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 completed.
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. |
| 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. |
| A．the government will cover production costs |
| B．global food supplies will be even lower |
| C．investment in agriculture will be profitable |
| D．America will increase its food export |
| 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. |
【小题1】A
【小题2】D
【小题3】C
【小题4】C
解析试题分析：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。
考点：社会现象类阅读。
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Online grocery shopping was counted as the next great innovation to make our lives easier. In China more than 3,000 websites offer the service, but none have turned a profit.
Xiang Nian has had a hard day at the office but at least she can skip the trip to the grocery store. A text message on her phone lets her know the order she placed earlier in the day has been delivered to a locker outside her apartment.
"It’s really convenient for an office worker like me. My fresh products are waiting for me when I get home and can start cooking. No need to go to the supermarket any more," Xiang says.
One of the largest online supermarkets in Wuhan is Just-easy Fresh Produce. Over the past 3 years, the company has developed its online retail grocery business by guaranteeing fresh produce and an innovative delivery system. They've installed thousands of lockers in communitieshttp:// / around downtown Wuhan.
"We get an average of 8,000 orders per day. That's the most in China, I'm proud of it. We have placed over 20 thousand lockers in more than half of the communities in Wuhan and we plan to expand to all of them. Many e-commerce giants, like Taobao, are talking about cooperation with us," Jie Xiaofeng, manager of Wuhan Just-easy Agricultural Science & Technology Co., says.
While Just-easy may have thousands of customers, a staff of almost 300 and 40 delivery trucks, it's still operating in the red.
"There are over 3,000 companies selling fresh products online in China. But none is making a profit. It will take them at least 3 years before they make a profit. The major challenge is the cost of delivery. But they do have many advantages. The price of their goods is lower than the supermarkets," professor He Dehua at Huazhong Agricultural University, says.
A number of China's e-commerce giants are making moves into online grocery sales, with Taobao opening an online platform it calls "Cainiao". And traditional retailers(零售店) including Wal-Mart and Carrefour are also looking to start selling their produce online.
Many big B2C e-commerce players usually take fresh farm produce as the last category to add to their offerings. But now more and more large businesses have set their eyes on the industry. They want to prove the fresh food market is definitely suited to online sales.
【小题1】What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．The online grocery shopping is making our life easier. |
| B．Just-easy Fresh Produce is a pioneer of the online retail grocery business. |
| C．Conventional retailers are facing challenges. |
| D．None of the online grocery supermarkets has made a profit. |
| A．the present situation of the company makes them angry |
| B．the company is not making a profit |
| C．the company is very popular with customers |
| D．the staff of the company are aggressive |
| A．The fresh food market is definitely suited to online sales. |
| B．Fresh farm produce is the last category that people will buy online. |
| C．Online grocery sales have drawn the attention of e-commerce giants. |
| D．Traditional retailers choose to sell their produce on Cainiao. |
| A．Pessimistic. | B．Indifferent. | C．Objective. | D．Supportive. |
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
The traditional distinction between products that satisfy needs and those that satisfy wants is no longer adequate to describe classes of products. In today’s prosperous societies, the distinction has become unclear because so many wants have been turned into needs. A writer, for instance, can work with paper and pencils. These are legal needs for the task. But the work can be done more quickly and efficiently with a word processor. Thus a computer is soon viewed as a need rather than a want.
In the field of marketing, consumer goods are classed according to the way in which they are purchased. The two main classes are convenience goods and shopping goods. Two lesser types are specialty goods and unsought(主动提供的) goods. It must be emphasized that all of these types are based on the way shoppers think about products, not on the nature of the products themselves. What is regarded as a convenience item in France (wine, for example) should be a specialty goods in the United States.
People do not spend a great deal of time shopping for such convenience items as groceries, newspapers, toothpaste, aspirin, and candy. The buying of convenience goods may be done routinely, as some families buy groceries once a week. Such regularly purchased items are called staples. Sometimes convenience products are bought without enough thinking; someone has a sudden desire for an ice cream sundae(圣代) on a hot day. Or they may be purchased as emergency items.
Shopping goods are items for which customers search. They compare prices, quality, and styles, and may visit a number of stores before making a decision. Buying an automobile is often done this way.
Shopping goods fall into two classes; those that are recognized as basically the same and those that are regarded as different. Items that are looked upon as basically the same include such things as home appliances, television sets, and automobiles. Having decided on the model desired, the customer is primarily interested in getting the item at the most favorable price. Items regarded as essentially different include clothing, furniture, and dishes. Quality, style and fashion will either take precedence(优先) over price, or they will not matter at all.
【小题1】It can be learned from the first paragraph that ______.
| A．a writer needs a word processor |
| B．needs and wants can’t be separated clearly |
| C．the way to distinguish the products is unimportant |
| D．a computer is a need rather than a want |
| A．goods are classified differently in different countries |
| B．the types of the product lie on the people rather than its nature |
| C．Frenchmen often drink but Americans sometimes do |
| D．one product may belong to many types |
| A．are convenient to purchase |
| B．are purchased without enough thinking |
| C．people “want but don’t need” |
| D．people are in constant need of |
| A．consumers don’t care where to buy them |
| B．consumers spend much time searching for |
| C．satisfy similar needs of the consumer |
| D．can be found in nearly every shop |
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
If you’re among the millions of Americans packing their vocation bags for summer trips, don’t forget, however, that as soon as you step off the plane, you’re expected to follow that country’s laws. We took a look at one of the top countries Americans are most likely to visit and what might happen if you got caught.
