1 . Seen any unseasonably early daffodils（水仙花）showing their faces yet? UK spring flowers are opening nearly a month earlier than they did before the mid-1980s, due to climate change.

That is the conclusion of a study of nearly 420,000 observations of the first flowering date of 406 plants from a UK citizen science project called Nature's Calendar. It has records dating back to 1753 from gardeners and naturalists, as well as bodies such as the UK's Royal Meteorological Society.

UIf Buntgen at the University of Cambridge and his team found that plants were opening their flowers 26 days earlier on average in the years after 1986 than they did before. They picked that year as it was the mid-point in the data set-where they had about the same number of observations before and after-because there were many more recent records than earlier ones.

The analysis included records of all plants, whatever time of year they flower, but most of them(like the daffodils) bloom in spring. “It is likely that the influence of climate change will be greater for spring-flowering plants, where the usual beginning of warmer temperatures that would cause flowering starts earlier,” says a spokesperson for the UK's Royal Horticultural Society.

There was a bigger advance in the dates of the first blooms for smaller plants, with those less than 20 centimeters high flowering an average of 32 days earlier in the years after 1986 than they had historically.

In any year, flower opening times were closely connected with the average temperature of the months from January to April. “If it's warmer, it's an earlier beginning. If it's cooler, it's a later one,” says Buntgen. The average maximum temperature across those four months rose by 1.1℃, comparing the period from 1950 to 1986 with the years after 1986.

“The change could hurt insects, birds and other wildlife that has evolved to sync with（同步）the flowering of certain plants,” says Buntgen.

1. What can we know about the study?

A．It dated back to 1753.

B．It was based on a large amount of data.

C．It was conducted by gardeners and naturalists.

D．It only covered records of plants blooming in spring.

2. Why did researchers pick the year 1986?

A．It was in the middle of the data set.

B．It was a memorable day for Ulf Buntgen.

C．It was the first year to record flowering date.

D．It was in 1986 that spring flowers bloom earlier.

3. What will be discussed in the following paragraph?

A．The influences of flowers’ early blooming.

B．Measures to be taken to stop climate change.

C．Further study to find the reason for flowers’ early blooming.

D．How creatures adapt to the change of flowers’ early blooming.

4. Where can we probably find the text?

A．In a guidebook.

B．In a science fiction.

C．In a geography textbook.

D．In a science magazine.

2 . Many gardeners do not begin to grow their plants from seeds. Instead, they buy young plants, also called seedlings or “starts”. These are plants that are grown in a nursery—a place where plants are grown and sold.

Many gardeners buy seedlings in containers for their gardens. Most nursery seedlings are either plants that last for one growing season or vegetables.     1     Many people also buy “starts” in individual containers. Here is some helpful information to help get good plants.

The first step is finding a good nursery. A good gardener will ask themselves whether the nursery grows its own plants, or buys them from larger growers.     2     The larger growers, or wholesalers, might not be able to do so.

Make sure the plants have been watered correctly. If not, the seedlings will have a hard time developing. If there are lots of half-dead or dried-out plants, it is often a sign to buy elsewhere.

Next, before buying a grouping of seedlings, feel the soil. In addition to being wet but not flooded, it should not be solid.     3     In fact, the soil should smell fresh.

Look at the holes at the bottom of the container to see the roots. If the roots are too dense (密度大的), that is a sign not to buy the plant. Look to see if there has been damage from the wind or sun.     4    

When you buy spring plants in cell containers, you should make sure all the plants in the group are healthy. If one out of four plants in a grouping is not healthy, the others might not be far behind.

    5     Something that helps gardeners is a simple drawing of their garden and a list of the plants they will buy.

A．Damaged plants will take time to repair.

B．That is a sign that the soil has been dried out.

C．Lastly, always have a plan when buying plants.

D．Pay attention to the price when buying spring starts.

E．They come in plastic containers holding four to six plants.

F．A gardener should also know what kind of plants they are buying.

G．Nurseries that grow their own spring starts usually take good care of them.

