考研英语阅读理解练习题及答案

　　出国留学考研网为大家提供2017考研英语阅读理解练习题及答案(四)，更多考研资讯请关注我们网站的更新!

　　2017考研英语阅读理解练习题及答案(四)

　　European Union environmental officials have determined that two kinds ofgenetically modified corn could harm butterflies, affect food chains anddisturb life in rivers and streams, and they have proposed a ban on the sale ofthe seeds, which are made by DuPont Pioneer, Dow Agrosciences and Syngenta. Thepreliminary decisions are circulating within the European Commission, which hasthe final say. Some officials there are skeptical of a ban that would upset thepowerful biotechnology industry and could exacerbate tensions with importanttrading partners like the United States. The seeds are not available on theEuropean market for cultivation.

　　In thedecisions, the environment commissioner, Stavros Dimas, contends that thegenetically modified corn, or maize could affect certain butterfly species,specifically the monarch, and other beneficial insects. For instance, researchthis year indicates that larvae of the monarch butterfly exposed to thegenetically modified corn ’’behave differently than other larvae.’’ In the decision concerning thecorn seeds produced by Dow and Pioneer, Mr. Dimas calls ’’potential damage on theenvironment irreversible.’’ In the decision on Syngenta’s corn, he says that ’’the level of risk generated by thecultivation of this product for the environment is unacceptable.’’

　　A decision bythe European Union to bar cultivat...

　　出国留学考研网为大家提供2017年考研英语阅读理解练习题及答案(三)，更多考研资讯请关注我们网站的更新!

　　2017年考研英语阅读理解练习题及答案(三)

　　RichardBurton probably knew nothing of the small South African town of Cullinan whenhe bought yet another chunky diamond for Elizabeth Taylor in 1969. Now theCullinan mine itself, like so many of the diamonds unearthed there, is about tochange hands. On November 22nd De Beers, the diamond giant that has owned themine since 1930, said it was selling it to a consortium led by Petra Diamonds,one of South Africa’s emerging diamond producers, for 1 billion rand in cash. Providedregulators approve the deal, the transfer should take place by the middle ofnext year.

　　De Beers isselling because the mine is no longer profitable, despite attempts to turn itaround. But Petra reckons the mine still has another 20 years of production init and plans to extract at least 1m carats a year. The unexploited"Centenary Cut" deposit, which lies under the existing mine, couldyield a lot more. This is good news for the mine’s 1,000 or so employees and forthe town, which has depended on the diamond business since Sir Thomas Cullinandiscovered a prospect there in 1898 that contained kimberlite, a rock that canbe rich in diamonds. The mine, established in 1903, is one of 30 or sokimberlite diamond mines in the world, and is believed to be still the world’s second-most-valuable diamondresource

　　Petra is arelatively small outfit, listed on London’s Alternative ...