Unit 2 The United Kingdom Grammar课时作业

Ⅰ.阅读理解

(2018·江西省上饶市三模)Cotton farmers in some Indian villages are busily buying Coca－Cola and Pepsi，believing that the sugar in the fizzy(有泡沫的)drinks kills pests.

Farmers say scientists advised them to mix pesticides with a sugary juice to control pests，and they found the mixture cheaper and more effective than pure chemicals－although soft drink makers and scientists dismissed the remarks.N.Hamunayya，who has become a famous person in his village in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh，said his crop survived an attack of pests which had resisted other pesticides."We found that all the colas had uniform effect on pests.The pests became dead and fell to the ground，"he said.He said the drinks had all the elements they needed：they were cheaper，sticky，fizzy，and attracted ants，which ate the young of the pests.But Thinupathi Reddy，assistant director of the Regional Agri－Research Station，Guntur，says tests had proved such results wrong."We conducted some field trials on cotton crop at our research station.There was no obvious productivity or destruction of pests，"he says.

Statements from Pepsi and Coca－Cola said there was "no scientific basis"for this_practice.But their dealers are enjoying increasing sales.Mantan Wall，who sells soft drinks in 17 villages in the region，said sales rose up，thanks to the farmers."For the 10 days between August and September I had successful business.Instead of just 30 cases(each containing a dozen one－litre bottles)of cola，I started selling almost 200 cases，"he said."We expected the sales to drop after the news over pesticide residues(残留)in the cola drinks.Now I have to keep extra supply for the cotton farmers，"he said.

In February，an Indian environment group made a report saying drinks made by Coca－Cola and Pepsi contained pesticides and called for tougher safety standards.The U．S firms strongly rejected the findings of the New Delhi－based Centre for Science and Environment and said their products were safe.