Scientists are working to develop crop plants that can reduce the amount of water used for agriculture. Almost sixty percent of the world’s freshwater withdrawals from rivers, lakes and other water resources go toward irrigating fields.
Scientists are using biotechnology as well as traditional breeding methods to develop water-saving crops to feed a growing world.
Thomas “Tommy” Carter is a plant scientist in North Carolina. He works for the Agricultural Research Service in the United States Department of Agriculture. He leads Team Drought, a group of researchers at five universities. They have been using conventional breeding methods to develop and test soybeans that can grow well under dry conditions.
Tommy Carter started working on drought-resistant soybeans in 1981. His research has taken him as far as China, where soybeans have been grown for thousands of years.
Farmers in the United States, however, have grown soybeans for only about a century. Tommy Carter says the soybeans they grow are for the most part genetically similar. More differences could better protect crops against climate changes that can reduce production. Those changes include water shortages which could increase from global warming.
The Agriculture Department has a soybean germplasm(胚質(zhì)) collection, a collection of genetic material passed from one generation to the next. Members of Team Drought studied more than 2,500 examples from the collection.
They looked at ones from the home of soybeans, Asia. They searched for germplasms that could keep plants from weakening and wilting (凋謝)during hot, dry summers in the United States.
Tommy Carter says they found only five. But these slow-wilting lines, he says, produce four to eight bushels（英斗）more than normal soybeans under drought conditions. The yield depends on location and environment.
Scientists are also working on other plants that either use less water or use it better, or both. For example, companies like Monsanto, DuPont and Syngenta have been developing corn with reduced water needs. Monsanto expects to be ready in a few years to market its first corn seeds genetically engineered to resist drought.
68. According to the passage, scientists try to find out how to _______.
A. grow crops with less water
B. increase crop production
C. feed a growing world
D. save the world’s water resource
69. Why did Tommy Carter come to China?
A. He likes traveling.
B. China has a long history.
C. He’s doing research into soybeans.
D. He works for the Agricultural Research Service.
70. What’s inferred from the passage?
A. Climate changes lead to global warming.
B. Water shortages contribute to global warming.
C. Genetically different soybeans need much water to grow.
D. Genetically different soybeans help to fight against damaging climate changes.
71. What do we know about slow-wilting plants talked about in the passage?
A. They yield big profits.
B. They can grow in almost any climate.
C. They seem to be drought-resistant.
D. They need much water for their growth.
練習冊系列答案
相關(guān)習題

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

根據(jù)對話內(nèi)容，從對話后的選項中選出能填在空白處的最佳選項。選項中有兩項為多余選項。(AB="E," AC="F," AD=G)
—Mr. Paker, when did you arrive home yesterday evening?
— At about 8 o’clock.
—小題1:
—Well, I washed my hands and then watched sports news.
—小題2:
—At about 8:45, I guess.
—小題3:
Yes, I watched TV and went to sleep afterwards.
—小題4:
—Well, I think I was in the bath at that moment.
—小題5:
A．When did you have supper?
B．Did you go out to have a walk last night?
C．What did you do right after you entered your flat?
D．No, you were not. You robbed a bank in Main Street.
E.     Did you stay at home all evening?
F.     But your friends phoned you at nine, and you didn’t answer.
G.    They tried many means to get in touch with you.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


The name of Macau comes from the word Magao (A-Ma Temple), which were shrines (圣地) dedicated to Mazu, a holy sea goddess worshiped by Macau people. It was said that when the Portuguese people first came here in the middle of sixteenth century, one of the officers asked a fisherman the name of the land. The man misunderstood the officer’s question, and answered “Magao” – the name of A-Ma Temple in front them.
Many people wonder how Macau is spelled. Is it “Macao” or “Macau”? Both are actually correct. Macao is Portuguese, and this is the official spelling backed by Macau SAR Government. Macau is English, that’s how they spell it in the U.S. and other parts of the world. However, most publications use “Macau” as the preferred spelling.
Members of the Southern Song Dynasty and some 50,000 followers were the first recorded inhabitants (居民) of the area, seeking shelter in Macau from invading Mongols in 1277. They were able to defend their settlements and establish themselves there.
The Hoklo Boat people were the first to show commercial interest in Macau as a trading center for the southern provinces. During the Ming Dynasty (1368–1643), fishermen migrated to Macau from various parts of Guangdong and Fujian provinces and built the A-Ma Temple in which they prayed for safety on the sea.
Chinese fishermen have been living and working in the Pearl River Delta for more than four thousand years. The small peninsula and islands that came to be called Macau were first settled by the Portuguese in the sixteenth century.
In 1998, Chinese (Cantonese) was given official status and the same legal power as Portuguese, the official language. The Chinese government assumed sovereignty over Macau on December 20, 1999, ending 329 years of Portuguese rule.
68. We can learn from the text that the name “Macau”_________.
A. is named after a sea goddess                   B. is first called by the Portuguese
C. is only used in publications                    D. is given by a fisherman
69. Which is the correct order of the things that happened in Macau?
a. Portuguese people first came to Macau.
b. The fishermen of Guangdong and Fujian migrated to Macau.
c. The first recorded inhabitants established themselves in Macau.
d. the A-Ma Temple was built in Macau.
A. c, b, d, a                  B. d, c, b, a           C. b, c, a, d           D. a, c, b, d
70. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Both Chinese and Portuguese are official languages in Macau.
B. The A-Ma Temple was built in honour of a holy sea goddess.
C. The inhabitants in Macau mainly made their living by fishing before the 16th century.
D. Macau didn’t belong to China until December 20, 1999.
71. Members of the Southern Song Dynasty went to Macau in order to ____.
A. show commercial interest in Macau      B. find a good place for fishing
C. get away from their enemies            D. establish Macau SAR there

