1 . The Art of Spreading New Plants from Cuttings

In the world of gardening, there’s a magical journey where you use the power of cuttings to create new life. Spreading plants from cuttings is a satisfying and sustainable (可持续的) practice. This increases your green treasures.    1    

Selecting and Preparing Cuttings

Not all plants respond equally to the spreading process.    2     Many plants are proper for spreading through cuttings. Research the specific needs of the plants you’re interested in, paying attention to factors like season, plant age, and overall health.

Choose healthy, disease-free stems (茎). Using clean, sharp knives, take your cuttings in the morning when the plant’s water levels are best. Once you have your cuttings, remove leaves from the lower part of the stem to reduce water loss.

Developing Your Cuttings to Plants

    3     Regularly water the cuttings to maintain wetness and monitor the soil condition. As roots develop and the plant establishes itself, gradually adapt it to the conditions of its future home. The journey from a simple cutting to a healthy plant may take weeks or even months, but the rewards are well worth the wait.

Sustainable Gardening Practice

Spreading plants through cuttings is not just about expanding your garden. It’s a sustainable practice.    4     Sharing your new plants with friends and fellow gardeners creates a sense of community and spreads the joy of growing your green family.

Creating new plants from cuttings is a fascinating journey that will change your garden into a pleasant plant-filled garden.     5     With a bit of patience, care, and a touch, you’ll find great joy in seeing the cycle of life happen in your very own garden. Happy spreading!

A．It also starts a deeper connection with nature.

B．This technique can not be easily learned.

C．So, it’s important to choose the right plants.

D．The reason is that it creates new plants without using seeds.

E．Growing plants from cuttings is a lesson in patience.

F．Getting an independent plant from just a tiny cutting is a fortune in itself.

G．As you start on this journey, each cutting holds the possibility for a new beginning.

2 . When lightning caused fires around California’s Big Basin Redwoods State Park north of Santa Cruz in August 2020, the fire spread quickly. Mild fires strike coastal redwood (红杉) forests about every decade. The giant trees resist burning thanks to the bark (树皮), up to about 30 centimetres thick at the base, which contains acids. Their branches and needles are normally beyond the reach of flames. But this time flames shot through the top of 100-metre-tall trees, burning the needles. “It was shocking,” says Drew Peltier, a tree expert at Northern Arizona University. “It really seemed like most of the trees were going to die.”

Yet many of them lived. In a paper published yesterday in Nature Plants, Peltier and his colleagues help explain why: The survivors use long-held energy reserves—sugars that had been made from sunlight decades earlier—and poured them into buds (芽) that had been lying dormant (休眠的) under the bar k for centuries.

“This is one of those papers that challenges our previous knowledge on tree growth,” says Adrian Rocha, an ecosystem ecologist at the University of Notre Dame. “It is amazing to learn that carbon taken up decades ago can be used to sustain its growth into the future.” The findings suggest redwoods have the tools to cope with big fires driven by climate change, Rocha says. Still, it’s unclear whether the trees could cope with the regular infernos that might occur under a warmer climate environment.

The fire in 2020 was so intense that even the top branches of many trees burned and their ability to photosynthesize (光合作用) went up in smoke along with their pine needles. Trees photosynthesize to create sugars and other carbohydrates (碳水化合物), which provide the energy they need to grow and repair tissue. Trees do store some of this energy, which they can call on during a drought or after a fire. Although the redwoods have sprouted (长出) new growth, Peltier and other forest experts wonder how the trees will cope with far less energy from photosynthesis, given that it will be years before they grow as many needles as they had before the fire. “They’re alive, but I would be a little concerned for them in the future.”

1. What’s special about this big fire for coastal redwood forests in 2020?

A．It burnt the top of the trees.	B．It was very close to the last fire.
C．It resisted burning effectively.	D．It caused relatively minor damage.

