芬兰科学家称，在未来十年内，这种“用空气制成的”蛋白质将在价格上与大豆竞争。这种蛋白质是由土壤细菌制成的，这种细菌以电解水中的氢为食。

With farming blamed for contributing to many environmental problems, there's been increasing investment in novel foods grown from bacteria. A study last year concluded that protein from microbes was several times more efficient than soya in terms of land use and required just a tenth of the water.

由于务农活动被认为是造成许多环境问题的原因，人们对由细菌制成的新型食物的投资不断增加。去年的一项研究得出结论：制造微生物蛋白质的土地使用效率要比种植大豆高出数倍，而且用水量仅需其十分之一。

The bacteria food, Solein, can be used as a substitute for soya in a host of foods, such as pies, ice creams, breads and cakes. It can also feed livestock without harming rainforests in the way new soya plantations often do.

这个名为 “Solein” 的细菌食品可作为许多食物中大豆的替代品，如馅饼、冰淇淋、面包和蛋糕。它还可以在不破坏热带雨林的情况下用来喂养牲畜，在这一点上它与多数新型大豆种植园的做法相同。

Academics say it won't be a cure for all the problems associated with farming, but it will help if people are willing to eat it.

学者们表示，这不会完全解决与务农相关的所有问题，但如果人们愿意吃它，则将有一些帮助。

词汇

novel 新奇的
bacteria 细菌
protein 蛋白质
microbe 微生物
soya 大豆
substitute 替代品
livestock 牲畜，家禽
plantations 种植园

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

1. How is growing protein from microbes more efficient than growing soya?

2. Why has there been increasing investment in foods grown from bacteria?

3. How much damage is there to the rainforest when livestock are fed bacteria-grown foods?

4. True or false? Soleine can be eaten as a substitute for things like ice cream and cakes.

答案

1. How is growing protein from microbes more efficient than growing soya?
Growing protein from microbes was several times more efficient than soya in terms of land use and required just a tenth of the water.

2. Why has there been increasing investment in foods grown from bacteria?
Farming has been blamed for contributing to many environmental problems. As a result, there's been increasing investment in novel foods grown from bacteria.

3. How much damage is there to the rainforest when livestock are fed bacteria-grown foods?
According to the report, none: Bacteria food can feed livestock without harming rainforests in the way new soya plantations often do.

4. True or false? Soleine can be eaten as a substitute for things like ice cream and cakes.
False. The bacteria food, Soleine, can be used as a substitute for soya in a host of foods, such as pies, ice creams, breads and cakes.