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


When Jack Ma founded the Alibaba Group in 1999, he had 500,000 yuan in his hand and the support of 17 friends. Now eight years later, Alibaba has become China’s largest online commerce company, earning a profit of 1.36 billion yuan in 2006.
But when asked what makes him proud, Ma surprised many people by putting his employees way ahead of his legendary e-commerce websites.
“I feel most proud of my team, and the least of the websites,” Ma said. “The secret of my success is relying on team work and having a sense of mission（使命）”
Ma made the remarks on the eve of Alibaba Group’s shares becoming available for trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange last Tuesday. On the first day of trading, the shares more than doubled in value.
Eight years ago, when Ma created Alibaba, he envisioned（預想）that the Internet would change people’s lives. But the former English teacher knew little about computer science. “So I decided to hire someone who knows technology and respected his decisions,” he said.
Ma said he trusts his employees fully as long as they are diligent and have a sense of purpose.
“When people apply to work for Alibaba, I talk with them for two hours to lower their expectations. I tell the applicants not to expect a pay raise or promotion, but to prepare to work long hours and to be criticized by the boss, “ Ma said.
But Ma is not a rigid（嚴厲的）boss. He is like a friend in the eyes of most his employees. Unlike traditional companies where most of the people do just what their boss asks, he treats them as partners and encourages them to present their own ideas.
“I have confidence in the online commercial service in China and encourage my more than 4,000 staff to remain united to make Alibaba the biggest ecommerce supplier for China, Asia and even the world,” said Ma.
He promotes company values of honesty, passion and teamwork. Those who don’t accept these principals will find it hard to work there, no matter how talented they are.
“I have seen many who are more clever and hardworking than my team and me,” Ma said. But “we have a loyal team which has stayed on the same course, no wavering（搖擺）.” And Ma pursuing his dream is the magnet（磁鐵）that draws talents in.
57. What did Jack Ma do before he founded Alibaba?
A. He was a waiter.                B. He was a technician.
C. He was a teacher.               D. He was a manager of a small company.
58. What is Jack Ma’s characteristic in terms of his management?
A. Trusting his employees fully.
B. Putting his employees ahead of himself before performing and trade.
C. Promoting company values of honesty, passion and team work.
D. Pursuing his dream is the magnet that draws talents in.
59. What does Ma take the most pride in?
A. His employees.            B. His website.
C. Alibaba Group’s Shares.     D. His efficient management.
60. According to the text, which remarks following is NOT reasonable?
A. Jack Ma believes an employee’s talent is less important than the acceptance of the company’ principals.
B. Alibaba is an online commerce company started eight years ago.
C. Alibaba has become the biggest e-commerce company in China.
D. Alibaba’s shares rocketed after they made their first public appearance on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange last week.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


