江苏省无锡市锡南实验中学2020-2021学年高一下学期期末考前练习英语试题 WORD版含答案.doc

1、第二学期期末测试练习卷注意事项：1. 答卷前，考生务必将自己的姓名、考生号等填写在答题卡和试卷指定位置上。2. 回答选择题时，选出每小题答案后，用2B铅笔把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑。如需改动，用橡皮擦干净后，再选涂其他答案标号。回答非选择题时，将答案写在答题卡上，写在本试卷上无效。3. 考试结束后，将本试卷和答题卡一并交回。第一部分 听力 （共两节，满分30分）做题时，先将答案标在试卷上。录音内容结束后，你将有两分钟的时间将试卷上的答案转涂到答题卡上。第一节 （共5小题；每小题1.5分, 满分7.5分）听下面5段对话。每段对话后有一个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听

2、完每段对话后，你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话仅读一遍。例：How much is the shirt? A.19.15. B. 9.18. C. 9.15.答案是C。( ) 1. When does the show start? A. In 5 minutes.B. In 10 minutes. C. In 20 minutes. ( ) 2. What does the man want to buy? A. A book.B. Some paper.C. Some pictures. ( ) 3. Where are the speakers? A. In a

3、 classroom. B. In a bookstore.C. In a library. ( ) 4. With what colour will the speakers probably paint the walls? A. Red. B. Yellow.C. Purple.( ) 5. How old is the woman? A. 30 years old. B. 23 years old.C. 20 years old. 第二节（共15小题；每小题1.5分，满分22.5分）听下面5段对话或独白, 每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项，听每段

4、对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各小题，每小题5秒钟，听完后，各小题将给出5秒钟作答时间，每段对话或独白读两遍。听第6段材料, 回答第6至7题。( ) 6. Whats the greatest advantage of the womans new flat?A. Its very big.B. Its near her workplace.C. She bought it cheaply.( ) 7. What will the flat look like when its finished?A. It will have pink lamps.B. It will have light g

5、reen walls.C. It will have dark blue carpets on the floor.听第7段材料, 回答第8至9题。( ) 8. How long has the man lived in the neighbourhood? A. For half a year. B. For one year. C. For two years. ( ) 9. How are the prices of the restaurant? A. High. B. Very low. C. Reasonable. 听第8段材料, 回答第10至12题。( ) 10. Why doe

6、s the woman want to take the camera? A. To take pictures of China. B. To take pictures of herself. C. To take pictures of the man. ( ) 11. What kind of tea does the woman prefer? A. Red tea.B. Green tea.C. Indian black tea. ( ) 12. How many teabags will the woman take with her? A. 14.B. 70.C. 100. 听

7、第9段材料, 回答第13至16题。( ) 13. What does the woman say about dogs in general? A. They are messy. B. They are annoying. C. They are hard to take care of.( ) 14. Why doesnt the woman agree to have Lion? A. It is unhealthy.B. It is too large.C. It is very noisy.( ) 15. Where will the speakers probably get th

8、e dog? A. From a pet store.B. From a rescue shelter.C. From a friends house.( ) 16. What does the woman ask the boy to show her first in the end? A. That he can clean up after the dog. B. That he can take the dog for walks. C. That he can be responsible for the chores (琐事) around house.听第10段材料，回答第17

9、至20题。( ) 17. Who is Pierre? A. A doctor from Senegal. B. A university researcher. C. A United Nations official. ( ) 18. What does Pierre mainly talk about? A. The purpose of his study. B. The role that UN plays. C. Food supplies in the world. ( ) 19. What would happen if rice crops failed? A. Many p

10、eople would starve to death. B. Wars would happen immediately. C. Many businessmen would earn more.( ) 20. What is the expected outcome of Pierres work? A. A new medicine. B. A new type of rice. C. A new farming method. 第二部分 阅读理解（共两节，满分35分）第一节（共10小题；每小题2.5分，满分25分） 阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。AL

11、ucindas favourite hobby was taking photos. She took pictures of her family on special occasions. Lucinda often looked through her album of family photographs to remind her of wonderful times. One day she read an advertisement for a local photography contest. City officials were seeking colourful and

