The United States is suffering its worst drought (干旱) in almost sixty years. The National Climatic Data Center also says high temperatures in June added to the warmest twelve-month period on record. Record-keeping began in 1895. The drought map showed that conditions improved in the Southeast in June compared to May. But the drought is expected to continue in large parts of the country. Last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met with President Obama. Mr Vilsack says the drought has seriously influenced some crops, such as corn and soybeans (大豆). And the United States is the world's leading producer. 

    The drought has made prices of com and soybeans increase. Both of them are used in food production and for animal feed. Last week the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported that corn and wheat prices increased by 20% over the past three weeks.

In the United States, farmers may quickly reduce the size of their animals rather than pay higher feed prices to keep them. That increased supply of meat would reduce meat prices in the short term. But those prices could increase in several months.

Mr Vilsack says the effect of the drought is hard to predict(预测). Some areas are getting rain, and drought-resistant (抗旱的) seeds have helped crops grow well in some areas.

1.We can know the drought record of the USA has been kept for ________years of the USA up to now.

A. 97                                                        B. 207

C. 221                                          D. 117

2.Which of the following American presidents met with Tom Vilsack?

A. George Washington.                 B. Abraham lincon.

C. George Bush.                                  D. Barack Obama.        

3. If the price of a kilo of corn was 3 dollars last December, how much is a kilo of corn now?

A. 2.4 dollars.                                        B. 3 dollars.

C. 3.6 dollars.                                         D. 3.9 dollars.

4.Why is the meat price lower than before?

A. Because there are more and more animals.

B. Because farmers kill them to save their food.

C. Because people don't like eating meat now.

D. Because the government (政府) asks the meat price lower.

5.What is the best title for the passage?

A. US faces the worst drought in almost sixty years.

B. Take action to help the USA.

C. What does the country do in the drought areas?

D. President Obama meets with Agriculture Secretary.

The United States is full of automobiles (机动车). There are still many families without cars. But some families have two or     more cars. However, cars are used for more than pleasure. They are a     part of life.

Cars are used for      . They are driven to offices and factories by workers who have no other way to       their jobs. When salesmen are sent to       parts of the city, they have to drive in order to       their products. Farmers have to drive into the city in order to shop for necessities.

Sometimes, small children must be driven to      . In some cities, school buses are used only when children        more than a mile from the school. When the children are too      to walk that far, their parents take       driving them to school. One        drives on Mondays, taking her children and the neighbors' children as well. Another mother drives on Tuesdays, another on Wednesdays and so on. This is        forming a car pool (拼车). Working people also form car pools, with three or four people taking turns driving to the place     they work.

More car pools should be formed in order to put       cars on the road and to use less oil.       is a great problem, and so is the traffic in and around cities. Too many cars are being driven. Something should be done about the use of cars.

1.A. even      B. much          C. little            D. such

2.A. great          B. necessary     C. proper         D. poss ible

3.A. families     B. business       C. education  D. farms

4.A. get to         B. look for         C. find out         D. use up

5.A. same   B. different   C. every       D. each

6.A. catch         B. create C. cover       D. carry

7.A. cities          B. schools         C. parks        D. gardens

8.A. move         B. study        C. live            D. work

9.A. small         B. big          C. young  D. old

10.A. money    B. time         C. pride         D. turns

11.A. parent     B. child         C. way            D. car

12.A. call          B. calling          C. to call           D. called

13.A. where     B. that          C. which    D. when

14.A. more       B. fewer       C. many         D. less

15.A. Driving B. Running   C. Parking         D. Forming

The United States is full of automobiles (机动车). There are still many families without cars. But some families have two or     more cars. However, cars are used for more than pleasure. They are a     part of life.
Cars are used for     . They are driven to offices and factories by workers who have no other way to      their jobs. When salesmen are sent to      parts of the city, they have to drive in order to       their products. Farmers have to drive into the city in order to shop for necessities.
Sometimes, small children must be driven to      . In some cities, school buses are used only when children       more than a mile from the school. When the children are too     to walk that far, their parents take      driving them to school. One       drives on Mondays, taking her children and the neighbors' children as well. Another mother drives on Tuesdays, another on Wednesdays and so on. This is       forming a car pool (拼车). Working people also form car pools, with three or four people taking turns driving to the place     they work.
More car pools should be formed in order to put       cars on the road and to use less oil.      is a great problem, and so is the traffic in and around cities. Too many cars are being driven. Something should be done about the use of cars.

The United States is suffering its worst drought (干旱) in almost sixty years. The National Climatic Data Center also says high temperatures in June added to the warmest twelve-month period on record. Record-keeping began in 1895. The drought map showed that conditions improved in the Southeast in June compared to May. But the drought is expected to continue in large parts of the country. Last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met with President Obama. Mr Vilsack says the drought has seriously influenced some crops, such as corn and soybeans (大豆). And the United States is the world's leading producer. 
The drought has made prices of com and soybeans increase. Both of them are used in food production and for animal feed. Last week the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported that corn and wheat prices increased by 20% over the past three weeks.
In the United States, farmers may quickly reduce the size of their animals rather than pay higher feed prices to keep them. That increased supply of meat would reduce meat prices in the short term. But those prices could increase in several months.
Mr Vilsack says the effect of the drought is hard to predict(预测). Some areas are getting rain, and drought-resistant (抗旱的) seeds have helped crops grow well in some areas.
【小题1】We can know the drought record of the USA has been kept for ________years of the USA up to now.