1 . Gardens are some of the most beautiful places on earth. The sad reality of gardening is that weeds compete with the plants you want and take away from their beauty.     1     Most people try to find a quick and easy solution to the problem of weeds by using chemical weed killers, known as herbicides. Sometimes, though, a solution can cause even bigger problems.

Actually using chemical herbicides can have quite a few unintended consequences.     2     They effectively kill weeds, but they can also kill other desirable plants and species. Not only that, but herbicides pose significant health risks to humans. And did you know that repeated use of herbicides can make weeds resistant to their effects?     3    

After weeds have already invaded your flower bed or garden, you obviously have to find a way to handle them. There are two basic methods of removing weeds: physical removal and mechanical removal. Physical removal — when using this method you are literally destroying the weeds by putting them out of the ground.     4     This method is generally very effective, but it takes effort. Mechanical removal — this method, which uses a weed eater or a lawnmower, mows weeds down to the ground. It doesn’t take out the roots, though, so the weeds will grow back.     5     With this method, it not only beatifies the garden but also saves you much effort.

By using some of these natural methods, you can keep your garden looking superb without using dangerous herbicides that could damage your health and the environment.

A．But herbicides use isn’t the only way to get rid of weeds.

B．Then, place garden plants close together to crowd out the weeds.

C．You can pull out the weeds by hand or take them out with a shovel.

D．As you might imagine, these chemicals poison the environment.

E．Here are some solutions to keeping weeds from invading your garden in the first place.

F．As for preventing weeds, covering the ground with landscapes fabrics may be a good way.

G．As a result, weed control seems to be a never-ending part of sustaining the beauty of a garden.

2 . With so many different kinds of plants out there, telling them apart can seem like an impossible task. But you don’t have to have a degree in botany to start putting names to the plants you come across. Learning to recognize various species begins with studying the plants’ unique physical features carefully and recording what you see.

    1     If you spot a plant outdoors and don’t have the first clue as to what it is, start identifying it by scanning your surroundings. In particular, consider the overall climate, the conditions of the terrain, and any nearby water sources. A quick glance should be able to tell you what you’re looking at.

Study the plant’s features carefully. Whenever you come across a species you’ve never seen before, stop and take note. Look over each of the individual parts, like the stems (茎，梗), leaves, and flowers.

    2    

Use viewing aids to take a closer look. A magnifying glass will allow you to zoom in and analyze a plant’s features in more vivid detail. Similarly, you may require a pair of binoculars or a telescopic lens when you want to inspect a particular specimen (样本) from a distance.     3    

Write down the plant’s key features.     4     Be sure to make mention of attributes like size, shape, color, and texture, as well as any unique patterns or other distinguishing marks. In order to learn to identify plants on your own, you’ll need to hone (磨练) your use of descriptive language to be as precise as possible.

Ask an expert to take advantage of their firsthand experience. Show your notes and any photos you’ve taken to a botanist, gardening specialist, or respected outdoorsman and see if they can help you discover the identity of a certain plant.     5     People who have spent years studying plants can often pick them out by sight or description.

A．Observe the plant carefully at first.

B．Take your environment into consideration.

C．Record each characteristic in your own words.

D．Judge the age and shape of the plants you have found.

E．Without these tools, you’ll be stuck doing a lot of guesswork.

F．You’ll have an opportunity to absorb a little of what they know.

G．Most plants can be grouped and distinguished by these structures.

3 . Apples are generally red, green, yellow or a combination of the three, but if the right geographical conditions are met, they can grow dark purple, almost black, as well. These apples are called Black Diamond, currently only grown in the mountains of Tibet.

Black Diamond apples get their dark purple color from the geographical conditions of Nyingchi, in Tibet. The 50-hectare (公顷) orchard(果园) set up by Chinese company Dandong Tianluo Sheng Nong E-Commerce Trade Co., Ltd. is 3,100 meters above sea level, making it the perfect place to grow these interesting fruits. The temperature differences between day and night are important, and the fruits get a lot of sunlight and ultraviolet light (紫外线), which causes their skin to go from the deep red to dark purple.