12、 interesting pictures of the city to make into a series of postcards. Until now Lucinda had photographed only her family, so she thought the photography contest would be a fun challenge.Photography ContestMaking Postcards of ParkervilleEvery year thousands of tourists visit our city. They come to Pa

13、rkerville to enjoy the historical sites and the many special events that our city sponsors. City officials would like to create several souvenir postcards of our city. We invite citizens to take pictures that capture images in and around Parkerville. The winning photographs will be made into postcar

14、ds. Profits from the sale of these postcards will be used to make our city a more attractive place. Here are the rules for the contest:1. You must live in Parkerville to enter the contest.2. Take colour photographs of interesting images in and around our city. You may submit up to four photosone for

15、 each division listed below. Examples are presented for each classification.3. Paste each photo onto a four-inch-by-six-inch index card.4. Write your name and address on the back of the card. Also list the division that the photo represents: events, sites, nature, or businesses.5. Place your photo o

16、r photos in an envelope and mail the envelope to the address below. Entries must be received by July 10.Photo ContestOffice of the Mayor1040 First AvenueParkerville, TX 78626 Events: Photographs of festivals or celebrations, such as the chili cook-off or the county fair Sites: Photographs of unusual

17、 landmarks, such as the gigantic rock at the state park or the citys original schoolhouse Nature: Photographs of animals and plants, such as an armadillo or a field of wildflowers Businesses: Photographs of local shops and restaurants, such as the Saddle Store or the Bakery Barn 6. Winners will be a

18、nnounced at the art festival on July 24, and the winning photos will be displayed.7. There will be prizes for first, second, third, and fourth place in each division. The winners will receive:First placesix all-day passes to Parkerville Amusement ArenaSecond placefive tickets to Parkerville Theater

19、Third placefour small cheese pizzas from the Pizza Palace Fourth placethree pounds of chocolate candy from the Candy Cottage( ) 21. Which is true of Lucinda?A. She has seen the gigantic rock at the state park.B. She usually takes black-and-white photos of her family.C. She has fond memories when she

20、 looks through her photo album.D. She goes to the county fair every year with her family.( ) 22. How will the profit from the sale of postcards be spent?A. On improvements to the city.B. On the Saddle Store.C. In being kept at a local bank.D. In reducing taxes.( ) 23. Whats the purpose of the advert

21、isement?A. To persuade tourists to come to the chili cook-off.B. To announce the winning photos for the postcards.C. To influence the number of votes city officials receive. D. To encourage people to enter the photography contest.BJon Steward, a 10-year-old boy with autism (自闭症), came home from Cumb

22、erland Head Elementary School in Plattsburgh, New York, on April 7 more excited than ever. To celebrate National Poetry Month, his fifth-grade teacher asked her students to write a poem about themselves, beginning every sentence with “I am”.Jon couldnt wait to start writing, so he sat down and didnt

23、 look up until it was finished. A few hours later, he showed the poem to his parents, who immediately got chock up.“I am odd. I am new,” Jon wrote in the poem. “I wonder if you are too. I hear voices in the air. I see you dont and thats not fair.”“I feel like a boy in outer space. I touch the stars

24、and feel out of place,” he went on to write.“At first, we felt sad and hurt that he felt lonely, misunderstood and odd at school,” Steward said. “As the poem went on, we realized that he understood that he was odd and that so was everyone else in their own way. This is what Jon wants everyone to kno

25、w.”Jon was supposed to read his poem aloud to the class the following day, but upon waking up that morning, he refused to go to school. Instead, he stayed at home.He didnt think his poem was any good, so his dad posted it on Facebook in the hope of getting some encouraging comments. Once the Nationa

26、l Autism Association saw the photo, they posted it on their page, where thousands of strangers shared how much the poem inspired them. Now the family has heard from hundreds of parents thanking Jon for showing how their own kids may be feeling at school.( ) 24. Asked to write a poem, Jon Steward fel

27、t _. A. depressed not to write it B. stressed out about it C. anxious about how to write it D. urgent to write it( ) 25. Which definition can best replace the underlined phrase? A. crowded or packed B. worried or upset C. put blocks in D. completely full( ) 26. What can we conclude from the passage?

