As the world’s population grows, farmers will...

As the world’s population grows, farmers will need to produce more and more food. And large farms are increasingly using precision farming to increase yields (产量), reduce waste, and reduce the economic and security risks that inevitably accompany agricultural uncertainty.

Traditional farming relies on managing entire fields—making decisions related to planting, harvesting, irrigating, and applying pesticides and fertilizer (农药和化肥)—based on regional conditions and historical data. Precision farming, by contrast, combines sensors, robots, GPS, mapping tools and data-analytics software to customize（量身定制）the care that plants receive without increasing labor. Robot-mounted sensors and camera-equipped drones (无人机) wirelessly send images and data on individual plants to a computer, which looks for signs of health and stress. Farmers receive the feedback in real time and then deliver water, pesticide or fertilizer in adjusted doses（剂量）to only the areas that need it. The technology can also help farmers decide when to plant and harvest crops.

As a result, precision farming can improve time management, reduce water and chemical use, and produce healthier crops and higher yields—all of which benefit farmers’ bottom lines and conserve resources while reducing chemical runoff.

Many small businesses are developing new software, sensors, and other tools for precision farming, as are large companies such as Monsanto, John Deere, Bayer, Dow and DuPont. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration all support precision farming, and many colleges now offer course work on the topic.

In a related development, seed producers are applying technology to improve plant characteristics. By following individual plants over time and analyzing which ones flourish in different conditions, companies can relate the plants’ response to their environments with their genomics (基因组学). That information, in turn, allows the companies to produce seed varieties that will grow well in specific soil and weather conditions. This advanced technology may also help to improve crop nutrition.

Farmers do not universally welcome precision agriculture for various reasons, such as high equipment costs and lack of access to the Internet. The technology may bring great challenges to experienced farmers who are not good at computers. And large systems will also be beyond the reach of many small farming operations in developing nations. But less expensive, simpler systems could potentially be applied. For others, though, cost savings in the long run may reduce the financial concerns. And however reticent some farmers may be to adopt new technology, the next generation of farmers are likely to warm to the approach.

1.Precision farming differs from traditional farming partly because it ________.

A. guarantees high yields with more labor

B. relies on regional conditions and historical data

C. offers plenty of water, pesticides and fertilizer

D. provides real time information about target crops

2.About precision farming, we can learn that________.

A. the government holds a cautious attitude

B. it draws positive responses from businesses

C. seed producers have already made huge profits

D. large systems will soon be built in developing nations

3.The underlined word “reticent” in the last paragraph probably means ________.

A. disappointed　　 B. confused

C. unwilling　　 D. shocked

4.What is the best title for the passage?

A. Precision Farming Increases Crop Yields

B. More Challenges Faced by Modern Farmers

C. Development of Farming Systems in the U.S.

D. Traditional Farming is Gradually Disappearing

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

As the world’s population continues to increase, so does the amount of global waste people produce. According to data collected by the World Bank Group, nations will generate 4 billion tons of waste annually by the year 2100. The pollution from trash is not only ruining the world’s oceans, air and soil but endangering all living creatures.

For years government agencies have been telling citizens to live a zero-waste lifestyle. Traditionally, manufacturers would make a product to be used and thrown by consumers. This linear model of production offered no help in the fight against global waste. Alternatively, a circular economy has been introduced. This is a system which aims to minimize waste and restore used materials. Once a product’s value is exhausted, the materials are recycled and returned to manufactures. The outcome is less waste.

In 2016, The Wall Street Journal reported on the Taiwan island’s recycling success rate in an article titled The World’s Geniuses of Garbage Disposal. In 1997, Taiwan established its signature 4-in-l Recycling Program, consisting of communities, recycling enterprises, government cleaning teams and the Recycling Fund. Residents separate their recyclable waste and bring it to their community’s recycling locations. The local government collection teams and private collectors collect it. Recycling companies buy waste materials from them to generate profits. Importers and manufacturers who are responsible for the recyclable products pay a fee into the Recycling Fund. The Recycling Fund is an essential aspect of the program used to subsidize (资助) the recycling disposal system, support education and research and development as well as finance recycling efforts in the future.

By following a circular system, more products than ever are being manufactured using recycled materials. For example, used tires can be recovered to pave roads, while plastic is reused to make new plastic products. And it also helps to conserve natural resources, reduce pollution, save landfill space and even create new job opportunities.

1.Why has a circular economy been introduced?

A.The population is on the rise.

B.It can help handle global waste.

