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Big changes in agriculture are taking place in Singapore. The small, Southeast Asian nation is leading a farming revolution, according to the Reuters news agency.
Singapore covers around 720 square kilometers of land and only one percent of that land area is used for agriculture. Food production costs are higher there than the rest of Southeast Asia. As climate change and population growth threaten food supplies, the pressure on new farmers is to answer the government's call to “grow more with less”.
“Whenever I talk about food security in Singapore, I tell people not to think about land—think about space, because you can go upwards and sideways,” said Paul Teng, an agriculture professor at Nanyang Technological University.
There are more than 30 vertical (垂直的) farms in Singapore—ones that grow up, not across, the land. Sustenir Agriculture is one of these businesses. Its hydroponic (无土栽培的) farm grows nonnative foods like cherry tomatoes and strawberries inside buildings under artificial lighting. Then it sells the produce to local supermarkets and online stores. Sustenir raised $16 million from investors (投资者) last year. The money will be used to expand operations in Singapore.
However, not everyone thinks the new technology is best. Egg farmer William Ho says the government should not depend so much on agriculture technology businesses. “Many of them have failed. That's why I'm always asking the government why it doesn't invest in us oldtimers. We are more practical,” he said. Professor Paul Teng said an issue for urban farmers is that the high cost of the technology makes their products too pricey for many people.
1.What does the second paragraph mainly discuss?
A.High food production costs.
B.Reasons for changes in agriculture.
C.Agricultural technology businesses.
D.Sale expansion of food markets.
2.Which is the way to achieve food security according to Paul Teng?
A.Exploring more space.
B.Buying more food.
C.Enlarging farmland.
D.Investing more money.
3.What do we know about the oldtimers?
A.They work on hightech farms.
B.They benefit from pricey products.
C.They reduce production costs.
D.They need the government's support.
4.Where is this passage probably taken from?
A.A guidebook. B.A brochure.
C.A newspaper. D.A journal.