28、A. Having read the poem, many people felt inspired.B. People with autism were touched after reading the poem.C. A hot debate immediately started after the poem was posted.D. The people who care about Jon felt proud about him.CChicago, Illinois was once the second largest city in the United States. S

29、o, one of its nicknames is The Second City. Over the years, the population of Chicago has decreased. Today it is the third largest American city. However, another nickname for Chicago is still true today. It is the Windy City. Chicago sits next to Lake Michigan, one of North Americas Great Lakes. An

30、yone who has ever lived in Chicago knows how cold that wind can be in winter. The wind travels down the streets between tall buildings in the center of the city. Language expert Barry Popick says on his web site that Chicago was called a “windy city” because of the wind that blows off Lake Michigan.

31、 So, in the eighteen sixties and seventies, Chicago was advertised as an ideal place to visit in the summer. Barry Popick says other cities in the central United States called Chicago a “windy city”. This meant that people in Chicago liked to brag or talk about how great their city was. They were fu

32、ll of wind or full of hot air. He says newspapers in Cincinnati, Ohio used this expression in the eighteen seventies. In nineteen sixteen, the city gained two more nicknames from a poem called “Chicago” written by Carl Sandburg. Here is the first part of the poem:Hog Butcher for the World,Tool Maker

33、, Stacker of Wheat,Player with Railroads and the Nations Freight Handler;Stormy, husky, brawling,City of the Big Shoulders.Chicago was called Hog Butcher for the world because of its huge meat-processing industry. And, it was called The City of the Big Shoulders or City of Broad Shoulders because of

34、 its importance to the nation. ( ) 27. Which of the following could be placed before the first paragraph of the passage?A. Chicago was an important agricultural, industrial and transportation center for the country. B. Interesting nicknames can help establish an identity, spread pride and build unit

35、y.C. The songs My Kind of Town was about Chicago, made popular by Frank Sinatra in nineteen sixty-four. D. With nearly 2.7 million residents, Chicago is the largest American city. ( ) 28. The underlined word “brag” probably means_. A. speak in a loud voice B. do hard work C. talk with too much pride

36、 D. make full use of wind( ) 29. Why was Chicago advertised as an ideal place to visit in the summer? A. Chicago was more beautiful than other cities in the USA. B. Summer is the most comfortable season in the USA. C. Cold wind in winter will leave bad impression on visitors. D. Visitors prefer to g

37、o out in summer rather than in other seasons.( ) 30. Whats the theme of the passage? A. Chicago, a great city. B. Chicago, a controversial city. C. The history and present of Chicago. D. Origins of the nicknames of Chicago.第二节（共5小题，每小题2分，满分10分）根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项（有两项为多余选项）。How to become an

38、artist If you have never spent much time creating art, it may feel scary to try and become an artist. (31)_. If there is a specific type of art you would like to learn more about, go for it, but dont be afraid to branch out and try other mediums as well. Follow these steps to begin the journey along

39、 your own artistic path. Learning the basics on your ownTake some time and try various mediums of art. Some of the most basic forms of art include: drawing, painting, photography, sculpting. Sure you can find your interests. (32)_ Once you have tried out all of the mediums, decide which ones you are

40、 stronger at. Often someone who is fantastic at creating sculptures out of clay cannot paint to save their life. Of course, there are other people who seem like they were created solely to be fantastic artists and excel at every medium. Observe the world around you with the eye of an artist A key pa

41、rt of being an artist is observing the world around you and reflecting it in your art work. Notice how the light changes during the day, how colours affect you, how an interaction makes you feel. (33)_. Take the time to become fully aware of your surroundings and let your observations seep into your

42、 work. Seek out the opinions of others (34)_. Value someones honest opinion, even if it is compiled of constructive criticism. Ask a few people whose opinion you value to look at your art. Dont be discouraged if they arent gasping in awefor most people it takes time to really develop a talent for cr

43、eating art. Develop your own styleThe best way to define yourself as a unique artist is to create your own style within the medium that you have learned. No one can teach you your own styleyou need to discover it for yourself. (35)_. For example, if you like to paint still-life paintings, try painti

44、ng a still life by adding your own touch to it rather than simply replicating what is in front of you. Change the colours, make the subjects look cartoony or distorted in some wayplay around with it.A. Do your research and learn the basicsB. Dont be afraid to show your work to peopleC. As the saying

