1 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Plant lovers believe that talking to plants helps them grow. Scientists have discovered there could be real     1     (true) in this belief. Researchers have discovered that plants give off sounds when they are stressed. The sounds are quite similar     2     a human cry. Unfortunately, plant sounds are at too high a frequency for the human ear     3     (pick) up. Humans can only hear frequencies of up to 16 kilohertz (赫兹). Using special Al technology, scientists can now pick up sounds     4     (send) out by plants that are up to 250 kilohertz. The Al can also tell differences between different types of plant sounds.

The research     5     (do) in a greenhouse at Israel’s Tel Aviy University. Lead researcher Professor Lilach Hadany said: “Plants usually give off sounds when they     6     (be) under stress. Each plant and each type of stress is connected with     7     specific sound.” She suggested that crop fields could be quite     8     (noise), saying “While unable to be picked up by the human ear, the sounds given off by plants can be heard by bats,     9     (mouse) and insects. Understanding these sounds could help us know when crops need watering,     10     means farmers could water their crops more efficiently and thus save water and money.

2 . Scientists have shown how plants can protect themselves against genetic (基因的) damage caused by environmental stresses. The growing tips of plant roots and shoots have an in-built mechanism (机制) that spells cell death if DNA damage is detected, avoiding passing on faulty DNA.

Plants have small populations of stem cells (干细胞) at the tips of their roots and shoots, which enable them to continuously grow and produce new tissues throughout their lifetime. These stem cells serve as ancestors for plant tissues and organs. However, any genetic faults present in the stem cells will continue to exist and be passed on permanently throughout the plant’s life, which could last thousands of years.

Given the critical role of stem cells and their exposure to potentially dangerous environments at the growing tips of roots and shoots, safeguards are necessary to prevent stem cell faults from becoming fixed. Researchers Nick Fulcher and Robert Sablowski, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, aimed to uncover these protective mechanisms. Through experiments involving X-rays and chemicals, they discovered that stem cells were more sensitive to DNA damage compared to other cells.

When DNA damage occurs, the cells have the capacity to detect it and cause programmed cells to die, preventing the propagation of the damaged genetic code to the rest of the plant tissues. This process has similarities to the safeguard mechanism found in animal cells, which has been broadly studied due to its relevance in preventing cancer.

The identification of a similar protective system in plants is of great interest in the field of plant development. It also helps scientists develop plants that can better handle environmental stress. So knowledge of how plants deal with these stresses is of fundamental significance to agricultural science’s response to climate change.

1. What is the function of the in-built mechanism in plants?

A．To produce more roots and shoots.	B．To increase the overall lifetime of the plant.
C．To enhance plant growth and nutrient intake.	D．To stop genetic faults in stem cells passing on.

2. What can we know about stem cells in plants according to the text?

A．They are relatively abundant in quantity.	B．They are resistant to environmental stresses.
C．They make quick response to DNA damage.	D．They have the ability to repair damaged DNA.

3. What does the underlined word “propagation” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Spread.

B．Change.

C．Existence.

D．Self-repair.

4. What does the last paragraph focus on?

A．The way of dealing with climate change on the earth.

B．The significance of identifying the protective system in plants.

C．The method of ensuring plant survival under environmental stress.

D．The urgency of developing plants that can handle environmental stress.

3 . When micro-plastics end up in farm fields, the pollution can damage plant growth. But two young researchers now report that combining fungi (真菌) with certain farm wastes can partly overcome that problem.

May Shin, 20, and Jiwon Choi, 18, met in a research design class at the Fryeburg Academy, a high school in Maine. May had desired to explore how micro-plastics might affect the ecosystem. Jiwon was crazy about plants and fungi. The young scientists cooperated to test how long-lived plastics might affect farm crops.

Scientists have shown certain fungi can aid root growth and a plant’s nutrient uptake. Those organisms are named arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Certain farm wastes, like straw, can provide nutrients to plants and help stabilize their roots. Such wastes are also known as mushroom substrate (基质) and people often grow mushrooms in them.