C.The living creatures on earth are getting less diverse.

D.Traditional products are not environmentally friendly.

2.What can we learn about 4-in-l Recycle Program?

A.The recyclable materials can be collected officially or privately.

B.The importers and manufactures cover the costs of the program.

C.Recycling companies buy waste materials from the residents.

D.The government invests money as the recycling fund.

3.What’s the effect of the circular system?

A.It will cause no waste or pollution. B.It reduces the costs of the products.

C.It helps lower the unemployment rate. D.All the materials can be recycled again.

4.Which of the following does the text suggest?

A.Do nothing by halves. B.All that glisters isn’t gold.

C.Actions speak louder than words. D.One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The need to feed a growing population is putting much pressure on the world's supply of water. With 97% of the world's water too salty to be drunk or used in agriculture, the worldwide supply of water needs careful management, especially in agriculture. Although the idea of a water shortage(短缺)seems strange to someone fortunate enough to live in a high rainfall country, many of the world's agricultural industries experience constant water shortages.

Although dams can be built to store water for agricultural use in dry areas and dry seasons, the costs of water redistribution(重新分配)are very high. Not only is there the cost of the engineering itself, but there is also an environmental cost to be considered. Where valleys(山谷)are flooded to create dams, houses are lost and wildlife homes destroyed. Besides, water may flow easily through pipes to fields, but it cannot be transported from one side of the world to the other. Each country must therefore rely on the management of its own water to supply its farming requirements.

This is particularly troubling for countries with agricultural industries in areas dependent on irrigation (灌溉). In Texas, farmers' overuse of irrigation water has resulted in a 25% reduction of the water stores. In the Central Valley area of southwestern USA, a huge water engineering project provided water for farming in dry valleys, but much of the water use has been poorly managed.

Saudi Arabia's attempts to grow wheat in desert areas have seen the pumping of huge quantities of irrigation water from underground reserves. Because there is no rainfall in these areas, such reserves can only decrease, and it is believed that fifty years of pumping will see them run dry.

1.What is most likely to be discussed in the paragraph that follows?

2.From the first two paragraphs we learn that________.

3.The text is mainly about________.

高三英语阅读理解极难题查看答案及解析

The need to feed a growing population is putting much pressure on the world’s supply of water. With 97% of the world’s water too salty to be drunk or used in agriculture, the worldwide supply of water needs careful management, especially in agriculture. Although the idea of a water shortage（短缺）seems strange to someone fortunate enough to live in a high rainfull country, many of the world’s agricultural industries experience constant water shortages.

Although dams can be built to store water for agricultural use in dry areas and dry seaons, the costs of water redistribution(重新分配)are very high. Notonly is there the cost of the engineering itself, but there is also an environmental cost to be considered. Where valleys(山谷)are flooded to create dams, houses are lost and wildlife homes destroyed. Besides, water many flow easily through pipes to fields,but it cannot be transported from one side of the world to the other. Each country must therefore rely on the management of its own water to supply its farming requirements.

This is particularly troubling ro countries with agricultural industries in areas dependent on irrigation（灌溉）. In Texas, farmers’ overuse of irrigation water be resulted in a 25% redcution of the water stores. In the Central Valley area of south eastern USA, a huge water engineering project provided water for farming in dry vallege, but much of the water use has been poorly managed.

Saudi Arabia’s attempts to grow wheat in desert areas have been the pumping of huge quantities of irrigation water from underground reserves. Because there is no rainfall in these areas, such reserves can only decrease, and it is believed that fifty years of pumping will see them run dry.

1. From the first two paragraphs we learnt that _______.

A.much of the world’s water is available for use

B.people in high rainfll countries feel lucky

C.the costs of water redistribution should be considered

D.water can be easily carried through pipes across the world

2.Which of the following is true?

A.The water  in Texas have been reduced by 75%.

B.Most industries in the world suffer from water shortagers.

C.The underground water in Saudi Arabia might run out in 50 years.

D.Good management of water use resulted from the project in the Central Valley.

3.What is most likely to be discussed in the paragreh that follows?

A.Steps to improving water use managet.

B.Ways tor redjuce the costs of builing dams.

C.Measured to dmal with worldwide water shortages.

D.Appmihes to handling the pressure on water supply.

4.The text is mainly about____________.

A.water supply and increasing population

B.water use management and agriculture

C.water redistribution and wildlife protection

D.water shornages and environmental protection.

