第一篇:
Do you want something different for dinner? Try some space food. Scientists are experimenting with
ways to grow food in space. Scientists think that in 20 or 30 years, astronauts will be able to live in space
colonies off the planet. Already many scientists are living for months on the International Space Station
high above the earth. It’s too expensive to carry food to feed people living in space colonies. People in
space colonies will need to grow food for themselves. But how can they grow food without soil and
sunlight? Today, we already have hydroponic vegetables. These are vegetables you can grow without soil. The
food can grow in an artificial environment. The science of hydroponics is not new. Many writers believe
that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were actually a large hydroponic system. This system could have
used fresh water that was rich in oxygen and minerals for the plants. Hydroponic systems need light. In
addition to sunlight, hydroponic farms can use artificial lights. Instead of soil, hydroponic farms can use
special material, such as charcoal and mixtures of chemicals, to feed the plants. And in addition to a
natural climate, most hydroponic farms often use greenhouses. One advantage of hydroponics is that
diseases and insects that travel through the soil are eliminated. Another advantage is that there are no
weeds to pull out.
Nutrition scientists at Cornell University in New York are experimenting with recipes that use these
hydroponic vegetables. The National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) is paying for this nutrition
research. The scientists are trying to develop new systems that will increase the flavor and the vitamin
content of the foods they grow. Some of the Cornell experiments in cooking are unusual. They make
imitation meat dishes, such as carrot drumsticks, made from carrots, peppers, onions, garlic, herbs, and
bread crumbs, instead of chicken. They make dishes made from tofu and seitan (a wheat protein) instead
of meat. How do these unusual foods taste? The scientists invite a group of taste testers into their
laboratories. Every week, 25 people came to taste five different dishes. So far, they have tested 200
different recipes. The carrot drumstick dish was a hit. It rated an eight out of nine. Perhaps soon, people
will eat meals made from hydroponic vegetables that are truly out of this world.
【題組】Which of the following is an advantage of growing hydroponic vegetables?
(A)The vegetables will grow bigger and tastier.
(B)Farmers will have more pleasure in weeding.
(C)Farmers can save money in buying fertilizers.
(D)The vegetables are less likely to get diseases.