The Man Who Saved Lives

By the time he died at the age of 95, Norman Borlaug had probably saved more lives than any other individual in history. In 1970 he won the Nobel Peace Prize for developing new sorts of wheat that were planted in Mexico, India, Pakistan and other countries. In those regions, where up to a billion people might have been starving if it were not for his enormous efforts, he was a hero. It seems Borlaug himself wasn’t motivated by any desire for personal fame. When the call came through from the Nobel committee, it was 4 a.m. in Mexico where he lived, but he was already out in the fields. His wife found him and told him the news. “Someone’s pulling your leg,” he replied. Assured that he had been awarded the prize, Borlaug didn’t take the day off, but carried on with what he was doing, saying he would celebrate later.

Norman Ernest Borlaug grew up on his grandfather’s farm in Iowa, the USA. Although he came from an unprivileged background – the school where he was taught up to the age of 13 had one room and one teacher – he made it into Minnesota University, where he studied forestry. This was the era of the Great Depression, and Borlaug could see the effects of hunger all around him. Intending to help his fellow men, he switched courses to plant pathology, earning himself a doctorate, and later a job with the DuPont chemicals company, for which he worked on military projects during WWII. Then in 1944, he was asked by the Rockefeller Foundation to join its scheme to create a hardier sort of wheat to make hunger in Mexico less severe. Although DuPont offered to double his salary, if he stayed with them, Borlaug jumped at the chance given by the Rockefeller Foundation, and flew south, temporarily leaving behind his wife Margaret. What he did to help the people there was taking seeds from plants that had been grown in summer in the central highlands to the northern lowlands in winter, in this way making use of two harvests per year. By 1963, 95% of Mexico’s wheat came from Borlaug’s sorts, and the overall harvest had been increased by 6 times.

Attempting to achieve similar results on the Subcontinent, Borlaug faced many problems including the war between India and Pakistan, which broke out when the first shiploads of seeds arrived in 1965. Nevertheless, within a decade both countries were able to grow as much wheat as they needed. In his Nobel acceptance speech, Borlaug admitted the “population monster” had merely been beaten back, said The Times. To defeat it, man would have to create even better crops.

In the years that followed, there was considerable opposition to the Green Revolution he had led to. Some said his new methods had caused a great social and economic change, with very serious results for farmers. Borlaug had a “sharp reply” for his critics, said The Guardian. Many of them had never known “the physical feeling of hunger,” he said, and would sing a different tune if they “lived just one month surrounded by the misery of the developing world, as I have for 50 years.” He must be the only Nobel Peace Prize holder who has also been admitted to the US National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

The research to which Borlaug devoted his life continues, but it is currently estimated that each night half the world’s population goes to bed after eating grain from one of the crops he invented.

What was Norman Borlaug’s reaction to the news about his winning the Nobel Peace Prize?

The Man Who Saved Lives

By the time he died at the age of 95, Norman Borlaug had probably saved more lives than any other individual in history. In 1970 he won the Nobel Peace Prize for developing new sorts of wheat that were planted in Mexico, India, Pakistan and other countries. In those regions, where up to a billion people might have been starving if it were not for his enormous efforts, he was a hero. It seems Borlaug himself wasn’t motivated by any desire for personal fame. When the call came through from the Nobel committee, it was 4 a.m. in Mexico where he lived, but he was already out in the fields. His wife found him and told him the news. “Someone’s pulling your leg,” he replied. Assured that he had been awarded the prize, Borlaug didn’t take the day off, but carried on with what he was doing, saying he would celebrate later.