45、 goes, it is actually really important to stop and smell the rosesD. Try experimenting with different techniquesE. The truth is, everyone is an artistthey just need to exploit their creative sidesF. As the saying goes, art is long, but life is shortG. Recognize your strengths (and weaknesses)第三部分 语言

46、知识运用（共两节，满分45分）第一节（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。“How did you do it, Dad? What has 36 for you to give up the 20-year drinking?” It took me nearly a score of years to have the 37 to even ask my father this very private question. When Dad first 38 drinking, the whole

47、family was on pins and needles every time he got into a(n) 39 that would have started him drinking again. For a few years we were 40 for fear that the drinking would begin again. “I had this little 41 that I would recite to myself at least four to five times a day.” That was Dads reply to my 42 unas

48、ked question. “The words were a 43 reminder to me that things were never so hard that I could not 44 them,” Dad said. Then he shared with me the poem that had 45 him so many years. The poems 46 , yet thoughtful words immediately became part of my daily routine (日常事务) as well.About a month after this

49、 talk with my father, I received a gift in the mail from a friend of mine. It was a book of daily sayings of 47 with one listed for each day of the year. When you get something with 48 of the year on it, you eagerly turn to the page that lists your own 49 .I 50 opened the book to November 10 to see

50、what words of wisdom this book had in store for me. The moment I 51 the page, tears of appreciation and 52 rolled 53 my face. There, on my birthday page, was the exact 54 poem that had 55 my father most for all these years! It is called the Serenity (平静) Prayer.( ) 36. A. thrown inB. cry outC. done

51、the trick D. hit the spot( ) 37. A. opportunity B. courageC. emotionD. right( ) 38. A. abandonedB. absorbedC. overthrewD. claimed( ) 39. A. situationB. eraC. vitalityD. stability( ) 40. A. apartB. ambitiousC. upsetD. eager( ) 41. A. beliefB. poemC. motto D. rhyme ( ) 42. A. 8-year-oldB. 18-year-oldC

52、. 28-year-oldD. 38-year-old( ) 43. A. strikingB. tolerantC. bitterD. constant( ) 44. A. handleB. relieveC. detectD. grasp( ) 45. A. dominatedB. accompaniedC. entitledD. advocated( ) 46. A. simpleB. rigidC. logicalD. funny( ) 47. A. wisdomB. courageC. patience D. insight( ) 48. A. hoursB. daysC. week

53、sD. months( ) 49. A. predictionB. birthdayC. careerD. favorites( ) 50. A. unusuallyB. cautiouslyC. desperatelyD. hurriedly( ) 51. A. glanced atB. stared atC. dug upD. turned over( ) 52. A. reliefB. enthusiasmC. disbeliefD. liberation( ) 53. A. upB. inC. onD. down( ) 54. A. differentB. equalC. sameD.

54、 unlike( ) 55. A. depressedB. disturbedC. transformedD. impressed第二节（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。Cultural TV programmes experienced a come-back at the start of 2017. Two weeks after the conclusion of the hit show Chinese Poetry Competition 2, a new programme, Readers, has bec

55、ome widely popular, (56)_ (inspire) fresh enthusiasm for literature in China.The weekly talk show, (57)_ (produce) by renowned TV personality Dong Qing, invites people from all walks of life (58)_ (read) aloud excerpts of poems, essays and books they like or wrote. The participants also share storie

56、s from their own life explaining why particular pieces touched their hearts or shaped their lives.Since its first broadcast on CCTV-1, Readers has enjoyed an instant success and (59)_ (strike) thousands of people. Through the poetic words, Readers has brought the (60)_ (lose) habit of (61)_ (read) a

57、loud back into the public spotlight.Readers is one of the culture-themed TV programmes to restore the countrys passion for literature in recent years. Its success is very (62)_ (encourage) in todays television world where reality shows (63)_ (play) a leading part so far.With more people (64)_ (refle

58、ct) on their own (65)_ (read) habits, the question now is: when is the last time you read a poem or book excerpts aloud?第四部分 写作（共两节；满分40分）第一节 应用文写作（满分15分）假定你是某中学英文报编辑李华，学校将举行一次 50 周年校庆作品展示（exhibition），请你用英文写一则作品征集启事要点如下：1、作品主题：反映校园生活，表达祝福；2、作品形式：诗词、照片、画作等；3、截止日期：10 月 1 日。注意：1、词数 80 左右；2、可以适当增加细节，以使行