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

The need to feed a growing population is putting much pressure on the world's supply of water. With 97% of the world's water too salty to be drunk or used in agriculture, the worldwide supply of water needs careful management, especially in agriculture. Although the idea of a water shortage(短缺)seems strange to someone fortunate enough to live in a high rainfall country, many of the world's agricultural industries experience constant water shortages.

Although dams can be built to store water for agricultural use in dry areas and dry seasons, the costs of water redistribution(重新分配)are very high. Not only is there the cost of the engineering itself, but there is also an environmental cost to be considered. Where valleys(山谷)are flooded to create dams, houses are lost and wildlife homes destroyed. Besides, water may flow easily through pipes to fields, but it cannot be transported from one side of the world to the other. Each country must therefore rely on the management of its own water to supply its farming requirements. This is particularly troubling for countries with agricultural industries in areas dependent on irrigation. In Texas, farmers' overuse of irrigation water has resulted in a 25% reduction of the water stores.

In the Central Valley area of southwestern USA, a huge water engineering project provided water for farming in dry valleys, but much of the water use has been poorly managed.

Saudi Arabia's attempts to grow wheat in desert areas have seen the pumping of huge quantities of irrigation water from underground reserves. Because there is no rainfall in these areas, such reserves can only decrease, and it is believed that fifty years of pumping will see them run dry.

1.From the first two paragraphs we learn that________.

A. much of the world's water is available for use

B. people in high rainfall countries feel lucky

C. the costs of water redistribution should be considered

D. water can be easily carried through pipes across the world

2.Which of the following is true?

A. The water stores in Texas have been reduced by 75%.

B. Most industries in the world suffer from water shortages.

C. The underground water in Saudi Arabia might run out in 50 years.

D. Good management of water use resulted from the project in the Central Valley.

3.The text is mainly about________.

A. water supply and increasing population

B. water use management and agriculture

C. water redistribution and wildlife protection

D. water shortages and environmental protection

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The need to feed a growing population is putting much pressure on the world's supply of water. With 97% of the world's water too salty to be drunk or used in agriculture, the worldwide supply of water needs careful management, especially in agriculture. Although the idea of a water shortage(短缺)seems strange to someone fortunate enough to live in a high rainfall country, many of the world's agricultural industries experience constant water shortages.

Although dams can be built to store water for agricultural use in dry areas and dry seasons, the costs of water redistribution(重新分配)are very high. Not only is there the cost of the engineering itself, but there is also an environmental cost to be considered. Where valleys(山谷)are flooded to create dams, houses are lost and wildlife homes destroyed. Besides, water may flow easily through pipes to fields, but it cannot be transported from one side of the world to the other. Each country must therefore rely on the management of its own water to supply its farming requirements.

This is particularly troubling for countries with agricultural industries in areas dependent on irrigation (灌溉). In Texas, farmers' overuse of irrigation water has resulted in a 25% reduction of the water stores. In the Central Valley area of southwestern USA, a huge water engineering project provided water for farming in dry valleys, but much of the water use has been poorly managed.

Saudi Arabia's attempts to grow wheat in desert areas have seen the pumping of huge quantities of irrigation water from underground reserves.　 Because there is no rainfall in these areas, such reserves can only decrease, and it is believed that fifty years of pumping will see them run dry.

1.From the first two paragraphs we learn that________.

A. much of the world's water is available for use

B. people in high rainfall countries feel lucky

C. water can be easily carried through pipes across the world

D. the costs of water redistribution should be considered

2.Which of the following is TRUE?

A. The water stores in Texas have been reduced by 75%.

B. Most industries in the world suffer from water shortages.

C. The underground water in Saudi Arabia might run out in 50 years.

D. Good management of water use resulted from the project in the Central Valley.

3.What is most likely to be discussed in the paragraph that follows?

A. Steps to improving water use management.

B. Ways to reduce the costs of building dams.

C. Measures to deal with worldwide water shortages.

D. Approaches to handling the pressure on water supply.

4.The text is mainly about________.

A. water supply and increasing population

B. water use management and agriculture

C. water redistribution and wildlife protection

D. water shortages and environmental protection

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The need to feed a growing population is putting much pressure on the world’s supply of water. With 97% of the world’s water too salty to be drunk or used in agriculture, the worldwide supply of water needs careful management, especially in agriculture. Although the idea of a water shortage seems strange to someone fortunate enough to live in a high rainfall country, many of the world’s agricultural industries experience constant water shortages.

