英语听力精选进阶版 7209（在线收听）

Background: 科学家首次破解了马铃薯这种作物的全部基因组。这一成果刊登在最新一期的《自然》期刊上。这一突破将有助于提高马铃薯产量。

The humble potato is in fact the world's fourth largest food crop, with a global annual yield of around 330 million tonnes.

In an international project lasting several years, researchers have successfully recorded its complete chemical blueprint, deciphering and organising hundreds of millions of pieces of genetic coding.

By mapping the plant's genome scientists can locate the genes that control various traits, like colour, starchiness and flavour, leading to the creation of improved varieties at a much quicker pace.

Professor Iain Gordon from the James Hutton Institute in Dundee, which headed the British team, said the genome sequence would allow breeders to develop new types that are more nutritious, resistant to pests and diseases and easier to cultivate.

He said the breakthrough could help to meet the challenge of feeding the world's soaring population.

Glossary 词汇表

humble 不起眼的 

the food crop 农作物 

a global annual yield 全球年产量 

the chemical blueprint 化学蓝图 

to decipher 解释 

a trait 一个特点 

the starchiness 淀粉含量 

a breeder 培植人员 

the breakthrough 这一突破 

to soar 大幅上升

Questions and Answers:

1. How popular is the consumption of potatoes? 

It is very popular. The potato is the world's fourth largest food crop and the global annual production is around 330 million tones.

2. Why is the mapping of the genome important? 

Because it helps researchers to create better varieties of potatoes.

3. What kind of potato would be better to feed the world? 

According to the report, it would be new types that might be more nutritious, resistant to pests and easier to cultivate.

4. True or false? It took many years for the British scientists to map the potato genome. 

False. The discovery was made not only by British scientists but by researchers from other countries too.