Diets have changed in China—and so too has its top crop. Since 2011, the country (grow) more corn than rice. Corn production has jumped nearly 125 percent over past 25 years, while rice has increased only 7 percent.
A taste for meat is (actual) behind the change: An important part of its corn is used to feed chickens, pigs, and cattle. Another reason for corn's rise: The government encourages farmers to grow corn instead of rice (improve) water quality. Corn uses 5 (little) water than rice and creates less fertilizer (化肥) run-off. This switch has decreased (pollute) in the country's major lakes and reservoirs and made drinking water safer for people.
According to the World Bank, China accounts about 30 percent of total global fertilizer consumption. The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture finds that between 2005—when the government (start) a soil-testing program gives specific fertilizer recommendations to farmers—and 2011, fertilizer use dropped by 7. 7 million tons. That prevented the emission of 51. 8 million tons of carbon dioxide. "China's approach to protecting its environment while (feed) its citizens offers useful lessons for agriculture and food policy makers worldwide, " says the bank's Juergen Voegele.
When I quietly visited an art museum a young 1 ahead of me 2 nonstop between themselves. I watched the lady was doing all the talking. I admired the man's 3 for putting up with her 4 stream of words. 5 by them, I moved away 6 several times.
I was standing at the museum gift shop making a 7 when the couple approached the 8. Before they left, the man 9 into his pocket and pulled out a white object. He lengthened it into a long stick and tried to get his wife's jacket.
"He was blinded but he made a promise that his life wouldn't change. So, they come in 10 there is a new art show," the clerk said.
"But what does he get out of the art?" I asked.
"You're 11. He sees a lot. More than you and I do," the clerk said. "His wife 12 each painting so he can see it in his head. "
I learned something about patience, 13 and love that day. I saw the patience of a young wife describing paintings to a person without 14 and the courage of a husband who would not 15 blindness to change his life. And I saw the love shared by two people as I watched this couple walk away, hand in hand.