2. Why did redwoods survive in the big fire?

A．Sugars protected their barks.	B．Energy reserves promoted the growth of buds.
C．They got used to hot climate.	D．They took in much carbon to resist fire.

3. What does the underlined word “infernos” in the third paragraph mean?

A．Unpredictable disasters.	B．Changeable climate.
C．Terrible environment.	D．Uncontrollable fires.

4. Why does Peltier worry about the survival of redwoods?

A．Their tissues can’t be repaired.	B．They can’t save energy anymore.
C．Their energy saved is not sufficient.	D．They grow too slowly.

3 . There are a number of animals that give off light in some way-including several kinds of insects and fish. Some kinds of mushrooms give off light, too. But most plants don’t give out light. Now, scientists are working to change that.

When a living thing gives off light, it’s called bioluminescence (生物发光). Fireflies are a well-known example of bioluminescence. Though less well-known, many mushrooms are also bioluminescent. These bioluminescent creatures light up thanks to the chemicals called luciferins (荧光素)inside their bodies. Luciferins cause a chemical reaction that can give off light.

Plants don’t naturally have luciferins, so there are no naturally bioluminescent plants. But that hasn’t stopped scientists from trying to create them. In the past, scientists have created plants that made less bright by adding DNA from shining objects. Scientists have also created plants that can give off light by adding luciferins to plants. But it only works as long as the chemicals last. In 2017, a team was able to cause a plant to give off light for about four hours.

Now, researchers at a Russian company have come up with a new method of creating shining plants. By adding certain parts of the DNA from shining mushrooms to ordinary tobacco plants, the researchers were able to create plants that could make their own luciferins. The scientists reported that the light was about 10 times brighter than in earlier shining plants.

The researchers believe that shining plants could help scientists learn more about the way plants work. For example, the moving patterns or waves of light in the plants may show activities in plants that normally can’t be seen. The shining also helps reveal how plants may be affected by things around them. For example, the plants gave off much more light strongly when a ripe banana skin was nearby. But the researchers don’t think the plants will just be used for science. They think many people may want shining plants for their beauty. So they are working with a company to develop shining plants for sale.

1. What phenomenon does the author describe in paragraph 1?

A．Most animals hate giving off light.

B．Many plants give off light through scientists’ efforts.

C．Animals give off light to protect themselves.

D．It’s hard to find plants that give out light.

2. What happens when a firefly lights up?

A．It gives off lots of heat to warm itself.

B．It has chemical reactions inside its body.

C．It lacks energy due to chemical reactions.

D．It informs other fireflies of the danger.

3. How does the author support his viewpoint in the last paragraph?

A．By showing numbers.	B．By making a comparison.
C．By providing examples.	D．By making a summary.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Human development results in less shining plants

B．Scientists manage to create shining plants

C．People’s lifestyles are reflected in shining plants

D．Geography determines the types of shining plants

4 . Imagine walking by a maple (枫树) tree that is no taller than a ruler. You may think that this is a special type of miniature tree, but it actually isn’t! Creating a tree like this is a form of art called bonsai. Bonsai are tiny trees grown in small pots. Bonsai can be any kind of tree. They just need to be planted in a small container and cultivated in a way that stunts their growth.

Cultivating, or taking care of, a bonsai tree requires patience and care. Pruning — removing branches, leaves, and roots — is an important part of raising bonsai. It keeps the trees small, and it also controls their shape. Pinching off new buds (嫩芽) and tying wire around branches help create a beautiful design. These processes allow the grower to control what shape the bonsai tree will take as it develops.

People who raise bonsai want their trees to look like they belong in nature. Even though it is contained in a pot, a bonsai tree should look similar to its larger counterpart (相对物，参照物). For example, the bonsai maple should have the same forked branches and vibrant leaves as the full-sized maple. This makes the bonsai a tiny copy of the full-sized maple that towers overhead.

