A、Standing water could destroy most of next year’s sugar crop. B、The flood has nothing to do with the rising price of fruits. C、

Economists across the world are expressing concerns about rising food prices. Demonstrations and deadly food riots have broken out this month, as they did in 2008. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization predicts that world market prices for rice, wheat, sugar and meat will stay high or continue rising. One reason for this is the threat of shortages caused by bad weather. Current and recent weather disasters have harmed agriculture and affected prices in several parts of the world. For example, the current flooding in Australia has done great damage to crops in the usually fertile Queensland area. Wheat and corn are among the crops affected. Floods also have harmed other vegetables and fruits. Local agricultural producers report that standing water could destroy up to half of next year’s sugar crop. And economists say prices for the fruits and vegetables could likely increase over the next six months. Last week, Russia extended an earlier ban on wheat exports after heat, drought and wildfires destroyed about a third of its wheat crop. The ban was placed to make sure Russians have enough wheat. The first ban caused worldwide wheat prices climb to last year by almost 50%. Shenggen Fan heads the International Food Policy Research Institute from its Washington, DC, office. Mr. Fan says countries must invest in making their farmers more productive. He says the world will need to feed more hungry people with less available land, water and other resources.
22. Why do the food prices stay high or continue rising?
23. What can we learn about Australia’s flood?
24. What is the purpose of Russia’s ban on wheat exports?
25. What should countries do according to Mr. Fan?