新托福考试听力特训 CD1-Track18

CD1-track18

Geography: American Southern Coastlands

1. What is the main topic of the lecture?

A The geographical¹ division in the Southern Coastlands.

B The impact of the climate on agriculture of the Southern Coastlands.

C The economic situation in orange markets of the Southern Coastlands.

D The importance of rainfall in the food market of the Southern Coastlands.

(B)

2. According to the lecture, what are the main consequences of the warm weather

and a lot of rainfall in the Southern Coastlands? (Click on 2 answers)

A People in the region can grow crops more than once in a year.

B It helped people in the region develop a wonderful system of irrigation.

C The region attracts a lot of migrant workers.

D People in the region can grow specialty² crops.

(A,D)

听力原文：

CD1-track18

Geography: American Southern Coastlands

“Of anywhere in the united states it is in the southern coastlands that the climate has

greatest impact on human geography. There are several factors which affect human

activity: humid subtropical, long growing season, mild winter temperatures and warm

humid summers. There are 9months or more of potential growth for agricultural crops

for almost the whole region of the southern coastland. What is more the average

annual rainfall is more than 125cm mostly between April and October when warm

temperatures support plant growth and sunlight is plentiful³. It is enough rain for most

agricultural activities for almost the entire region. These climactic conditions have

brought forth⁴ 2 important results: farmers can grow their crops until late in the fall

without fear of frost as long as agricultural conditions are met. I mean as long as

there is fertile soil, control of insect pests and appropriate ground drainage. It has

even been possible to harvest 2crops and even more for vegetable farmers. Of greater

importance is the fact that there is the chance to produce specialty crops that cannot

be produced in other parts of the United States. Although the region where citrus

fruits have been produced has slowly moved southwards along the peninsulas interior citrus production. Citrus production has been noteworthy in contributing to Florida’s

economy. Of the 7 major citrus growths, in Florida orange and grapefruit are most

important. Most oranges, about 80% today, are processed rather than being sold fresh.

The processing of oranges has had affects on other parts of the economy as more

people are employed in the industry and sales are not limited to the harvest period but

continue all year long. The grapefruit is produced in a similar area as the orange, but

the demand and output is only about 25% of the orange. These 2 citrus fruits are also

grown in south Texas but with irrigation. Production costs for citrus fruits mainly

come from harvesting. The fruit must be picked by hand from the trees. During the

harvesting season thousands of migrating laborers⁵ flock to Florida to do the

physically⁶ strenuous⁷ in the citrus groves⁸. In the mainland United States it is only in

the southern coastlands sugar cane⁹ production is found. It is in production all year

round and needs more than one year to reach full maturity¹⁰. It is intolerant of frost and

needs a large amount of water more than 125 cm per year. Rice has fewer climactic

requirements than sugar cane. As long as rice has sufficient water it will mature

according to the amount of heat it receives in the summer. In Louisiana and Texas rice

is grown with irrigation. Besides specialty crops there are parts of the southern

coastlands which are one of the countries main areas for growing vegetables. In the

winter urban markets are filled with fresh vegetables grown in Florida and along the

southern part of states along the gulf¹¹.”

1 geographical   

adj.地理的；地区(性)的

参考例句：

• The current survey will have a wider geographical spread.当前的调查将在更广泛的地域范围內进行。
• These birds have a wide geographical distribution.这些鸟的地理分布很广。

2 specialty   

n.(speciality)特性，特质；专业，专长

参考例句：

• Shell carvings are a specialty of the town.贝雕是该城的特产。
• His specialty is English literature.他的专业是英国文学。

3 plentiful   

adj.富裕的，丰富的

参考例句：

• Their family has a plentiful harvest this year.他们家今年又丰收了。
• Rainfall is plentiful in the area.这个地区雨量充足。

4 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

5 laborers   

n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工

参考例句：

• Laborers were trained to handle 50-ton compactors and giant cranes. 工人们接受操作五十吨压土机和巨型起重机的训练。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Wage-labour rests exclusively on competition between the laborers. 雇佣劳动完全是建立在工人的自相竞争之上的。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言

6 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

7 strenuous   

adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的

参考例句：

• He made strenuous efforts to improve his reading. 他奋发努力提高阅读能力。
• You may run yourself down in this strenuous week.你可能会在这紧张的一周透支掉自己。

8 groves   

树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The early sun shone serenely on embrowned groves and still green fields. 朝阳宁静地照耀着已经发黄的树丛和还是一片绿色的田地。
• The trees grew more and more in groves and dotted with old yews. 那里的树木越来越多地长成了一簇簇的小丛林，还点缀着几棵老紫杉树。

9 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。

10 maturity   

n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期

参考例句：

• These plants ought to reach maturity after five years.这些植物五年后就该长成了。
• This is the period at which the body attains maturity.这是身体发育成熟的时期。

11 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。