阅读理解.
A new study in West Africa shows how farm irrigation systems powered by the sun can
produce more food and money for villagers.The study in Benin found that solarpowered pumps
are effective in supplying water,especially during the long dry season.
SubSaharan Africa is the part of the world with the least food security.The United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that more than one billion of the world's people
faced hunger last year.Around 265 million of them live south of the Sahara Desert.Lack of
rainfall is one of their main causes of food shortages.
Jennifer Burney from Stanford University in California led the study.The research team
helped build three solarpowered drip irrigation (滴灌) systems in northern Benin.Between
30 and 35 women used each system to pump water from the ground or a stream.Each
woman was responsible for farming her own 120 square meters of land.They also farmed
other land collectively.
The solarpowered irrigation systems produced an average of nearly two tons of vegetables
per month.During the first year,the women kept a monthly average of almost nine kilograms
of vegetables for home use.They sold the surplus produce at local markets.The earnings
greatly increased their ability to buy food during the dry season which can last six to nine
months.People in the two villages with the systems were able to eat three to five more
servings of vegetables per day.But making the surplus available at markets also had a wider
effect.
The study compared the villages with two others where women farmed with traditional
methods like carrying water in buckets.The amount of vegetables eaten in those villages also
increased,though not as much.The researchers note that only four percent of the cropland in
SubSaharan Africa is irrigated.Using solar power to pump water has higher costs at first.But
the study says it can be more economical in the long term than using fuels like gasoline,diesel
or kerosene.And solar power is environmentally friendly.
1．Food security in SubSaharan Africa is insufficient mainly because of________.
A．lack of rainfall
B．limitation of farmland
C．a small crop variety
D．little sunlight
2．From the third paragraph we know that________.
A．water is wasted by using the system
B．the farmers irrigate the land together
C．all farmers use irrigation systems in northern Benin
D．the solarpowered systems take up more manpower
3．The underlined word "surplus" in the 4th paragraph most probably means________.
A．special
B．unnecessary
C．extra
D．abandoned
4．Using solar power to pump water has advantages EXCEPT that________.
A．solar energy has higher cost at first
B．solar power helps to protect environment
C．solar power helps farmers increase earnings
D．solar energy can be more economical in the long run
5．What can be the best title for the text?
A．Manpower affects rainfall in Africa
B．Irrigation by carrying water in buckets
C．Solarpowered pumps aid African farmers
D．Vegetable supply increased in African villages
