Unit 10
Part One
Boy A: It actually seems to me that agriculture will continue to change just like
before.
Boy B: Yes, it looks like there are at least two major trends. Some farms are
becoming larger and more hi-tech based, and at the same time, some farms are
becoming smaller and more intensively managed.
Girl A: That is to say the larger farms and the smaller farms must experience bigger
changes to be able to stand in a more competitive position?
Girl B: That's certainly true. Since conditions differ so much from one place to
another, it would be necessary to examine each type of farm and decide which
agricultural practices would be most efficient.
Boy A: Right. Well there are actually two types of agricultural modern farming
practices that interest me. The first one is the use of "High Tech" Precision Farming,
and the second one is the use of GPS (Global Positioning System). And these really
are going to take agriculture into the "Space Age".
Boy B: GPS? I know GPS technology uses signals from satellites to find locations on
earth. But could you explain to me how this could be used in farming?
Girl A: Well, I can give you an example. My Dad has 2,000 acres of corn and
soybeans on his farm. There are big differences in soil conditions within each area of
the farm. GPS can find these differences, monitor them, and allows my Dad to adjust
to the exact needs of each small part of the farm.
Girl B: I think I can understand how computers would be so necessary to farmers
who use GPS and Precision Farming. They could record and analyze the data from the
satellite, and then use the information to adjust seed planting rate, fertilizer type and
amount, pesticides and so on.
Boy B: That sounds pretty good, and on a really large farm like your Dad's, the
computer information could be used to tell the farmer where each piece of equipment
was located or stored. It could also tell the farmer how much pesticide, fertilizer, etc.
would be needed. Such information may allow him to manage the farm with greater
efficiency.
Girl A: Actually, Dad has been using most of these technologies for nearly five years.
They are expensive, but it has made our farming much more efficient and profitable.
Girl B: That's good for farmers like your Dad, but in China these high-tech methods
like GPS would be too expensive and not so useful. Our farms are much smaller,
more labor intensive, and less highly mechanized.
Boy B: Well, in that case, it's better for your farms to consider ecosystem
management. For example, I just read an article that says in some rice farms of China,
farmers raise fish and ducks in the rice paddies to control insect pests and use the
natural fertilizer from fish and ducks. Also, some of these farmers sell the fish and
ducks for meat. This gives additional income to the small farm.
Boy A: These examples of changes in modern farm practices show that farming will
require better educated farmers. It's necessary for them to understand and use more
efficient technology aimed specifically at their type of farming.
Girl B: That's right. So we must improve education for all levels of society who work
in agriculture, from scientists to farm workers.
Exercise 2
A√ B C D√ E√ F G H
Exercise 3
1.hi-tech based intensively managed 2.experience stand 3.signals
locations 4.allows needs 5.equipment stored 6.raise control natural
7.better educated farmers 8.levels scientists farm workers
Part Two
Listening I
The Potato
The white potato is the most important vegetable ever grown. It is a basic food for
millions of people. Potatoes are grown in at least 80 countries in the world.
When the Spanish came to South America in the middle of the 1500s, they found the
white potato was grown by the people there. They took potatoes back to Spain. By the
end of the 16th century, the potato was common in Spain and Italy. It grew well in
other countries in Europe as well.
It is believed that the potato was introduced into Britain at some time between 1585
and 1587. Soon afterward, it was taken to Ireland. It grew so well in Ireland that it
became the staple food of the country. But in 1845 and 1846, there was a terrible
potato disease in Ireland. The disease killed almost all the potato crop. About 1, 500,
000 people in Ireland died of starvation.
The spread of the potato throughout the world is one of the miracles of agriculture.
The potato was introduced into Europe only about 400 years ago. Now, it is one of the
world's most important food crops.
