Studies show farmland in Africa is often lacking in important nutrients. But researchers say combining different farming methods may help.
Since the world food crisis several years ago, researchers have directed more of their attention to small farms. Most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are only about one or two hectares. One of the goals is to increase production without necessarily clearing more land to grow additional crops. 
American researchers say that can happen with greater use of an agricultural system called perennation. It mixes food crops with trees and perennial plants – those that return year after year.
Mr. Reganold, who is with Washington State University, says poor soil may have resulted from years of weathering that washed away many nutrients. He says some farmers may have done more harm than good.
He estimates that up to two billion dollars worth of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium is lost from African soil each year.
The scientist says the word perennation defines three systems that are already used in Africa. The oldest of the three is called evergreen agriculture. This is where farmers plant trees with their crops. John Reganold says farmers in Africa have been doing this for sixty years, but it seems to be growing in popularity.
The method is gaining widespread use in countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Zambia. The trees are planted among maize, millet or sorghum crops. They not only add nitrogen to the soil through their roots, but also through their leaves when they fall off and break down. At other times of the year, the trees can protect plants from strong sunlight.
Mr. Reganold was one of three researchers who wrote a report about perennation. It was published in the journal Nature.
【小題1】Farmland in Africa ________.

A.is often small in size
B.can produce more than enough crops for Africans
C.is short of important nutrients
D.has got the attention of scientists around the world
【小題2】Researchers focused their attention on small farmlands for the reason that ________.
A.Africa was going through a food crisis
B.most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are small
C.there are not enough farmlands
D.farmers may grow additional crops on farmland
【小題3】The word“perennation”mentioned in this passage ________.
A.is a farming method of planting food crops with trees
B.is a new farming method
C.can help African people produce more food than they need
D.is gaining widespread use around the world
【小題4】We can infer from the passage that ________.
A.perennation will be widely used by farmers in Africa
B.American government will help African countries increase food production
C.African countries is short of farmland
D.some farmers are destroying their farmland in Africa on purpose
【小題5】This report is mostly likely to be a journal of ________.
A.food B.environment C.a(chǎn)griculture D.gardening


【小題1】C
【小題2】B
【小題3】A
【小題4】A
【小題5】C

解析試題分析:文章主要介紹非洲的農(nóng)田大多缺乏營養(yǎng),為了解決這個問題,科學(xué)家提出perennation 的方法,就是將食物莊稼和樹一起種植的農(nóng)業(yè)方法,這種方法可以有效解決農(nóng)田缺少營養(yǎng)的問題。
【小題1】細節(jié)題:從第一段的句子:Studies show farmland in Africa is often lacking in important nutrients.可知非洲的農(nóng)田缺乏重要的營養(yǎng)。選C
【小題2】細節(jié)題:從文章第二段的句子:Most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are only about one or two hectares.可知研究人員將注意力放在小農(nóng)場上是因為撒哈拉沙漠的大部分農(nóng)場是小的,選B
【小題3】猜詞題:從文章第六段的句子:The scientist says the word perennation defines three systems that are already used in Africa. The oldest of the three is called evergreen agriculture. This is where farmers plant trees with their crops.可知“perennation”是將食物莊稼和樹一起種植的農(nóng)業(yè)方法,選A
【小題4】推理題:從第六段的句子:John Reganold says farmers in Africa have been doing this for sixty years, but it seems to be growing in popularity.可以推斷出perennation 將在非洲被農(nóng)民廣泛使用,選A
【小題5】文章出處題:文章主要介紹非洲的農(nóng)田大多缺乏營養(yǎng),為了解決這個問題,科學(xué)家提出perennation 的方法,就是將食物莊稼和樹一起種植的農(nóng)業(yè)方法,這種方法可以有效解決農(nóng)田缺少營養(yǎng)的問題。所以是關(guān)于農(nóng)業(yè)的新聞報道,選C
考點:考查新聞報道類短文

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"As they run it gives me a phone call and says 'Sheep One' or 'Sheep Two' and so on, so at least I know where to start looking because the farm is 750 hectares (1,850 acres)," Louw told the Cape Times daily.
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"The phone did start ringing that night and I went out," he said, but added that he was too late.
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A.Because he thought it was fun to do.
B.Because the police there didn’t care about animals.
C.Because he liked hi-tech very much.
D.Because he wanted to protect them against thieves.
【小題2】What does the underlined expression in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.Try very hard to remember or think of something.
B.Have a headache.
C.Make the brain bigger.
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