英语听力精选进阶版 7082（在线收听）

Background: 韩国巨头企业大宇公司正在就租赁马达加斯加农地的计划进行最后细节的签订。此举旨在确保韩国未来的粮食供应。大宇公司已租下相当于比利时面积二分之一的农地种植庄稼作物，并采用非洲的技术力量。

Daewoo says it will grow corn and palm oil on huge tracts 广阔的地面 of Madagascan farmland that the company has leased 租借 for 99 years.

This ambitious scheme 雄心勃勃的计划 will cover 1.2 million hectares 公顷 and is part of South Korea's plans to ensure its access to food supplies in the coming years.

The scheme is designed to provide more than half the country's imports of corn when it's fully operational in 15 years' time.

A number of Asian countries have been attempting to ensure 确保 their access to food supplies since unrest 骚动 over food broke out earlier this year.

And some African countries have been keen to receive overseas investment 海外投资.

Angola has offered farmland for development 发展 and Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, said he's eager 急切地 to see foreign companies take a stake 整理 in his country's agriculture 农业.

GLOSSARY 词汇表

tracts 广阔的地面

leased 租借

ambitious scheme 雄心勃勃的计划

hectares 公顷

ensure 确保

unrest 骚动

overseas investment 海外投资

development 发展

eager 急切地

stake 整理

agriculture 农业

Questions and Answers

1. True or False? South Korea has bought a lot of farmland in Madagascar.

False. South Korea is renting the land for 99 years.

2. How much land is involved in the deal?

More than 1 million hectares.

3. How long will it take for the scheme to be fully functioning?

The scheme will take 15 years to become operational.

4. Which other African countries have expressed interest in doing something similar? 

Angola and Ethiopia are keen to get involved.