Mexico
Smoking marijuana(大麻): If police find you smoking a cigarette which contains marijuana, they will most likely detain you overnight and you will get a fine.
Carrying a firearm: You might be able to walk around with a gun in Texas, but that isn’t so in Mexico, so leave your gun behind. If you wish to go hunting in Mexico, you can apply for a gun permit but are expected to be charged $5,000. If you are caught bringing a firearm, Mexican policeman may take away your car and arrest you. An arrested American may spend months in prison while his or her case is being looked into.
Driving 70 mph on the highway: Speed limits are on the lower side. Depending on what type of highway you’re driving on, you shouldn’t go faster than 60mph. The police enforce (执行) the speed limit, but most local police don’t have radars(无线电探测器). The maximum fine for speeding is about $40. To scare (吓得某人做……) tourists into paying the fine “on the spot”, sometimes police will threaten to keep your driver’s license (驾照). This is illegal.
【小题1】Which of the following statements are not true?
| A．The laws in Texas are different from the ones in Mexico. |
| B．People will be fined if they smoke marijuana. |
| C．People will be arrested if they are caught bringing a gun. |
| D．The police in Mexico have the right to keep the drivers’ license. |
| A．drive on the lower side of the street |
| B．keep an eye out on the radars |
| C．limit their car speed |
| D．pay the fine on the spot. |
| A．arrest | B．fine | C．punish | D．destroy |
| A．Different countries have different regulations． |
| B．Different countries have the same regulations． |
| C．Americans like to visit other countries． |
| D．Mexico police aren't friendly． |
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
The world is filled with smart, talented, educated and gifted people. We meet them every day. A few days ago, my car was not running well. I pulled it into a garage and the young mechanic had it fixed in just a few minutes. He knew what was wrong by simply listening to the engine. I was amazed. The sad truth is, great talent is not enough.
I am constantly shocked at how little talented people earn. I heard the other day that less than 5 percent of Americans earn more than $100,000 a year. A business consultant who specializes in the medical trade told me how many doctors and dentists struggled financially. It was this business consultant who gave me the phrase, “They are one skill away from great wealth.”
There is an old saying that goes, “Job means ‘just over broke（破产）’.” And unfortunately, I would say that the saying applies to millions of people. Because school does not think financial intelligence is intelligence, and most workers live within their means. They work and they pay the bills. Instead I recommend to young people to seek work for what they will learn, more than what they will earn.
When I ask the classes I teach, “How many of you can cook a better hamburger than McDonald’s?”， almost all the students raise their hands. I then ask, “So if most of you can cook a better hamburger, how come McDonald’s makes more money than you?” The answer is obvious: McDonald’s is excellent at business systems. The reason why so many talented people are poor is that they focus on making a better hamburger but know little or nothing about business systems. The world is filled with talented poor people. They focus on perfecting their skills at building a better hamburger rather than the skills of selling and delivering the hamburger.
【小题1】The author mentions the mechanic in the first paragraph to show that .
| A．he is just one of the talented people |
| B．he is ready to help others |
| C．he has a sharp sense of hearing |
| D．he knows little about car repairing |
| A．spend more than they can afford |
| B．do in their own way |
| C．live in their own circle |
| D．live within what they earn |
| A．They don’t work hard enough. |
| B．They lack financial intelligence. |
| C．They don’t make full use of their talents. |
| D．They have no specialized skills. |
| A．skills at making hamburgers |
| B．good business systems |
| C．talented workers |
| D．excellent service |
| A．how young people can find a satisfactory job |
| B．what schools should teach students |
| C．why so many talented people are poor |
| D．how McDonald’s makes much money |
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
High-quality customer service is preached（宣扬）by many, but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than done.
Shoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store（零售店）, but instead will warn their friends, relatives, co-workers, strangers and anyone who will listen. Store managers are often the last to hear complaints. “Storytelling hurts retailers(零售商) and entertains consumers,” said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde group. “The store loses the customer, but the shopper must also find a replacement.”
The most common complaints include filled parking lots, cluttered（塞满了的）shelves, overloaded racks, out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, and rude sales people.
During peak shopping hours, some retailers solved the parking problems by getting moonlighting(业余兼职的) local police to work as parking attendants to direct customers to empty parking spaces. Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store display, pre-stocking sales items, hiring speedy and experienced cashiers, and having sales representatives on hand to answer questions. Most importantly, sales people should be skillful and polite with angry customers.
“Retailers who’re enthusiastic and friendly are more likely to smooth over issues than those who aren't so friendly.” said Professor Stephen Hoch. “Maybe something as a greeter at the store entrance would help.”
Customers can also improve future shopping experiences by filling complaints to the retailer, instead of complaining to the rest of the world. Retailers are hard-pressed to improve when they have no idea what is wrong.
