1 . 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. |
| 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. |
| A．By showing numbers. | B．By making a comparison. |
| C．By providing examples. | D．By making a summary. |
| 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 |
2 . Last year, brilliant’ botanists from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, discovered, identified and named 114 spectacular new species of plants and fungi (真菌) from around the world. Let’s find out more about some of Kew’s most wonderful new finds.
ROYAL MUSHROOM
NAME: Queen’s hedgehog fungus
FROM: Surrey, England
Named after the late Queen Elizabeth II, this rare fungus was found in an ancient forest in White Down, Surrey. According to the scientists who discovered it, the soft, white needles under the fungus’15cm-wide cap look like hedgehogs’ needles — giving it the second part of its name. Cool!
WORLD’S STRANGEST DAFFODIL
NAME: Sternbergia mishustinii
FROM: Turkey
The flowers of this rare species are bright yellow, but they’re only 2cm long and don't open up into a visible flower. Just 300 of these plants have been discovered, secret to hide them from illegal plant collectors.
RECORD-BREAKING WATERLILY
NAME: Giant Bolivian waterlily
FROM: Bolivia. South America
Check out this huge waterlily — its 3m wide leaves are big enough for a kid to float on! The big species has just won three Guinness World Records for largest waterlily, largest waterlily leaf and largest undivided leaf. And get this — although the giant plant was only named last year, a dried sample has been kept in Kew’s own Herbarium since 1845! Botanists had thought it was a similar, related species. Thankfully, the case of mistaken identity is all cleared up now. Unbe-leaf-able!
1. What’s Queen’s hedgehog fungus like?| A．It has yellow flowers. | B．It’s native to England. |
| C．It looks like hedgehogs. | D．It’s critically endangered. |
| A．The oldest fungi. | B．The biggest leaves. |
| C．The fastest growing plant. | D．The largest waterlily species |
| A．A botanical magazine. | B．A geographic textbook. |
| C．A historical document. | D．Guinness World Records. |
3 . Common water plant could provide a green energy source. Scientists have figured out how to get large amounts of oil from duckweed, one of nature’s fastest-growing water plants. Transferring such plant oil into biodiesel (生物柴油) for transportation and heating could be a big part of a more sustainable future.
For a new study, researchers genetically engineered duckweed plants to produce seven times more oil per acre than soybeans. John Shanklin, a biochemist says further research could double the engineered duckweed’s oil output in the next few years.
Unlike fossil fuels, which form underground, biofuels can be refreshed faster than they are used. Fuels made from new and used vegetable oils, animal fat and seaweed can have a lower carbon footprint than fossil fuels do, but there has been a recent negative view against them. This is partly because so many crops now go into energy production rather than food; biofuels take up more than 100 million acres of the world’s agricultural land.
Duckweed, common on every continent but Antarctica, is among the world’s most productive plants, and the researchers suggest it could be a game-changing renewable energy source for three key reasons. First, it grows readily in water, so it wouldn’t compete with food crops for agricultural land. Second, duckweed can grow fast in agricultural pollution released into the water. Third, Shanklin and his team found a way to avoid a major biotechnological barrier: For the new study, Shanklin says, the researchers added an oil-producing gene, “turning it on like a light switch”by introducing a particular molecule (分子) only when the plant had finished growing. Shanklin says, “If it replicates (复制) in other species-and there’s no reason to think that it would not — this can solve one of our biggest issues, which is how we can make more oil in more plants without negatively affecting growth.”
To expand production to industrial levels, scientists will need to design and produce large-scale bases for growing engineered plants and obtaining oil — a challenge, Shanklin says, because duckweed is a non-mainstream crop without much existing infrastructure (基础设施).
1. What can people get from duckweed firsthand?| A．Plant oil. | B．Stable biodiesel. |
| C．Sustainable water. | D．Natural heat. |
| A．Options for renewable energy. |
| B．Reasons for engineering genes. |
| C．The potential of revolutionary energy source. |
| D．The approach to avoiding agricultural pollution. |
| A．Industrial levels. | B．Unique design. |
| C．Academic research. | D．Basic facilities. |
| A．Duckweed Power | B．Duckweed Production |
| C．Genetic Engineering | D．Genetic Testing |
4 . A houseplant is pretty to look at and brings fresh air to your home. Besides, looking after a plant will give you something more to do and care about. Let’s look at the four best houseplants you can grow.
