The exact data on women in agriculture is difficult to pin down. There are variations between countries and agriculture data is challenging to collect. What is clear, however, is that most small-scale farmers are women, making up 60-80 percent of farmers in developing countries. The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN) estimates that between 43 percent to even 70 percent of agricultural labor in some countries comes from women.

But women still don’t have the same rights as men when it comes to farming, making food production harder for women because of gender inequality. For female farmers, it is unquestionably a challenging job to engage in food production.

In the first place, purchasing land, farming equipment and hiring labor can be expensive. These costs are even harder on women because many of them lack access to credit. In nearly 48 economies women face legal restrictions to having control of their own finances.

Getting to the bank is hard too. Mobility for women in rural parts of developing countries is a big concern. Better transportation and infrastructure could help make access to credit more practicable for women. Credit and finance should be equal for everyone, especially women who are held back by gender restrictions.

Sadly, women may run the world, but they do not own it. Women are virtually denied property rights. Traditional customs in place can pass down land through the male side of the family, leaving women out of land rights completely. Other times, women need permission from a male relative or husband to own land.

It has been apparent that women are not as productive farmers as men and work longer hours in some countries like Indonesia. This is largely due to a lack of education. When education is considered more valuable for men (and thus mainly given to men), women farmers are less informed about the best production methods, thus producing less yield in crops and becoming “l(fā)ess productive”. This can all be changed through providing education for women. Removing gender inequality can help feed 130 million people who are currently undernourished.

Despite these barriers, women are definitely not leaving the “field”. In countries experiencing urban growth, men are migrating to urban areas for other jobs while women stay in rural areas, taking on jobs in farming and agriculture. Healthier children, education, and investment into the community are all benefits that female farmers are shown to have on their communities.

Let’s close the gender gap and give women the tools they need to succeed. If women farmers in developing countries have the same rights and opportunities, they will be just as productive. With increasing population, and the need for better food security, supporting women in agriculture is something that cannot afford not to be invested in.

A.the one thatB.one thatC.oneD.the one

1. 安慰Leo；

2. 提出建議；

3. 恰當的結尾。

注意：1. 詞數100左右；

2. 可以適當增加細節(jié)，以使行文連貫。

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A.conventionalB.consistentC.considerateD.controversial

-I like the book! It brings me to places I might not ________ have been either in thoughts or reality.

A.regardlessB.otherwiseC.thereforeD.anyhow

增加：在缺詞處加一個漏字符號（∧），并在其下面寫出該加的詞。

刪除：把多余的詞用斜線（\）劃掉。

修改：在錯的詞下劃一橫線，并在該詞下面寫出修改后的詞。

注意：1. 每處錯誤及其修改均僅限一詞；

2. 只允許修改10處，多者（從第11處起）不計分。

I went to watch the ballet The Peony Pavilion last Sunday’s evening. Because I think ballet was more or less the same everywhere, I was total unprepared for its unique beauty. I was absorb as soon as the curtain rose up. The performance borrowed a lot from Chinese dance and music, but the Eastern influence on the ballet was clear. The production was filled in colours and romantic symbols, and challenged my sense in new ways. So much did I enjoy that it has changed my opinion about ballet. I can’t wait to going again!

【2】The Chinese food found in Western restaurants is mainly cooked through frying. Many dishes are cooked using various frying methods. However, traditional Chinese food is rarely cooked through frying. Instead, methods such as baking, steaming, boiling and fermenting (發(fā)酵) are more commonly used.

Another big difference between authentic and westernized Chinese food is the ingredients used. 【3】 Some ingredients — like carrots, onions and tomatoes — are not often used in authentic Chinese cooking. In addition, while you can find some Western cuisines that use strange meats — like pig ears — most Western cultures are pretty conservative about the meats they consume. Authentic Chinese food, in contrast, uses a wider variety of protein sources, including tofu, snake, chicken feet, duck blood and many more that Westerners generally wouldn’t choose to eat.

【4】Sweet and Sour Chicken, for example, has no equivalent（同等物）in traditional Chinese cuisine. Similarly, the fortune cookie is a completely American invention.

Indeed, there are numerous differences between authentic and westernized Chinese cuisine, but Western palates (味覺) adapt to new flavors easily. 【5】

A.The history of westernized Chinese food started in the mid-1800s.

B.Westernized Chinese food features vegetables that are common in Western cuisines.

C.There are so many regions of China, and they all prepare their dishes a little bit differently.

D.So it may only be a matter of time before authentic Chinese food becomes popular in America.

E.Many of the most popular Chinese dishes in the West are not served in Chinese restaurants at all.

F.Deep frying food is quick, which is why you can usually get your Chinese food in just a few minutes.

G.One of the main differences between authentic and westernized Chinese food lies in cooking methods.

A.furthered; buyingB.furthered; to buy

C.furthering; to be boughtD.furthering; buying

—______. We really appreciate your assistance.

A.Every little helps

B.It’s better to give than to receive

C.The more, the better

D.The best things come in small packages

A.Move out.B.Get an extra bed.C.Stay for one more month.