AccordingtoMarsInc.andBarryCallebaut，twooftheworld'sbig...

问题详情：

According to Mars Inc. and Barry Callebaut，two of the world's biggest chocolate makers，people are eating more cocoa than farmers can grow. That means the world is in the middle of a chocolate shortage—and it could get worse.

Last year，people across the world ate 70,000 metric tons more cocoa than was produced. Chocolate makers say that shortage could reach 1 million metric tons by 2020，and 2 million metric tons by 2030.

Experts say that there are several reasons for this. Higher temperatures and dry weather in West Africa，where about 70 percent of the world's cocoa beans are grown，have greatly hurt production there.

Plant diseases have also destroyed International Cocoa Organization （ICCO）estimates（估计）that the disease has reduced the world's cocoa production by 30 to 40 percent.

As the shortage continues，experts say chocolate bars will get smaller and less tasty. Farmers have been producing a new strain（品种）of cacao，the seed from which cocoa is made，called CCN-51. This strain is resistant（抗……的）to the plant disease and produces about seven times more cocoa beans than typical cocoa strains，but it's less tasty. Producers will also add ingredients such as vanilla and vegetable fat to chocolate so that they can use less cocoa，and chocolate bars will contain more fillers like nuts and raisins.

At the same time，the price of chocolate has been increasing. Cocoa prices have risen by more than 60 percent since 2012.

But it's not all doom and gloom for Central American research organization has developed more new strains of cacao that are diseaes-resistant but still taste good. And some experts say the shortage has been exaggerated（夸大）.“While our estimates show that supply shortages are likely to occur during the next several years，”the ICCO said in a statement，“supplies of cocoa beans should last until production growth increases.”

In other words，the world's chocolate lovers may not need to panic just yet.

32．The main reasons for the cocoa shortage are        .

A．hot and dry climate and plant diseases     B．high temperatures and loss of land

C．cold weather and a water shortage

D．environmental damage and people's waste

33．What do we know about CCN-51?

A．It's a new brand of chocolate.  

B．It can resist diseases and has high production.

C．It enjoys great popularity across the world. 

D．It's tastier than typical cocoa strains.

34．The underlined part “it's not all doom and gloom” can be replaced by        .

A．it's not good           B．it's not all bad news 

C．it's not always clear     D．it's not helpful

35．What is the ICCO's attitude towards the cocoa supply shortage?

A．Doubtful      B．Cautious      C．Unconcerned      D．Optimistic

【回答】

ABBD

知识点：人物传记 故事类阅读

题型：阅读理解