雅思阅读真题（Part 2）
新西兰坎特伯雷农业变迁
本篇也叫：坎特伯雷农业、新西兰农业变化、坎特伯雷农场、新西兰农场变化、坎特伯雷平原农业、新西兰乳制品业
Part 2 · 最近考试：2026.10.17陕西师范大学
本篇为雅思阅读真题（Part 2）《The changing face of farming in the Canterbury region of New Zealand》，共 13 题，2026.10.17陕西师范大学雅思考试真题回忆，页面提供完整原文、题目、答案与解析，并支持在线机考模式免费练习。本页同时提供 Markdown 版本 供 AI 助手与搜索引擎直接读取。
文章讲述新西兰南岛坎特伯雷平原农业近几十年的巨大变化，从单一作物转向多样化种子种植，并因乳制品业兴起而转为奶牛养殖，导致水资源短缺，农民采用高科技灌溉系统，同时面临公众对用水浪费的质疑。
A
The landscape of the rural Canterbury plains in the South Island of New Zealand has been changing since Europeans first arrived in the country some 200 years ago, but in recent decades the speed of change has increased dramatically. Today it is terms such as 'mechanisation', 'intensification' and 'conversion' that you'll hear on a typical farm. Modern agriculture's rhythms are urgent, its scale corporate. Driving across the Canterbury plains today, there are futuristic grain research stations and slick billboards promoting harvest-boosting technologies.
B
Local farmer Graham Robertson has both observed and participated in the reinvention of Canterbury agriculture. 'The list of changes is as long as your arm,' says Robertson. 'We used to grow one crop, but today we've got a huge variety including grass seeds, clover seeds, seeds for American golf courses, legumes…'. One reason is that the big seed companies located in areas of the Northern Hemisphere want to diversify, and because Canterbury is in the Southern Hemisphere, we can grow crops out of season and have proved ourselves at producing the quality they demand. He does not lament the vanishing rural world, however. 'I admire the technology,' says Robertson. 'One complaint was that this new approach would likely result in a dust bowl. But good management practices have meant the soil isn't blowing away after all.'
C
Today, it's not plant pests and disease that are the problem, but shortage of water caused by the new popularity of dairy farming. Mid-Canterbury farmer Richard Johnson is a case in point. He converted from growing crops to dairy farming five years ago because he could see himself getting left behind by neighbours who'd made the switch. He says, 'We thought, if we don't go through this process, eventually we are going to get taken over.' Water, which they found by boring 60 metres below the ground, is essential for the green grass needed by dairy cows. The crucial piece of equipment on the farm has become the high-tech mechanical irrigation system. Soil moisture monitors in the earth beneath each irrigation station signal exactly when they need to turn the water pumps on. Public perception is that 'this water is being wasted,' says Johnson. 'But farmers think long and hard before they turn the irrigation on, because it's expensive.'
D
Murray Rogers, who heads the South Canterbury Water Trust, says that the unrestricted taking of water from local rivers has to be reconsidered. 'Reduced flow in the rivers means less dilution of pollutants and so we've been getting more toxic algal blooms,' says Rogers. He insists that the only long-term solution is for local government to take control of how much water farmers may take. Another critic is ecologist Colin Meurk, who argues that dairying has caused serious damage to Canterbury's biodiversity, waterways and indigenous ecosystems. He conducted a survey and found that precious little native habitat has survived – in terms of biodiversity Canterbury is 'one of the most diminished parts of the country'. However, Keith Woodford, professor of farm management at Lincoln University, doesn't accept that dairying is responsible for this problem with biodiversity. 'Much of the degradation you see in lowland areas is actually the result of practices going back to the 1960s,' he says, emphasising that modern farming techniques are not at fault.
E
What is not in dispute is the extent to which the region has been transformed. In the 1980s, the rural Canterbury town of Ashburton was often deserted, but today you will find a bustling community. Whereas the surrounding land was once known as 'sheep country', today there's no question that the increasing popularity of dairy production has been the single greatest contributor to the region's newfound prosperity. However, the reversal of fortunes for rural Canterbury has other causes as well. In recent decades, a significant portion of land has been given over to a relatively new industry: the production of wine, which has taken off in Canterbury and many other parts of the country. In addition, Canterbury's natural beauty has meant tourism has contributed to its prosperity for decades, and visitor numbers today are so high that the region's once quiet rural roads have never been so congested. Another important change is that more than 100,000 hectares of rural Canterbury are now divided into small blocks of land, tended by the so-called lifestylers – people who once lived in urban areas but have come to enjoy the rural culture and keep a few animals, though they usually have another source of income to support themselves.
F
But with the transformation have come new stresses. Farmers whose families have been here for generations, and who are focused on the production of crops, don't necessarily relate well to these recent arrivals, with disputes arising over such issues as the intensification of farming and the heavy dependence on chemicals. The social mix is made even more complex because the modern rural workforce, once made up entirely of locals, is increasingly reliant on migrants who are brought in at harvest time, introducing a cosmopolitan element to Canterbury, at least for a few months of the year. With so many competing interests and so much disagreement about the best way forward, what happens next is anyone's guess.
