Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 34 to 38.

In the book The Population Bomb, which crystallized fears about the planet’s burgeoning population, Paul Ehrlich predicted widespread famine, social upheaval and a deterioration in environmental conditions.

The author was wrong. The green revolution that vastly increased agricultural production starting in the 1960s meant his (34) __________ didn’t come to pass. From the 1960s through the 1900s, yields of rice and wheat in Asia doubled. (35)__________ as the continent’s population increased by 60 per cent, grain prices fell, the average Asian consumed nearly a third more calories, and the poverty rate was cut in half.

To keep doing that between now and 2050, we’ll need (36) __________green revolution. There are two competing visions of (37)__________it will happen. One is high-tech, with a heavy emphasis on continuing work of breeding better crops, but with modern genetic techniques. Scientists can now identify and manipulate a huge variety of plant genes, for traits like disease (38) __________ and drought tolerance. That is going to make farming more productive and resilient.

(Adapted from newscientist.com)

Đáp án đúng là: D
Giải thích
Kiến thức về liên từ
*Xét các đáp án:
A. When: khi
B. If: nếu
C. Much as + clause, clause: mặc dù… nhưng
D. Even: thậm chí
Tạm dịch:
From the 1960s through the 1900s, yields of rice and wheat in Asia doubled. (35) _____ as the continent’s population increased by 60 per cent, grain prices fell, the average Asian consumed nearly a third more calories, and the poverty rate was cut in half.
Từ những năm 1960 đến những năm 1900, sản lượng gạo và lúa mì ở châu Á đã tăng gấp đôi. (35) Ngay cả khi dân số châu lục tăng 60%, giá ngũ cốc giảm thì người châu Á trung bình tiêu thụ thêm gần một phần ba calo và tỷ lệ nghèo đói đã giảm một nửa.