（浙江专用）2017届高考英语总复习 真题研练 Week 11 Tuesday（含解析）.docVIP

PAGE  PAGE 4 Week 11　Tuesday Task 1：阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。 (2012·江苏，B)Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan sees an epidemic (流行病) sweeping across America’s farmland.It has little to do with the usual challenges, such as flood, rising fuel prices and crop－eating insects.The country’s farmers are getting older, and there are fewer people standing in line to take their place.National agricultural census (普查) figures show that the fastest－growing group of farmers is the part over 65.Merrigan is afraid the average age will be even higher when the 2012 statistics are completed. Merrigan, a former college professor, is making stops at universities across the country in hopes of encouraging more students to think about careers in agriculture.Aside from trying to stop the graying of America’s farmers, her work is made tougher by a recent blog posting that put agriculture at No.1 on a list of “useless” college degrees.Top federal agriculture officials are talking about the posting, and it has the attention of agricultural organizations across the country. “There couldn’t be anything that’s more incorrect，”Merrigan said.“We know that there aren’t enough qualified graduates to fill the jobs that are out there in American agriculture.” In addition, a growing world population that some experts 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 at all－time record lows，”said Matt Rush, director of the Texas Farm Bureau.“Production costs are going to be valuable enough that younger people are going to have the opportunity to be involved in agriculture.” The Department of Agriculture has programs aimed at developing more farmers and at increasing interest in locally grown food.The National Young Farmers’ Coalition has also been pushing for state and federal policy changes to make it easier for new farmers. Ryan Best,