3. It is the eighth time this summer that Guo Xiunan has failed to grow vegetables without chemical pesticides(殺蟲劑).After trying various homemade bug sprays(噴劑),such as plant ash,mixtures of pepper,vinegar,alcohol and water,there are still lots of holes in the leaves chewed by beetles.
"I will not give up trying and I will go on with my experiments," the 29-year-old engineer-turned-farmer says.
Covering 0.67 hectares(公頃) of farmland and 1.33 hectares of woodland and wetland,his farm is located in the suburbs of Hefei,East China's Anhui province.He is trying to turn it into an organic farm,growing fruits and vegetables with the same flavor of those from his childhood memories."Growing tasty and health y food has been my dream since I was a teenager.I know how difficult it can be,but if you take the soil seriously,I believe it will pay off,"Guo says.
He adds that farming is not a business that can make money in a short time,but for him,it became an urgent issue when his father suffered stomach cancer last year,ringing an alarm bell over food safety.Recalling spending time on the farm with his parents as a child,Guo believes the overuse of chemicals in farming is not only damaging the soil,but also people's health.
After investing more than 100,000 yuan ($13,700)since he rented the farmland last year,and reading many books on agriculture,Guo is in the early stages of fighting the various challenges through trial and error.Meanwhile,he has to develop marketing channels for his products.In March,he uploaded his first post on short-video platform Douyin to introduce his business.His account now has nearly 6,000 followers,which is way above his expectations.
"Maybe it is because I've realized their dream life,one that they dare not pursue,"Guo says.
(1)What can we know about Guo Xiunan from the passage?
A.He became a farmer after graduation.
B.He spent his childhood on the farm.
C.He's learning farming from his father.
D.He has made money from his farm.
(2)How did his father's illness influence Guo?
A.He invested in treating the illnesses.
B.He became eager to grow healthy food.
C.He realized the importance of health.
D.He was encouraged to face challenges.
(3)What attracts Guo's followers on Douyin according to him?
A.His agricultural products.
B.His talent in business.
C.His life-choice of farming.
D.His influence of success.
(4)Which of the following can best describe Guo?
A.Ambitious and competitive.
B.Traditional and stubborn.
C.Intelligent and adventurous.
D.Determined and hardworking.