59、文连贯；3、开头和结尾已为你写好，不计入总词数。With the 50th anniversary of our school approaching, we are going to hold an exhibition in its honour. _ We really appreciate everyones active participation.第二节 概要写作（满分25分）阅读下面的短文，根据其内容写一篇60词左右的内容概要。One of the easiest home-makeover tips is to hang beautiful paintings around t

60、he house to fill up empty corners or walls. But, do you know how to identify Western and Chinese paintings? Both painting types will work well if they match the interior design style of the entire space, but do take note that there are a lot of differences between traditional Chinese paintings and W

61、estern paintings.Oil painting is one of the most popular types of Western painting. Oil painters usually draw their artworks on materials like cloth, board, canvas, or thick paper with oily pigments (颜料). In contrast, Chinese paintings are created using ink brush, ink stick, ink stone, and Xuan pape

62、r.Western paintings usually have perspectives ranging between one to three points to accurately describe a scene as it might be captured in a photograph. On the other hand, Chinese artists imagine themselves flying over mountains like birds to observe landscapes, so as to create a moving perspective

63、. The goal is to invite the viewer to wander over and through the landscape.Chinese paintings usually have a lot of unpainted areas while some Western paintings do not leave white spaces. To Chinese painters, unpainted areas are as significant as painted ones. White space is valued to allow the pain

64、ting to breathe and to enable the audience to use their imagination to interpret the scene.Chinese artists use simplified, minimal brushstrokes to draw subjects as they see and feel them. Western artists paint objects according to a light source to paint an objects surface, using more technical brus

65、hstrokes to do so.In China, landscape paintings are called “Shan Shui”, which means mountain and river. Usually, the purpose of Chinese landscape painting is to not only represent the actual appearance of nature but also to reflect the painters feelings and emotions about the landscape and his own p

66、hilosophy of life. In contrast, the subjects portrayed by Western paintings were closely associated with peoples daily lives._第二学期期末测试卷 参考答案第一部分 听力15 CBCBA 610 BABCA 1115 CBCBB 1620 CBAAB第二部分 阅读理解第一节2123 CAD 2426 DBA 2730 BCCD第二节 3135 EGCBD第三部分 语言知识运用第一节 3640 CBAAC 4145 BBDAB 4650 AABBD 5155 ACDCD第二

67、节 56. inspiring 57. produced 58. to read 59. struck 60. lost 61. reading 62. encouraging 63. have played 64. reflecting 65. reading第四部分 写作第一节 With the 50th anniversary of our school approaching, we are going to hold an exhibition in its honour. We sincerely hope that all students will provide origin

68、al artworks to celebrate its birthday.We will be happy to see photos of different school activities which have left a deep impression on you. Besides, you can write Chinese poems to share your sweet experiences of school life. Paintings are also preferred. Whatever your works are, they will show you

69、r talents on such a special occasion. More importantly, it is a good opportunity to extend your best wishes to the school as well as display your colourful school life. Please send in your works before October1st.We really appreciate everyones active participation.第二节 There exist many distinctions b

70、etween Chinese and Western paintings. First, Chinese paintings use ink brush, ink stick, ink stone, and Xuan paper while Western paintings use cloth, board, canvas or thick paper with oily pigments. Second, Compared to Chinese all-sided perspective to capture a scene, Western paintings are usually l

71、imited. Third, Chinese paintings leave much space unpainted, while some Western paintings leave no white spaces. Fourth, Chinese paintings use fewer brushstrokes than Western paintings. Fifth, Chinese paintings mainly reflect the painters feelings and emotions. In contrast, Western paintings reflect

72、 their daily lives. 第二学期期末测试卷 录音文字稿Text 1M: The show starts in 20 minutes. Are you on the way?W: I just left the house 10 minutes ago. Ill run, and I should get there in 5 minutes. Text 2W: Is there anything else you want to buy while we are in downtown?M: Lets stop at the bookstore to get some pape

73、r. I want to draw pictures in our garden today. Text 3W: Id like to borrow a novel for my literature course. Its called The Million Pound Note. Do you have it?M: Yes, we do. Youll find it in Section 8, on the top shelf. Text 4 W: The red colour of the walls looks terrible. Dont you think so?M: Yeah,