Norman Ernest Borlaug grew up on his grandfather’s farm in Iowa, the USA. Although he came from an unprivileged background – the school where he was taught up to the age of 13 had one room and one teacher – he made it into Minnesota University, where he studied forestry. This was the era of the Great Depression, and Borlaug could see the effects of hunger all around him. Intending to help his fellow men, he switched courses to plant pathology, earning himself a doctorate, and later a job with the DuPont chemicals company, for which he worked on military projects during WWII. Then in 1944, he was asked by the Rockefeller Foundation to join its scheme to create a hardier sort of wheat to make hunger in Mexico less severe. Although DuPont offered to double his salary, if he stayed with them, Borlaug jumped at the chance given by the Rockefeller Foundation, and flew south, temporarily leaving behind his wife Margaret. What he did to help the people there was taking seeds from plants that had been grown in summer in the central highlands to the northern lowlands in winter, in this way making use of two harvests per year. By 1963, 95% of Mexico’s wheat came from Borlaug’s sorts, and the overall harvest had been increased by 6 times.

Attempting to achieve similar results on the Subcontinent, Borlaug faced many problems including the war between India and Pakistan, which broke out when the first shiploads of seeds arrived in 1965. Nevertheless, within a decade both countries were able to grow as much wheat as they needed. In his Nobel acceptance speech, Borlaug admitted the “population monster” had merely been beaten back, said The Times. To defeat it, man would have to create even better crops.

In the years that followed, there was considerable opposition to the Green Revolution he had led to. Some said his new methods had caused a great social and economic change, with very serious results for farmers. Borlaug had a “sharp reply” for his critics, said The Guardian. Many of them had never known “the physical feeling of hunger,” he said, and would sing a different tune if they “lived just one month surrounded by the misery of the developing world, as I have for 50 years.” He must be the only Nobel Peace Prize holder who has also been admitted to the US National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

The research to which Borlaug devoted his life continues, but it is currently estimated that each night half the world’s population goes to bed after eating grain from one of the crops he invented.

What was Norman Borlaug’s educational background?

The Man Who Saved Lives

By the time he died at the age of 95, Norman Borlaug had probably saved more lives than any other individual in history. In 1970 he won the Nobel Peace Prize for developing new sorts of wheat that were planted in Mexico, India, Pakistan and other countries. In those regions, where up to a billion people might have been starving if it were not for his enormous efforts, he was a hero. It seems Borlaug himself wasn’t motivated by any desire for personal fame. When the call came through from the Nobel committee, it was 4 a.m. in Mexico where he lived, but he was already out in the fields. His wife found him and told him the news. “Someone’s pulling your leg,” he replied. Assured that he had been awarded the prize, Borlaug didn’t take the day off, but carried on with what he was doing, saying he would celebrate later.

Norman Ernest Borlaug grew up on his grandfather’s farm in Iowa, the USA. Although he came from an unprivileged background – the school where he was taught up to the age of 13 had one room and one teacher – he made it into Minnesota University, where he studied forestry. This was the era of the Great Depression, and Borlaug could see the effects of hunger all around him. Intending to help his fellow men, he switched courses to plant pathology, earning himself a doctorate, and later a job with the DuPont chemicals company, for which he worked on military projects during WWII. Then in 1944, he was asked by the Rockefeller Foundation to join its scheme to create a hardier sort of wheat to make hunger in Mexico less severe. Although DuPont offered to double his salary, if he stayed with them, Borlaug jumped at the chance given by the Rockefeller Foundation, and flew south, temporarily leaving behind his wife Margaret. What he did to help the people there was taking seeds from plants that had been grown in summer in the central highlands to the northern lowlands in winter, in this way making use of two harvests per year. By 1963, 95% of Mexico’s wheat came from Borlaug’s sorts, and the overall harvest had been increased by 6 times.

Attempting to achieve similar results on the Subcontinent, Borlaug faced many problems including the war between India and Pakistan, which broke out when the first shiploads of seeds arrived in 1965. Nevertheless, within a decade both countries were able to grow as much wheat as they needed. In his Nobel acceptance speech, Borlaug admitted the “population monster” had merely been beaten back, said The Times. To defeat it, man would have to create even better crops.

