A common weed that pollutes Britain's lakes and ponds could be the answer to the world's lack of food, according to scientists. Duckweed – the little green dots that rapidly cover water - may not look appetising but they are very high in protein in their raw state containing 45 per cent compared to 36 per cent for soy beans.

In France and Spain, experts at a food technology conference in Chicago have showed a method of drying the duckweed and making it into a high-protein powder. The super-food, which is green, is known as Lentein and contains 68 per cent protein as well as fibre. It could eventually replace food products like powder made from milk and soya. It is not genetically modified in any way.

Science fiction writers have told spacecraft of the future could carry huge water tanks to grow such micro-plants to produce oxygen and foods. Food company Parabel is now working on a white kind of Lentein. With the world needing an estimated 70 per cent more food in the next 30 years to support its growing population, the makers claim that their plant could help meet demand.

The company said the plant is harvested from open-air water tanks that do not need farming land. It can be grown almost anywhere where there is a water supply. The plant doubles in size every 16-32 hours – and can be harvested daily. As most of the water is recycled – and the growing plants help prevent evaporation – it is said to use less water than comparable crops as well.

The company has been developing a method of turning it into a convenient and useable foodstuff. This week the plant won an Innovation Award at the Institute of Food Technologies conference in Chicago. It's a very common plant that grows all over the world, but grows best at the equator. The company is building a plant in Uganda which should be producing 2,000 tons of lentein in the first year.

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1.What should people do first to make duckweed into food?

A They should pollute Britain's lakes.

B They should make the duckweed dry.

C They should make duckweed into powder.

D They should answer the world's food crisis.

解析：选B。B。细节理解题。根据第2段第1句的a food technology conference in Chicago have showed a method of drying the duckweed可以得知需要先将浮萍干燥。

2.Which of the following is the advantage of Lentein?

A It contains little fibre.

B It is rich in the mineral.

C It genetically modified.

D It can provide protein.

解析：选D。D。细节理解题。根据文章第2段第2句的The super-food, which is green, is known as Lentein and contains 68 per cent protein as well as fibre可知该产品富含蛋白质。

3.What kind of problem can duckweed help solve?

A Environmental problem.

B Growing population.

C Food crisis.

D Science fiction.

解析：选C。C。推理判断题。根据文章第3段最后1句的the makers claim that their plant could help meet demand可以推知这种浮萍能够帮助解决人口增长而带来的粮食短缺问题。

4.What is the main idea of the passage four?

A The company can make much money.

B The plant is really very easy to grow.

C The plant can’t grow in farming land.

D The company will only produce Lentein.

解析：选B。B。主旨大意题。文章的第4段讲述了这种植物很容易栽培：that do not need farming land；The plant doubles in size every 16-32 hours。

5.Why is Parabel building a plant in Uganda?

A Because Uganda lies at the equator.

B Because Uganda is in need of money.

C Because Uganda has food technology.

D Because Uganda wins an Innovation Award.

解析：选A。A。细节理解题。根据文章最后1段第3句的It's a very common plant that grows all over the world, but grows best at the equator可知浮萍在赤道长的最好。