From good reading we can get pleasure, companionship, experience, and instruction．A good book may absorb our attention so completely that for the time being we forget our surroundings and even our identity．Reading good books is one of the greatest pleasures in life．It increases our contentment when we are cheerful, and lessens our troubles when we are sad．Whatever may be our main purpose in reading, our contact with good books should never fail to give us enjoyment and satisfaction．
With a good book in our hands we need never be lonely．Whether the characters portrayed are taken from real life or are purely imaginary, they may become our companions and friends．In the pages of books we can walk with the wise and the good of all lands and all times．The people we meet in books may delight us either because they resemble human friends whom we hold dear or because they present unfamiliar types whom we are glad to welcome as new acquaintances．Our human friends sometimes may bore us, but the friends we make in books need never weary us with their company．By turning the page we can dismiss them without any fear of hurting their feelings．When human friends desert us, good books are always ready to give us friendship, sympathy, and encouragement．                                              
One of the most valuable gifts bestowed by books is experience．Few of us can travel far from home or have a wide range of experiences, but all of us can lead varied lives through the pages of books．Whether we wish to escape from the seemingly dull realities of everyday life or whether we long to visit some far-off place, a book will help us when nothing else can．To travel by book we need no bank account to pay our way; no airship or ocean liner or stream-lined train to transport us; no passport to enter me land of our heart's desire．
Through books we may get the thrill of risky adventure without danger．We can climb lofty mountains, brave the danger of an Antarctic winter, or cross the hot sands of the desert, all without hardship．In books we may visit the studios of Hollywood; we may walk among the gay crowds of the Paris wide streets; we may join the picturesque peasants in an Alpine village or the kindly natives on a South Sea island．Indeed, through books the whole world is ours for the asking．The possibilities of our literary experiences are almost unlimited．The beauties of nature, the enjoyment of music, the treasures of art, the triumphs of architecture, the miracles of engineering, are all open to the wonder and enjoyment of those who read．
60．Why do we sometimes forget our surroundings and even our identity while reading?
A．No one has come to disturb you．
B．Everything is so quiet and calm around you．
C．The book you are reading is so interesting and attractive．
D．Your book is overdue; you are finishing it at a very fast speed．
61．What can we learn from this passage?
A．Your wish to visit some far-off place can be realized through the pages of the books．
B．To escape from the dull realities of everyday life you should take up reading．
C．Books can always help you to live a colorful life．
D．You may obtain valuable experience from reading good books．
62．The underlined word "weary" means ____．
A．to attract someone's attention  B．to distract someone's attention
C．to make someone very tired  D．to make someone interested
63．The last paragraph of the passage implies that through books ____．
A．the whole world is more accessible to us
B．we can ask to go anywhere in the world
C．it is possible for us to make a round-the-world trip free of charge
D．we can ask for everything in this world

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空


第Ⅱ卷 (共三節(jié)，滿分45分)
第一節(jié)：（共5小題；每小題2分，滿分10分）
根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容，從短文后的選項中選出能填入空白處的最佳選項。選項中有兩項為多余選項。注意請將正確答案寫在二卷答題紙相應位置上。
Body language is the quiet, secret and most powerful language of all. It is said that our body movements communicate about 50% of what we really mean while words themselves only express 7%. So, while your mouth is closed, just what is your body saying…
Arms.  71 If you keep your arms to the sides of your body or behind your back, this suggests you are not afraid of taking on whatever comes your way.  72 If someone upsets you, just cross your arms to show you’re unhappy.
Head. When you want to appear confident, keep your head level. If you are monitor in class, you can take on this position when you want your words to be taken seriously.   73 
Legs. Your legs tend to move around a lot more than normal when you are nervous or telling lies. If you are at interviews, try to keep them still.
Posture. A good posture makes you feel better about yourself.  74 This makes breathing more difficult, which in turn can make you feel nervous or uncomfortable.
Mouth. When you are thinking, you often purse (皺攏) your lips. You might also use this position to hold back all angry comment you don’t wish to show.    
  75  .
A．If you are feeling down, you normally don’t sit straight, with your shoulders inwards.
B．If you are pleased, you usually open your eyes wide and people can notice this.
C．Outgoing people generally use their arms with big movements, while quieter people keep them close to their bodies.
D．How you hold your arms shows how open and receptive you are to people you meet.
E.However, it will probably still be noticed, and people will know you’re not pleased.
F.However, to be friendly in listening or speaking, you must move your head a little to one side.
G.Don’t say too much when you’re happy.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

第二節(jié)根據(jù)對話內(nèi)容，從對話后的選項中選出能填在空白處的最佳選項。選項中有兩項為多余選項。(AB="E," AC="F," AD=G)
---Mr. Paker, when did you arrive home yesterday evening?
--- At about 8 o’clock.
---____61______
---Well, I washed my hands and then watched sports news.
---____62_____
---At about 8:45, I guess.
---____63_____
Yes, I watched TV and went to sleep afterwards.
---____64_____
---Well, I think I was in the bath at that moment.
---____65_____
A．When did you have supper?
B．Did you go out to have a walk last night?
C．What did you do right after you entered your flat?
D．No, you were not. You robbed a bank in Main Street.
E.Did you stay at home all evening?
F.But your friends phoned you at nine, and you didn’t answer.
G.They tried many means to get in touch with you.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