*dairy farming: keeping cows for the production of milk and milk products
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答案：C
原文定位：Soil moisture monitors in the earth beneath each irrigation station signal exactly when they need to turn the water pumps on
同义替换：「water is distributed to plants」↔「irrigation station」
答案：A
原文定位：Today it is terms such as 'mechanisation', 'intensification' and 'conversion' that you'll hear on a typical farm
同义替换：「expressions」↔「terms」，「used by Canterbury farmers」↔「you'll hear on a typical farm」，「some examples」↔「such as」
答案：D
原文定位：He insists that the only long‑term solution is for local government to take control of how much water farmers may take
同义替换：「argument for」↔「insists that」，「increased regulation」↔「local government to take control of how much water farmers may take」，「agriculture」↔「farmers」
答案：B
原文定位：One reason is that the big seed companies located in areas of the Northern Hemisphere want to diversify, and because Canterbury is in the Southern Hemisphere, we can grow crops out of season and have proved ourselves at producing the quality they demand
同义替换：「agricultural advantage」↔「we can grow crops out of season」，「over another part of the world」↔「Northern Hemisphere」
答案：Richard Johnson
原文定位：Mid-Canterbury farmer Richard Johnson is a case in point. He converted from growing crops to dairy farming five years ago because he could see himself getting left behind by neighbours who'd made the switch
同义替换：「changed our farm」↔「converted from growing crops to dairy farming」，「people around us」↔「neighbours」，「Richard Johnson」↔「Richard Johnson」
答案：Keith Woodford
原文定位：However, Keith Woodford, professor of farm management at Lincoln University, doesn't accept that dairying is responsible for this problem with biodiversity. 'Much of the degradation you see in lowland areas is actually the result of practices going back to the 1960s,' he says, emphasising that modern farming techniques are not at fault
同义替换：「Today's problems with biodiversity」↔「Much of the degradation you see in lowland areas」，「have older origins」↔「practices going back to the 1960s」，「than people realise」↔「modern farming techniques are not at fault」，「Keith Woodford」↔「Keith Woodford」
答案：Richard Johnson
原文定位：Public perception is that 'this water is being wasted,' says Johnson. 'But farmers think long and hard before they turn the irrigation on, because it's expensive
同义替换：「non‑farmers realise」↔「Public perception」，「Farmers are more cautious about water use」↔「farmers think long and hard before they turn the irrigation on」，「Richard Johnson」↔「Johnson」
答案：Colin Meurk
原文定位：Another critic is ecologist Colin Meurk, who argues that dairying has caused serious damage to Canterbury's biodiversity, waterways and indigenous ecosystems. He conducted a survey and found that precious little native habitat has survived – in terms of biodiversity Canterbury is 'one of the most diminished parts of the country
同义替换：「has been seriously reduced」↔「most diminished」，「modern farming」↔「dairying」，「Colin Meurk」↔「Colin Meurk」
答案：wine
原文定位：In recent decades, a significant portion of land has been given over to a relatively new industry: the production of wine, which has taken off in Canterbury and many other parts of the country
同义替换：「in recent years」↔「In recent decades」，「success」↔「has taken off」，「industry」↔「the production of wine」
答案：tourism
原文定位：In addition, Canterbury's natural beauty has meant tourism has contributed to its prosperity for decades, and visitor numbers today are so high that the region's once quiet rural roads have never been so congested
同义替换：「For a long time」↔「for decades」，「has brought wealth to the region」↔「has contributed to its prosperity」，「traffic is becoming a problem」↔「rural roads have never been so congested」
答案：lifestylers
原文定位：Another important change is that more than 100,000 hectares of rural Canterbury are now divided into small blocks of land, tended by the so-called lifestylers – people who once lived in urban areas but have come to enjoy the rural culture and keep a few animals, though they usually have another source of income to support themselves
同义替换：「a group known as」↔「the so‑called」，「moved out from the city」↔「people who once lived in urban areas」，「social make‑up has also been affected」↔「Another important change」
答案：chemicals
原文定位：Farmers whose families have been here for generations, and who are focused on the production of crops, don't necessarily relate well to these recent arrivals, with disputes arising over such issues as the intensification of farming and the heavy dependence on chemicals
同义替换：「Disagreements」↔「disputes arising」，「newcomers and established farmers」↔「Farmers whose families have been here for generations」
答案：migrants
原文定位：The social mix is made even more complex because the modern rural workforce, once made up entirely of locals, is increasingly reliant on migrants who are brought in at harvest time, introducing a cosmopolitan element to Canterbury, at least for a few months of the year
同义替换：「social diversity is increased」↔「The social mix is made even more complex」，「work on farms」↔「rural workforce」