Part A: Reading Comprehension

Text 2

With the global population predicted to hit close to 10 billion by 2050, and forecasts that agricultural production in some regions will need to nearly double to keep pace, food security is increasingly making headlines. In the UK, it has become a big talking point recently too, for a rather particular reason: Brexit.

Brexit is seen by some as an opportunity to reverse a recent trend towards the UK importing food. The country produces only about 60 per cent of the food it eats, down from almost three-quarters in the late 1980s. A move back to self-sufficiency, the argument goes, would boost the farming industry, political sovereignty and even the nation’s health. Sounds great—but how feasible is this vision?

According to a report on UK food production from the University of Leeds, UK, 85 per cent of the country’s total land area is associated with meat and dairy production. That supplies 80 per cent of what is consumed, so even covering the whole country in livestock farms wouldn’t allow us to cover all our meat and dairy needs.

There are many caveats to those figures, but they are still grave. To become much more self-sufficient, the UK would need to drastically reduce its consumption of animal foods, and probably also farm more intensively—meaning fewer green fields, and more factory-style production.

But switching to a mainly plant-based diet wouldn’t help. There is a good reason why the UK is dominated by animal husbandry: most of its terrain doesn’t have the right soil or climate to grow crops on a commercial basis. Just 25 per cent of the country’s land is suitable for crop-growing, most of which is already occupied by arable fields. Even if we converted all the suitable land to fields of fruit and veg—which would involve taking out all the nature reserves and removing thousands of people from their homes—we would achieve only a 30 per cent boost in crop production.

Just 23 per cent of the fruit and vegetables consumed in the UK are currently home-grown, so even with the most extreme measures we could meet only 30 per cent of our fresh produce needs. That is before we look for the space to grow the grains, sugars, seeds and oils that provide us with the vast bulk of our current calorie intake.

26. Some people argue that food self-sufficiency in the UK would

[A]

be hindered by its population growth. 

[B]

contribute to the nation’s well-being. 

[C]

become a priority of the government. 

[D]

pose a challenge to its farming industry. 

27. The report by the University of Leeds shows that in the UK

[A]

farmland has been inefficiently utilized. 

[B]

factory-style production needs reforming. 

[C]

most land is used for meat and dairy production. 

[D]

more green fields will be converted for farming. 

28. Crop-growing in the UK is restricted due to

[A]

its farming technology. 

[B]

its dietary tradition. 

[C]

its natural conditions. 

[D]

its commercial interests. 

29. It can be learned from the last paragraph that British people

[A]

rely largely on imports for fresh produce. 

[B]

enjoy a steady rise in fruit consumption. 

[C]

are seeking effective ways to cut calorie intake. 

[D]

are trying to grow new varieties of grains. 

30. The author’s attitude to food self-sufficiency in the UK is

[A]

defensive. 

[B]

doubtful. 

[C]

tolerant. 

[D]

optimistic. 

答案解析 (Answers & Explanations)

26. [B] contribute to the nation’s well-being.
解析：第二段指出，有人认为：“重新回归自给自足，将会促进农业发展、政治主权，甚至国家的健康（the nation’s health）”。“nation's health”可以被同义替换为选项B中的“nation’s well-being（国家的幸福/福祉）”。因此选B。

27. [C] most land is used for meat and dairy production.
解析：第三段首句明确提到利兹大学的报告：“该国总土地面积的85%与肉类和乳制品生产有关（85 per cent of the country’s total land area is associated with meat and dairy production）”。85%即“绝大部分（most）”，直接对应选项C“大部分土地用于肉类和乳制品生产”。

28. [C] its natural conditions.
解析：第五段第二句解释了为什么英国不适合转为以植物为主的饮食：“其大部分地形没有合适的土壤或气候（doesn’t have the right soil or climate）来进行商业化农作物种植”。土壤和气候属于“自然条件（natural conditions）”，故选C。

29. [A] rely largely on imports for fresh produce.
解析：最后一段第一句提到：“英国消费的水果和蔬菜中，只有23%是本土种植的（Just 23 per cent of the fruit and vegetables consumed in the UK are currently home-grown）”。这意味着剩下的77%都需要进口，说明英国人“在新鲜农产品方面很大程度上依赖进口”，对应选项A。

30. [B] doubtful.
解析：作者态度题。作者在第二段末尾提出质疑：“听起来很棒——但这个愿景有多可行呢？” 随后在第三段用数据证明即使把全国变成养殖场也不够吃肉，在第五段证明即便把所有地都种菜，也只能提升30%的产量。全篇都在用残酷的现实数据驳斥“自给自足”的幻想。因此，作者对此持“怀疑的（doubtful）”态度，选B。

核心长难句精解 (High-Light)

1. With的复合结构作背景状语：
"With the global population predicted to hit close to 10 billion by 2050, and forecasts that agricultural production in some regions will need to nearly double to keep pace, food security is increasingly making headlines."
【解析】句首使用了 `With + 名词/代词 + 过去分词/从句` 的独立主格结构，交代了两个大背景：1. 全球人口预计（predicted）达到100亿；2. 预测（forecasts，后跟 that 引导的同位语从句）农业产量需要翻倍。主句是“粮食安全正越来越多地成为头条新闻”。

2. 动词不定式表目的与破折号解释说明：
"To become much more self-sufficient, the UK would need to drastically reduce its consumption of animal foods, and probably also farm more intensively—meaning fewer green fields, and more factory-style production."
【解析】`To become...` 动词不定式放句首作目的状语。破折号后面的 `meaning` 是现在分词作补充说明，犀利地指出了如果要自给自足，就要付出极其沉重的生态代价（绿色田野变少，工厂化养殖变多）。

3. Even if 让步状语从句与 which 非限制性定语从句：
"Even if we converted all the suitable land to fields of fruit and veg—which would involve taking out all the nature reserves and removing thousands of people from their homes—we would achieve only a 30 per cent boost in crop production."
【解析】`Even if` 引导让步状语从句，并在从句中使用了虚拟语气（converted, would achieve）。双破折号中间的 `which` 引导非限制性定语从句，修饰前面的做法，进一步强调了为了种菜而毁掉自然保护区和赶走居民的荒谬性。