Like other plants, bonsai need water and food from the soil. In order to keep bonsai the proper size, you need to carefully control the amount of water and fertilizer you provide. If you want to grow a bonsai, it is best to start with a species that grows in your area. Most bonsai do best when kept outdoors, so they need to be able to survive the weather. If kept indoors, the bonsai must be placed near a window. Interestingly, with proper care, bonsai can live for a hundred years or more.

1. Why does a bonsai tree need pruning frequently?

A．To control its size.

B．To help it grow well.

C．To save fertilizer and water.

D．To create a shape as designed.

2. What example does the bonsai maple in Para. 3 serve as?

A．One of a larger counterpart.

B．A tiny copy of the full-sized maple.

C．One looking like its counterpart in nature.

D．One with forked branches and vibrant leaver.

3. What advice is given to a bonsai beginner?

A．To keep the bonsai indoors.

B．To start with a native species.

C．To keep bonsai the proper size.

D．To control the amount of water.

4. Which would be a best title for this passage?

A．Bonsai — a special hobby

B．How to be bonsai grower

C．What does bonsai refer to?

D．Why is bonsai so popular?

5 . Four Best Plants to Give as Gifts

Choosing a gift for someone is always a challenge. Giving plants is one way to try if the recipient is already a plant-lover. Here are some sure to impress as thoughtful gifts.

Jade Plant

The jade plant is a large succulent (肉质植物) that makes a perfect gift for someone who’s mastered parenting succulents. With a woody stem (茎), it looks like a tree once growing tall enough. Besides occasional watering and a bright window, the jade plant has few other requirements. A good challenge for ambitious owners is to regularly cut off its heavy leaves to reduce weight.

Christmas Cactus

This is a succulent with eye-catching flowers that appear in winter. You might assume it a picky plant, but nothing could be further than the truth. It prefers bright, indirect light and grows well in average potting soil. This plant prefers a steady watering schedule, especially in winter. To encourage more growth, plant it in a hanging container that allows its branches to hang down.

Paperwhite

Some people just aren’t interested in keeping houseplants around long-term, and paperwhite flowers are an excellent gift for anyone you know who fits this mould. Paperwhites grow from bulbs (鳞茎) and will produce flowers out of season. The roots need to be kept relatively damp, but once they are blooming (开花), there’s not much that can go wrong. They can be replanted outside after they have run their course.

Corn Plant

The corn plant is forgiving of variable light conditions and watering routines. It grows slowly, but can reach a height of four to six feet, and can make an impressive floor plant. Its leaves turn paler in direct sunlight to reflect the extra light, and darker green in shady conditions to maximize sunlight absorption.

1. Which plant requires practised gardening experience?

A．Jade plant.

B．Christmas cactus.

C．Paperwhite.

D．Corn plant.

2. How can we help a Christmas cactus grow well?

A．By replanting it outside before blooming.	B．By watering it regularly during blooming.
C．By cutting off most of its heavy leaves.	D．By making its branches grow upwards.

3. What affects the colour of leaves of a corn plant?

A．The frequency of watering.	B．Its flowering time.
C．Its rate of growing.	D．The amount of sunlight.

6 . 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。

Nature’s Lungs

We know that trees are nature’s purifier (净化器): They absorb carbon emissions (碳排放)and release oxygen. But their     1       (able) to do that changes as they age. According to Newsweek, trees     2       are at least 20 years old can absorb carbon better than younger ones and older ones. And a recent study by researchers from South Korea’s Forest Research Institute     3       (find) exactly how much carbon that each 25-year-old cherry tree can absorb: 20 pounds (9.1 kilograms) each year.

According to the study, there are     4       (current) about 1.5 million cherry trees in South Korea, which means they can take in as much as 13,650 tons of carbon each year.

This may sound like a lot,     5       it’s only the annual emissions of 6,000 cars. And it’s pretty     6       (shock) if you think about it: The annual emissions of a single-car requires 250 mature cherry trees to absorb     7       carbon.

