homework |
| B．give up higher grades |
| C．study more courses |
| D．be given more time to learn more |
The key to teach Chinese well is to __________.
| A．make it academic |
| B．have a creative environment |
| C．give more Chinese lessons |
| D．encourage speaking and reading a lot |
The measures to be carried out will have pressure taken off __________.
| A．teachers |
| B．students |
| C．parents |
| D．the Government |
With only about 1, 000 pandas left in the world, China is desperately trying to clone (克隆) the animal and save the endangered species (物种). That's a move similar to what a Texas A & M University researcher has been undertaking for the past five years in a project called "Noahs Ark".
Noah's Ark is aimed at collecting eggs, embryos (胚胎), semen and DNA of endangered animals and storing them in liquid nitrogen. If certain species should become extinct, Dr Duane Kraemer, a professor in Texas A&M's College of Veterinary Medicine, said there would be enough of the basic building blocks to reintroduce the species in the future.
It is estimated that as many as 2, 000 species of mammals, birds, reptiles will become extinct in over 100 years. The panda, native only to China, is in danger of becoming extinct in the next 25 years.
This week, Chinese scientists said they grew an __________
embryo by introducing cells from a dead female panda into the egg cells of a Japanese white rabbit. They are now trying to implant the embryo into a host animal.
The entire procedure could take from three to five years to complete.
"The nuclear transfer (核子移植) of one species to another is not easy, and the lack of available panda eggs could be a major problem," Kraemer believed. "They will probably have to do several hundred transfers to result in one pregnancy. It takes a long time and it's difficult, but this could be groundbreaking science if it works. They are certainly not putting any live pandas at risk, so it is worth the effort, " added Kraemer, who is one of the leaders of the Project at Texas A&M, the first ever attempt at cloning a dog.
"They are trying to do something that's never been done, and this is very similar to our work in Noah's Ark. We're both trying to save animals that face extinction. I certainly appreciate their effort and there's a lot we can learn from what they are attempting to do. It's a research that is very much needed."The aim of "Noah's Ark"project is to __________.
| A．make efforts to clone the endangered pandas |
| B．save endangered animals from dying out |
| C．collect DNA of endangered animals to study |
| D．transfer the nuclear of one animal to another |
According to Professor Kraemer, the major problem in cloning pandas would be the lack of __________.
| A．available panda eggs |
| B．host animals |
| C．qualified researchers |
| D．enough money |
The best title for the passage may be __________.
| A．China's Success in Pandas Cloning |
| B．The First Cloned Panda in the World |
| C．Exploring the Possibility to Clone Pandas |
| D．China—the Native Place of Pandas Forever |
From the passage we know that __________.
| A．Kraemer and his team have succeeded in cloning a dog |
| B．scientists try to implant a panda's…egg into a rabbit |
| C．Kraemer will work with Chinese scientists in clone researches |
| D．about two thousand species will probably die out in a century |