Genetically modified （GM) foodstuffs are here to stay. That's not to say that food produce

Genetically modified (GM) foodstuffs are here to stay. That2s not to say that food produced by【1】agriculture will disappear,【2】simply that food buying patterns will polarize. It may even be that GM food will become the food of【3】because consumers come to appreciate the health benefits of reduced【4】use.

The reason GM food will not go away is that we need a three-fold increase in food production by the year 2050 to keep【5】with the world’s【6】population growth to ten or eleven billion. It's not【7】a question of more mouths to feed either.【8】is often forgotten is that all these extra people will take up space, reducing the overall land【9】for agriculture.

It rr\ay well be that in the long term it is the developing world【10】benefits most from GM foods. It's true that for the next ten years or so GM crops may be【11】expensive. But the lesson of personal computers is applicable here—once the technology has been developed for money-spinning crops,【12】maize, soy beans and cotton, it will become【13】for all. This doesn't mean, unfortunately, that families will【14】, but severity and duration will be helped by an【15】 ability to produce and distribute food.

【16】we move into this new era of agriculture we're embarking on a journey the world has seen any number of times with experiments before. We have been【17】species of wheat for several thousand years. Genetic engineers like me are not doing anything as【18】as making a cabbage into a cauliflower—【19】has been done by plant breeders in the past. We're simply tapping into the whole gene pool,【20】concentrating on one species at a time.

(1)

A．conventional

B．conversational

C．converse

D．contradictory

What is the author's attitude towards genetically modified foods？

A．Supportive.

B．Unbiased.

C．Partial.

D．Skeptical.

The author's attitude toward genetically modified foods is

A．enthusiastic

B．cautious

C．disapproving

D．optimistic

What can be inferred about genetically modified foods from the text？

A．People do not accept any genetically modified foods.

B．All genetically modified foods will be of benefit to people's health.

C．Genetically modified foods still have a long way to go.

D．Genetically modified foods will soon be sold in supermarkets.

production.Brazil is the world’s second largest producer of soybeans behind the United States and ahead of Argentina.Most European and Asian retailers want to remain GM free.Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Brazil are going on a media offensive to prevent the legalization of genetically modified crops.Environmentalists and consumer groups for years have been able to thwart government and companies’ attempts to legalize altered food.In radio dramas that are being broadcast in remote regions, Brazilian NGOs are telling soy farmers the use of genetically modified seeds could endanger their health, their fields and their business.We are not saying that genetic engineering is, in principle, something bad; we say that we need more science to be sure that it will work in an appropriate way with no harm in the future, said campaign coordinator Jean-Marc von der Weid.This is both for health and environmental reasons.The other question is on economics.What we think is that in Brazil, if we approve the GMOs, we will lose a spectacular advantage that we have now.We are selling more to the international market, mostly for Europe and Asia, than we have done in our history, because we are not GMO contaminated.

Another opposition group, ActionAid, has been organizing grass-roots support in Brazilian farming regions to rouse consumer sentiment against legalization.ActionAid public policy director Adriano Campolina says he is fighting for farmers to remain independent.When the small-scale farmer or a big farmer starts using this kind of seed, this farmer will be completely dependent on the transnationals, which control intellectual property rights over these seeds, he said.

Brazilian scientist Crodowaldo Pavan said there should be checks on what multinationals can do, but that doesn’t mean GM seeds should be banned.He says fears over their usage are unfounded.Despite the official ban, Dr.Pavan says up to one third of Brazil’s soy crop is genetically modified, because GM seed is being smuggled from Argentina.Brazil’s government has invested heavily in a GM project by the U.S.biotech company, Monsanto, but the project was put on ice following a successful court challenge by consumers.

The anti-GMO groups are hoping the politicians’ preoccupation with the October presidential election will give them time to gather enough support to defeat any future attempts to legalize genetically altered crops.

1.According to the passage, the issue in dispute in Brazil is ___________.

A、contamination of the environment by genetically modified crops

B、Brazils standing in the international market

C、the October presidential election

D、the legalization of genetically modified organisms

2.According to the passage, Brazil is the worlds _____________ soybean producer.

A、largest

B、second largest

C、third largest

D、fourth largest

3.Which of the following statements is NOT true about NGOs in Brazil？ ()

A、They believe genetically modified crops will harm the farmers health.

B、They believe genetic engineering is altogether a bad practice.

C、They believe scientific methods should be introduced to ensure GM brings no harm.

D、They believe GMOs will harm Brazil economically.

4.Which of the following statements is true about the organization called ActionAid？ ()

A、They encourage the farmers to produce genetically modified products.

B、They encourage the farmers to depend on themselves for seeds.

C、They strongly support the legalization of genetically modified products.

D、They encourage the farmers to upgrade their farms to bigger ones.

5.What does the Brazilian scientist Crodowaldo Pavan say about genetically modified products？ ()

A、Genetically modified seeds should be banned.

B、Brazil government should crack down on the smuggling of genetically modified seeds.

C、The fear over the use of genetically modified seeds is uncalled for.

D、Consumers should file more law suits to protect their rights.

Why is the debate on genetically modified foods more heated in developing countries？

A．They have a rich range of foods.

B．They like traditional and natural food.

C．They have to feed fast-growing populations.

D．The risks of GM food outweigh the benefits.

转基因食品(genetically modified foods，GMF)