Yet, planting trees is still considered the most effective way     8       (reduce) global warming, according to Professor Tom Crowther of the Swiss university ETH Zurich. “Forest restoration isn’t just one of our climate change     9       (solution), it’s the top one,” he told the Guardian. “What blows my mind is the scale. I thought restoration would be in the top 10, but it is much    10     (powerful) than all of the other climate change solutions proposed.”

7 . On the streets of Manhattan and Washington, D. C., in neighborhoods in Seoul and parks in Paris, ginkgo (银杏) trees are losing their leaves in reaction to the first gust of cold winter air. This leaf drop, gradual at first, and then sudden, carpets streets with golden, fan-shaped leaves. Scientists are documenting evidence of the event happening later and later, a possible indication of climate change. But the story of ginkgos is not the familiar one of human carelessness with nature.

Thanks to fossils found in North Dakota, scientists found a ginkgo has genetically similar ancestors dating back 170 million years to the Jurassic Period. “It almost went extinct. Then humans rescued it and spread it around the world. It’s such a great evolutionary (进化) and cultural story,” says Peter Crane, a ginkgo expert.

One theory for the decline of the ginkgo species began 130 million years ago, when flowering plants began spreading. They grew faster and attracted more pollinators (传粉者) than ginkgos. “It’s possible that ginkgos were elbowed out of the way,” says Crane. Already competing to survive, ginkgos began to disappear during a time of global cooling that began around 66 million years ago. By the time the last ice age ended 11,000 years ago, the remaining survivors were found in China.

Ginkgo trees are smelly. “My guess is that they were eaten by animals that liked smelly things. They then passed through their body and grew.” Crane says. Those same seeds may have helped ginkgo find favor with humans 1,000 years ago. Once cleaned of their outer layer, ginkgo seeds are safe to eat. It’s then, when the trees had long since disappeared elsewhere, that people in China may have begun planting them and eating their seeds. Then gradually ginkgos spread across the world. Now it’s seemingly naturally resistant to insects and high levels of air pollution.

Crane isn’t worried about its future, though: The popularity of the species will help it survive. “Though its status in the wild may be difficult to access, it’s a plant that’s unlikely to ever go extinct,” he says.

1. What may have caused the further delay of ginkgo’s leaf drop?

A．The colder weather in winter.

B．The protection from city councils.

C．The global warming phenomenon.

D．The careless interaction with humans.

2. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．The reasons why ginkgos almost died out.

B．The advantages of ginkgos over other plants.

C．The theories of experts for multiplying ginkgos.

D．The competition between various flowering plants.

3. What might have contributed to ginkgos’ survival?

A．Their eatable seeds.	B．Their unpleasant smell.
C．The natural evolution.	D．The careful planting.

4. How does Crane feel about ginkgos’ future?

A．Worried.

B．Optimistic.

C．Uncertain.

D．Hopeless.

8 . Under a midday summer sun in California’s Sacramento Valley, rice farmer Peter Rystrom walks across a dusty and bare plot of land, dry soil crunching (碎裂) beneath each step. In a typical year, he’d be walking across green rice fields in inches of water. But today the soil is dry and baking in the 35℃ heat. It hasn’t rained for 4 weeks in a row.

“Climate change is expected to worsen the state’s extreme swings in rainfall,” researchers reported in Nature Climate Change in 2018. Low water levels in rivers have forced farmers like Rystrom, whose family has been growing rice on this land for four generations, to reduce their water use.

“If we lose our rice crops, we have to deal with severe food crisis. Climate change is already threatening rice-growing regions around the world. This is not a future problem. This is happening now,” says plant geneticist Pamela Ronald of the University of California, Davis, who identifies genes in rice that help the plant stand up to dryness, disease, flood, etc.

To save and even boost production, rice growers, engineers and researchers have turned to water-saving irrigation (灌溉) routines. Building canal systems and reservoirs (水库) can help farmers dampen their fields. But for some, the solution to rice’s climate-related problems lies in enhancing the plant itself. They hold that establishing rice gene banks that store hundreds of thousands of rice varieties ready to be bred into new, dryness-tolerant varieties is more practical and effective. Solutions may be hidden in the DNA of those older breeds.