May and Jiwon planted over 2,000 scallion (大葱) seeds in pots of soil. Half the seeds got soil polluted with micro-plastics. The rest grew in plastic-free soil. The plants then were further divided into four groups. The young scientists added AMF to the soil in one group. Another group had a top layer of mushroom substrate. A third group got both treatments. The last group got none. For three weeks, the pair tracked how many scallions sprouted (发芽) in each group and measured the plants’ height once each week.

About twice as many scallions sprouted in clean soil compared to that containing plastic bits. But among plants surviving in the polluted soil, a combination of AMF and mushroom substrate helped them out. Those getting both treatments grew 5.4 centimeters per week. That was faster than either of the treatments alone or those getting none.

Jiwon and May then looked at the plant roots with a microscope. Where AMF had been added, it grew into those roots. That increased the scallion roots’ surface area, May said, which should promote their uptake of nutrients. So “I see this project as coming up with a sustainable solution for plant growth in polluted soils,” said May.

1. Why did May and Jiwon work together?

A．To see the effects of long-lived plastics on farm crops.

B．To find the relationship between plants and fungi.

C．To design a research on the growth of plants.

D．To explore the way that the ecosystem works.

2. What is the author’s purpose in writing paragraph 3?

A．To prove the existence of micro-plastics.	B．To compare fungi with farm wastes.
C．To tell the advantages of farm wastes.	D．To provide some related information.

3. What aspect of the study is the fourth paragraph mainly about?

A．Its purpose.

B．Its design.

C．Its findings.

D．Its reasons.

4. How can AMF and mushroom substrate make plants grow faster?

A．By keeping the plants more resistant to pollution.	B．By allowing the plants’ deep area more freedom.
C．By making nutrients more available to the plants.	D．By exposing the roots to a larger surface area.

4 . When I was a kid, a sycamore (枫树) grew in front of my home. At the age of 10, I was just tall enough to reach its lowest branch and lift myself into its embrace. Sometimes two or three of my friends would join me in the sycamore, or in the maple down the street, or Mrs. DiMarco’s old peach tree, some of whose stout horizontal branches allowed us to sit shoulder to shoulder, eating sweet fruit.

In my small town there are some kinds of trees, their branches spreading wide, open for business. But I have not yet seen a climber. Perhaps computer games have replaced tree climbing, or maybe the activity went the way of monkey bars, which came to be viewed as too risky and have largely disappeared from playgrounds.

It is a sad loss. I have always believed that, since low-hanging branches provide no benefit to the tree, they must be meant for the child. Robert Frost understood this when he wrote:

When I see baches (桦树) bend to left and right,

Across the lines of straighter darker trees,

I like to think some boy’s been swinging them.

My only disagreement with Frost is his inference that tree climbing is a gender-specific task. Both boys and girls make a joyful climb.

The campus of the university where I teach has all sorts of trees. During a recent walk, I found myself bending under the branch of an immense spruce (云杉). I grabbed the thing, and a moment later was sitting on a branch. Then the memories came flooding back. The old sycamore, the friends, and finally, the reluctance to return to earth when the parental call to supper came.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t hear the student calling to me from below. He asked what I was doing. I didn’t waste time on explanations. “Come on up,” I said “The air’s fine.” But he only laughed and waved me off. He didn’t know what he was missing.

1. What does the underlined word “stout” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Slim.

B．Bent.

C．Smooth.

D．Strong.

2. What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A．Why kids don’t climb trees.

B．Why monkey bars are dangerous.

C．Why there is no business under trees.

D．Why kids are addicted to computer games.

3. What does the author want to prove by mentioning Robert’s poem?

A．Some branches of trees are useless.

B．Trees are intended for kids to climb.

C．Trees are a source of inspiration for poets.

D．Climbing trees is a unique right of boys.

4. What did the author think the student had missed?

A．The explanations to his question.

B．The fresh air above the tree.

C．The pleasure of climbing trees.

D．The sense of safety on earth.

5 . Now, a study proves that gardens are more than just a pretty place. The study, by researchers at Illinois State University, demonstrates that such constructed gardens can have a measurable and positive impact on water quality.