74、 we should repaint them with a light colour, like yellow. Itll make the office look lovely! Lets do it right away.Text 5M: Im so excited to start this job today! Have you worked here for a long time?W: Oh, yes, its been a while. I started when I was 20. M: So, youve only been working here for two or

75、 three years?W: Ha, youre sweet! I just celebrated my 10th year here!Text 6M: Hello! So, this is your new flat. Its nice, isnt it?W: Well, I like it because it is so convenient. Its only a ten-minute walk to my company from here.M: Wow. How many rooms does it have?W: There are two bedrooms, a large

76、living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom.M: What are you going to do to make them look nice?W: Well, Im going to paint the walls white, and Im going to buy some lamps next Sunday. Theyre going to be pink. M: What about the floor?W: I have bought some brown carpets. Theyre very easy to clean.M: That so

77、unds good. Im looking forward to seeing it when its finished.Text 7M: I asked my classmate out for dinner tonight. I wonder where I should take her. W: You can try the Indian restaurant near the school. M: Really? Ive been living in this neighbourhood for a year, and Ive been at this school for half

78、 a year, but Ive never noticed an Indian restaurant. Where is it?W: Its just a block away, next to the bank. Theyve been in business for a long time. M: They must be good. W: Yes. Ive been going there for two years and I love it. The food is always excellent. M: How are their prices? W: Theyre reaso

79、nable. M: How is the atmosphere?W: Its a typical Indian restaurant. The lights are low and its good for a private conversation. M: Great. Thanks for your advice.Text 8W: We need to take the camera, Kyle. M: But I look terrible in photographs. W: I want to take photos of China, not you! We can show K

80、atie when we get back. M: Hmm . what else do we need to take?W: Film for the camera. M: Its a digital camera, honey. It doesnt use film. W: Okay. I want to take some teabags, too. M: Teabags? Dont be silly, honey! China is famous for its tea. W: Chinese people drink green tea. M: Whats wrong with gr

81、een tea?W: Its too bitter. I prefer Indian black tea. M: Fine. But dont take too many teabags. W: I drink five cups of tea a day. M: Well, were going for two weeks. Is that right?W: Thats what they told me. M: Okay. Lets do the math. Five teabags a day. Fourteen days. W: Yes, Kyle?M: Uh . whats five

82、 multiplied by fourteen?W: Ha-ha! Do you need a calculator?M: Not at all. I can do it in my head. Its . uh . almost one hundred. W: Five multiplied by fourteen is seventy, honey.Text 9M: Mom, can we get a dog?W: Dogs need a lot of attention, Jeffrey. Do you think you can handle that kind of responsi

83、bility? Its harder than you think.M: Of course I can. Ill take it for walks every day, and clean up after it.W: Do you know what kind of dog you want?M: Yes, Ive been looking at some pictures on the Internet. This one with the long golden hair is named Lion.W: Hes very cute, but we dont have enough

84、room for a dog that big. Those dogs need space to run around, and we live in an apartment. I think we should get a small one.M: OK, then what about this one? My friend has one like this, and everyone likes it.W: Those kinds of dogs always have health problems. Plus, they bark a lot. We dont want to

85、annoy our neighbours.M: So what do you suggest?W: First, we arent getting one from a pet store. They are too expensive. I know a place that saves dogs and gives them away for free.M: OK. W: And second, you need to show me you have the sense of responsibility. That means cleaning your room, doing you

86、r homework, and helping around the house.M: I promise!Text 10M: Hello, everyone. It is indeed a great pleasure to have this chance to address such a large audience this evening. Im Pierre Chabrol from the University of Marseille. At the moment Im carrying out a research in Senegal for the United Nat

87、ions as part of the project to increase the world food production. Before I get on to what exactly we did in our research, I would like to explain briefly the purpose behind it. Quite simply my subject is rice. As you all know, rice is the main food for millions of people in the world. So if rice cr

88、ops fail, millions of people starve and die. And they do fail, very often through disease. Now what my colleagues and I have been doing out in the field in Senegal as well as in the university laboratories is to try to produce a disease-resisting variety of rice, a particular kind of rice which will resist disease, in other words, a stronger type of rice.