新托福考试听力特训 CD1-Track18

CD1-track18



Geography: American Southern Coastlands



1. What is the main topic of the lecture?



A The geographical 1 division in the Southern Coastlands.



B The impact of the climate on agriculture of the Southern Coastlands.



C The economic situation in orange markets of the Southern Coastlands.



D The importance of rainfall in the food market of the Southern Coastlands.



(B)



2. According to the lecture, what are the main consequences of the warm weather



and a lot of rainfall in the Southern Coastlands? (Click on 2 answers)



A People in the region can grow crops more than once in a year.



B It helped people in the region develop a wonderful system of irrigation.



C The region attracts a lot of migrant workers.



D People in the region can grow specialty 2 crops.



(A,D)



听力原文：



CD1-track18



Geography: American Southern Coastlands



“Of anywhere in the united states it is in the southern coastlands that the climate has



greatest impact on human geography. There are several factors which affect human



activity: humid subtropical, long growing season, mild winter temperatures and warm



humid summers. There are 9months or more of potential growth for agricultural crops



for almost the whole region of the southern coastland. What is more the average



annual rainfall is more than 125cm mostly between April and October when warm



temperatures support plant growth and sunlight is plentiful 3. It is enough rain for most



agricultural activities for almost the entire region. These climactic conditions have



brought forth 4 2 important results: farmers can grow their crops until late in the fall



without fear of frost as long as agricultural conditions are met. I mean as long as



there is fertile soil, control of insect pests and appropriate ground drainage. It has



even been possible to harvest 2crops and even more for vegetable farmers. Of greater



importance is the fact that there is the chance to produce specialty crops that cannot



be produced in other parts of the United States. Although the region where citrus



fruits have been produced has slowly moved southwards along the peninsulas interior citrus production. Citrus production has been noteworthy in contributing to Florida’s



economy. Of the 7 major citrus growths, in Florida orange and grapefruit are most



important. Most oranges, about 80% today, are processed rather than being sold fresh.



The processing of oranges has had affects on other parts of the economy as more



people are employed in the industry and sales are not limited to the harvest period but



continue all year long. The grapefruit is produced in a similar area as the orange, but



the demand and output is only about 25% of the orange. These 2 citrus fruits are also



grown in south Texas but with irrigation. Production costs for citrus fruits mainly



come from harvesting. The fruit must be picked by hand from the trees. During the



harvesting season thousands of migrating laborers 5 flock to Florida to do the



physically 6 strenuous 7 in the citrus groves 8. In the mainland United States it is only in



the southern coastlands sugar cane 9 production is found. It is in production all year



round and needs more than one year to reach full maturity 10. It is intolerant of frost and



needs a large amount of water more than 125 cm per year. Rice has fewer climactic



requirements than sugar cane. As long as rice has sufficient water it will mature



according to the amount of heat it receives in the summer. In Louisiana and Texas rice



is grown with irrigation. Besides specialty crops there are parts of the southern



coastlands which are one of the countries main areas for growing vegetables. In the



winter urban markets are filled with fresh vegetables grown in Florida and along the



southern part of states along the gulf 11.”