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I'll admit I've never quite understood the obsession (难以破除的成见 ) surrounding genetically modified (GM) crops. To environmentalist opponents, GM foods are simply evil, an understudied, possibly harmful tool used by big agricultural businesses to control global seed markets and crush local farmers. They argue that GM foods have never delivered on their supposed promise, that money spent on GM crops would be better channeled to organic farming and that consumers should be protected with warning labels on any products that contain genetically modified ingredients. To supporters, GM crops are a key part of the effort to sustainably provide food to meet a growing global population. But more than that, supporters see the GM opposition of many environmentalists as fundamentally anti-science, no different than those who question the basics of man-made climate change.
For both sides, GM foods seem to act as a symbol: you're pro-agricultural business or anti-science. But science is exactly what we need more of when it comes to GM foods, which is why I was happy to see Nature devote a special series of articles to the GM food controversy. The conclusion: while GM crops haven't yet realized their initial promise and have been dominated by agricultural businesses, there is reason to continue to use and develop them to help meet the enormous challenge of sustainable feeding a growing planet.
That doesn't mean GM crops are perfect, or a one-size-fits-all solution to global agriculture problems. But anything that can increase farming efficiency—the amount of crops we can produce per acre of land—will be extremely useful. GM crops can and almost certainly will be part of that suite of tools, but so will traditional plant breeding, improved soil and crop management—and perhaps most important of all, better storage and transport infrastructure (基础设施), especially in the developing world. (It doesn't do much good for farmers in places like sub-Saharan Africa to produce more food if they can't get it to hungry consumers.) I'd like to see more non-industry research done on GM crops--not just because we'd worry less about bias, but also because seed companies like Monsanto and Pioneer shouldn't be the only entities working to harness genetic modification. I'd like to see GM research on less commercial crops, like corn. I don't think it's vital to label GM ingredients in food, but I also wouldn't be against it--and industry would be smart to go along with labeling, just as a way of removing fears about the technology.
Most of all, though, I wish a tenth of the energy that's spent endlessly debating GM crops was focused on those more pressing challenges for global agriculture. There are much bigger battles to fight.
1
How do environmentalist opponents view GM foods according to the passage?
A.
They will eventually ruin agriculture and the environment.
B.
They are used by big businesses to monopolize agriculture.
C.
They have proved potentially harmful to consumers' health.
D.
They pose a tremendous threat to current farming practice.
本题答案：
A
B
C
D
参考答案：
B
系统解析：
推理判断题。由题干中的environmentalist opponents定位到首段第二句，该定位句指出，奉行环境保护主义的反对者们反对转基因食品是因为转基因食品邪恶、没有经过充分研究并可能成为大型农业公司控制全球种子市场和压榨当地农民的工具。由此可见，B的意思符合文意，即转基因食品是一种被大型农业公司用以垄断的工具。
2
What does the author say is vital to solving the controversy between the two sides of the debate?
A.
Breaking the GM food monopoly.
B.
More friendly exchange of ideas.
C.
Regulating GM food production.
D.
More scientific research on GM crops.
本题答案：
A
B
C
D
参考答案：
D
系统解析：
细节辨认题。由题干中的controversy和two sides定位到第二段第一、二句，定位句首句就提到了题干中的two sides，表明对双方而言，转基因食品是一个标志你是亲农业还是反科学。第二句中But science is exactly what we need more of when it comes to GM foods接着指出，当涉及转基因食品时，我们更需要的是科学，故答案为D。
3
What is the main point of the Nature articles?
A.
Feeding the growing population makes it imperative to develop GM crops.
B.
Popularizing GM technology will help it to live up to its initial promises.
C.
Measures should be taken to ensure the safety of GM foods.
D.
Both supporters and opponents should make compromises.
本题答案：
A
B
C
D
参考答案：
A
系统解析：
推理判断题。题干问题为：《自然》杂志上的系列报道的主要观点是什么?该题的答案在由题干中的Nature定位到第二段第二、三句之后的句子中：The conclusion：…there is reason to continue to use and develop them to help meet the enormous challenge of sustainably feeding a growing planet.该句指出，作者看到《自然》杂志中有关转基因食品争议的报道，其结论是我们有理由继续使用和研发转基因农作物来帮助我们为人口不断增长的星球持续供应食物。故答案为A。
4
What is the author's view on the solution to agricultural problems?
A.
It has to depend more and more on GM technology.
B.
It is vital to the sustainable development of human society.
C.
GM crops should be allowed until better alternatives are found.
D.
Whatever is useful to boost farming efficiency should be encouraged.
本题答案：
A
B
C
D
参考答案：
D
系统解析：
由题干中的the solution to agricultural problems定位第三段第一、二句，该定位第三段第一、二句定位句指出，转基因农作物并不是解决全球农业两题“一劳永逸”的办法，但是任何提高耕作效率的方法都是极为有用的，故答案为D。
5
What does the author think of the ongoing debate around GM crops?
A.
It arises out of ignorance of and prejudice against new science.
