B

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan sees an epidemic (流行病) sweeping across Americas 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. M errigan 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, president of Future Farmers of America, has been living out of a suitcase, traveling the country and visiting with high school students about careers in agriculture. The 21 -year-old Best hopes his message-that this is a new time in agriculture-will motivate the next generation to turn around the statistics. “Never before have we had the innovations ( 创新) in technology which have led to agriculture in this country being the most efficient it has ever been,” he said. “there’s really a place for everybody to fit in.”

25.  What is the new challenge to American agriculture?

A. Fewer and older farmers.           B. Higher fuel prices.

C. More natural disasters. D. Lower agricultural output.

26.  Why is Merrigan visiting universities across the country?

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.

27.  According to Matt Rush, American agriculture will provide 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

28.  What do the underlined words "to turn around the statistics" in the last paragraph mean?

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

B. To increase agricultural production.

C. To bring down the average age of farmers.

D. To invest more in agriculture.

C

What brings a nation together? Of the four choices — shared values, language, history, and religion, it’s shared values. In our latest poll (民意调査), seven out of 16 countries chose values as the greatest factor (因索)bringing a nation together, and six preferred language. Both choices scored high in the poll, suggesting that our values and how we express them are closely linked. Still, history was not forgotten in some countries, particularly in Mexico and Russia. Even Canada and the United States chose national histories as the second-most important factor uniting their people. The biggest surprise? Not one country picked religion as its top choice.

Respect your elders

In most countries, the oldest generation considered values more important to a nation than those who are under 45 years old.

Do you speak Canadian?

Language scored lower in Canada than in all other countries polled, perhaps because the country speaks two official languages, French and English.

Church and state

Most people polled do not connect their religious beliefs to their national pride. Religion ranked last in 13 countries — with France scoring it at 1%, the lowest of all.

29.  According to the poll, what was the most important factor in bringing a nation together?

A. Language.        B. Values.         C. History.         D. Religion.

30.  In which country did language score the lowest in their national pride?

A. Canada.          B. Mexico .        C. France.         D. America.

31.  According to the charts, shared values and language were considered  equally important in ________.

A. Australia          B. Brazil         C. China           D. India

D

You are given many opportunities in life to choose to be a victim or creator. When you choose to be a victim, the world is a cold and difficult place. “They” did things to you which caused all of your pain and suffering. “They” are wrong and bad, and life is terrible as long as “they” are around. Or you may blame yourself for all your problems, thus internalizing(内化)your victimization. The truth is, your life is likely to stay that way as long as you feel a need to blame yourself or others.

Those who choose to be creators look at life quite differently. They know there are individuals who might like to control their lives, but they don’t let this get in the way. They know they have their weaknesses, yet they don’t blame themselves when they fail. Whatever happens, they have choice in the matter. They believe their dance with each sacred(神圣的)moment of life is a gift and that storms are a natural part of life which can bring the rain needed for emotional and spiritual growth.

Victims and creators live in the same physical world and deal with many of the same physical realities, yet their experience of life is worlds apart. Victims relish (沉溺)in anger, guilt, and other emotions that cause others---and even themselves---to feel like victims, too. Creators consciously choose love, inspiration, and other qualities which inspire not only themselves, but all around them. Both victims and creators always have choice to determine the direction of their lives.

In reality, all of us play the victim or the creator at various points in our lives. One person, on losing a job or a special relationship, may feel as if it is the end of the world and sink into terrible suffering for months, years, or even a lifetime. Another with the same experience may choose to first experience the grief, then accept the loss and soon move on to be a powerful creative force in his life.

In every moment and every circumstance, you can choose to have fuller, richer life by setting a clear intention to transform the victim within, and by inviting into your life the powerful creator that you are.

32.  According to Paragraph 2, creators ________.

A. seem willing to experience failures in life

B. possess the ability to predict future life

C. handle ups and downs of life wisely

D. have potential to create something new

33.  What can we learn from Paragraph 3?

A. Creators and victims face quite different things in life.

B. Creators and victims are masters of their lives.

C. Victims can influence more people than creators.

D. Compared with victims, creators are more emotional.

34.  The examples mentioned in Paragraph 4 show that ________.

A. strong attachment to sufferings in life pulls people into victims.

B. people need family support to deal with challengers in life.

C. it takes creators quite a long time to get rid of their pains.

D. one’s experiences determine his attitude toward life.

35.  What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?

A. To introduce what victims are suffering.

B. To protect victims against creators.

C. To explain the relationship between victims and creators.

D. To suggest the transformation from victims to creators.