1 . Indoor plants might look as if they just sit around not doing much, but in many ways they are the unsung heroes of the home.
What are indoor plants?
Indoor plants, also known as houseplants or pot plants, are plants that like to grow indoors. Many of these species (物种) are not ideally suited to growing outside in the UK, especially in the winter.
Why are indoor plants good for you?
Will Spoelstra, who works at the Royal Botanic Gardens, says, “
Which plants can you grow?
Aloe vera, peace lilies and spider plants are some of the species that are easy to grow indoors. You can buy plants from supermarkets, garden centres or online. Younger plants are often cheaper than fully grown ones, and you get to care for them as they mature — which is part of the joy of owning plants. “
A.All plants are different |
B.Not only do they look beautiful |
C.There are many benefits to growing plants indoors |
D.Instead, they grow better inside, where it is warmer |
E.Plants like peace lilies and devil’s ivy are among the best |
F.Changing the pot of your plant from time to time will also help |
G.Learning about the requirements of each plant can be very rewarding |
2 . Many plants and animals live together, and they depend on each other. They are usually very different from their sharing partner, and yet all live easier lives because of each other. It is nature’s idea of sharing.
An example of this is the shark and pilot fish. The pilot fish is a little guy and he would be helpless if he hung around by himself in the great ocean. But his smartness makes up for his size. He cleverly swims along beside the shark and when the shark eats, the pilot fish gets the leftovers. The shark also benefits from this relationship. The pilot fish cleans food scraps (碎屑) and insects from the shark’s skin.
Another example is the sea anemone (海葵) and striped clown fish. The sea anemone looks like a flower but contains poisonous cells. When small fish swim into it, the anemone traps and paralyzes (使麻痹) them. However, the striped clown fish is able to swim into the poisonous anemone without being harmed. To pay for his safety, the clown fish brings food to the anemone. He also guides other fish into the anemone’s deadly trap.
Large mammals such as the ox, antelope and African buffalo form such a relationship with the oxpecker (牛椋鸟). They provide daily meals to the bird that eats insects. The various large mammals act as a restaurant with a varied menu for the oxpecker. What do they get in return from the bird? Free beauty treatments!
Some plants live together in a beneficial relationship. Fungus (菌类) does not have chlorophyll (叶绿素) that plants need to make food. However, the green alga (海藻) does contain chlorophyll. It is, therefore, able to feed the fungus along with itself. But nothing is free! The fungus repays it by protecting the alga. Since it takes in and stores water, it can provide the alga with an unending water supply.
1. Why does the pilot fish swim along beside the shark?A.Because he likes eating the waste given off by the shark. |
B.Because he can help the shark get food. |
C.Because he can get food and protection. |
D.Because he needs the help of the shark to lead his way. |
A.paralyzes small fish for him | B.helps him catch other fish |
C.does some cleaning work | D.warns him of the danger |
A.Energy and light. | B.Energy and light. |
C.Light and chlorophyll | D.Chlorophyll and water. |
A.①→②③④⑤ | B.①→②③→④⑤ |
C.①②③④→⑤ | D.①②③→④⑤ |
Food from the air
Everyone has seen plants growing, but have you ever thought
First, he dried some soil, put it into a pot and weighed it. Next, he weighed a small tree, planted it in the pot and added rain water. Then, he watered it
After five years, he removed the tree from the pot and weighed it again. He found that the tree had gained
We now know that plants and trees make their own food. Their leaves, when exposed