B.
It distracts the public attention from other key issues of the world.
C.
Efforts spent on it should be turned to more urgent issues of agriculture.
D.
Neither side is likely to give in until more convincing evidence is found.
本题答案：
A
B
C
D
参考答案：
C
系统解析：
观点态度题。作者在由题干中的ongoing debate定位到末段中指出，人们应该拿出花在无休止讨论转基因农作物上时间的十分之一来关注一下全球农业面临的更紧迫的挑战，故答案为C。
Early decision—you apply to one school, and admission is binding—seems like a great choice for nervous applicants. Schools let in a higher percentage of early-decision applicants, which arguably means that you have a better chance of getting in. And if you do, you're done with the whole agonizing process by December. But what most students and parents don't realize is that schools have hidden motives for offering early decision.
Early decision, since it's binding, allows schools to fill their classes with qualified students; it allows admissions committees to select the students that are in particular demand for their college and know those students will come. It also gives schools a higher yield rate, which is often used as one of the ways to measure college selectivity and popularity.
The problem is that this process effectively shortens the window of time students have to make one of the most important decisions of their lives up to that point. Under regular admissions, seniors have until May 1 to choose which school to attend; early decision effectively steals six months from them, months that could be used to visit more schools, do more research, speak to current students and alumni (校友) and arguably make a more informed decision.
There are, frankly, an astonishing number of exceptional colleges in America, and for any given student, there are a number of schools that are a great fit. When students become too fixated (专注) on a particular school early in the admissions process, that fixation can lead to severe disappointment if they don't get in or, if they do, the possibility that they are now bound to go to a school that, given time for farther reflection, may not actually be right for them.
Insofar as early decision offers a genuine admissions edge, that advantage goes largely to students who already have numerous advantages. The students who use early decision tend to be those who have received higher-quality college guidance, usually a result of coming from a more privileged background. In this regard, there's an argument against early decision, as students from lower-income families are far less likely to have the admissions know-how to navigate the often confusing early deadlines.
Students who have done their research and are confident that there's one school they would be thrilled to get into should, under the current system, probably apply under early decision. But for students who haven't yet done enough research, or who are still constantly changing their minds on favorite schools, the early-decision system needlessly and prematurely narrows the field of possibility just at a time when students should be opening themselves to a whole range of thrilling options.
6
What are students obliged to do under early decision?
A.
Look into a lot of schools before they apply.
B.
Attend the school once they are admitted.
C.
Think twice before they accept the offer.
D.
Consult the current students and alumni.
本题答案：
A
B
C
D
参考答案：
B
系统解析：
细节辨认题。由题干中的obliged to d0和early decision定位到首段首句。由定位句可知，在提前录取体制下，你申请一所学校，其录取具有约束力，故答案为B。
7
Why do schools offer early decision?
A.
To make sure they get qualified students.
B.
To avoid competition with other colleges.
C.
To provide more opportunities for applicants.
D.
To save students the agony of choosing a school.
本题答案：
A
B
C
D
参考答案：
A
系统解析：
推理判断题。由题干中的0ffer early decision定位到首段最后一句。首段末句中提到，学校提供提前录取是有其隐藏的动机的。接下来，由第二段第一句可知，提前录取可以使学校录取到高质量的学生，因此答案为A。
8
What is said to be the problem with early decision for students?
A.
It makes their application process more complicated.
B.
It places too high a demand on their research ability.
C.
It allows them little time to make informed decisions.
D.
It exerts much more psychological pressure on them.
本题答案：
A
B
C
D
参考答案：
C
系统解析：
细节辨认题。由题干中的the problem和for students定位到第三段第一句，该定位句指出，问题在于这个过程实际上缩短了学生必须作出他们到那时为止人生最重要的决定的时间，故答案为C。
9
Why are some people opposed to early decision?
A.
It interferes with students' learning in high school.
B.
It is biased against students at ordinary high schools.
C.
It causes unnecessary confusion among college applicants.
D.
It places students from lower-income families at a disadvantage.
本题答案：
A
B
C
D
参考答案：
D
系统解析：
细节辨认题。由题干中的0pposed定位到倒数第二段最后一句，该定位句指出，有人反对提前录取，因为低收入家庭的学生收到录取指南以助他们理解那些常常让人困惑的提前录取截止时间的可能性要小得多，故答案为D。
10
What does the author advise college applicants to do?
A.
Refrain from competing with students from privileged families.
B.
Avoid choosing early decision unless they are fully prepared.
C.
Find sufficient information about their favorite schools.
D.
Look beyond the few supposedly thrilling options.
本题答案：
A
B
C
D
参考答案：
B
系统解析：
推理判断题。由题干中的the author advise和题文同序原则定位到最后一段，该定位段第二句指出，对于那些没有做足研究或者始终无法确定自己最喜欢哪所学校的学生来说，提前录取体制没有必要并且过早地缩小了他们此时的选择范围，而这个时候他们正应该放开自己以迎接一系列令人心动的选择，故答案为B。
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