【推荐1】Today there are more than 7 billion people on the earth. By the year 2050 there may be 12.5 billion. There are a lot of people to feed. We need more and more food.

One way to produce more food is growing stronger plants. For thousands of years, farmers have made plants better. Every season, they pick the best plants for the next season. It works very slowly. Since 1983, scientists have been able to change plants more quickly by changing their genetic (基因的) material. Foods from plants grown in this way are called genetically modified(转基因的) foods, or GM foods.

By changing the genetic material of a plant, it is possible to make new plants. They make plants which are strong against plant diseases. They can also help in our diseases. A kind of rice is being prepared, for example, which stops children becoming blind.

Rich countries produce GM foods because they are easy to grow and bring in more money. Poor countries are interested in them because they help produce more food.

GM plants are not natural. No one knows how good or bad they are. Making GM foods is only one way of feeding people in 2050. There are strong feelings against them, because they are unnatural. They may feed people, then hurt them or their children later. But both rich and poor countries are interested in their use, and they are not going to go away. In 2050, we may think differently about them.

【推荐2】How do ultra-processed (超加工的) foods harm our health?

Food types when it comes to processing (加工)

   Whole: foods that have gone through zero or little processing such as boiling

   Processed: foods that have something added, such as salt and sugar

   Ultra-processed: foods that have many additives (添加剂)

Identifying ultra-processed foods

   According to studies that followed the health of people who eat large amounts (大量) of ultra-processed foods, researchers found that such people are:

             39 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure;

             24 percent more likely to have serious heart problems.

Addictive (使人上瘾的) power

   People may have bad feelings if they stop eating ultra-processed foods. The addiction is a problem for 14 percent of adults and 12 percent of children.

I know that you’ve both had a lot of fun these two years. You have been to many picnics and had all kinds of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn’t have let you eat. But I also know that it hasn’t always been easy for you and Mum. So now I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me —about how I’d make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then two of you came into my world with those smiles and suddenly, all my big plans didn’t seem so important any more. I soon found that the greatest happiness in my life was that you were so happy. And I realized that my own life wouldn’t mean much if I couldn’t make you two happy. In the end, girls, I ran for (竞选) President: because of what I want for you and for every child in the US.

I want all our children to go to school so that they can learn and grow. I want them to have the chance to go to college even though their parents don’t have enough money. And I want them to get good jobs.

I want us to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our earth cleaner and safer. And I want us to see no difference of different colors and areas because we are all equal (平等的).

I hope both of you will start to give others the chances you’ve had. You know, this country has given our family so much, so you have to, and really should, give something back. When you are doing something larger than yourself, you will realize how helpful you are.

There are the things I want for you—to grow up in the world in which you can make your dreams come true. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and get what you girls have. That’s why I’ve taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of you. I love you more than I can ever know. And I am thankful every day. Because you behave so well when we get ready to start our new life together in the White House.

Love,

Dad