Passage 2

During the early years of last century, wheat was seen as the very lifeblood of Western Canada. When the crops were good, the economy was good; when the crops failed, there was depression. People on city streets watched the yields and the price of wheat with almost as much feeling as if they were growers. The marketing of wheat became an increasingly favorite topic of conversation.

War set the stage for the most dramatic events in marketing the western crop. For years, farmers mistrusted speculative (投机的) grain selling as carried on through the Winnipeg Grain Exchange. Wheat prices were generally low in the autumn, but farmers could not wait for markets to improve. It had happened too often that they sold their wheat soon after harvest when farm debts were coming due (到期), only to see prices rising and speculators getting rich. On various occasions, producer groups asked for firmer controls, but governments had no wish to become involved, at least not until wartime wheat prices threatened to run wild.

Anxious to check inflation (通货膨胀) and rising living costs, the federal government appointed a board (董事会) of grain supervisors to handle deliveries from the crops of 1917 and 1918. Grain Exchange trading was suspended (暂停) and farmers sold at prices fixed by the board. To handle the crop of 1919, the government appointed the first Canadian Wheat Board, with full authority to buy, sell, and set prices.

6. The author uses the term “lifeblood” (Line1, Para. 1.) to indicate that wheat was ______.

A. difficult to produce in large quantities

B. was easily affected by animals and plants

C. essential to the health of the country

D. expensive to gather and transport

7. According to the passage, most farmers’ debts had to be paid ______.

A. when the autumn harvest had just been completed

B. because wheat prices were high

C. as soon as the Winnipeg Grain Exchange demanded payment

D. when crop failure caused depression

8. According to the passage, wheat prices became uncontrolled because of conditions caused by ______.

A. farmers B. supervisors C. weather D. war

9. The word “check” (Line 1, Para. 3) could best be replaced by which of the following?

A. control B. investigate C. finance D. reinforce

10. According to the passage, a preliminary step in the creation of the Canadian Wheat Board was the appointment of ______.

A. the Winnipeg Grain Exchange

B. a board of supervisors

C. several producer groups

D. a new government

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