A scientist, together with his assistants, ________to help in this work.
A.send
B.sends
C.was sent
D.were sent
A.send
B.sends
C.was sent
D.were sent
t questions.
A、however
B、but
C、than
A.aren’t; are
B.aren’t; were
C.weren’t; were
D.weren’t; are
A.have been working
B.be working
C.be worked
D.work
A.disagreed
B.quarrelled
C.persuaded
D.tried to prove
production.Brazil is the world’s second largest producer of soybeans behind the United States and ahead of Argentina.Most European and Asian retailers want to remain GM free.Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Brazil are going on a media offensive to prevent the legalization of genetically modified crops.Environmentalists and consumer groups for years have been able to thwart government and companies’ attempts to legalize altered food.In radio dramas that are being broadcast in remote regions, Brazilian NGOs are telling soy farmers the use of genetically modified seeds could endanger their health, their fields and their business.We are not saying that genetic engineering is, in principle, something bad; we say that we need more science to be sure that it will work in an appropriate way with no harm in the future, said campaign coordinator Jean-Marc von der Weid.This is both for health and environmental reasons.The other question is on economics.What we think is that in Brazil, if we approve the GMOs, we will lose a spectacular advantage that we have now.We are selling more to the international market, mostly for Europe and Asia, than we have done in our history, because we are not GMO contaminated.
Another opposition group, ActionAid, has been organizing grass-roots support in Brazilian farming regions to rouse consumer sentiment against legalization.ActionAid public policy director Adriano Campolina says he is fighting for farmers to remain independent.When the small-scale farmer or a big farmer starts using this kind of seed, this farmer will be completely dependent on the transnationals, which control intellectual property rights over these seeds, he said.
Brazilian scientist Crodowaldo Pavan said there should be checks on what multinationals can do, but that doesn’t mean GM seeds should be banned.He says fears over their usage are unfounded.Despite the official ban, Dr.Pavan says up to one third of Brazil’s soy crop is genetically modified, because GM seed is being smuggled from Argentina.Brazil’s government has invested heavily in a GM project by the U.S.biotech company, Monsanto, but the project was put on ice following a successful court challenge by consumers.
The anti-GMO groups are hoping the politicians’ preoccupation with the October presidential election will give them time to gather enough support to defeat any future attempts to legalize genetically altered crops.
1.According to the passage, the issue in dispute in Brazil is ___________.
A、contamination of the environment by genetically modified crops
B、Brazils standing in the international market
C、the October presidential election
D、the legalization of genetically modified organisms
2.According to the passage, Brazil is the worlds _____________ soybean producer.
A、largest
B、second largest
C、third largest
D、fourth largest
3.Which of the following statements is NOT true about NGOs in Brazil? ()
A、They believe genetically modified crops will harm the farmers health.
B、They believe genetic engineering is altogether a bad practice.
C、They believe scientific methods should be introduced to ensure GM brings no harm.
D、They believe GMOs will harm Brazil economically.
4.Which of the following statements is true about the organization called ActionAid? ()
A、They encourage the farmers to produce genetically modified products.
B、They encourage the farmers to depend on themselves for seeds.
C、They strongly support the legalization of genetically modified products.
D、They encourage the farmers to upgrade their farms to bigger ones.
5.What does the Brazilian scientist Crodowaldo Pavan say about genetically modified products? ()
A、Genetically modified seeds should be banned.
B、Brazil government should crack down on the smuggling of genetically modified seeds.
C、The fear over the use of genetically modified seeds is uncalled for.
D、Consumers should file more law suits to protect their rights.
Conventional computer models of the atmosphere have limited value in predicting short lived local storms like the Edmonton tornado, because the available weather data are generally not detailed enough to allow computers to study carefully the subtle atmospheric changes that come before these storms.In most nations, for example, weather – balloon observations are taken just once every twelve hours at locations typically separated by hundreds of miles.With such limited data, conventional forecasting models do a much better job predicting general weather conditions over large regions than they do forecasting specific local events.