3 . About 17 years ago, I became allergic to Delhi's air. My doctors told me that my lung function had gone down to 70 percent. My doctor told me that there were three plants, with which I could grow all the fresh air indoors to keep me healthy.

The three plants are Areca palm, Mother-in-law's Tongue and money plant. Areca palm is a plant which removes CO₂ and turns it into oxygen. We need four shoulder-high plants every person. The second plant is Mother-in-law's Tongue. It is called a bedroom plant because it turns CO, into oxygen at night. And we need six to eight waist-high plants every person. The third plant is money plant, and it preferably grows in hydroponics. This particular plant removes some harmful chemicals.

My team and I have tried these plants at our own building in Delhi, which is a 50,000-square-feet, 20-yearold building. And it has close to 1,200 such plants for 300 families. Our studies have found that there is a 42 percent probability of one's blood oxygen going up by one percent if one stays indoors in this building for 10 hours. Our experience also points to an amazing reduction in energy requirements in the building by an outstanding 15 percent. The government has published a study to show that this is the healthiest building in Delhi. And the study has also shown that, compared to other buildings, there is a reduced incidence of headaches by 24 percent.

In my opinion, these studies above are also important for the environment because the world’s energy requirements are expected to grow by 30 percent in the next decade. 40 percent of the world's energy is taken up by buildings currently, and 60 percent of the world's population will be living in buildings in cities with a population of over one million in the next 15 years. And there is a growing preference for living and working in air-conditioned places.

1. What is the function of the first paragraph?

A．To show the results of growing plants.	B．To give the reason for the author's studies.
C．To introduce the author's life.	D．To praise the author's doctor.

2. Which of the following can remove harmful chemicals according to the text?

A．CO2.

B．Oxygen.

C．Money plant.

D．Mother-in-law's Tongue.

3. What can we learn from the government's study?

A．The building with the three plants is the healthiest in Delhi

B．The possibility of headaches reduces by 40 percent.

C．The energy requirements in the building drop by 42 percent.

D．People can stay in the building for only 10 hours.

4. What does the author think of these studies?

A．Complex.

B．Boring.

C．Meaningful.

D．Useless.

4 . 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

5 . When talking of a typical mineral mine, people will probably think it's underground. It's unlikely that the picture of plants and soft greenery would cross their minds. Now, new explorations into phytomining may change that viewpoint. Instead of traditionally mining metals like nickel, iron or cobalt from rocks, phytomining uses plants as an alternative source (来源) for these minerals. Using plants to extract (提取) metals can have significant environmental benefits over rock mining.

Phytomining was first studied in 1983, but it hasn't yet been adopted by the metals industry. In 2004, Indonesian soil scientist Aiyen Tjoa from Tadulako University in Central Sulawesithe took her research to Sorowako, a small town in Indonesia with one of the largest nickel mining areas, to look into plants that continued to live after years of mining. She brought samples back to her lab and found that these super plants were more than just surviving—they were growing.

The plants were absorbing and storing nickel from the soil. Large quantities of metals kill most plants, but these, known as hyperaccumulators, were learning to adapt. If these plants were storing metals, that meant that science could find a way to extract the minerals for use and quite frankly, scientists easily did. When the shoots are harvested and burnt, the metals are separated from the plant material in the ashes.

Tjoa returned to Sorowako and spent years searching for new hyperaccumulator species. After a plant is considered a possibility, there's a simple test paper that turns pink when placed against the leaf of a hyperaccumulator plant. Two local Indonesian plants, sarcotheca celebica and knema matanensis, were found but there are many others still to be validated.

Tjoa's research caught the attention of Satria Bijasksana, a professor of rock magnetism. Together, they designed an experiment to understand magnetic susceptibility (磁化率) when plants accumulate more nickel. Their research led to the discovery of two new species of hyperaccumulators. Besides, this research serves as the basis for the potential that plants can give to the mining industry, offering great advantages to our ecosystem and towards building a more sustainable (可持续的) future.