 Australian Pine A perfect “living decoration” to add in your house, it is good to look at and has a comforting feel. It can also serve as the perfect Christmas tree. It grows around 10 feet tall indoors. Remember that it requires plenty of light and fresh air. Otherwise, it becomes weak and an easy target for mites (螨虫). |  Dracaena The green and yellow pattern on its leaves looks great. It can grow to be around 10 feet tall. Just make sure you keep the soil surface dry between your watering periods because it gets influenced by too much water. Also, having this plant around a dog can be dangerous. It can be poisonous to dogs if they eat it. |
 Grape Ivy If you want something off the ceiling (天花板), this houseplant is the one for you. It’s a climbing plant, and it will make for a beautiful hanging basket decoration. The plant is full of life wherever it is hung. It needs to be kept wet in all its parts for good growth. |  Peperomia It is little in size, with long leaves. It adds energy to your living room and creates a comforting environment. As it’s not a very tall plant, you needn’t worry about how much space it will take up. The plant likes a dry surface of the soil. |
So what are you for? Choose the one that attracts you most, and give your home a wonderful addition.
1. Which of the following can serve as a Christmas tree?| A．Australian pine. | B．Dracaena. | C．Grape ivy. | D．Peperomia. |
| A．be careful with mites | B．hang it from the celling |
| C．keep dogs away from it | D．leave the surface of the soil wet |
| A．Its leaves are short. | B．It is small in size. |
| C．It likes much water. | D．It is a climbing plant. |
| A．Politics. | B．Business. | C．Travel. | D．Life. |
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. |
| 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. |
| A．The frequency of watering. | B．Its flowering time. |
| C．Its rate of growing. | D．The amount of sunlight. |
6 . For many years, scientists saw trees as independent living things. Each tree in the forest was trying to get light, water and nutrients. Trees competed for resources.
In forests, fungi connect trees through underground networks. Trees’ roots branch out in all directions. The same soil is home to fungi, which can grow on and around tree roots. The fungi grow in thin threads (线状物). As they grow, the threads can link to numerous trees. The fungi create webs between trees known as mycorrhizal (菌根) networks.
The fungi in a mycorrhizal network link the trees together.
Mycorrhizal networks are not always cooperative. Some plants will use the networks to take nutrients from their neighbors. Some flowers will steal food from other plants.
| A．Trees also send messages through the networks. |
| B．Networks can even connect different species of plants. |
| C．Scientists think the fungi are important for healthy forests. |
| D．Trees can share sugars, nutrients and water with one another. |
| E．However, scientists are discovering that trees may actually work together. |
| F．There are also plants that send poisonous substances through the networks. |
| G．In these networks, scientists think the trees and the fungi help one another. |
Stretching along the west coast of North America from northern California to Alaska, the forests found along the Pacific Coast Range are the largest area of temperate (温带的) rainforest in the world. The forests are home to the coast redwood, the world’s tallest tree. Across the region, the forest understory (林下叶层) is wet and heavily vegetated.
Taiheiyo Evergreen Forests
Found in southern Japan, they are temperate rainforests of evergreen broadleaf trees. The forests can receive more than 100 inches of rain every year. The forests are covered by Japanese cedar and Japanese stone oak, while moso bamboo comprise the understory. The extent of the Taiheiyo forests has been reduced due to development and agriculture. Today,17%of the remaining forest is protected by national parks and other reserves.
Atlantic Oakwood Forest
The Atlantic Oakwood Forest covers the wettest parts of the United Kingdom. A species of oak tree (橡树) called sessile oak occupies the landscape. Unlike other temperate forests, these forests tend to have an open understory of grasses. Much of the historical range of the forest has given to agriculture and other development, though that has changed in recent decades.
Valdivian Temperate Rainforest
This forest is found on the west coast of Chile and Argentina, on the wet, western slopes (斜坡) of the Andes mountain range. With the coastline to the west, the peaks of the Andes to the east, and the Atacama Desert to the north, the region supports a number of plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. Uniquely, the forest is covered by evergreen flowering trees, which are native to Chile and little known outside the region.
1. Which of the four forest areas occupies the most land?| A．Pacific Coast Range. | B．Taiheiyo Evergreen Forests. |
| C．Atlantic Oakwood Forest. | D．Valdivian Temperate Rainforest. |
| A．They have open understory grasses. | B．They’re home to extremely tall trees. |
| C．They’re of great historical significance. | D．They used to be affected by agriculture. |
| A．Wet climate. | B．Coastal location. |
| C．Evergreen flowering trees. | D．Well-protected national parks. |
8 . The World Full of Eye-catching Things
The following flowers and plants might not be so eye-pleasing, but are certainly eye-catching, since they all look like some objects.
Lady’s Slipper
The lady’s slipper orchid is considered to be the rarest type of wild orchid. Now Lancashire in England is the only place where this plant can be found.The flower was so unique that people picked almost all of them. A single cutting of this plant is sold for US $5,000. Fortunately, strict protection policies have been established to protect it since 1917 when this endangered plant was once declared extinct in England.
