A new study says beef production is very damaging to the environment. It damages the environment around ten times more than the production of pork, lamb, chicken or other farm animals. Scientists said cows need 28 times more land and 11 times more water than pigs, sheep or chickens. They also produce a lot of greenhouse gas after they eat. Compared to food like potatoes, wheat, and rice, beef production needs 160 times more land and produces 11 times more greenhouse gases. The scientists said farming (of livestock and crops) is a major cause of global warming. It causes 15 per cent of all greenhouse gases. About half of this is from livestock.

One scientist said we could all reduce our carbon footprint by eating less beef. Professor Mark Sutton from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in the UK said cutting down on the amount of beef we eat is better for the environment than using the car less. He also said that if we ate less beef, we could use the wheat that farmers give to cows to feed starving people. He said this sounds simple, but many governments would not try to do it. Professor Sutton said: "Governments should consider these messages carefully if they want to improve overall production." He added: "The message for the consumer is even stronger. Avoiding excessive meat consumption, especially beef, is good for the environment."

1. TRUE / FALSE:Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.Beef damages the environment 10 times more than lamb or chicken.T / F

b.Beef production needs 28 times more land than lamb production.T / F

c.Lamb production needs 11 times more water than chicken production.T / F

d.Agriculture causes 1.5% of all greenhouse gases.T / F

e.A scientist said our carbon footprint could be lower by eating less beef.T / F

f.The scientist said using the car less is better than eating less beef.T / F

g.The article said governments want to try to reduce beef production.T / F

h.A professor said we should not eat too much beef.T / F

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.Who or what said beef production is damaging to the environment?

2.How much more land does beef production need than lamb?

3.How much more land does beef production need than wheat?

4.What did scientists say was a major cause of global warming?

5.How much of the world's greenhouse gas is from agriculture?

6.What did a scientist say we could do to reduce our carbon footprint?

7.What is Mark Sutton's job?

8.Who could we give wheat to if we do not feed it to cows?

9.For whom is a message stronger, according to Mark Sutton?

10.What did Mark Sutton say we should avoid?

答案

TRUE / FALSE

a T b T c F d F e T f F g F h T

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.A new study

2.28

3.160

4.Farming

5.15%

6.Eat less beef

7.A professor

8.Starving people

9.Consumers

10.Excessive meat consumption