Three decades have passed since its initial development, and some researchers are looking beyond the genetic variability preserved in rice gene banks, searching instead for useful genes from other species, including plants and bacteria. But picking genes from one species and putting them into another, or genetic recombination, remains debatable. The most famous example of genetically changed rice is Golden Rice (GR). “Looking ahead, it will be crucial for countries to embrace GR rice. But it will take time,” says Ismail, principal scientist at IRRI,

1. What problem does Rystrom have to deal with?

A．Thirst.

B．Drought.

C．Hot sun.

D．Dusty weather.

2. What can be inferred from Para. 3?

A．Downtrend of rice-growing areas is severe now.

B．Climate change is a threatening factor in the future.

C．Humans will face starvation if crop failure happens.

D．Food crisis is a common occurrence around the world.

3. What’s the purpose of setting up gene banks?

A．To store as many seeds as possible.	B．To cultivate climate-adapted varieties.
C．To improve the efficiency of breeding.	D．To show the technology of gene mapping.

4. What’s Ismail’s opinion about GR?

A．Favourable.

B．Impractical.

C．Disapproving.

D．Insecure.

9 . 某中学生英文报近期开展了“保护古树名木共享绿水青山”的主题征文活动，以鼓励人们积极参与对古树的保护。请你以“Why We Need to Protect Century-old Trees”为题写一篇英语短文，向该英文报投稿。要求包括以下要点：
1．古树保护的意义；2．古树保护面临的问题；3．你的建议。
注意：1．词数100左右；2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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10 . Malvern is a place close to my heart. When I was growing up, both my parents worked full-time, and I spent every school holiday with my grandmother, who lived in a house in the Malvern Hills, looking out over the Worcestershire land to Bredon Hill in the distance with the Three Counties Showground in the foreground. This is the scene for the RHS Malvern Spring Festival, the opening event of the horticultural (园艺的) calendar.

Garden designer and television presenter Arit Anderson is one of the familiar faces who will be presenting talks over the four days of this year’s show. Anderson didn’t move into garden design until her mid-40s. Raised in a large family by a busy single mum in Hertfordshire, she began her working life as a pharmacy technician (药剂师). From there she moved into fashion seller, working her way up to the head office of a major high street brand. At the same time she trained as a healer. All these different strands equipped her well for a career change to horticulture.

I always said I didn’t want to do fashion at 50, but it came about a little bit earlier. The company was laying off workers and I’d just got my first garden and fallen in love with it. I thought. Let’s do something I love.”

She retrained in garden design at Cape Manor College, and in 2013 won the Fresh Talent competition at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Three years later she won a gold medal at RHS Hampton Court for a garden showcasing the need for sustainability in the face of climate change.

Gardening at one with the environment has continued to be an important focus for Anderson and she is currently setting up the Sustainability Landscape Foundation with fellow designer Marian Boswall. Their aim is to cut through the green washing and provide a portal (入口) for professionals and the public to seek out information about how to garden sustainably.

1. Why does the author refer to her childhood experience?

A．To show how busy her parents were.	B．To introduce the beautiful place — Malvern.
C．To tell the readers how she spent her holiday.	D．To remember her grandmother.

2. Which of the following was Arit Anderson’s first job?

A．A garden designer.	B．A television presenter.
C．A pharmacy technician.	D．A fashion seller.

3. What is Anderson devoted to?

A．Creating gardens.	B．Retraining in garden design.
C．Fighting against climate change.	D．Cooperating with big companies.

4. Which of the following does Anderson agree with?

A．Greenwashing is really eco-friendly.

B．Everyone should choose new ways to live.

C．It doesn’t matter whether you like your job or not.

D．Gardening should be in harmony with nature.