题目

It is the world’s fourth-most-important food crop, after maize, wheat and rice. It provides more calories, more quickly, using less land and in a wider range of climates than any other plant. It is, of course, the potato. The United Nations has hoped that greater awareness of the merits of potatoes will contribute to the achievement of its Millennium Development Goals, by helping to reduce poverty and promote economic development. The potato promoted economic development by supporting the Industrial Revolution in England in the 19th century. It provided a cheap source of calories and was easy to cultivate, so it liberated workers from the land. Potatoes became popular in the north of England, as people there specialized in livestock farming and domestic industry, while farmers in the south concentrated on wheat production. By a happy accident, the concentrated industrial activity in the regions where coal was readily available, and a potato-driven population boom provided ample workers for the new factories. Friedrich Engels even declared that the potato was the equal of iron for its "historically revolutionary role". In the form of French fries, served alongside burgers and Coca-Cola, potatoes are now a symbol of globalization. This is quite a change given the skepticism which first greeted them on their arrival in the Old World in the 16th century. They were variously thought to be fit only for animals, to be associated with the devil or to be poisonous. They took hold in 18th- century Europe only when war and famine meant there was nothing else to eat; people then realized just how useful and reliable they were. As Adam Smith, one of the potato’s many admirers, observed at the time, "The very general use which is made of potatoes in these kingdoms as food for man is a convincing proof that the prejudices of a nation, with regard to diet, however deeply rooted, are by no means unconquerable." Mashed, fried, boiled and roast, a humble potato changed the world, and people everywhere should celebrate it.What Adam Smith said could be used to demonstrate the potato’s ().A. general useB. main featuresC. success storyD. bright future

It is the world’s fourth-most-important food crop, after maize, wheat and rice. It provides more calories, more quickly, using less land and in a wider range of climates than any other plant. It is, of course, the potato. The United Nations has hoped that greater awareness of the merits of potatoes will contribute to the achievement of its Millennium Development Goals, by helping to reduce poverty and promote economic development. The potato promoted economic development by supporting the Industrial Revolution in England in the 19th century. It provided a cheap source of calories and was easy to cultivate, so it liberated workers from the land. Potatoes became popular in the north of England, as people there specialized in livestock farming and domestic industry, while farmers in the south concentrated on wheat production. By a happy accident, the concentrated industrial activity in the regions where coal was readily available, and a potato-driven population boom provided ample workers for the new factories. Friedrich Engels even declared that the potato was the equal of iron for its "historically revolutionary role". In the form of French fries, served alongside burgers and Coca-Cola, potatoes are now a symbol of globalization. This is quite a change given the skepticism which first greeted them on their arrival in the Old World in the 16th century. They were variously thought to be fit only for animals, to be associated with the devil or to be poisonous. They took hold in 18th- century Europe only when war and famine meant there was nothing else to eat; people then realized just how useful and reliable they were. As Adam Smith, one of the potato’s many admirers, observed at the time, "The very general use which is made of potatoes in these kingdoms as food for man is a convincing proof that the prejudices of a nation, with regard to diet, however deeply rooted, are by no means unconquerable." Mashed, fried, boiled and roast, a humble potato changed the world, and people everywhere should celebrate it.What Adam Smith said could be used to demonstrate the potato’s ().
  • A. general use
  • B. main features
  • C. success story
  • D. bright future

题目解答

答案

C

解析

步骤 1：理解背景信息
文章讲述了土豆在世界上的重要性，以及它如何促进了经济的发展。文章还提到了土豆在英国工业革命中的作用，以及它如何克服了人们对它的偏见，最终成为一种广泛使用的食物。

步骤 2：分析Adam Smith的引用
Adam Smith的引用强调了土豆在英国作为食物的广泛使用，这证明了人们对饮食的偏见是可以被克服的。这表明土豆成功地克服了人们的偏见，成为了一种广泛接受的食物。

步骤 3：选择正确答案
根据Adam Smith的引用，我们可以看出他强调的是土豆成功地克服了人们的偏见，成为了一种广泛接受的食物。因此，Adam Smith的引用可以用来证明土豆的成功故事。