Floating gardens are essentially platforms built and wrapped in coconut husks (椰子壳), and filled in with native plantings. As plants grow, they extend their roots into the water. On the North Branch of the Chicago River, non-profit Urban Rivers and its partners are developing a mile-long floating eco-park called the Wild Mile. The re-development of this former industrial canal is Urban Rivers’ important project. As part of the park, floating gardens, attached to shore, are being fixed.

The primary aim of the floating gardens is beautification. But the Illinois State team, from the University’s Department of Geology, Geography, and the Environment, saw an ideal setup for a controlled experiment. “We joined it because it’s the perfect opportunity to see if there’s an influence on water quality,” explains lead author Abigail Heath.

The study is novel: previous studies have explored floating gardens’ influence on water quality over time, primarily in wastewater treatment ponds, but not over space, in moving water. The project also matches well with Urban Rivers’ broader goals. “The city is interested in bettering water quality,” says Phil Nicodemus, Urban Rivers’ Director of Research. “Happily, Illinois State took part in it later.”

Could this small human-made park improve water quality? An average of data collected over the course of the study shows middle but definitive improvement. For example, nitrogen (氮) dropped from 4.69 milligrams per liter in surface water to 4.43 milligrams per liter, a drop of about 1 percent.

“Despite how small this garden was, there was measurable improvement in water quality from upstream to downstream,” notes Heath. She and her colleagues see this as a model for how large floating gardens should be to help improve water in similar settings. “Even this tiny garden makes a difference,” she says.

1. What can be inferred from the second paragraph?

A．The floating gardens are environmentally friendly.

B．The floating gardens are fixed everywhere in the eco-park.

C．The floating gardens can help fix the former parks.

D．The Urban Rivers were once industrial canals.

2. What is the main reason to build the floating gardens?

A．To reduce waste water.	B．To attract more visitors to the park.
C．To make the surroundings brilliant.	D．To help researchers do the experiment.

3. What does the underlined word “it” refer to in Paragraph 4?

A．The floating garden.	B．The project.
C．The treatment of ponds.	D．The quality of water.

4. Which of the following could be the best title for the text?

A．Floating Gardens: More than Pretty

B．The Best Way to Better Water Quality

C．A Practical Method of Improving Parks

D．Floating Gardens Beautify the City

6 . Fig trees are native to Europe around the Mediterranean Sea, Asia and Arica, but they can grow in much cooler climates.

Once big enough, fig trees can accept temperatures even a few degrees below freezing. Some kinds of fig trees do better in such environments than others.

Depending on the weather and pruning (修剪), a fig can grow into a bush or a tee. Bushes with several stems (茎) growing from the ground do best if covered for the winter.     1    Either way, wait until the trees have dropped most of their leaves.

One popular method for burying trees for their protection involves digging a narrow, shallow area.     2    The space should be about 30 centimeters deep, 60 centimeters wide and as long as the height of the tree. To prepare the tree, gather its branches and tie them together with soft rope.

Next, push a shovel (铲子) into the soil about a half-meter from the trunk (树干) on the side opposite the hole. Lift that side of the tree’s root ball out of the ground. Then, gently push the tree toward the hole.    3    

Pack soil around the exposed side of the roots, and around the length of the tree. Load soil over the tree. Make it at least 30 centimeters deep. You will need more soil than you removed from digging.

    4    In this case, you should work upwards from the bottom and put cloth around the tree. Then put heavy brown paper around the cloth and tie it into place. Remove some soil from around the base of the tree. Place a large piece of cardboard into the space.     5    Tie the cardboard into place.

A．And in this area the tree can be laid.

B．All kinds of the trees could use protection.

C．You can also cover, or wrap, the tree instead.

D．And bend it around the bottom part of the tree.

E．When it is lying fat, cover the tree with plastic.

F．Trees with a single trunk can be buried or covered.

G．Remove the cover on the tee on a cloudy day in early spring.

7 . There are many theories that suggest different ways of improving memory or thinking more clearly. One of those is the idea that adding rosemary (迷迭香) to your food or water, or even breathing in its fragrance, can give your brain a boost.