1. Why did Aiyen Tjoa go to Sorowako in 2004?

A．To work with the local government.	B．To study the plants surviving mining.
C．To improve the soil in the small town.	D．To research into underground mining.

2. What can we learn about hyperaccumulators from the text?

A．They are rich in metals.	B．They are free of minerals.
C．They are very easy to discover.	D．They are too fragile to survive.

3. The underlined word “validated” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to “________”.

A．monitored	B．preserved
C．confirmed	D．adapted

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．A New Creative Mining Way Meets Challenges

B．Many Plants Can Act as Sources of Many Metals

C．Now Scientists Can Extract Minerals from Plants

D．Phytomining Will Take the Place of Traditional Mining

6 . How to Make a Window Box Garden

For many people, warm weather means growing things in the ground. Gardening is a popular activity all around the world. But what about people who do not have the space to garden? Don’t worry! Today, we will give you information about growing beautiful window boxes.

Place and safety

    1     They can also sit on other surfaces such as walls, or front steps. Make sure your window boxes are safe so they will not come down in a storm. Because of these possible dangers, window boxes are sometimes not allowed by house owners. If that is the case where you live or if you feel your window box could be unsafe, you can have an indoor window box.

Light and water

Before choosing plants, check your window box place for light and rain.     2     So, they need more water. And if a window box is close to a wall or other buildings, it may not get enough rainwater. Even if all your windows get little sun, do not give up. Browne, a famous gardener, says one of her greatest successes is a beautiful window box in a full-shade area.     3    

Try to be different

So, what makes some window boxes different while others are just so-so? Create a topic!     4     For example, you may have a window box that is filled with all cactuses or all plants fit for eating. Or you could have a color-topic window box with only purple flowers and plants.     5     People who have really nice window boxes cut off anything dead. They also water their window boxes often and change things a lot.

A．This is a main idea for the plants.

B．Besides having a topic, caring is important.

C．Window boxes dry out faster than ground plants.

D．You should not let quick-growing plants get out of control.

E．She suggests knowing which plants look best during each season.

F．Window boxes are not just for the outside edge of the window.

G．She gets a great look by using plants and flowers that don’t need much sun.

7 . Triantha Occidentalis, commonly known as the western false asphodel (西部假水仙), which has been known to science since 1879, is a herb-like plant found in abundance along North America’s West Coast. But it is only recently that researchers discovered the innocent-looking plant’s desire for insects.

“We had no idea it was carnivorous (食肉的),” says botanist Sean Graham. “This was not found in some exotic tropical location, but really right on our doorstep in Vancouver. You could exactly walk out from Vancouver to this field site.”

While studying the plant, the researchers noticed that Triantha Occidentalis lacked the same gene as other carnivorous plants. Since the plant grows in the same wet, sunny habitat with nutrient-poor soil as other carnivorous plants, they wondered if it caught insects for nutrition as well. “And at the same time they have sticky stems (茎),” Graham said. “So, I wonder if this could be a sign that it might be carnivorous.”

To test whether it is carnivorous, scientists marked fruit flies with nitrogen-15 isotopes (氮-l5同位素). By collecting the plants the fruit flies visited and comparing the nitrogen levels of different plants, the researchers found that Triantha Occidentalis was able to get more than half of the nitrogen it needed, suggesting that it absorbs nitrogen from the fruit flies. Additionally, the digestive enzyme (消化酶) released by the sticky hairs in flower stems was similar to that found in other carnivorous plants.

Usually, the deadly trap of carnivorous plants grow far away from the flower to prevent accidentally killing pollinators (授粉者), while the western false asphodel traps insects near flowers. The scientists say this is the first time they have met the deadly trap on the flower’s stem, and the sticky hairs on the stem of Triantha Occidentalis can only catch small insects, not the larger bees or butterflies involved in pollination.

“It’s a good reminder that we still don’t know much about the ecology of a lot of individual plant species, even in well-known environments,” says Dr. Qianshi Lin.