Although dams can be built to store water for agricultural use in dry areas and dry seasons, the costs of water redistribution (重新分配) are very high. Not only is there the cost of the engineering itself, but there is also an environmental cost to be considered. Where valleys are flooded to create dams, houses are lost and wildlife homes destroyed. Besides, water may flow easily through pipes to fields, but it cannot be transported from one side of the world to the other. Each country must therefore rely on the management of its own water to supply its farming requirements.

This is particularly troubling for countries with agricultural industries in areas dependent on irrigation. In Texas, farmers’ overuse of irrigation water has resulted in a 25% reduction of the water stores. In the Central Valley area of southwestern USA, a huge water engineering project provided water for farming in dry valleys, but much of the water use has been poorly managed.

Saudi Arabia’s attempts to grow wheat in desert areas have seen the pumping of huge quantities of irrigation water from underground reserves. Because there is no rainfall in these areas, such reserves can only decrease, and it is believed that fifty years of pumping will see them run dry.

1..

. From the first two paragraphs we learn that __________.

A. much of the world’s water is available for use

B. people in high rainfall countries feel lucky

C. water can be easily carried through pipes across the world

D. the costs of water redistribution should be considered

2..

. Which of the following is true?

A. The underground water in Saudi Arabia might run out in 50 years.

B. Most industries in the world suffer from water shortages.

C. The water stores in Texas have been reduced by 75%.

D. Good management of water use resulted from the project in the Central Valley.

3..

The text is mainly about __________.

A. water supply and increasing population

B. water redistribution and wildlife protection

C. water use management and agriculture

D. water shortages and environmental protection

4..

. What is most likely to be discussed in the paragraph that follows?

A. Approaches to handling the pressure on water supply.

B. Ways to reduce the costs of building dams.

C. Measures to deal with worldwide water shortages.

D. Steps to improving water use management.

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

Experts say farmers will need to produce about 70 percent more food by the middle of the century. They predict that 9 billion people will need to be fed worldwide by 2050. The prediction means experts will need to develop more effective farming methods that cause less harm to the environment to produce more food. Experts say living things called bacteria could help achieve that goal. A bacterium is an organism.It is so small that it can be seen only with a microscope.

Researchers are finding extremely small organisms in the ground. One gram of soil contains between 100 million and one billion bacteria. Bacteria are taking part in a healthy ex- change with the plants that share the soil. Around plant roots, bacteria change chemicals in the air and soil into food for the plants. The bacteria include the material known as fungi(真菌). Some bacteria act as bodyguards. They produce anti-bodies and other chemicals to fight harmful bacteria.

Plants make sugar through a process called photosynthesis (光合作用).This happens when a plant receiving light changes water and carbon dioxide into food. Much of the sugar is pumped down through the roots. There, it is turned into sugar-based food and released into the soil. That is done to get bacteria to help the plants grow better. Some of the organisms turn chemicals in the air and soil into food that the plants can eat.

The biosciences company Novozymes already sells one kind of fungi. It has found a way to produce it in very large quantities and offer it to farmers as.a bio-pesticide (生物农药).A bio-pesticide protects crops from animals and bacteria. If so, farmers can harvest more crops.

1.What do the experts’ statistics in paragraph 1 show?

A.Bacteria have a good effect on farming.

B.There will be more harmful bacteria in 2050.

C.There's no need to worry about the problem of future food.

D.More food will be needed to feed more people in the future.

2.What's the connection between plants and bacteria according to paragraph 3?

A.Bacteria can't live without plants. B.Plants get benefit from bacteria .

C.They make sugar cooperatively. D.They compete for more sunshine.

3.What does Novozymes do?

A.It sells crops and animals.

B.It beautifies the environment.

C.It provides farmers with materials free of charge.

D.It produces fungi as a bio-pesticide.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.Crops of High Quality Need Developing

B.Bacteria May Help Meet Food Needs of the Future

C.A Large Quantity of Farmland Should Be Improved

D.Diseases and Pests Can Be Controlled in the Future

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

As the world’s population grows, a lot of wild animals 1. (force) to leave their natural home. Many wild animals are in danger. People kill them for food or fur, or because they compete with humans for food supplies.　 2. (lucky), animal rescue organizations are working hard 3. (preserve) endangered animals and give them help. More and more people are realizing the importance of protecting wild animals.

高三英语语法填空简单题查看答案及解析

As the world’s population continues to grow, the ___of food becomes more and more of a concern.

A．worth            B．supply            C．package           D．list

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析