首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
"If we don’t achieve some major step changes in crop yields by 2050," says Dr. James Hartwell, "there will be a major shortfall
"If we don’t achieve some major step changes in crop yields by 2050," says Dr. James Hartwell, "there will be a major shortfall
admin
2010-07-24
51
问题
"If we don’t achieve some major step changes in crop yields by 2050," says Dr. James Hartwell, "there will be a major shortfall in available food to feed the world’s population." It’s a serious problem to which Hartwell and a team at Liverpool University may help fend part of a solution. They are investigating the unusual properties of a Madagascan plant, the Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi. Unlike other plants it captures its carbon dioxide at night and is ten times more water-efficient than crops such as maize, which means it is highly suitable for desert area. Making desert lands more amenable to crops will be increasingly important over the coming decades.
Hartwell has been fascinated by desert plants since he was an undergraduate, and his interest carried through to his doctorate and a research Fellowship, What Liverpool University has added to the research is sophisticated DNA sequencing technology. "We tapped into that," says Hartwell, "and realised it was perfect for going into our desert plants and starting to understand what genes they are using to survive desert conditions and, in particular, to perform this nocturnal(夜间发生的) CO2 fixation that they do. "
This aspect of the plant is taking on major significance. "The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has predicted that in the next 50 years, already droughty regions will become droughtier," explains Hartwell, "and if they will expand, there will be increasing desertification."
There are two possible directions in which the results of this research may be used. They are not actually producing a desert plant but their high level research may lead to that. They may be able to deploy (展开,移植)the knowledge and, potentially, some of the genes into food crops such as wheat and soy beans. Though, as Hartwell points out, it relies on Genetically Modified food becoming widely accepted.
The other route is that these plants could be grown for biomass (大面积高密度的)that could feed into biofuel production. "If this is viable we could perhaps provide, certainly a percentage, of the world’s biofuel needs through using marginal land, and growing desert plants that are very happy to grow there. " With questions being asked about the impact of current biofuel production, as well as food production and prices, the research at Liverpool can create real possibilities for adapting land usage in a time of climate change.
We may infer from the flint paragraph that ______.
选项
A、world population will be a serious problem in the future
B、Hartwell and his team has found a total solution to the food shortage
C、the Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi needs more water than other plants
D、making the crops fit to the desert conditions is significant
答案
D
解析
细节处设题。原文开头提及“世界性的粮食短缺将在所难免”,结尾处说道,在未来的十年中,征服和利用沙漠将成为一项日益重要的工作,由此可以推断如何使作物适应沙漠生长意义重大,故D为答案。
转载请注明原文地址:https://jikaoti.com/ti/1sEFFFFM
0
大学英语四级
相关试题推荐
Shynessisthecauseofmuchunhappinessforagreatmanypeople.Shypeopleareanxiousandself-conscious,thatis,theyamex
OneofthemostexcitingchangesineducationintheUnitedStatestodayisthe【S1】______growthofdistanceeducationatthepos
Manyteachersbelievethattheresponsibilitiesforlearningliewiththestudent.【C1】______alongreadingassignmentisgiven,
PsychologistGeorgeSpilichandcolleaguesatWashingtonCollegeinChestertown,Maryland,decidedtofindoutwhether,asmany
Rob8app,27,fromKent,lovedgameswhenhewasattendingschool.Infact,helovedgamessomuchthathedecidedtobecomeaP
Rob8app,27,fromKent,lovedgameswhenhewasattendingschool.Infact,helovedgamessomuchthathedecidedtobecomeaP
TheJapaneseareexpectinghouseguests.Thesevisitorswillstayforalongtime,servingtea,cleaninghouse,makingConversat
Theideaofbuilding"NewTowns"toabsorbgrowthisfrequentlyconsideredacure—allforurbanproblems.Itiswronglyassumed
A、Hebelieveswhattheannouncersays.B、Hethinksthattheannouncerisverygoodatherwork.C、Hedoesnothaveagoodopinio
A、Breakfast.B、Afternoontea.C、Lunch.D、Supper.C本题为时间判断题。本题关键词是Ihaveaclassat2:00p,m.,说明两人是在吃午饭。
随机试题
A.感受强光和色觉B.感受弱光C.接受刺激产生听觉D.具有营养、绝缘作用螺旋器毛细胞()
【L6】【L7】
人身权作为专属权()
胃中气体上出咽喉所发出的声响,其声长而缓,为胃气上逆,从咽喉部发出的一种不由自主的冲击声,声短而频,呃呃作响,为
解溪穴是足阳明胃经的()
在一起盗窃案件的侦查过程中,下列侦查人员询问证人的做法,哪些是错误的?()
《钢结构工程施工质量验收规范》规定,低合金结构钢在加热矫正后应()。
情景描述:某高层商业综合楼地上30层、地下2层,建筑高度为108.5m,总建筑面积为85000m2,地下一层至地上三层为商场,建筑面积35000m2,地上四层至十层为餐饮与休闲娱乐场所,地上十层以上为普通住宅,地下二层为汽车库。该商业综合楼内设有室内外消火
按金融交易的交割期限可以把金融市场划分为()。
WhatdoesProfessorLibbrechtbelievetobetrue?Whatdothesimplestsnowcrystalslooklike?
最新回复
(
0
)