In the years that followed, there was considerable opposition to the Green Revolution he had led to. Some said his new methods had caused a great social and economic change, with very serious results for farmers. Borlaug had a “sharp reply” for his critics, said The Guardian. Many of them had never known “the physical feeling of hunger,” he said, and would sing a different tune if they “lived just one month surrounded by the misery of the developing world, as I have for 50 years.” He must be the only Nobel Peace Prize holder who has also been admitted to the US National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

The research to which Borlaug devoted his life continues, but it is currently estimated that each night half the world’s population goes to bed after eating grain from one of the crops he invented.

What motivated Norman Borlaug to go to Mexico?

The Man Who Saved Lives

By the time he died at the age of 95, Norman Borlaug had probably saved more lives than any other individual in history. In 1970 he won the Nobel Peace Prize for developing new sorts of wheat that were planted in Mexico, India, Pakistan and other countries. In those regions, where up to a billion people might have been starving if it were not for his enormous efforts, he was a hero. It seems Borlaug himself wasn’t motivated by any desire for personal fame. When the call came through from the Nobel committee, it was 4 a.m. in Mexico where he lived, but he was already out in the fields. His wife found him and told him the news. “Someone’s pulling your leg,” he replied. Assured that he had been awarded the prize, Borlaug didn’t take the day off, but carried on with what he was doing, saying he would celebrate later.

Norman Ernest Borlaug grew up on his grandfather’s farm in Iowa, the USA. Although he came from an unprivileged background – the school where he was taught up to the age of 13 had one room and one teacher – he made it into Minnesota University, where he studied forestry. This was the era of the Great Depression, and Borlaug could see the effects of hunger all around him. Intending to help his fellow men, he switched courses to plant pathology, earning himself a doctorate, and later a job with the DuPont chemicals company, for which he worked on military projects during WWII. Then in 1944, he was asked by the Rockefeller Foundation to join its scheme to create a hardier sort of wheat to make hunger in Mexico less severe. Although DuPont offered to double his salary, if he stayed with them, Borlaug jumped at the chance given by the Rockefeller Foundation, and flew south, temporarily leaving behind his wife Margaret. What he did to help the people there was taking seeds from plants that had been grown in summer in the central highlands to the northern lowlands in winter, in this way making use of two harvests per year. By 1963, 95% of Mexico’s wheat came from Borlaug’s sorts, and the overall harvest had been increased by 6 times.

Attempting to achieve similar results on the Subcontinent, Borlaug faced many problems including the war between India and Pakistan, which broke out when the first shiploads of seeds arrived in 1965. Nevertheless, within a decade both countries were able to grow as much wheat as they needed. In his Nobel acceptance speech, Borlaug admitted the “population monster” had merely been beaten back, said The Times. To defeat it, man would have to create even better crops.

In the years that followed, there was considerable opposition to the Green Revolution he had led to. Some said his new methods had caused a great social and economic change, with very serious results for farmers. Borlaug had a “sharp reply” for his critics, said The Guardian. Many of them had never known “the physical feeling of hunger,” he said, and would sing a different tune if they “lived just one month surrounded by the misery of the developing world, as I have for 50 years.” He must be the only Nobel Peace Prize holder who has also been admitted to the US National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

The research to which Borlaug devoted his life continues, but it is currently estimated that each night half the world’s population goes to bed after eating grain from one of the crops he invented.

Which statement is TRUE of Norman Borlaug?

The Man Who Saved Lives

By the time he died at the age of 95, Norman Borlaug had probably saved more lives than any other individual in history. In 1970 he won the Nobel Peace Prize for developing new sorts of wheat that were planted in Mexico, India, Pakistan and other countries. In those regions, where up to a billion people might have been starving if it were not for his enormous efforts, he was a hero. It seems Borlaug himself wasn’t motivated by any desire for personal fame. When the call came through from the Nobel committee, it was 4 a.m. in Mexico where he lived, but he was already out in the fields. His wife found him and told him the news. “Someone’s pulling your leg,” he replied. Assured that he had been awarded the prize, Borlaug didn’t take the day off, but carried on with what he was doing, saying he would celebrate later.

