阅读理解

In 1960-1961, Chad harvested 9800 tons of cotton seed for the first time in its history, and put out the flag a little too soon. The efforts of the authorities to get the peasants back to work, as they had slacked off a great deal the previous year during independence celebrations, largely contributed to it. Also, rains were well spaced, and continued through the whole month of October. If the 1961-1962 total is back to the region of 45000 tons, it is mostly because efforts slackened again and sowing was started too late.

The average date of sowing is about July 1st. If this date is simply moved up fifteen or twenty days, 30000 to 60000 tons of cotton is gained, depending on the year. The peasant in Chad sows his millet first, and it is hard to criticize this instinctive priority given to his daily bread. An essential reason for his lateness with sowing cotton is that at the time when he should leave to prepare the fields he has just barely sold the cotton of the previous season. The work required to sow, in great heat, is psychologically far more difficult if one’s pockets are full of money. The date of cotton sales should therefore be moved forward as much as possible, and purchases of equipment and draught animals encouraged.

Peasants should also be encouraged to save money, to help them through the difficult period between harvests. If necessary they should be forced to do so, by having the payments for cotton given to them in installments. The last payment would be made after proof that the peasant has planted before the deadline, the date being advanced to the end of June. Those who have done so would receive extra money whereas the last planters would not receive their last payment until later.

Only the first steps are hard, because once work has started the peasants continue willingly on their way. Educational campaigns among the peasants will play an essential role in this basic advance, early sowing, on which all the others depend. It is not a matter of controlling the peasants. Each peasant will remain master of his fields. One could, however, suggest the need for the time being of kind but firm rule, which, as long as it cannot be realized by the people, should at least be for the people.

单选题 In 1960-1961, Chad had a good harvest of cotton because _____.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】首先根据第一段第二句“The efforts of the authorities to get the peasants back to work, as they had slacked off a great deal the previous year during independence celebrations, largely contributed to it.”可知政府大大地鼓励了农民。 其次根据接下来的一句“Also, rains were well spaced, and continued through the whole month of October.”可知雨水滋润了土地， 使得庄稼丰收。 因此选D。
单选题 We learn from the passage that the date of sowing cotton is usually _____.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】根据第二段第一句“The average date of sowing is about July 1st.”可选出答案C。
单选题 As used in the third sentence of the second paragraph, daily bread refers to _____.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】第二段第三句为“The peasant in Chad sows his millet first, and it is hard to criticize this instinctive priority given to his daily bread.”句意是“乍得农民先播种小米， 这种先天性的本能很难去责难， 因为这是他们的日常食品。 ”因此选D。
单选题 In order to help them through the difficult time between harvests the peasants have to _____.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】根据第三段第一句“Peasants should also be encouraged to save money, to help them through the difficult period between harvests.”可选出答案。
单选题 Which of the following is NOT true?
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】首先根据最后一段第二句“Educational campaigns among the peasants will play an essential role in this basic advance, early sowing, on which all the others depend.”可知A项正确， 故排除。 然后根据倒数第二句“Each peasant will remain master of his fields.”可排除C。 最后根据最后一句“One could, however, suggest the need for the time being of kind but firm rule, which, as long as it cannot be realized by the people, should at least be for the people.”可知这样的统治既然不能由人民实现， 那就应该服务于人民， 排除D。 而文中只说了“early sowing”是基本的进步， 而没有说这是最重要的。 因此选B。