Hot Lips
When you see a plant like this in reality, don’t get confused! No. They are not a woman’s lips! You can find these plants in countries with tropical rain forests, such as Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama. Due to the cutting down of trees, these unique and rare plants have become endangered. This plant bears a bright red flower which is similar to the lips of a woman with red lipstick.
Black Bat Flower
The black bat flower is an unusual flower that grows in the wild and tropical forests of Yunnan Province in China. It is famous for its bat-shaped black flowers. This flowering plant is often confused with a flying bat. The flower may also appear in white and brown shades. It needs specific environmental conditions to grow. This is the reason why it is an endangered species.
All the plants mentioned above are becoming nearly extinct. Hopefully, there are other unique and rare flowers left undiscovered. This proves the world is full of surprising things!
1. Where can the Lady’s Slipper be discovered currently?| A．In Panama. | B．In Colombia. |
| C．In Lancashire in England. | D．In Yunnan Province in China. |
| A．Forest destruction. | B．Human picking. |
| C．Lack of awareness. | D．Specific locations. |
| A．Its red flowers. | B．Its bat-shaped flowers. |
| C．Its slipper-shaped flowers. | D．Its white and brown flowers. |
Kongeegen is a large oak tree located (位于) in the north of Denmark. Kongeegen’s real age is unknown. The tree went through a scientific study in 1965, through which Kongeegen was confirmed to be between 1,500 and 2,000 years of age. This would make it the oldest living oak in the northern part of Europe.
Granit Oak
The Granit Oak measures 2.38 meters in diameter (直径) and 23.4 meters in height. The head of the tree measures about 1,017 square meters, which covers nearly 11,000 square feet. Back in 1967, the Bulgarian government announced this oak was a protected tree and it has been under protection ever since.
Stelmuze Oak
Not all of the tree’s branches are still alive, but it continues to be considered a living tree. This makes it the oldest living tree in all of Lithuania. Stelmuze Oak was made a natural monument (纪念碑) in 1960. Ever since then, it has been on the Lithuanian list of protected monuments, and it is well looked after.
Major Oak
Local legends (传说) say that this is the tree where Robin Hood’s shelter was located. According to the tales, Robin and his merry men slept in this very tree. Back in 2003 in Dorset, England, 260 acorn saplings (橡子树苗) from the Major Oak were used to start an oak plantation.
| Kongeegen | Granit Oak | Stelmuze Oak | Major Oak | |
| Estimated age | 1, 500-2, 000yeas | 1,700 years | 1, 500-2, 000 years | 800-1,000 years |
| Status | Alive | Dead | Alive | Alive |
| Location | Denmark | Bulgaria | Lithuania | England |
| Oak species(物种) | Quercus robur | Quercus robur | Quercus robur | Quercus robur |
| A．In 1960. | B．In 1965. | C．In 1967. | D．In 2003. |
| A．Kongeegen. | B．Granit Oak | C．Stelmuze Oak. | D．Major Oak. |
| A．They are of the same species. | B．There are beautiful stories about them. |
| C．Some of their branches aren’t alive now. | D．They are under good protection. |
10 . Looking for a big-leafed houseplant that will make a statement in your room and decorate yourhome? If so, then you’ve come to the right place!
Peace Lily
Extremely easy to look after, this popular, flowering plant is very tolerant and undemanding. It is a beloved houseplant for its large, glossy oval leaves and unusual white spoon-shaped flowers. Typically blooming in the spring, this lovely plant can effectively brighten up a living space.
African Mask Plant
This indoor plant is a smaller plant with large dark green leaves that are shaped like a heart. Native to tropical (热带的) parts of Africa, it prefers high heat and high humidity. That can be somewhat a tricky task for the average plant owner to achieve in their home, who is likely to have trouble duplicating (复制) these steamy conditions.
Snake plant
Commonly referred to as mother-in-law’s tongue, it is one of the easiest houseplants to take care of. With tall, twisting sword-shaped leaves that grow upright, it has air-purifying capabilities and can merrily grow in almost dark corners of the house. But the plant is poisonous to dogs and cats, so it’s wise to keep this plant away from them, if your pets are plant chewers.
Kentia Palm
Caring for the Kentia Palm plant is very straightforward, which can be neglected for weeks at a time. Quite enjoying a bit of shade, it has big leaves that grow from a narrow base and is great for filling a corner without taking up much floor-space. Place it in front of a blank wall, and its archingfronds (大型复叶) will cast beautiful shadows.
1. Which of the following requires an experienced plant owner?| A．Peace Lily. |
| B．African Mask Plant. |
| C．Snake plant. |
| D．Kentia Palm. |
| A．It poses little danger to dogs and cats. |
| B．It is better for purifying air than others. |
| C．It gets its name from a poisonous snake. |
| D．It grows well in shady areas of the house. |
| A．Distinctive leaves. |
| B．Flowering season. |
| C．Growth temperature. |
| D．Striking size. |
