Poor families in some countries spend as much as eighty percent of their money on food. Rising prices in recent months have created the worst food crisis(危机) in more than thirty years. The United Nations World Food Program says high food prices could push one hundred million people into hunger.
Nathan Childs is an expert on rice markets. He notes that the harvest for the latest growing season was the largest on record. But India, Vietnam and others have restricted exports(限制出口) to keep prices down at home and protect supplies.
Thailand’s agriculture minister says his country will never restrict rice exports. He told the Reuters news agency Thursday that Thailand has enough supplies to meet demand at home and for export.
Thailand is the world’s largest rice exporter. Recent signs of an increase in supplies have helped ease record prices for Thai rice. Prices rose last week above one thousand dollars a ton.
Vietnam, the second biggest exporter, has banned(禁止) exports until June. And Vietnamese officials have now warned that non-food traders who buy rice for speculation(投机活动)will be severely punished.
Some experts say speculation is a necessary part of market activity. But the head of the U.N. Environment Program blames it for the high food prices. “We have enough food on this planet today to feed everyone.” Achim Steiner told the Associated Press.
Earlier, a member of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission didn’t accept the idea that speculators are the main cause. Bart Chilton blamed reduced harvests and grain supplies and the falling value of the dollar.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called heads of major international agencies to a meeting this week in the Swiss capital, Bern. He says high food prices could harm world trade, economic growth, social progress and political security.
【小题1】What is the main idea of the passage?

Poor families in some countries spend as much as eighty percent of their money on food. Rising prices in recent months have created the worst food crisis(危机) in more than thirty years. The United Nations World Food Program says high food prices could push one hundred million people into hunger.

Nathan Childs is an expert on rice markets. He notes that the harvest for the latest growing season was the largest on record. But India, Vietnam and others have restricted exports(限制出口) to keep prices down at home and protect supplies.

Thailand’s agriculture minister says his country will never restrict rice exports. He told the Reuters news agency Thursday that Thailand has enough supplies to meet demand at home and for export.

Thailand is the world’s largest rice exporter. Recent signs of an increase in supplies have helped ease record prices for Thai rice. Prices rose last week above one thousand dollars a ton.

Vietnam, the second biggest exporter, has banned(禁止) exports until June. And Vietnamese officials have now warned that non-food traders who buy rice for speculation(投机活动)will be severely punished.

Some experts say speculation is a necessary part of market activity. But the head of the U.N. Environment Program blames it for the high food prices. “We have enough food on this planet today to feed everyone.” Achim Steiner told the Associated Press.

Earlier, a member of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission didn’t accept the idea that speculators are the main cause. Bart Chilton blamed reduced harvests and grain supplies and the falling value of the dollar.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called heads of major international agencies to a meeting this week in the Swiss capital, Bern. He says high food prices could harm world trade, economic growth, social progress and political security.

1.What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Vietnam has banned rice exports to other countries.

B．Thailand is the largest rice exporter in the world.

C．Some families are too poor to afford enough food.

D．Rising prices of food have led to the world food crisis.

2.Which country restricted food exports according to the passage?

A. Thailand.    B. Switzerland.    C. Vietnam.    D. The USA.

3.All of the following are the results of rising prices of food EXCEPT ____.

A．the worst food crisis

B．reduced harvests and grain supplies

C．people spending more money on food

D．pushing one hundred million people into hunger

4.What is the reason for the speculation according to the head of the U.N. Environment Program?

A．High food prices.

B．The falling value of the dollar.

C．Enough rice supplies in some countries.

D．Restricted food exports in some countries.

Poor families in some countries spend as much as eighty percent of their money on food. Rising prices in recent months have created the worst food crisis(危机) in more than thirty years. The United Nations World Food Program says high food prices could push one hundred million people into hunger.
Nathan Childs is an expert on rice markets. He notes that the harvest for the latest growing season was the largest on record. But India, Vietnam and others have restricted exports(限制出口) to keep prices down at home and protect supplies.
Thailand’s agriculture minister says his country will never restrict rice exports. He told the Reuters news agency Thursday that Thailand has enough supplies to meet demand at home and for export.
Thailand is the world’s largest rice exporter. Recent signs of an increase in supplies have helped ease record prices for Thai rice. Prices rose last week above one thousand dollars a ton.
Vietnam, the second biggest exporter, has banned(禁止) exports until June. And Vietnamese officials have now warned that non-food traders who buy rice for speculation(投机活动)will be severely punished.
Some experts say speculation is a necessary part of market activity. But the head of the U.N. Environment Program blames it for the high food prices. “We have enough food on this planet today to feed everyone.” Achim Steiner told the Associated Press.
Earlier, a member of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission didn’t accept the idea that speculators are the main cause. Bart Chilton blamed reduced harvests and grain supplies and the falling value of the dollar.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called heads of major international agencies to a meeting this week in the Swiss capital, Bern. He says high food prices could harm world trade, economic growth, social progress and political security

1. 1.