1. What does Graham stress in paragraph 2?

A．The discovery is made in the local place.

B．Carnivorous plants grow in the hottest places.

C．Triantha Occidentalis is very common.

D．Vancouver is home to various carnivorous plants.

2. What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 4 refer to?

A．The nitrogen.	B．The digestive enzyme.
C．The flower.	D．The nutrition.

3. Which part of the western false asphodel catches insects?

A．Its fruit.	B．Its leaves.
C．Its stem.	D．Its roots.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．A new species of local flower is discovered.

B．A carnivorous flower in the wild grows well.

C．A flower gives off strange smell to attract insects.

D．An innocent-looking plant turns out to be carnivorous.

8 . Sunflower season generally runs from late July, so be sure to visit the best sunflower fields near Chicago.

Thompson Strawberry Farm

This huge Wisconsin sunflower field covers an area of 15 acres, so come prepared with scissors and a jar to prepare for a long day of picking. Visitors are welcome to cut up to a dozen sunflowers from the field, but if you really want to take home a few more, additional flowers will only set you back a dollar each.

$25 per car for up to six people, $5 per person for more than six people.

Heap's Giant Pumpkin Farm

Flower enthusiasts will delight in walking through more than 5 acres of sunflowers at this farm, which offers an all—day pass that gives you access to the sunflower field and other farm attractions like corn mazes(迷宫). You can buy a De Bucket: a $20 basket you can fill with as many flowers as you can fit inside.

Thistleberry Farm

Though some of its previous summer sunflower fields have already been cleaned, South Bend's Thistleberry Farm will once again erupt in a 3—acre sea of sunflowers from September 16—27. You can order tickets online to reserve a spot before visiting.

$6 per person plus a $ l online processing fee.

M&D Farm and Garden Center

Located just 45 minutes of driving outside the city in Homer Glen, Illinois, this 10—acre farm allow for six weeks throughout the season. Check the farm's Facebook page for updates about when the field will enter full golden time — and when you visit, be sure to have a couple of fresh cut sunflowers for $2.50 each.

$5 Monday —Friday, $7 Saturday — Sunday, children under 3 free.

1. Which sunflower field is the largest?

A．Thistleberry Farm.

B．Thompson Strawberry Farm.

C．Heap's Giant Pumpkin Farm.

D．M&D Farm and Garden Center.

2. What service can Thistleberry Farm offer to visitors?

A．Free Admission.

B．Sunflower cleaning.

C．Online ticket booking.

D．Sunflower delivery.

3. How much will you pay to get ten sunflowers at M&D Farm and Garden Center?

A．$10.

B．$20.

C．$25.

D．$50.

9 . 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，并将答案填写在答题卡上。

It tastes like flower. It smells like a campfire. What’s it? It’s a bottle of Petrus Pomerol wine that spent a year on the International Space Station.

In the past few months researchers in Bordeaux     1     (examine) many times the twelve bottles of wine and 320 pieces of grapevines (葡萄藤) that returned to Earth in January. The wine and grapevines are part of a longer-term effort to make plants on Earth     2     (well) resist climate change and disease.

Each bottle     3     (keep) inside a special steel container during the journey. At a special tasting this month, 12 wine experts tried one of the space-traveled wines. They tasted and smelled the wine alongside a similar bottle from the same year     4     had stayed on Earth.

Nicolas Gaume is head of Space Cargo Unlimited, the company     5     (arrange) the experiment to study the effects of the lack of gravity     6     the wine and vines. He said the wine that remained on Earth tasted a little younger than the one that had been to space.

The small pieces of vines,     7     (acknowledge) as canes in the grape-growing business, not only survived the journey but also grew faster than vines on Earth.     8     were unaffected by limited light and water. Once researchers understand why this happened, that could help scient its develop stronger, healthier vines on Earth. Such     9     (inform) could also help create away to grow grapes or to make wine in space.

The research is a good thing for the industry, but it would take a decade or more to lead to     10     (practice) uses.