阅读理解。
Mobile phones are an important business tool for farmers in rural areas. But they also put a valuable
educational tool in their hands.
The University of Illinois in the United States has a project called SAWBO-Scientific Animations
Without Borders. It produces educational videos that can be downloaded to cell phones. The goal is to
help people in developing countries improve their lives.
One video shows farmers how to make a natural insecticide from neem seeds to prevent insect
damage to crops. The process starts with sorting and drying the neem fruits. Then let the fruit dry in the
sun for about three or four days, until they become brown. Using a mortar(碾槌) and stick, the fruits are
slightly pounded to remove the shells from the fruits without breaking the seed inside.
The videos use computer animation(动画). Some of the animated characters are a little funny
looking-like a farmer with a long nose. But the subjects are serious, including a health video on preventing cholera(霍乱). Team member Francisco Seufferheld says the information in the videos is meant to be
quickly understood. He says, "The information is digested in such a way that in two minutes, we can
transmit a complex idea."
The researchers tested the seven-minute video on seven mobile phones. They wanted to see if
people would share the video using Bluetooth wireless technology. With Bluetooth, files can be passed
to a nearby phone even if neither phone is connected to the Internet. As a result, in one month, the video
had spread to one hundred eighteen people in fifty different villages. "This is just incredible impact," said
Francisco Seufferheld.
The team has made a few videos so far. These are available in a total of eighty languages, dialects and
accents. Professor Barry Pittendrigh says there are plans for more videos later this year.
1. What is the text mainly about?
A. A best-selling mobile phone
B. A valuable educational project for farmers
C. United States support for developing countries
D. A new type of scientist -farmer relationship
2. The SAWBO program is introduced in order to ____.
A. raise farmers' standard of living
B. do some research on mobile phones
C. develop farmers' practical skills
D. help farmers prevent insect damage to corps
3. The biggest advantage of the program is that it______.
A. includes health video on preventing cholera
B. can be passed to farmers using Bluetooth technology
C. can be used to sort and dry the neem fruits
D. is easy for farmers to understand
4. Which of the following words can best take the place of the word " pound" in the 3rd paragraph?
A. moved
B. beat
C. picked
D. cut
