雅思阅读真题（Part 2）
Part 2 · 考频：中频 · 最近考试：2023.2.25/2010.7.15
With a global food crisis predicted, a group of scientists is advocating an innovative alternative to conventional farming that could radically transform the way that food is produced
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答案：an increasing problem for farmers worldwide
原文定位：Today's environment scientists are in no doubt that the world's resources of fertile soil are rapidly deteriorating, and that new land for agriculture is becoming ever more sparse. Intensive farming, urbanisation, desertification and sea-level rises are all putting growing pressure on the planet's agricultural land and therefore on food supplies. Currently 24 per cent of the world's 11.5 billion hectares of cultivated land has already undergone human-induced soil degradation particularly through erosion
答案：a rising demand for food
原文定位：The global population is expected to exceed nine billion by 2050-up a third from today's level and studies suggest that food production will have to go up by 70 per cent if we are to feed all of those new mouths
答案：potential production capabilities of vertical farms
原文定位：Columbia University professor Dickson Despommier claims that vertical farming could boost crop yields many times over. A single 20-storey vertical farm could theoretically feed 50,000 people;160 skyscraper-sized vertical farms could feed the entire population of New York City, while 180 would be needed to feed London, 289 to feed Cairo and 302 to feed Kolkata
答案：a successful application of vertical farming technology
原文定位：It's a compelling vision, and one that has already been put into practice in Asia;Nevertheless Tokyo-based mushroom producer Hokuto Corporation is a model example of how a vertical farm can be profitable. With 28 vertical mushroom farms operating across the country, it produces some 68,000 tonnes of mushrooms annually
答案：the potential to provide urgent relief
原文定位：Despommier sees them as being capable of helping centres of displaced persons-such as refugee camps-in much the same way that Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) units are deployed in emergency situations;they could become mobile units that could be picked up by helicopters and dropped into the middle of a crisis zone. The food would be ready to pick and eat
答案：various environmental benefits of vertical farming
原文定位：By significantly reducing the amount of land required for food production, vertical farms could help to enrich biodiversity;vertical farming could dramatically cut the utilisation of fossil fuels. And also reduce geopolitical tensions in countries where poor farming conditions cause conflict and malnutrition
答案：erosion
原文定位：Currently 24 per cent of the world's 11.5 billion hectares of cultivated land has already undergone human-induced soil degradation particularly through erosion
答案：operating costs
原文定位：But there are problems, such as initial investment and operating costs that are too great
答案：helicopters
原文定位：they could become mobile units that could be picked up by helicopters and dropped into the middle of a crisis zone
答案：Ted Yamanoko
原文定位：Yamanoko goes on to highlight the relative cost-effectiveness of his organisation's farming practices together with reduced emissions of greenhouse gases
答案：Dickson Despommier
原文定位：Despommier is concerned about the harm which farming has done to the world's landscape over a relatively short time span, particularly the elimination of hardwood forests
答案：Dickson Despommier
原文定位：Columbia University professor Dickson Despommier claims that vertical farming could boost crop yields many times over. A single 20-storey vertical farm could theoretically feed 50,000 people
答案：Natalie Jeremijenko
原文定位：By significantly reducing the amount of land required for food production, vertical farms could help to enrich biodiversity. And according to Jeremijenko, this can, in turn, help to improve the productivity of conventional farms, as the health of agricultural land is often tied to the health of the surrounding ecosystems