Australia trials gene-edited wheat, aiming for higher yields

admin 2024年6月2日

Beginner

science & technology, science & technology - beginner

Pre-reading questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。

Have you ever heard about “gene editing”?
Do you agree that technology can make crops healthier and stronger?

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。

firm /furm/

[noun] – a business or company
The law firm hired three new attorneys to handle the increasing number of cases.

crop /krop/

[noun] – the produce of cultivated plants, such as grain, vegetables, or fruit, harvested during a particular season or year
The farmer was pleased with the bountiful crop of apples this year, which surpassed last year’s harvest.

successful /suhk-SES-fuhl/

[adjective] – achieving the results wanted or hoped for
The company launched a successful marketing campaign that boosted sales significantly.

across /uh-KRAWS/

[preposition] – from one side to the other side of something; in such a way as to cover or affect the whole area
The rumor spread quickly across the entire school.

technology /tek-NOL-uh-jee/

[noun] – (the study and knowledge of) the practical, especially industrial, use of scientific discoveries
The company uses the latest technology to streamline its production processes.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。

Australia is leading a groundbreaking project to test gene-edited wheat, aiming to boost food production. This innovative wheat uses gene editing, a method that changes the wheat’s genes without adding foreign DNA, unlike genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This makes the wheat healthier and more robust, requiring less water and fewer chemicals. Experts believe gene editing is safer than GMOs and allows multiple genetic modifications at once. InterGrain, an Australian company, is conducting trials with thousands of wheat seeds from a U.S. firm, Inari, to improve crop yields. These seeds, which feature numerous genetic variations, are grown in a greenhouse in southeast Queensland. Successful initial results will lead to wider trials across Australia in 2025 to find the best gene combinations for greater harvests. The head of InterGrain emphasizes that this initiative targets not only increased wheat production but also major global issues like food shortages and climate change. By incorporating advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and CRISPR-Cas, this approach could revolutionize farming, enhancing food security and environmental sustainability.

True or False:

Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.

文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。

Gene editing adds foreign DNA to wheat, similar to genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The initiative aims to address major global issues like food shortages and climate change.
Initial successful results will not lead to wider trials across Australia in 2025.
Advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and CRISPR-Cas are incorporated into the approach.
Experts believe gene editing is less safe than GMOs and allows only one genetic modification at a time.

Fill in the blanks:

Choose the correct word from the table then fill in the blanks.

適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。

firm

crop

successful

across

technology

Advances in __________ have significantly improved the efficiency of solar panels.
After years of hard work, she was __________ in her attempt to become a lawyer.
Due to the drought, the corn __________ yielded much less than expected, causing concern among local farmers.
After the merger, the __________ expanded its operations into three new countries.
The new policy will be implemented __________ all departments of the company.