Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan sees an epidemic sweeping across

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan sees anepidemic (流行病) sweeping across Americas farmland. It haslittle to do with the usual challenges, such as flood, rising fuel prices andcrop-eating insects. The country's farmers are getting older, and there arefewer people standing in line to take their place. National agricultural census(普查) figures show that the fastest-growinggroup of farmers is the part over 65. Merrigan is afraid the average age willbe even higher when the 2012 statistics are completed.

Merrigan, a former college professor, is making stopsat universities across the country in hopes of encouraging more students tothink about careers in agriculture. Aside from trying to stop the graying ofAmerica's farmers, her work is made tougher by a recent blog posting that putagriculture at No.1 on a list of "useless" college degrees. Topfederal agriculture officials are talking about the posting, and it has theattention of agricultural organizations across the country.

“There couldn't be anything that's moreincorrect," Merrigan said. "We know that there aren't enoughqualified graduates to fill the jobs that are out there in Americanagriculture.

In addition, a growing world population that someexperts 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 atall-time record lows," said Matt Rush, director of the Texas Farm Bureau."Production costs are going to be valuable enough that younger people aregoing to have the opportunity to be involved in agriculture”.

The Department of Agriculture has programs aimed atdeveloping more farmers and at increasing interest in locally grown food. TheNational Young Farmers' Coalition has also been pushing for state and federalpolicy changes to make it easier for new fermers.

Ryan Best, president of Future Fanners of America, hasbeen living out of a suitcase, traveling the country and visiting with highschool students about careers in agriculture. The 21 -year-old Best hopes hismessage-that this is a new time in agriculture-will motivate the nextgeneration to turn around the statistics.“Never before have we had the innovations (创新）in technologywhich have led to agriculture in this country being the most efficient it hasever been” he said. “There’s really aplace for everybody to fit in”

1.What is the new challenge to American agriculture?

A. Fewer and olderfarmers.                                           B.Higher fuel prices.

C. More naturaldisasters.                                              D.Lower agricultural output.

2.Why is Merrigan visiting universities across thecountry?

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

3.According to Matt Rush, American agriculture willprovide opportunities for younger people because__________.

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

4.What do the underlined words "to turn aroundthe statistics" in the last paragraph mean?

A.To re-analyze the result of the national census.

B.To increase production.

C.To bring down the average age of farmers.

D.To invest more in agriculture.

试题答案

【答案】

1.A

2.D

3.C

4.C

【解析】

试题