Production at the Nyingchi orchard started in 2015, three years after the trees were planted, but they can only be found in some high-end supermarkets in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and are usually sold in gift package of 6 to 8 fruits. And the price of Black Diamond apples is around 50 yuan per fruit.

Due to the low temperatures, Black Diamond apple trees’ growth rate is much lower than average. While most apple types are fully grown in 2 to 5 years, these trees require no less than 8 years. Furthermore, only about 30% of the orchard’s product meets the standards of color to be sold as high-quality Black Diamond apples.

Black Diamond apples are a mystery, even among experienced apple growers, as there really isn’t much information about them online. Some users of the Growing Fruit forum, for example, think these dark purple apples don’t really exist, while others say that the photos posted online have made the fruits darker than they really are.

1. Which plays a key role in the growth of Black Diamond apples?

A．Much rain.	B．High temperature.
C．Much land	D．High altitude

2. What are mainly introduced about Black Diamond apples in paragraph 2?

A．Their unusual sizes	B．Their limited numbers.
C．Their growing conditions.	D．Their high prices.

3. What makes Black Diamond apples grow slower?

A．Too much heat.	B．Low temperatures.
C．Much poor soil.	D．Lack of enough water.

4. Why is an example given in the last paragraph?

A．To tell people’s different ideas of Black Diamond apples.

B．To ask readers to learn more about Black Diamond apples.

C．To show people know little of Black Diamond apples.

D．To prove the information of Black Diamond apples wrong.

4 . A native plant of China, bamboo mainly grows in regions south of the Yangtze River. In traditional Chinese culture, bamboo is a symbol of moral honesty, loyalty, flexibility and modesty, making it a frequent theme of Chinese poetry and paintings.

The bamboo forest creates unique prospect (风景) around Anji, a county in Zhejiang Province. As the Kingdom of Bamboo, the city is the filming location of the Oscar-winning movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The bamboo scenery, along with other bamboo-related attractions, including a bamboo museum, has created unique tourism resources.

Bamboo is not only pretty and elegant, and Xie Zhiguang, a 48-year-old local bamboo dealer for over 10 years, explained that it is used for much more than just as an alternative to wood. It is the main food for giant pandas, and bamboo shoots are regularly consumed by humans. Also, the stem of the plant can be made into various products, including chopsticks, furniture, tissue and paper.

What makes all the functions even more valuable is the speed at which bamboo grows. “During peak times, bamboo can grow one meter a day and over 20 meters within weeks,” he said. “It takes years to grow wood, while the growth cycle of bamboo is much shorter.” This advantage allows farmers to make money faster by growing bamboo than by growing wood. In the battle against extreme poverty in China, bamboo has played a supporting role.

The county introduced processing factories for bamboo shoots and developed a series of products. Bamboo weaving techniques, some of which are listed as intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产), also contributed to poverty reduction. A number of bamboo-weaving skill training centers were set up in poor areas to teach rural people, especially women, to transform bamboo into delicate items. With such items going to domestic and overseas markets, the bamboo weaving business has even become the mainstay industry for some of these regions.

“Bamboo is a sustainable, green resource,” said Wang Jingxin, a professor at Zhejiang University. “Such measures will help to speed up China’s economy and ecology.”

1. Why do poets and painters often use bamboo as the theme of their works?

A．Its various functions.	B．Its particular habitats.
C．Its commercial value.	D．Its symbolic meaning.

2. What does Xie Zhiguang say about bamboo?

A．Bamboo has a wide range of uses.	B．Bamboo can end the world poverty.
C．Bamboo has the fastest growth speed.	D．Bamboo can contribute to the environment.

3. What can be inferred about Anji County?

A．It is well known for bamboo carving techniques.

B．It is the filming location of many famous movies.

C．It sets up a lot of big factories for wood products.

D．It takes many steps to develop bamboo industries.

4. What is the attitude of Wang Jingxin towards bamboo industry?

A．Intolerant.

B．Doubtful.

C．Favorable.

D．Unclear.