第三部分閱讀理解（共20小題，每小題2分，滿分40分）
When my daughter, Sophie, was admitted to a college we were very happy, but a little worried about becoming empty nesters. I knew I had to do something to help myself adapt, starting with the summer before she left.
Sophie had a pack of colorful T-shirts. I knew she wouldn’t wear them any more, so I decided to make a quilt out of them for her bed at college. It focused my energy, and also let me relive some memories. I tried to work on the quilt when Sophie wasn’t at home----which turned out to be often. She was very busy with her friends. Even when she was around, her door was shut more than usual. I felt a bit hurt. After all, we didn’t have much time together before she went to college, I was already missing her, and she hadn’t ever left yet.
When we arrived at the college, a wave of emotion flooded me. I tried to hold it back, but Sophie saw it in my face. She took a big red book from her bag. “ I made this for you, Mom,” she said. Then I knew why she had been staying behind a closed door that summer. It was an album of photographs documenting the life of our family over the last 17 years.
I broke into tears. Some of it was sadness at having to let her go, but some of it was joy. I knew that our connection was more powerful than ever, and that we’d always be connected by the strongest of threads, the love that went into every stitch of her quilt and every photo of my album.
In Sophie’s dormitory I unfolded the quilt on her bed. For a moment she was speechless. Then she threw her arms around me . “Mom, I love you,” she said. One of her new friends was calling her outside. Sophie turned, and I let her go.
56.What do we learn about Sophie from the passage?
A. She did not understand how her mother felt about her leaving.
B. She had few friends, and kept to herself at home that summer.
C. She made a photo album to show her love.
D. She liked her colorful T-shirts very much.
57.Why did the author feel hurt, according to the second paragraph?
A. Because Sophie was not interested in what she was doing.
B.Because Sophie had little time for her.
C.Because Sophie was going to leave home for a long time.
D.Because Sophie did not help her to make the quilt.
58.How did the author feel when they arrived at the college?
A. She felt worried.
B.She felt nervous.
C.She was sorry to be leaving her daughter.
D.She missed her daughter very much.
59.Why did the author finally let her daughter go?
A. She realized that her daughter had to go to college by herself.
B.She realized that the love between them would never be cut off.
C.Sophie’s present had made her forget her sorrow.
D.Sophie’s new friends were calling her outside the dormitory.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空


第二節(jié)：信息匹配（共5小題，每小題1.5分，滿分7.5分）
下面是有關(guān)植物和園藝方面的詳細信息，請閱讀下面相關(guān)信息，并按照要求匹配信息。
36. (Part One) Once your plants are growing you will need to keep them happy. How do you do this and what sorts of tools will you need? Plants need water and food, but when and in what sort of quantities? This module explains the cultivation techniques necessary to keep your plants in fine fettle. There are simple basic steps you can take to ensure you cut the right stem, at the right time, in the right place.
37. (Part two) Plants lose water through their leaves all the time. It is essential to ensure there is enough to replenish the roots, otherwise they will die. In warm weather water is lost from the soil by evaporation, so watering will need to be done more often.
38. (Part Three) To keep them growing healthily, plants absorb through their roots about 30 different nutrients and minerals dissolved in water.
39. (Part Four) Pruning is basically cutting off carefully selected parts of a plant to restrict its size, persuade it to grow in a particular shape, encouraging more fruit, flowers or stems, or to remove dead or diseased material. But pruning is neither difficult nor complicated; in fact a lot of it is applying common sense! You just have to follow a few guidelines and check in a book what kind of pruning the particular plant needs. The removal of dead, diseased, broken, crossing and crowded branches is often sufficient for many plants.
40. (Part Five) A spade is your basic digging implement; use it to make holes and to dig sandy or loamy soil. Fork is perfect for digging soil that’s stodgy, such as clay, or full of stones; moving and spreading organic matter; and breaking down clods of soil…
請閱讀以下相關(guān)主題，然后匹配和其相關(guān)的章節(jié)：
It tells us how to take care of our garden to make the plants and flowers fairly good.
It tells us that in order to grow well, plants also need all kinds of nutrition, and so how to feed the plants is also important.
That part tells gardeners how to do pruning that can remove the unneeded parts of many plants.
It tells the importance of watering in gardening, especially in hot summer seasons.
That part introduces the tools and different functions of various tools you may use in gardening.
This section presents where you can buy good seeds and it also offers the regular price for you.
有關(guān)章節(jié)                           主題內(nèi)容  
36. Part One                       
A．how to take care of garden
37. Part two		B．how to feed the plants
38. Part Three 		C．how to prune
39. Part Four		D．the importance of watering
40. Part Five                      E. introduces different functions of tools
F. where you can buy good seeds

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習冊答案