Genetically modified (GM) foodstuffs are here to stay. That’s not to say that food produced by __1__ agriculture will disappear, __2__ simply that food buying patterns will polarize. It may even be that GM food will become the food of __3__ because consumers come to appreciate the health benefits of reduced __4__ use.

　　 The reason GM food will not go away is that we need a three-fold increase in food production by the year 2050 to keep __5 __with the world’s __6__ population growth to ten or eleven billion. It’s not __7__a question of more mouths to feed either. __8__ is often forgotten is that all these extra people will take up space, reducing the overall land __9 __for agriculture.

　　 It may well be that in the long term it is the developing world __10__ benefits most from GM foods. It’s true that for the next ten years or so GM crops may be __11__ expensive. But the lesson of personal computers is applicable here ——once the technology has been developed for money-spinning crops, __12__ maize, soy beans and cotton, it will become __13__ for all. This doesn’t mean, unfortunately, that families will __14__ , but severity and duration will be helped by an __15__ ability to produce and distribute food.

　　 __16__ we move into this new era of agriculture we’re embarking on a journey the world has seen any number of times with experiments before. We have been __17__ species of wheat for several thousand years. Genetic engineers like me are not doing anything as __18__ as making a cabbage into a cauliflower —— __19__ has been done by plant breeders in the past. We’re simply tapping into the whole gene pool, __20__ concentrating on one species at a time.

1. A. conventional B. conversational C. converse D. contradictory
　　
2. A. and B. or C. but D. rather than
　　
3. A. dislike B. preference C. favorable D. disposal
　　
4. A. genetic B. technology C. scientific D. pesticide
　　
5. A. development B. time C. pace D. on
　　
6. A. coming B. expected C. predicted D. thought-provoking
　　
7. A. because of B. for C. from D. just
　　
8. A. That B. Which C. It D. What
　　
9. A. available B. portable C. affordable D. ready
　　
10. A. that B. what C. which D. where
　　
11. A. not B. too C. almost D. nearly
　　
12. A. from B. like C. to D. excluding
　　
13. A. affordable B. expensive C. countable D. exciting
　　
14. A. appear B. disappear C. disclose D. expose
　　
15. A. disapproved B. disagreed C. inclined D. improved
　　
16. A. When B. While C. As D. Because
　　
17. A. refined B. developed C. developing D. refining
　　
18. A. good B. realistic C. dramatic D. developed
　　
19. A. that B. it C. as D. all
　　
20. A. for B. rather than C. while D. and
　　
Key

1-5 A C B D C 6-10 C D D A A 11-15 B B A B D 16-20 C D C C B