Match the words to their definitions.

1) ranch 2) surplus 3) abundance 4) rainfall 5) drought

a) great amount b) the amount of precipitation in a specified place and time c) a large plot of land used for raising livestock d) a prolonged period of scanty rainfall e) a quantity or amount in excess of what is required

3. Match the adjectives with similar meanings:

1) temperate 2) fortunate 3) immense 4) plentiful 5) unrivalled 6) favourable

a) huge b) prevalent c) moderate d) appropriate e) matchless f) lucky

Fill in the gaps using the words from the box.

surpluses economy rainfall

powerhouse crops irrigation

1) Agriculture and its related industries serve as a foundation of American _____.

2) Crop _____ and low prices have made it hard for many farmers to make a profit.

3) The USA agricultural market has long been a global _____.

4) _____ ranges from modest to abundant.

5) Rivers and underground water allow for _____ where necessary.

6) America has many types of climate, so different _____ can be grown.

READING AND speaking

Read the following text.

Agriculture of the USA

America's history with farming is immense and synonymous with the story of the country. Farming is a tradition that has created a vast industry that still employs nearly a million people nationwide. Due to the plentiful fields and inventive techniques, America has been able to raise a wide variety of grains, vegetables, fruits, and livestock that have created a surplus for the country. This surplus has transformed the nation into an economic powerhouse and an important food supplier for the world.

United States is still an agricultural nation. Fifty percent of the country (907 million acres) is cropland, pastureland, and rangeland on privately owned land. About one-fifth of Americans are employed in the agricultural industry. The United States has an abundance of fertile soil and good climates in which to grow food.

In America, there are many types of farms, such as dairy farms; grain and cereal farms; ranches that raise beef cattle; fruit orchards; cotton, tobacco, and tea plantations; and vegetable farms. The most prevalent are the cash grain farms, specializing in corn and soybeans with various grains, beans, and rice. Field crop farms specialize in potatoes, sugar beets, hay, hops, sunflowers, and others. Farms that grow vegetables, fruits, tree nuts, and nursery crops are known as high value. Tobacco and cotton farms are usually kept to lands of their own, due to the specialization needed to raise them. The livestock farms raise cattle, hogs, poultry.

Thanks to nature's bounty and to the effective use of machines, fertilizers and chemicals, American farmers are virtually unrivalled in producing crops cheaply and in quantity. America produces the largest amount of food in the world, sustaining itself and other countries. It yields as much as half of the world's soybeans and corn for grain, and from 10 to 25 percent of its cotton, wheat, tobacco and vegetable oils.

The system that has been established between farmers and the government by means of subsidizing crops has developed over the years. Farms are paid to plant certain types of crops and to not plant others. This has created better government oversight on the agricultural well-being of the country as a whole. It has prevented overproduction or underproduction of individual crops, hence stabilizing prices.

With some of the best farmland in the world, America has been able to perfect its process of raising crops and animals. American farmers owe their ability to produce large yields to a number of factors. For one thing, they work under extremely favourable natural conditions. The American Midwest has some of the richest soil in the world. Rainfall is modest to abundant over most areas of the country; rivers and underground water permit extensive irrigation where it is not. Large capital investments and increasing use of highly trained labour also have contributed to the success of American agriculture. It is not unusual to see today's farmers driving tractors with air-conditioned cabs hitched to very expensive, fast-moving ploughs, tillers, and harvesters. Biotechnology has led to the development of seeds that are disease- and drought-resistant. Fertilizers and pesticides are commonly used. Computers track farm operations, and even space technology is utilized to find the best places to plant and fertilize crops. What's more, researchers periodically introduce new food products and new methods for raising them, such as artificial ponds to raise fish.

Because of modern technology for moving, storing, and processing crops, Americans are fortunate to have just about any type of food they want during the year.

Answer the questions.

1) What role has agriculture played in America’s transformation into an economic powerhouse?

2) How much land is used for farming?

3) What are the main types of farms in the USA?

4) What crops do the American farmers grow?

5) What helps to prevent overproduction or underproduction of certain crops?

6) Are America’s natural conditions favourable for agriculture?

7) In what way is space technology applied?

7. The following factors contribute to the success of American agriculture:

ü capital investments ü highly trained labour ü plentiful fields ü pesticides ü disease-resistant seeds

ü fertile soil ü drought-resistant seeds ü modest to abundant rainfall ü fertilizers ü subsidies

Which refers to