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1、（精选）高中英语阅读短文之粮食 如今， “ 食不果腹，衣不蔽体” 的窘迫在我们看来也许都成了特殊时期的往事，因为遥远， 所以无法想象，更无从感同身受。尤其在我们多数人都享受着充裕物质生活的今天，贫至 无以充饥的苦难，听起来似乎很不真实。然而，联合国发布的2019 年全球粮食危机报 告显示，2018 年，全球仍有53 个国家的大约1.13 亿人遭遇重度饥饿，过去三年来， 全球面临粮食危机的总人数始终维持在1 亿以上，且波及的国家范围还在扩大。“ 一粥一 饭，当思来之不易；半丝半缕，恒念物力维艰” ，这句古训在新时代不该被遗忘。 阅读短文并回答问题 A seed expert who brough
2、t high-qualityvegetable seeds to many countries, was awarded the 2019 WorldFood Prize.Simon Grootof the Netherlandsis creditedwithintroducing high-quality,disease-resistantvegetableseeds tomorethan60countriesincludingthe Philippines,Thailand and Indonesia. Developingseeds has been the Groot familybu
3、siness for a long time. He is the sixth generation of, what is called, a seedsman. He began his search to create better vegetable seeds to help farmers in Southeast Asia in 1981. He was 47 then and his familyscompany had just been taken over by a larger corporation. Sixteen years earlier,he had made
4、 his first trip to Indonesia.There, Groot learned that vegetable seeds which were developed for the moderate climateof Europe, did poorlywhen planted in the hot tropics. He thought there was a great possibilityto introduce hybrid （杂交植 物的）vegetables to the area. The area lacked vegetable seed develop
5、ers who were tryingto create hybrids for the local climate. “ It was neither charity nor business. It was a passion for good seeds,”said Groot. Now 85, he said developingseeds has always concerned him, “I noticed the seed quality in that part of world was so much below our standards and below achiev
6、able standards.”He added that he “ could not stand”that the farmers there did not have better seeds. At the time, farmers in Southeast Asia usuallysaved seeds from season to season. That was because the seeds available for sale were often old. Those seeds were usually from Europe or North Americaand
7、 did not grow well in their tropicalclimate.This meant that the farmers ended up with smaller crops, and lowerqualitythat changed greatlyfrom season to season. The plants also could easily become infected with diseases. Groot partnered with seed trader Benito Domingoof the Philippines.They put toget
8、her a team of seed researchers and growers from Wageningen Universityin the Netherlands and the Universityof the Philippines.Withina few years, they developed a hybridbitter gourd that sold successfully.Then they adapted a tomato plant, followedby eggplants,pumpkinsand leafy vegetables. The early su
9、ccesses led to the start of the East-West Seed Company, which now has more than 970 improvedseeds of 60 vegetable crops. Over the past 40 years, the discoverieshave led to the creation of a tropicalvegetable seed industryaimed at small farmers. The tropical seeds are now spreading into Asia, Africaa
10、nd Latin America. It is estimated that the companysseeds are used by 20 millionfarmers each year in more than 60 countries, said Kenneth Quinn, the former U.S. ambassador to Vietnam.He has been the president of the Des Moines, Iowa-based World Food Prize Foundationsince 2000. Of Groot, Quinn said, “
11、 he sa truly remarkableindividualwith worthyaccomplishments that should be recognized.” The award was announced during a ceremony at the U.S. Departmentof State hosted by Secretaryof State MikePompeo.“ The remarkableimprovementsmade in these tropical vegetableseeds helpedsmallfarmersindevelopingnati
12、onsproducemorefoodand importantlyget more income for themselves and their families,”Pompeo said. He added that the seeds fight hunger and help increase economic growth. 1. What can we know about Grootfromthe text? A. He got the World Food Prize for improvingvegetable seeds. B. He began his research
13、on vegetable seeds at a young age. C. He brought better vegetable seeds to Southeast Asia in 1981. D. He wanted to be the first vegetable seed developer in Europe. 2. What caused lower incomes fromcrops in SoutheastAsia in the past? A. The poor soil. B. The long season. C. Diseases infected by insec
14、ts. D. Seeds growingbad. 3. What can we learn about the East-WestSeed Company? A. It was established in 2000. B. The successful development of hydrid vegetables promoted its foundation. C. Its tropical seeds are now spreading into Asia, Africaand America. D. Millionsof farmers have used its seeds ar
15、ound the world. 4. Why does the authormentionthe Pompeo sstatementat last? A. To add some background information. B. To show Grootsoutstanding contribution. C. To present Grootsspecial place. D. To summarize the previous paragraphs. 5. Where is this text most likelyfrom? A. A geography book. B. A fa
16、rmersbiography. C. A science magazine. D. A travel brochure. 参考答案 15 ADBBC 生词及长难句 1. creditv. 归功于 The company is credited with inventingthe industrialrobot. 发明工业机器人是那家公司的 功劳。 2. disease-resistant抗病的 3. moderateadj. 温和的；适度的 4. tropicsn. 热带，热带地区 5. hybridadj. 杂交植物的；杂交动物的 6. tropicalclimate热带气候 7. bittergourd苦瓜 8. ambassadorn. 大使；使节 9. remarkableadj. 非凡的；显著的 10. “ Theremarkableimprovementsmade in these tropicalvegetableseeds helped small farmersin developingnationsproducemore food and importantl