First, it’s important to understand what rosemary is.     1     It’s a perennial, meaning that once you plant it, it should re-grow every year when the weather is warm enough for it to do so. It’s native to Asia and the Mediterranean.     2    

Rosemary is related to the mint (薄荷) family of plants. When it blooms, its flowers are white, purple, pink or deep blue. It is often used as a flavor in food, including soups, meat, fish and other Mediterranean food. And it has a somewhat bitter flavor. Some people also enjoy tea flavored with rosemary.     3    

One study that involved 28 older adults found that consumption of a small amount of dried rosemary powder was associated with statistically significantly improved memory speed.     4     Researchers found that their memory of images and numbers improved when the essential oil of rosemary was sprayed in the room.

    5     But one theory is that rosemary appears to have some antioxidant (抗氧剂) properties that may offer some healing for the damage in our bodies. Another idea is that rosemary appears to lower anxiety, which in turn, may increase the ability to concentrate.

While rosemary shows some promise for boosting our brain power, it’s important to check with your doctor before you begin having it.

A．But it is grown in the United States, as well.

B．Rosemary is a herb with needle-like leaves.

C．Here’s what research has found about rosemary.

D．It is unknown if those benefits would hold true for humans.

E．It’s not known for sure why there may be a benefit from rosemary.

F．Rosemary is also used as a perfume and added to shampoo and soap.

G．Another study was performed with 53 students between 13 and 15 years old.

8 . There’s a great example of the power of persistence(坚持) in the way Chinese bamboo grows. When farmers plant the seeds and _______ the soil day after day and year after year, they see no _______ results. Four years can go by before they see any _______. But in the fifth year, a bud(芽) _______ through the soil and it’s said this particular type of bamboo can grow ninety feet in five weeks. This begs the question: Is the bamboo _______ to an overnight success doing all that growing in just five weeks, or does it take five years for the bamboo to reach this _______?

Of course, the bamboo is growing the whole time even though it’s not _______ to anyone other than the _______ farmer. Over the first four years, the bamboo is busy developing a solid root system necessary to _______ its height and weight over a life time. But in the fifth year, all the earlier __________ becomes obvious as the bamboo actually grows before your eyes. __________, this story shows the power of persistence. The farmer’s __________ attention is vital for the bamboo to grow ninety feet and achieve this great result.

As Angela Duckworth shares in Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, our natural talent gives us a(n)__________ when it comes to achieving success. __________, talent on its own is not enough and we all know people who don’t __________ their own potential. Rather, our effort __________ so much more than talent when it comes to achieving a goal. And like the bamboo farmer above, sometimes our effort needs to persist for a long time before we see any __________.

__________ sustained effort is easier when we are passionate(充满激情的)about what we do. When we __________ our work on a sense of purpose and meaning, we are better prepared to use the passion and the persistence to __________ the great results we are capable of achieving. How can you find meaning in your work?

1.

A．tend

B．expand

C．restore

D．occupy

2.

A．influential

B．permanent

C．visible

D．complex

3.

A．growth

B．trend

C．view

D．chance

4.

A．hatches

B．mounts

C．explodes

D．arises

5.

A．contrary

B．comparable

C．beneficial

D．responsible

6.

A．shape

B．weight

C．height

D．standard

7.

A．intense

B．urgent

C．constant

D．apparent

8.

A．wise

B．sensitive

C．fortunate

D．humble

9.

A．measure

B．support

C．recover

D．preserve

10.

A．work

B．bother

C．consumption

D．discipline

11.

A．Obviously

B．Incredibly

C．Occasionally

D．Surprisingly

12.

A．memorable

B．respective

C．efficient

D．consistent

13.

A．excuse

B．option

C．advantage

D．motivation

14.

A．Hence

B．Nevertheless

C．Therefore

D．Furthermore

15.

A．look up to

B．make up for

C．stand up for

D．live up to

16.

A．seeks

B．counts

C．varies

D．differs

17.

A．faith

B．source

C．reward

D．warning

18.

A．Evaluating

B．Devoting

C．Mentioning

D．Recognizing

19.

A．lessen

B．blame

C．ground

D．submit

20.

A．bring back

B．bring down

C．bring in

D．bring about

9 . In ancient Greece, purslane herb (马齿苋) was regarded as an important medicinal herb for treatment of fever, female disorders, stomachaches, and headaches, and Hippoctrates, the famous father of medicine, practically tried it for the healing of wounds. Purslane herb was later considered as a cold herb around the 17th. Century.

