阅读理解
When we Americans shop at the grocery stores today,we don't seem to be surprised at the sight of
strawberries in the winter or perfect tomatoes from Holland.In the space of a generation,we've become
accustomed to eating food that's never grown roots in local soil.In fact,most produce (农产品) grown
in the United States travels an average of 1,500 miles before it gets sold.
Trucking,shipping and flying food from around the country and the globe has a very bad effect on the
environment and on public health.Take grapes for example.Every year,nearly 270 million pounds of
grapes arrive in California,most of them shipped from Chile to the Port of Los Angeles.Their 5,900mile
journey in cargo ships and trucks gives off 7,000 tons of global warming pollution each year,and enough
air pollution to cause dozens of asthma (哮喘) attacks and hundreds of missed school days in California.
The way we eat has a great influence on the health of the planet.By choosing to eat lower on the food
chain,and focusing on local and organic (有机的) produce,we can reduce global warming and air
pollution,avoid poisonous chemicals,support local farmers and enjoy fresh and tasty food.
People are rediscovering the benefits of buying local food.How your food is grown,stored,
transported,processed and cooked can all influence how it affects climate and the environment.
Transportationrelated influences are particularly important for imported food.NRDC calculated the
transportation influences of importing fresh produce and wine widely consumed in California.They
directly compared the climate and air quality influenced by importing the food instead of growing and
consuming it in California.Their analysis shows that-all else being equal-locally grown food is a better
choice.
1. From the passage we can learn that most produce sold at the grocery stores in the US________.
A. is grown by local farmers
B. is from foreign countries
C. comes from far away
D. is out of season
2. What would be the effect of transportation of food?
A. It pollutes the food during the transportation.
B. It makes the cost of the food much higher.
C. It makes the food less fresh and tasteless.
D. It causes air pollution and global warming.
3. Which of the following may have a bad effect on the health of the planet?
A. Eating higher on the food chain.
B. Eating locally grown food.
C. Eating more organic produce.
D. Eating fresh and tasty food.
4. The main purpose of the passage is________.
A. to help local farmers grow and sell their produce
B. to tell people that imported food is less healthy
C. to warn people of the harmfulness of food transportation
D. to get local people to reject the imported food
