With the global population predicted to hit close to 10 billion by 2050, and forecasts that agricultural production in some regions will need to nearly double to keep pace, food security is increasingly making headlines. In the UK, it has become a big talking point recently too, for a rather particular reason: Brexit.Brexit is seen by some as an opportunity to reverse a recent trend towards the UK importing food. The country produces only about 60 per cent of the food it eats, down from almost three-quarters in the late 1980s. A move back to self-sufficiency, the argument goes, would boost the farming industry, political sovereignty and even the nation’s health. Sounds great — but how feasible is this vision?According to a report on UK food production from the University of Leeds, UK, 85 per cent of the country’s total land area is associated with meat and dairy production. That supplies 80 per cent of what is consumed, so even covering the whole country in livestock farms wouldn’t allow us to cover all our meat and dairy needs.There are many caveats to those figures, but they are still grave. To become much more self-sufficient, the UK would need to drastically reduce its consumption of animal foods, and probably also farm more intensively — meaning fewer green fields and more factory-style production.But switching to a mainly plant-based diet wouldn’t help. There is a good reason why the UK is dominated by animal husbandry: most of its terrain doesn’t have the right soil or climate to grow crops on a commercial basis. Just 25 per cent of the country’s land is suitable for crop-growing, most of which is already occupied by arable fields. Even if we converted all the suitable land to fields of fruit and veg — which would involve taking out all the nature reserves and removing thousands of people from their homes — we would achieve only a 30 per cent boost in crop production.Just 23 per cent of the fruit and vegetables consumed in the UK are currently home-grown, so even with the most extreme measures we could meet only 30 per cent of our fresh produce needs. That is before we look for the space to grow the grains, sugars, seeds and oils that provide us with the vast bulk of our current calorie intake.26. Some people argue that food self-sufficiency in the UK would[A] be hindered by its population growth.[B] contribute to the nation’s well-being.[C] become a priority of the government.[D] pose a challenge to its farming industry.27. The report by the University of Leeds shows that in the UK[A] farmland has been inefficiently utilized.[B] factory-style production needs reforming.[C] most land is used for meat and dairy production.[D] more green fields will be converted for farming.28. Crop-growing in the UK is restricted due to[A] its farming technology.[B] its dietary tradition.[C] its natural conditions.[D] its commercial interests.29. It can be learned from the last paragraph that British people[A] rely largely on imports for fresh produce.[B] enjoy a steady rise in fruit consumption.[C] are seeking effective ways to cut calorie intake.[D] are trying to grow new varieties of grains.30. The author’s attitude to food self-sufficiency in the UK is[A] defensive.[B] doubtful.[C] tolerant.[D] optimistic.

我们来逐题分析这篇文章的内容，并给出每道题的解题过程和答案。

文章大意回顾：

文章讨论的是英国在“脱欧”（Brexit）背景下，关于实现粮食自给自足的讨论。有些人认为脱欧是提高英国粮食自给率、振兴农业、增强主权和改善国民健康的机会。但文章通过数据指出，这种设想面临巨大现实挑战：

• 英国目前只生产自己消费食物的60%，远低于1980年代的75%。
• 85%的土地用于肉类和乳制品生产，但只能满足80%的需求，说明即使全国都用来养畜也不够。
• 要提高自给率，必须大幅减少动物性食品消费，或转向更密集的工业化养殖（意味着牺牲绿地）。
• 改为以植物性饮食为主也行不通，因为英国大部分土地不适合种庄稼——只有25%的土地适合耕种，且大多已被使用。
• 即使把所有适合的土地都用来种水果蔬菜，产量也只能提高30%，而目前本土生产的果蔬仅占消费量的23%。
• 还没有考虑主食（谷物、糖、油等）的种植空间需求。

整体来看，作者认为英国实现粮食自给自足非常困难，对这一目标持怀疑态度。

第26题：

题目： Some people argue that food self-sufficiency in the UK would
一些人认为英国的粮食自给自足会……

选项：
[A] be hindered by its population growth.（受人口增长阻碍）
[B] contribute to the nation’s well-being.（有助于国家福祉）
[C] become a priority of the government.（成为政府的优先事项）
[D] pose a challenge to its farming industry.（对农业产业构成挑战）

解题过程：

回到原文第二段：

> A move back to self-sufficiency, the argument goes, would boost the farming industry, political sovereignty and even the nation’s health.
> 支持者认为，回归自给自足将促进农业产业、政治主权，甚至国民健康。

