1 . 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.

2 . 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。

Like China’s Kunming Institute of Botany, the Millennium Seed Bank(MSB)shines brightly for plant preservation. Located at the Wakehurst wild botanic garden in West Sussex, England, the Millennium Seed Bank (MSB), the world’s     1     (large)seed bank, has announced that it now holds more than 40, 000 wild plant species.     2     the aim of preserving rare, threatened and important wild plants, MSB     3     (create)by researchers from London’s Kew Gardens more than 20 years ago. Now around 2. 4 billion individual seeds from 190 countries are stored in     4     (it) underground rooms. Any seeds that arrive at MSB are dried, cleaned     5     then stored at-20℃. Scientists remove the seeds every 10 years     6     (see) if they can still grow into plants, and to develop new ways of       7     (help) wild plants survive. One of the most remarkable     8     (strong) of MSB is that it serves as a global backup for plant variety. Seeds in the bank include the world’s smallest water lily, a rare Australian pea and Antarctic hair grass, one of two flowering plants     9     grow in Antarctica. The bank ensures that if plants in the wild become extinct, they can be regrown from MSB seeds. There is no doubt that the MSB plays an     10     (extreme) important role in protecting the varieties of plant species on Earth.

3 . Kongeegen

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

1. When was Kongeegen’s age announced?

A．In 1960.

B．In 1965.

C．In 1967.

D．In 2003.

2. Which is the youngest tree mentioned in the text?

A．Kongeegen.

B．Granit Oak

C．Stelmuze Oak.

D．Major Oak.

3. What do the four trees have in common?

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.

4 . Keeping a bit of the outdoors inside is nothing new, but houseplant collections have become a popular social media trend — which means that more people than ever are discovering the comfort and beauty that caring for plants brings.

    1     Exposure to greenery, whether you have indoor plants, take walks outside or tend to a garden, has been found to have multiple mental-health benefits, such as lowering stress, decreasing feelings of depression, increasing sociability, restoring focus, improving cognitive performance, improving mood and increasing self-esteem.

“One study showed that patients at a hospital who had plants in their room reported less pain, lower blood pressure, less fatigue and less anxiety than patients without plants in their rooms,” says Jenny Seham, a New York-based psychologist. She explains: “Cortisol, the stress hormone, has been shown to lower with plant interaction, reducing fatigue, irritability (易怒) and blood pressure.”

Research has also shown that having plants and gardening increase productivity and levels of serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for lifting our mood.     2     And it is also opposed to dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.

Before you fill your space with greenery, consider how you’ll interact with your plants.     3     Can you care for them daily?

If you have a small space or aren’t sure how much time you’re willing to invest in “plant parenting.” Start slow. “    4     It can engage you by its smell or colour, creating a positive mood response with every interaction,” says Seham.

A．For instance, is there enough space for plants in areas where you spend a lot of time?

B．Half the fun of gardening is that you never know exactly what’s going to come up.

C．It’s a feel-good hobby that’s supported by science.

D．While indoor gardening can boost your feelings of wellbeing, help reduce stress and promote relaxation, it’s not, of course, a substitute for a trained mental health professional.

E．The theory is that plant care helps us focus on the present moment and provides a feeling of accomplishment.

F．Just one plant can make a difference.

5 . Bottle gardens are loved by many people. What’s a bottle garden? A bottle garden is exactly what it sounds like: a tiny garden planted in an object like a bottle._     1    According to professionals, the oldest bottle garden in the world was first created in 1960.

    2    There are several characteristics that make a bottle garden fun to own and great to create. Whether you’re short on outdoor gardening space or just want an eye-catching indoor garden, bottle gardens are a great way to grow many of your favorite plants. Moreover, they help recycle (回收利用) bottles and are easy to create.

By following some tips, you’ll have your bottle garden planted and thriving (茁壮成长) in no time. The first step in creating a bottle garden is selecting (挑选) the bottle. Clear bottles can allow the most sunlight to enter.     3    

Then you should keep in mind that bottles with openings big enough to fit your hand through can make planting easier.     4     Likewise, you could choose a bottle and simply cut an opening for your plants to fit in. If you choose to reuse a bottle, wash it completely before adding plants.

When the bottle is ready, put inside some rich soil and plants suitable for a bottle garden. Once you grow the plants in the way you like, remember to place your bottle in a bright space which won’t have direct sunlight. East-facing windows often work well for this purpose.     5    Then you’ll just need to water them and watch out for signs of disease or crowding inside the bottle.

A．How do the bottle gardens work?

B．Such gardens don’t have a very long history.

C．They make thoughtful and eco-friendly gifts.

D．Why would anyone want to grow a garden in a bottle?

E．If you choose a colored bottle, select plants that prefer low levels of light.

F．If not, you’ll have to use tools to work the soil and plants inside the bottle.

G．You can also use a grow light if your home doesn’t have any suitable windows.

6 . Readers can explore the wonders of nature with Big Tree. The book was written by famous author and illustrator (插画家) Brian Selznick. It is filled with detailed black-and-white illustrations, which took years to complete.