Until recently, the observation intensive approach needed for accurate, very short – range forecasts, or “Nowcasts,” was not feasible.The cost of equipping and operating many thousands of conventional weather stations was extremely high, and the difficulties involved in rapidly collecting and processing the raw weather data from such a network were hard to overcome.Fortunately, scientific and technological advances have overcome most of these problems.Radar systems, automated weather instruments, and satellites are all capable of making detailed, nearly continuous observation over large regions at a relatively low cost.Communications satellites can transmit data around the world cheaply and instantaneously, and modern computers can quickly compile and analyze this large volume of weather information.Meteorologists and computer scientists now work together to design computer programs and video equipment capable of transforming raw weather data into words, symbols, and vivid graphic displays that forecasters can interpret easily and quickly.As meteorologists have begun using these new technologies in weather forecasting offices, Nowcasting is becoming a reality.
11.The word “exceeded” in paragraph I most probably means ____________.
A.added up toB.were more than
C.were about D.were less than
12.Conventional computer models of the atmosphere fails to predict such a short – lived tornado because ______________.
A.the computer is not used to forecast specific local events
B.the computers are not advanced enough to predict it
C.the weather data people collect are often wrong
D.weather conditions in some small regions are not available
13.According to the passage, the word “Nowcast” (paragraph 3) means _______________.
A.a way of collecting raw weather data
B.a forecast which can predict the weather conditions in the small area in an accurate way
C.a network to collect instant weather data
D.a more advanced system of weather observation
14.According to the passage, ___________ is the key factor to making “Nowcasts” a reality.
A.scientific and technological advances such as radar, or satellites
B.computer scientist
C.meteorologists
D.advanced computer programs
15.According to the author, the passage mainly deals with ________________.
A.a tornado in Edmonton, Alberta
B.what’s a “Nowcast”
C.the disadvantage of conventional computer models of the weather forecast
D.a breakthrough in weather forecast
The original Americans, of course were the Indians.The so-called white men who then came were mostly from England.But many came from other countries like Germany and France.
One problem the United States has always had is discrimination.As new groups came to the United States, they found they were discriminated against.First it was the Irish and Italians.Later it was the blacks.Almost every group has been able to finally escape this discrimination.The only immigrants who have not are the blacks.Surprisingly enough the worst discrimination today is shown towards the Indians.
One reason the Indians are discriminated against is that they have tried so hard to keep their identity.Of course they are not the only ones who have done so.The Japanese have their Little Tokyo in Los Angeles and the Chinese a Chinatown in New York.The Dutchsettlement in Pennsylvania also stays separate from other people.Their towns are like something from the 19th century, They have a different reason from the other groups for staying separately.They live separately for religious reasons rather than keep together in a racial group.
Although some groups have kept themselves separate and others have been discriminated against, all groups have helped make the United States a great country.There is no group that has not helped in some way.And there is no group that can say they have done the most to make it a great country.
Many people still come from other countries to help the United States grow.A good example is the American project that let a man walk on the moon.It was a scientist from Germany who was most responsible for doing that.It is certain that in the future the United States will still need the help of people from all racial groups to remain a great country.
26.Which of the following statements can best describe the main idea of this passage? ()
A.The United States is a country made up of many different races.
B.Discrimination is the most serious problem in the United States.
C.All races in the United States have helped make the country a great one.
D.The prosperity of the United States is mainly due to the hard work of the most discriminated races.
27.In the first paragraph the word “told” means().
A.separated
B.distinguished
C.revealed
D.made known
28.This passage implies that discrimination is a problem which().
A.many races in the United States have experienced
B.will still be very serious in the United States in the future
C.has already been solved in the United States
D.is strongly opposed by many different races in the United States
29.The main reason why the Indians are most discriminated against is that().
A.they have tried hard to keep their religions
B.they have tried hard to live together to keep their Indian customs
C.they are the only ones who have tried to keep their identity
D.they discriminate many other races
30.The Dutch live separately in Pennsylvania().
A.to escape discrimination
B.to keep together in a racial group
C.to enjoy themselves in their own towns
D.for religious reasons