Yuan Longping, a great scientist, is the first person to develop a kind of hybrid rice （杂交水稻） which helps fight hunger in China.
Food was a big problem in China in the past. This was because China had 22 percent of the world's population, but only 7 percent of its farmland. In the 1960s, China suffered （遭受）serious hunger. Millions of people died because they had no food. As an agronomy （农学） teacher, Yuan was very sad to see this. “How can I help them have enough food?” he thought. He decided to work on a kind of hybrid rice. It has a high output（产量）.
At that time, other scientists didn't think hybrid rice was worth studying. But Yuan and his team worked on it every day. They took very good care of their rice seeds.
At last, in 1973, they grew a new kind of hybrid rice. This rice is strong. Farmers can grow it in many different kinds of farmland and also in bad weather. It can also fight disease. Its output was much greater than common kinds of nice. With the new kind, about 70,000,000 people could have food every year.
Yuan solved the food problem in China. But he is still working on rice. Before he retires （退休）, he hopes to grow rice in the sea!
根据短文内容，选择最佳答案。
36. Why was food a big problem in China in the past?
A. Because farmers didn't grow nice.
B. Because farmers didn't have rice seeds.
C. Because China had no money to buy plenty of food.
D. Because China had a large population but a little farmland.
37. How did Yuan Longping help people have enough food?
A. He discovered another kind of food.
B. He borrowed enough food from other countries.
C. He developed a kind of hybrid rice with his team.
D. He started being an agronomy teacher to study nice.
38. Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the new kind of hybrid rice?
A. It is able to fight disease. B. It is grown across the world.
C. Its output is much higher. D. It can be grown in different farmland.
39. Yuan Longping wishes to         before he retires.
A. grow rice in the sea B. have a good rest
C. keep several pet cats D. help people in Africa
40. What does this passage mainly talk about?
A. The new kind of hybrid rice is worth studying.
B. The new kind of hybrid rice was invented in China.
C. Yuan Longping grew the new kind of hybrid rice for many years.
D. Yuan Longping has played an important role in solving China's food problem.
袁隆平，被誉为“杂交水稻之父”，他研究的杂交水稻，提高了粮食产量，为我国解决了重要的粮食问题。这篇短文给我们介绍了袁隆平研究杂交水稻的背景以及他做出的贡献。
36.D【解析】细节理解题。根据短文第二段“Food was a big problem in China in the past. This was because China had 22 percent of the world's population, but only 7 percent of its farmland.”可知，在过去，粮食是中国的大问题，因为中国有世界22%的人口，但只有7%的耕地。故选D。
37.C【解析】细节理解题。根据短文第二段““How can I help them have enough food?” he thought. He decided to work on a kind of hybrid rice.”和第四段“At last, in 1973, they grew a new kind of hybrid rice.”可知，袁隆平和他的团队种植了一种新的杂交水稻，这种水稻能对抗疾病、产量高，因而解决了中国的粮食问题。故选C。
38.B【解析】细节理解题。根据短文第四段“At last, in 1973, they grew a new kind of hybrid rice. This rice is strong. Farmers can grow it in many different kinds of farmland and also in bad weather. It can also fight disease. Its output was much greater than common kinds of nice.”可知，文章中提到了这种水稻产量高、能抵抗疾病、能在不同的耕地上种植，B选项“它在全世界种植”没有提到。故选B。
39.A【解析】细节理解题。根据短文最后一段“Before he retires, he hopes to grow rice in the sea!”可知，袁隆平在退休之前，希望能够在大海里种植水稻。故选A。
40.D【解析】主旨大意题。根据文意以及短文第一段“Yuan Longping, a great scientist, is the first person to develop a kind of hybrid rice which helps fight hunger in China.”可知，这篇短文主要讲述了袁隆平和他的团队是如何研究种植杂交水稻，帮助中国解决粮食问题的。D选项最符合文意，故选D。