Scientists in the Philippines are working to make changes to rice. They hope these changes will help solve one of the world's biggest health problems: the lack of Vitamin A.

It is called "golden rice" because the rice is yellow. It has been genetically（基因方面） changed, to produce beta carotene（胡萝卜素）, a form of Vitamin A.

Opponents of genetically changed foods – including the environmental group Greenpeace – do not like what the scientists are doing. But supporters of golden rice say it could help save as many as two million lives a year. Young children and pregnant women can die from Vitamin A lack.

Vitamin A is missing from the food of millions of people in the developing world. The lack is the leading cause of childhood blindness. It is a public health problem in half of all countries, including many in Africa and Southeast Asia.

Large companies do produce some genetically changed crops. They gain legal control of the plant production through patents（特许）. But in the Philippines, government and donor（捐赠人） money is being used to develop golden rice. These groups hope farmers throughout the developing world will someday grow it. They hope it will help solve a problem that many scientists believe is as serious as malaria （疟疾）.

Daniel Ocampo is a Southeast Asia agriculture expert for Greenpeace in Manila. He argues that golden rice is still not ready as a food for humans after 20 years of research. He says it could be more dangerous than its supporters will admit.

The International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines has been experimenting with golden rice for nine years. It says it has more work to do before the rice can be eaten by humans.

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1.What’s special about golden rice?

A It’s a form of Vitamin A.

B It’s produced in the Philippines.

C It’s genetically changed.

D It solves many health problems.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据第2段...It has been genetically changed ...可知答案，故选C。

2.What can we know from the third paragraph?

A Two million people are saved from lack of Vitamin A each year.

B The Greenpeace hopes to use the golden rice to save people.

C Scientists have used golden rice to save of millions of lives.

D Two million people lose their lives for lack of Vitamin A a year.

解析：选D。D 推理判断题。根据第3段...it could help save as many as two million lives a year.可知答案，故选D。

3.The lack of Vitamin A may cause children to _______.

A become blind

B have malaria

C grow slowly

D grow fast

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据第4段The lack is the leading cause of childhood blindness.可知答案，故选A。

4.The experiment with golden rice is _______.

A very successful

B hopefully continued

C still meaningless

D well accepted

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。根据最后一段It says it has more work to do before the rice can be eaten by humans,可知答案，故选B。

5.What can we infer from the passage?

A No genetically changed crops are legally produced.

B Golden rice will be ready as a food for humans in 20 years .

C Some genetically changed crops have come into people’s food.

D Golden rice and some other similar crops are allowed to be grown freely.

解析：选C。C 推理判断题 。根据第5段Large companies do produce some genetically changed crops. They gain legal control of the plant production through patents，可知答案，故选C。