In South America, the rich soil of the Amazon River basin（流域）in Brazil is known as “black gold”. Scientists found that the secret of this rich soil was charcoal（木炭）. Local people made it from animal bones and tree branches. They mixed the charcoal with the soil about 1.500 years ago.
Now, scientists in the United States have done a modern demonstration. They say charcoal fertilization offers a revolutionary way to improve soil quality for hundreds or even thousands of years.
Mingxin Guo and his team at Delavare State University heated tree leaves, corn stalks（茎）, small pieces of wood and poultry waste into “biochar”（生物碳）. They reported their findings at a recent meeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans.
Biochar could be good news for farmers with poor soil and hungry populations to feed. Professor Guo says it could even help against global warming. Intensive（集约的） farming and overuse of chemical fertilizer give out carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Biochar does the opposite, he says. It traps carbon in the ground.
The researchers planted winter wheat in containers of soil in a greenhouse — some with biochar, some without. Professor Guo says the wheat grows much better in the pots with biochar. The soil was added two percent charcoal to. But he says even a one percent treatment will increase productivity.
The results demonstrated that biochar can increase organic matter in soil. Loss of nutrients in soil is an increasing problem worldwide as farmers try to grow more food for growing populations.
Next, the team will carry out a five-year study of biochar with spinach（菠菜）, green peppers and tomatoes.
Mingxin Guo says he learns about the “black gold” in Brazil from a magazine story. He explains that it was discovered in the jungle, in the area where waters flow to the Amazon, in the 1960’s. But it was not until recent years that scientists began to bring public attention to it.
小题1:According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A．The researchers will go on proving their theory.
B．The leading researcher learns the theory from the magazine.
C．Charcoal was discovered 1,500 years ago.
D．Common farming can produce more carbon dioxide.小题2:Biochar has the following advantages EXCEPT that ________.
A．it can improve the condition of the soil
B．it can be used as a kind of energy
C．it can help against global warming
D．it can increase productivity of the corn小题3:According to the research, the biochar can help against global warming because it can ________.
A．reduce the carbon dioxide
B．keep the carbon in the soil
C．reduce the loss of nutrients in the soil
D．absorb the carbon dioxide小题4:Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?
A．Using Charcoal to Make soil into “Black Gold”
B．Using Charcoal to Reduce the Carbon Dioxide
C．How Amazon River Basin Produces “Golden Black”
D．Guo’s Research on Producing Biochar
