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Have you ever heard of agritourism where you can experience the farm life?If not, Dr.Cindy AyersElliott will tell you the real story of Foot Print Farms.
The original concept of building Foot Print Farms was simple.When AyersElliott returned to her hometown after graduation, she didn't have to look any further than her state's alarming health statistics to find a mission.Everywhere she turned, there were reports of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and heart disease.“The problem was already identified,”explains AyersElliott.“Too many Mississippians were seriously unhealthy and it didn't take research to see that.And many of the state's greatest health challenges could directly result from poor diet.”
These days, Foot Print Farms, which started with a few raised beds of herbs and vegetables, is making fresh, naturally grown food.“When speaking of the key to my success, the coop model works because we share the work and rewards,”notes AyersElliott.“A perfect example is the Wingfield High School football team.To earn the money for equipment and other items, players committed to working five hours a week on the farm, and by the end of the summer they produced 1,000 melons and the profits from their sales helped to buy weights,Tshirts, sweat suits and pregame meals.But the lessons they learned about the rewards of hard work and working together to accomplish something were even more valuable products of their efforts.”
“It's a model that can easily be learned in other places and I'm looking forward to seeing some of our current partners do just that — to take what they have learned here and spin it off in other communities.”AyersElliott remarks.She is now looking forward to developing an agritourism area to the farm, where visitors can experience the farm life, learn new skills and take with them seeds of inspiration they can sow in their own communities when they return home.
语篇解读:本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了一个农业旅游基地Foot Print Farms建立的原因及其发展情况。
1.What made AyersElliott set up Foot Print Farms?
A.The problems faced by local farmers.
B.Her further research into heart disease.
C.The failure of her career after graduation.
D.The health state of people in her hometown.
解析:选D 细节理解题。根据第二段内容可知,AyersElliott毕业后回到家乡,看到到处有高血压、糖尿病、肥胖症和心脏病的报道,而且很多人身体严重不健康,并且人们的很多健康挑战都来源于不良饮食,因此她决定建立Foot Print Farms。
2.Why does the author take the football team as an example?
A.To advocate the concept of independence.
B.To stress the importance of teamwork.
C.To support the idea of coop model.
D.To explore the key to success.
解析:选C 推理判断题。文章第三段第二句AyersElliott谈到了其成功的关键在于合作社模式,他们共同工作,共享回报;紧接着举Wingfield High School football team的例子正是为了支持这一观点。
3.What is AyersElliott's attitude towards the future of Foot Print Farms?
A.Optimistic. B.Skeptical.
C.Cautious. D.Ambiguous.
解析:选A 观点态度题。根据最后一段中的I'm looking forward to ...and spin it off in other communities和She is now looking forward to ...they can sow in their own communities when they return home.可知,AyersElliott对Foot Print Farms的发展充满期待。由此可推知,她对Foot Print Farms的未来持乐观的态度。
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A.Naturally grown food benefits people's health.
B.Foot Print Farms is making a difference in Mississippi.
C.AyersElliott encourages people to experience the farm life.
D.Agritourism is becoming increasingly popular in America.
解析:选B 主旨大意题。通读全文可知,本文主要介绍了Foot Print Farms的情况——生产新鲜、自然生长的食物,采用合作社模式,这对改善密西西比人的饮食有很大作用。