【小题1】Why are store managers often the last to hear complaints?
| A．Most shoppers won’t complain even if they have had unhappy experiences. |
| B．It is difficult for customers to have easy access to store mangers. |
| C．Few customers believe the service will be improved after their complaints. |
| D．Shoppers would rather tell their unhappy experiences to people around them. |
| A．The same products can be bought in other retail stores. |
| B．It is not likely the shopper can find the same products in other stores. |
| C．New customers are sure to replace old ones. |
| D．Not complaining to the manager causes the shopper some trouble too. |
| A．Hiring of efficient employees. |
| B．Manners of the salespeople. |
| C．Huge supply of goods for sale. |
| D．Design of the store display. |
| A．voice their dissatisfaction to store managers directly |
| B．settle their disagreements with stores in a friendly way |
| C．put pressure on stores to improve their service |
| D．shop around and make comparisons between stores |
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Why Doesn't Anybody Copy Apple?
Apple’s products are the envy of the world. They have been amazingly successful and are widely imitated, if not copied. The minute Apple launches a product, everyone knows how to compete．This idea that the basis of competition is set by Apple and then the race is on to climb the path of improvement is unquestionable. When Apple releases a product that defines a category or dramatically changes the structure of an industry, it becomes obvious what needs to be built. But what I wonder is why everyone wants to copy Apple's products but nobody wants to copy being Apple?
I can think of two reasons. Firstly, Apple is not worth copying because it's not successful; secondly, Apple's success cannot be copied because it is a magical process.
There is a great deal of evidence for the first assumption. The idea of Apple being successful is not something reflected in its stock price. Being valued lower than the average company in the S&P（标准普尔）500 indicates that to whatever degree Apple was successful in the past, and it's not seen by the vast majority of observers as successful in the future. Why should one bother copying Apple if it results in being punished with a low valuation? If one works really hard at innovation（革新）and then that innovation becomes commoditized（商品化）very quickly, why should one bother?
When innovation practitioners are asked what makes Apple successful, the answers regarding the cause of this success border on the mythical. The fabulous part of this assumption is the " chief-sorcerer" theory of success which places one magician, like Steve Jobs, in charge of casting all the right spells．
What about Apple's own opinion of what makes it tick? Tim Cook refers to a great team and integration（一体）of hardware, software and services as unique Apple advantages. It's a better explanation. Integration is something that can take a long time, but it is possible with great effort. A few companies are starting to make moves in that direction, but efforts are half-hearted. There is no "move the Earth" feeling to become an integrated company from Samsung, Google or Microsoft.
My own suspicion is that Apple is more aware of what makes it special than it lets out. However, as Tim points out, it's not a formula. It's complex, it's subtle, but it's not magic. It's a process that requires a degree of faith and courage.
【小题1】When a new product of Apple comes out, often it _________.
| A．ruins an industry dramatically |
| B．puts itself in an unbeatable position |
| C．starts a revolution of an industry |
| D．is soon overtaken by imitated products |
| A．Apple is not a successful company |
| B．they have no access to relevant resources |
| C．it's hard to find a magician like Steve Jobs |
| D．being Apple takes more than time and efforts |
| A．other companies are dedicated to integration |
| B．Apple itself is fully aware of its unique advantages |
| C．Apple will hold the leading position in this industry |
| D．other companies don't have an extraordinary team as Apple does |
| A．Neutral. | B．Disappointing. | C．Indifferent. | D．Acceptable. |
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Last year more than 13 Korean (韩国) TV series were introduced in China. Turn on the TV, and Korean beauties are appearing during peak viewing times(黄金时段). Some of the dramas are being repeated, but audiences continue to watch them. Why are the South Korean TV series loved by so many Chinese people? Cheng Yiting, a student from East China Normal University, gives us her reasons. She thinks that the good-looking actors with cool clothes and the beautiful sight in the dramas are the selling points for South Korean TV dramas. But what attracted the young audiences most is the pure and moving love stories.
And it seems that South Korean TV series has also won the hearts of middle-aged people. They are touched by the morals(道德)in the shows. These include the importance of respecting elders and social order. Though some people think South Korean TV series are too slow and too long, most of the Chinese audiences like them. Maybe we are really tired of Western TV series. Compared with that, South Korean TV series are not bad.
【小题1】Which of the following is NOT mentioned（提及）about South Korean TV series in the passage?
| A．Love | B．Morals |
| C．Social order | D．The youth self-respect |
| A．The series are slow and long. |
| B．The actors wear cool clothes. |
| C．The stories with morals in them are pure and moving. |
| D．The actors are cool. |
| A．We are fed up with South Korean TV series. |
| B．South Korean TV series is a great success and popular in China. |
| C．South Korean TV series are better than Chinese TV series. |
| D．We can learn a lot from Korean TV series so we need to watch them again and again. |
查看答案和解析>>
湖北省互联网违法和不良信息举报平台 | 网上有害信息举报专区 | 电信诈骗举报专区 | 涉历史虚无主义有害信息举报专区 | 涉企侵权举报专区
违法和不良信息举报电话：027-86699610 举报邮箱：58377363@163.com