12．The cost of rice is expected to go up in the coming months，as an improving global economy raises demand，and drought （旱灾） cuts production in countries such as India．Some economists say prices for rice，the Precision Castingstaple food for much of the world's population，could be returning to levels that sparked inflation（通货膨胀） fears in much of Asia last year．
Charuk Singhapreecha is dean of the faculty （系）of economics at Thailand's Kasetsart University．He says prices-especially for Thai rice-are being pushed higher by new customers coming into the market after the economic slowdown of the past year．"They expect that the world demand will increase andCast steel we expect that the price of rice will increase next year，"Charuk said．"There are many new markets for the Thai rice and also we still have for our old customer-China，some Arab countries-they will increase the demand．"
Prices on the global market could again near the record above﹩1，000 a ton set in the middle of 2008．This month，export prices for Southeast Asian rice have jumped from about﹩550 a ton or less to more than﹩650．
Vichai Sriprasert，president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association，says further weakness in the US dollar and concerns over drought add to pressure on prices．Market experts say next year India is likely to try to import three million tons of rice-entering the world market for the first time in 21years-because of a drought．
Vichai also warns that increasing demand for bio-fuels（生物燃料） from grain could reduce food crops，forcing the price of food grains higher．"This is very serious．That's why the price of rice will not go back to the level that we used to see，"Vichai said．"It will have to be elevated at a higher level，but I don't know where．"
The Philippines this week said it is cutting rice imports because of high prices，even though the country lost more than a million tons of grain to typhoons this year．Officials from Vietnam，a leading export competitor with Thailand，predict prices will reach about﹩800 a ton by the middle of 2010．This week the Philippines'National Food Authority offered almost﹩665 a ton for 600，000 tons of Vietnamese rice．
Economists say higher food prices will only increase the problems faced by the region's poor，who are highly dependent on rice as a staple food．
68．Which of the following is NOT true according to paragraph 1？B
A．Drought reduces production of rice in India．
B．Prices for rice were lower all the time in 2008．
C．Rice is a major food for the world's population．
D．The improving global economy increases the need for rice．
69．How many reasons did Vichai mention about rice price's going up？C
A．1． B．2． C．3． D．4．
70．Why does the Philippines plan to cut rice imports？A
A．Because of high prices．
B．Because of typhoons．
C．Because of civil war．
D．Because of drought．
71．What's the best title of the passage？D
A．Higher food prices will increase problems
B．There are many new markets for the Thai rice
C．The global economy is improving
D．Prices for rice are expected to rise．
分析 本文属于经济类说明文，作者通过这篇文章向我们叙述了由于全球经济的改善，印度等国家干旱灾害的影响和大米作为世界主要粮食导致的全球大米价格上涨，有可能达到去年在亚洲引起通货膨胀导致人们恐惧的水平．
解答 68-71 BCAD
68．B 细节理解题 根据第一句中an improvingglobal economy raises demand，and drought（旱灾） cuts production in countries such as India和第二句中the main food forthe world's population可知，A，C和D是正确的陈述：根据第二句可知：有些经济学家说，大米的价格有可能达到去年在亚洲引起通货膨胀恐惧的水平．也就是说，去年大米的价格曾更高，所以选项B陈述有误，因此答案选B．
69．C 细节理解题 根据第四段第一句"…says furtherweakness in the US dollar and concerns over drought add to pressure on prices"和第五段第一句"Vichai also warnsthat increasing demand for bio-fuels（生物燃料）from grain could reduce food crops"可知Vichai 提到了3个原因，所以选C．
70．A 细节理解题 根据第六段第一句The Philippinesthis week said it is cutting rice imports due to high prices可知，由于大米的价格过高，菲律宾决定减少大米的进口，因此选A．
71．D 主旨大意题 纵观全文可知，本文主要讲述的是全球大米价格的上涨，因此答案选D．
点评 本文是政治经济类阅读理解．做这类题材阅读理解时要求考生对文章通读一遍，做题时结合原文和题目有针对性的找出相关语句进行仔细分析，结合选项选出正确答案．推理判断题也是要在抓住关键句子的基础上合理的分析才能得出正确答案，切忌胡乱猜测，一定要做到有理有据．