这说明，有些人认为粮食自给自足会带来多方面的好处，包括经济、政治和健康层面。

“nation’s health”（国民健康）属于“nation’s well-being”（国家福祉）的一部分。

所以，选项 [B] contribute to the nation’s well-being（有助于国家福祉）是正确的。

其他选项分析：

• [A] 文中未提人口增长是阻碍因素。
• [C] 没说政府是否会将其列为优先事项。
• [D] 实际上支持者认为会“boost the farming industry”（促进农业），而不是构成挑战。

答案：
\boxed{B}

第27题：

题目： The report by the University of Leeds shows that in the UK
利兹大学的报告表明，在英国……

选项：
[A] farmland has been inefficiently utilized.（农田利用效率低下）
[B] factory-style production needs reforming.（工厂式生产需要改革）
[C] most land is used for meat and dairy production.（大部分土地用于肉类和乳制品生产）
[D] more green fields will be converted for farming.（更多绿地将被转为农田）

解题过程：

原文第三段：

> According to a report on UK food production from the University of Leeds, UK, 85 per cent of the country’s total land area is associated with meat and dairy production.

明确指出：85%的土地与肉类和乳制品生产相关。

这说明大部分土地确实用于畜牧业。

因此，选项 [C] most land is used for meat and dairy production 正确。

其他选项分析：

• [A] “效率低下”是作者的推论，不是报告直接显示的内容。
• [B] 工厂式生产是未来可能的方向，但报告没说需要“改革”。
• [D] “将要转化”是假设未来行为，报告只是陈述现状。

答案：
\boxed{C}

第28题：

题目： Crop-growing in the UK is restricted due to
英国种植作物受限的原因是……

选项：
[A] its farming technology.（农业技术）
[B] its dietary tradition.（饮食传统）
[C] its natural conditions.（自然条件）
[D] its commercial interests.（商业利益）

解题过程：

原文第四段：

> There is a good reason why the UK is dominated by animal husbandry: most of its terrain doesn’t have the right soil or climate to grow crops on a commercial basis.

关键句：“most of its terrain doesn’t have the right soil or climate” —— 大部分地形没有合适的土壤或气候。

这明显指的是自然条件的限制。

所以，正确答案是 [C] its natural conditions。

其他选项分析：

• [A] 没提到技术问题。
• [B] 饮食传统不是限制种植的原因，而是结果之一。
• [D] 商业利益也不是文中提到的限制因素。

答案：
\boxed{C}

第29题：

题目： It can be learned from the last paragraph that British people
从最后一段可以得知，英国人……

选项：
[A] rely largely on imports for fresh produce.（在新鲜农产品上严重依赖进口）
[B] enjoy a steady rise in fruit consumption.（水果消费稳步上升）
[C] are seeking effective ways to cut calorie intake.（正在寻找有效方式减少热量摄入）
[D] are trying to grow new varieties of grains.（正在尝试种植新的谷物品种）

解题过程：

最后一段：

> Just 23 per cent of the fruit and vegetables consumed in the UK are currently home-grown, so even with the most extreme measures we could meet only 30 per cent of our fresh produce needs.

意思是：目前英国消费的果蔬中，只有23%是本土生产的。

也就是说，77%依赖进口，因此可以推断英国人严重依赖进口来满足新鲜农产品需求。

所以，选项 [A] rely largely on imports for fresh produce 正确。

其他选项：

• [B] 没提到消费上升。
• [C] 虽然提到主食提供大部分热量，但没有说人们在努力减少摄入。
• [D] 没有提到尝试种植新品种谷物。

答案：
\boxed{A}

第30题：

题目： The author’s attitude to food self-sufficiency in the UK is
作者对英国粮食自给自足的态度是……

选项：
[A] defensive.（辩护的）
[B] doubtful.（怀疑的）
[C] tolerant.（容忍的）
[D] optimistic.（乐观的）

解题过程：

整篇文章的语气是理性分析、揭示困难。

作者引用数据说明：

• 即使全国土地都用于畜牧业也不够；
• 改种作物受自然条件限制；
• 即使极端手段也只能满足30%的果蔬需求；
• 还没解决主食问题。

这些都在强调：实现自给自足几乎不可能。

虽然开头提到有人支持，但作者通过数据和逻辑质疑这一愿景的可行性。

因此，作者的态度是怀疑的。

[B] doubtful 正确。

其他选项：

• [A] 防御性：作者没有为某立场辩护。
• [C] 容忍：不是中立容忍，而是明确指出问题。
• [D] 乐观：完全相反，作者并不乐观。

答案：
\boxed{B}

最终答案汇总：

26. \boxed{B}
27. \boxed{C}
28. \boxed{C}
29. \boxed{A}
30. \boxed{B}