Purslane is today known as a beneficial juicy herb found as a weed throughout the world. Purslane is commonly used as an ingredient for salads. Purslane has been recently identified as an excellent source of alpha-linolenic acid (亚麻酸). Alpha-linolenic is a kind of an omega-3 fatty acid, also known as fish oil. This important content in purslane herb plays an important role in human growth, development and preventing disease. Modern medical research claims that purslane herb is five times richer in omega-3 fatty acids than another vegetable, and also is high in vitamin C.

Purslane has small, green leaves, which are usually delicate and juicy. The stem is round and smooth. Young plants have a green stem but as the plant matures the stems take on reddish colors. Flowers are 1/4 inch long and a brilliant yellow in color with 5 petals (花瓣), which contain round black seeds. Purslane herb presents a wide variety of medical uses and each part of the herb is beneficial. Purslane herb is widely used all over the world and here is its known benefit: Purslane is known as an excellent source of vitamins C and E and the essential alpha-linolenic acids.

Reports describe purslane as power food of the future because of its high value of nutrition and medicine. Purslane leaves contain Omega-3 fatty acids which regulate the metabolic (新陈代谢) activities of bodies. The stems of purslane herb are known to be high in vitamin C. Purslane-herb is known to have one of the best known concentrations of Omega-3 fatty acid.

1. In ancient Greece, Hippoctrates used purslane to treat ________.

A．Stomachaches

B．Wounds

C．Headaches

D．Fever

2. Which is the correct description of purslane?

A．Its stems are round and strong.

B．Its leaves are big and green.

C．Its stems are red in color.

D．Its flowers are yellow in color.

3. Why is purslane considered as power food of the future?

A．Because its leaves are rich in vitamin C.

B．Because its stem contains Omega-3 fatty acids.

C．Because it is valuable in nutrition and medicine.

D．Because it regulates the metabolic activities of bodies.

4. What is the best title for this passage?

A．Purslane, a famous herb in the world

B．The basic knowledge about purslane

C．Purslane, a herb that benefits health

D．The medical research about purslane

10 . In organic（有机的) farming, crops, meat and other food are produced without chemicals. Fertilizers, and antibiotics (化肥与抗生素) are not allowed. During thousands of years of civilization the raising of animals and growing of plants have always been organic.

Chemicals for farming first came up at the turn of the 20th century. Widespread use of chemicals began after World War II. In the 1950s and 60s farmers started using chemical fertilizers and antibiotics. Recently, however, more and more farmers have been returning to more natural ways of producing farm products.

Instead of chemicals, organic farming uses a lot of organic matter to give crops the nutrients that they need to grow. Clover, for example, has a lot of nitrogen (氮) in it and farmers use it to make the soil better. Manure from animals and compost (混合肥料) are also used to enrich the soil. These fertilizers also help protect the soil, not destroy it after a few years.

Organic farmers also use crop rotation (轮作) to protect the good qualities of soils. Chemical antibiotics destroy or weaken many of the natural enemies of pests, like birds or frogs. They also can kill those insects that control a great number of pests. Organic farming creates new living areas for little animals, such as wasps, bugs, beetles and flies by giving them water and food. Weeds are controlled by using special machines. Hay, straw and wood chips are put between the rows of plants to stop weeding.

Many agricultural products can be produced in an organic way. Meat, dairy products and eggs come from animals that are fed organically and can graze outdoors. They live in conditions that are natural to them. Cows, for example, are kept in pastures and fields. Vegetables and fruit are also produced with organic methods.

1. What of the following best describes the organic farming?

A．Time-saving.

B．Environmental.

C．Productive.

D．Developmental.

2. What does the underlined word “Manure” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Crop roots.	B．Chemical fertilizers.
C．Animals’ waste.	D．Agricultural products.

3. What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?

A．The new study of soils.	B．Benefits from organic farming.
C．A breakthrough in antibiotics.	D．Natural enemies of animals.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．Organic farming and food	B．Importance of organic methods
C．Benefits of organic fertilizers	D．Strengths of manure and compost