   What is the main idea of the passage?

   1. A.
      Vietnam has banned rice exports to other countries
   2. B.
      Thailand is the largest rice exporter in the world
   3. C.
      Some families are too poor to afford enough food
   4. D.
      Rising prices of food have led to the world food crisis
2. 2.

   Which country restricted food exports according to the passage?

   1. A.
      Thailand
   2. B.
      Switzerland
   3. C.
      Vietnam
   4. D.
      The USA
3. 3.

   All of the following are the results of rising prices of food EXCEPT ____

   1. A.
      the worst food crisis
   2. B.
      reduced harvests and grain supplies
   3. C.
      people spending more money on food
   4. D.
      pushing one hundred million people into hunger
4. 4.

   What is the reason for the speculation according to the head of the U.N. Environment Program?

   1. A.
      High food prices
   2. B.
      The falling value of the dollar
   3. C.
      Enough rice supplies in some countries
   4. D.
      Restricted food exports in some countries

A poor farmer had a friend who was famous for the wonderful apples he grew. One day, his friend ___36__ him a young apple tree and told him to take it home and __37__ it.
Seeing the gift, the farmer was very__38____, and he thought he would also have a lot of wonderful apples, but when he got home, he had a(n) ___39__. He didn’t know___40___ to plant it. He thought over and over and __41___ every place he could think of. __42____ he decided to plant the tree in his woods. There were many high trees with thick leaves in the woods. With those trees around no one else could___43___ the young apple tree. He even felt proud of himself for finding so___44___ a place for the apple tree. Every day he went to take care of the tree, __45___ it. To his surprise and ___46___, the apple tree didn’t grow as he had __47___. It died without sunlight and good soil.
Later the friend asked the farmer why he had planted the tree in such a __48__ place. “ What’s the difference?” the farmer said angrily, “ If I had planted the tree near the___49____, passers-by would have stolen the fruit. If I had planted the tree in one of my fields, my neighbors would have come at night and ___50___ some of the apples! If I had planted it near my house, my own children would have taken the ___51_. No matter where I plant the tree, I can’t  have__52__ to enjoy the apples. So there is no difference where I planted it.”
“ Yes,” said the friend, “but __53____ someone could have enjoyed the fruit. Now you not only have robbed everyone of the fruit, but also have __54___ a good apple tree! You don’t know the true meaning of ‘share’!”
We should learn to __55___ in our life.  The more you want to own something all by yourself, the less you get at last.

A poor farmer had a friend who was famous for the wonderful apples he grew. One day, his friend ___36__ him a young apple tree and told him to take it home and __37____it.
Seeing the gift, the farmer was very__38____, and he thought he would also have a lot of wonderful apples, but when he got home, he had a(n) ___39__. He didn’t know___40___ to plant it. He thought over and over and __41___ every place he could think of. __42____ he decided to plant the tree in his woods. There were many high trees with thick leaves in the woods. With those trees around no one else could___43___ the young apple tree. He even felt proud of himself for finding so___44___ a place for the apple tree. Every day he went to take care of the tree, __45___ it. To his surprise and ___46___, the apple tree didn’t grow as he had __47___. It died without sunlight and good soil.
Later the friend asked the farmer why he had planted the tree in such a __48__ place. “ What’s the difference?” the farmer said angrily, “ If I had planted the tree near the___49____, passers-by would have stolen the fruit. If I had planted the tree in one of my fields, my neighbours would have come at night and ___50___ some of the apples! If I had planted it near my house, my own children would have taken the ___51_. No matter where I plant the tree, I can’t have__52____ to enjoy the apples. So there is no difference where I planted it.”
“ Yes,” said the friend, “but __53____ someone could have enjoyed the fruit. Now you not only have robbed everyone of the fruit, but also have __54___ a good apple tree! You don’t know the true meaning of ‘share’!”
We should learn to __55___ in our life, The more you want to own something all by yourself, the less you get at last.
【小题1】.