Norman Ernest Borlaug grew up on his grandfather’s farm in Iowa, the USA. Although he came from an unprivileged background – the school where he was taught up to the age of 13 had one room and one teacher – he made it into Minnesota University, where he studied forestry. This was the era of the Great Depression, and Borlaug could see the effects of hunger all around him. Intending to help his fellow men, he switched courses to plant pathology, earning himself a doctorate, and later a job with the DuPont chemicals company, for which he worked on military projects during WWII. Then in 1944, he was asked by the Rockefeller Foundation to join its scheme to create a hardier sort of wheat to make hunger in Mexico less severe. Although DuPont offered to double his salary, if he stayed with them, Borlaug jumped at the chance given by the Rockefeller Foundation, and flew south, temporarily leaving behind his wife Margaret. What he did to help the people there was taking seeds from plants that had been grown in summer in the central highlands to the northern lowlands in winter, in this way making use of two harvests per year. By 1963, 95% of Mexico’s wheat came from Borlaug’s sorts, and the overall harvest had been increased by 6 times.

Attempting to achieve similar results on the Subcontinent, Borlaug faced many problems including the war between India and Pakistan, which broke out when the first shiploads of seeds arrived in 1965. Nevertheless, within a decade both countries were able to grow as much wheat as they needed. In his Nobel acceptance speech, Borlaug admitted the “population monster” had merely been beaten back, said The Times. To defeat it, man would have to create even better crops.

In the years that followed, there was considerable opposition to the Green Revolution he had led to. Some said his new methods had caused a great social and economic change, with very serious results for farmers. Borlaug had a “sharp reply” for his critics, said The Guardian. Many of them had never known “the physical feeling of hunger,” he said, and would sing a different tune if they “lived just one month surrounded by the misery of the developing world, as I have for 50 years.” He must be the only Nobel Peace Prize holder who has also been admitted to the US National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

The research to which Borlaug devoted his life continues, but it is currently estimated that each night half the world’s population goes to bed after eating grain from one of the crops he invented.

The author mentions all of the following EXCEPT __________.

Harvest Festivals Around the World

The harvest season falls at different times on the year depending upon region, climate, and crop, but festivals celebrating its arrival are held the world over. The following list highlights six particular harvest festivals.

Rice Harvest Festival

The Rice Harvest Festival that is held in Bali, Indonesia, is a feature of the island’s Hindu culture. The harvest time follows the New Year when ceremonies are held to take evil spirits away from the land. The harvest festival is dedicated to Dewi Sri, the rice goddess, and is a time of joyous celebration. Small dolls of rice stalks representing Dewi Sri are placed in the fields as offerings, towns are decorated with coloured flags, and special bull races, among other festivities, are held.

Which festival ____________?

Mid-Autumn Festival

One of the most important traditional holidays in China, Taiwan, and Vietnam is the celebration of the harvest. It is also known as the Moon Festival because it coincides with the full moon on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month; special delicacies called “mooncakes” are prepared during this time. Ceremonies are held both to give thanks for the harvest and to encourage the harvest-giving light to return again in the coming year. It is a time of family gatherings, matchmaking, and public celebrations.

Which festival ____________?

Yam Festival

The Ewe people of Ghana celebrate the end of the rainy season and the appearance of yam, the most important foodstuff. The duration and exact days of the celebration vary according to place, but, regardless of manifestation, the festival is held in hopes of preventing hunger in the coming year. Huge feasts and activities such as dances and parades are held. Similar festivals are held in Papua New Guinea and Nigeria.

Which festival ____________?

Sukkoth

Sukkoth, the Feast of Booths, begins on the 15th day of Tishri in the Jewish lunisolar calendar. Following shortly after the High Holy Days of the New Year celebration, the eight-day festival gives thanks to God for the harvest. Families build huts with roofs open to the sky. Then, here they eat, and sometimes sleep, for the next seven days. Booths are constructed to recall the period when the Israelites wandered the desert living in temporary shelters before entering the Promised Land.

Which festival ____________?