【创新设计】（全国）2017年高考英语一轮复习 Unit 2 Working the land课时作业 新人教版必修4.docVIP

PAGE  PAGE 7 Unit 2 Working the land Ⅰ.阅读理解 A 体裁：说明文　话题：农业　词数：375　时间：6′ Organic farming is a big－picture exercise.Its not only targeted at this seasons results，but considers future generations.In the long run it makes better economic sense as well.But its main goal is to contribute to a healthier world. Studies conducted all over the world have shown the effects that conventional chemical farming has on the environment.Certainly，chemical fertilizers，pesticides，and herbicides increase the quantity of a farms production.They help produce more grains and vegetables.But at what cost? A Swiss study showed that organic farming produces an average of 20% less than conventional methods.But the organically grown food contained 50% less fertilizer and 97% less pesticides. Though only a part of the amount of pesticides a farm uses actually does the job of killing bugs，all of it remains active in the soil for months or even years after application.Perhaps worse，each generation of pests is growing increasingly immune (免疫的)to the chemicals used.Its not even all about the food and the soil.The pesticides used in conventional agriculture are finally spilling their chemical residues(化学残留) into the waterways.It affects wildlife，soil and ecosystems as a whole.According to a Worldwatch paper，Deep Trouble: The Hidden Threat of Groundwater Pollution，poisonous chemicals are polluting groundwater on every inhabited continent，endangering the worlds most valuable supplies of freshwater. Perhaps not so intuitive，organic farming affects the air.“Organic agriculture can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by effectively locking more carbon into the soil rather than releasing it into the atmosphere，” found “Farming Systems Trial，” a 15－year study.Organic agriculture even uses 50% less energy than conventional farming. How does organic farming deal with pests? Organic farmers intentionally build up populations of beneficial insects，such as ladybugs(瓢虫)，that eat other pests and control the g