VOA标准英语2013--Kerry Praises Genetically Modified Crops

 

Kerry Praises Genetically¹ Modified Crops

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday the United States supports the use of biotechnology to develop so-called "smart" crops that can withstand droughts and floods and require less fertilization. 

"So we save money and we save the environment and we save lives," he said. "It is a virtuous² circle.  And through innovation, we believe we can help alleviate³ the level of hunger and malnutrition⁴ today, but more than that, we can, hopefully, live up to our responsibilities for the future."

Kerry spoke⁵ as the World Food Prize Foundation director, former U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Kenneth Quinn, announced that Belgian Marc Van Montagu and Americans Mary-Dell Chilton and Robert Fraley were being recognized for pioneering achievements in agricultural biotechnology. 

"And their work led to the development of a host of biologically and genetically enhanced crops that are now grown on a 170 million hectares by over 17 million farmers worldwide. Over 90 percent are small resource poor farmers in developing countries," said Quinn. "We're now able to grow crops with improved yields, resistance to insects and disease, and tolerance⁶ against extreme variation in climate."

The United States is the world's biggest producer and consumer of genetically modified food, and the U.S.-based Monsanto company is the world's largest developer of genetically altered crops.  The company has engineered crops that thrive in some of the world's worst climates and can protect themselves from diseases and pests.  The U.S. has promoted these crops as part of a solution to alleviate world hunger.  But many countries avoid genetically engineered plants fearing harmful long-term effects.

Last month, environmentalists and food safety groups organized a global protest against genetically modified food.  Protesters in the southern city of  Knoxville, Tennessee demanded labeling of genetically modified food products.

"Tell people what's in their food," said a woman protester.  "Let them know if there are genetically modified organisms in their food or not."

"Corporations in collusion with our government oftentimes don't make the best decisions that are right for the long-term health of our children," said another protester.

Proponents⁷ of the genetically enhanced crops argue there is no scientific evidence that they can cause any harm, while the world's growing population raises the global demand for food.

1 genetically   

adv.遗传上

参考例句：

• All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
• Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物

2 virtuous   

adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的

参考例句：

• She was such a virtuous woman that everybody respected her.她是个有道德的女性，人人都尊敬她。
• My uncle is always proud of having a virtuous wife.叔叔一直为娶到一位贤德的妻子而骄傲。

3 alleviate   

v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等)

参考例句：

• The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。
• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。

4 malnutrition   

n.营养不良

参考例句：

• In Africa, there are a lot of children suffering from severe malnutrition.在非洲有大批严重营养不良的孩子。
• It is a classic case of malnutrition. 这是营养不良的典型病例。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。

7 proponents   

n.（某事业、理论等的）支持者，拥护者( proponent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Reviewing courts were among the most active proponents of hybrid rulemaking procedures. 复审法院是最积极的混合型规则制定程序的建议者。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• Proponents of such opinions were arrested as 'traitors. ' 提倡这种主张的人马上作为“卖国贼”逮捕起来。 来自辞典例句