The story introduces Merwin and Louise, two tiny Sycamore seeds (梧桐树种子) who began life during the time when dinosaurs (恐龙) travelled around the Earth. After they fell from their mother tree, they started a dangerous 147-million-year adventure to the modern day.

After reading it, I met with the famous author and illustrator at his home in La Jolla, California. Selznick explained the lessons that nature offers about helping our planet and each other. “All of us can do something to help the real seed,” Selznick said. “No matter how small you feel, there’s always something you can do.”

As for his main goal when writing Big Tree, Selznick said, “Readers feel like they are learning about interesting stories when they read Big Tree, but actually and secretly, they are learning about real science. That’s why I wrote Big Tree.”

In order to write Big Tree, Selznick went to the New York Botanical Garden, where he talked to a wonderful park manager. She walked him through the forest and talked about the way leaves work, the way trees grow and the way trees experience time.

Selznick said he learned a lot while creating Big Tree. “The manager thinks that forests are really communities. It really surprised me,” he said. “We live in communities, and when we run into trouble or danger, we communicate with each other to find solutions. Trees are doing the same thing. We’re all part of a community. And that, to me, was a really important part of Big Tree.”

1. What does paragraph 2 mainly focus on?

A．The main idea of Big Tree.	B．The discussion about Big Tree.
C．The review of Big Tree.	D．The story behind Big Tree.

2. What is Selznick’s goal in writing Big Tree?

A．To show the illustration art.	B．To share an interesting story.
C．To encourage readers to learn.	D．To make real science interesting.

3. What did Selznick do in order to write Big Tree?

A．He did some research.	B．He planted some trees.
C．He asked others’ advice.	D．He stayed in the forest alone.

4. What did the author learn when writing the book?

A．Trees are important for communities.	B．Trees can communicate with each other.
C．Trees can protect people against danger.	D．Trees run into trouble more often.

7 . Within the environmental movement, the question often arises whether global warming can be mitigated (缓解) by planting more vegetation. The idea is that the plants will consume carbon dioxide (CO2) that is causing the warming, while producing oxygen for us to breathe. This is acceptable on condition that global warming is indeed caused in some way by CO2 in the air.

However, actual scientific debate on the issue has shifted away from CO2 as the probable cause, especially after the findings that the temperatures changed 800 to 1000 years before carbon dioxide changed. In other words, CO2 levels are an indicator of temperature change, not a cause.

While there is nothing we can do to control the global climate, there is still a lot we can do to improve our local climates. Land use is the biggest decisive factor of local temperature and air quality. On clear days, the temperatures in big cities can be 5.6 degrees Centigrade higher than in the countryside around them. This is because the concrete (混凝土) of sidewalks and buildings and the asphalt (沥青) of roads take in sunlight and transform it into heat. Some get so hot, one could cook an egg on them! These vast surfaces of man﹣made stone also store lots of heat, which they radiate (散发) all night long. Just before sunrise, when the earth should be its coolest, roadways are still warm to touch.

If vegetation was blocking the Sun from the sidewalks and roads, the vegetation would absorb the sunlight, fueling the plants’ oxygen-making engines, and the rock would stay at surrounding temperatures. The easiest and most obvious choice is trees, particularly wide-reaching trees like the oak. Another possibility, especially outside the city centre, could be vine-covered trellises (棚架).Covering rooftops with grasses or other short vegetation reduces a building’s cooling cost as sharply as having trees or trellises that provide shade for windows does.

The reason why vegetation does not warm the air like rock does is that plants take water from the ground and evaporate (蒸发) it through their leaves. The Sun’s energy isn’t radiated as heat — it is used to change water into water vapor. The evaporative cooling works so well that the leaves stay 5.6 to 8.33 degrees Centigrade cooler than they would have been without water. While we can’t improve global climate, increased vegetation can help cool local climates.

1. Which of the following is True according to the passage?

A．With some effort, we can still affect global climate.

B．We can do a lot to improve the climate where we live.

C．Temperatures in big cities are usually lower than in the countryside.

D．The asphalt of roads throws back sunlight.

2. How does the author suggest we remedy the “heat islands” created by cities?

A．Planting full and wide-reaching trees.

B．Using vehicles that get better gas mileage.

C．Using energy-saving equipment.

D．Constructing dark-colored roofs on new buildings.

3. Which of the following is not implied by the article?

A．Darker colors absorb more sunlight and transform it into heat.

B．More thick materials store heat and give off it at night.

C．Human activity is changing global climate.

D．Vegetation is neither dark nor thick; thus, it reduces localized heating.

4. How can we use the information in this article?

A．Encourage the next generation to increase vegetation.

B．Promote rooftop gardening.

C．Remove vines and trellises from buildings.

D．A and B above.

5. In what ways do trees cool the surrounding air?
_________________________________________________________

8 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Why is the baobab tree thought to be strange-looking?

A．Its trunk sometimes measures more than ten metres in diameter.

B．Its trunk is thicker at the top than at the bottom.

C．Its branches near the top are longer than those near the ground.

2. Which part of a baobab tree can be used to make ropes?

A．Its leaves.

B．Its trunk.

C．Its skin of the tree.

3. Which of the statements about the baobab tree is correct?

A．Its empty trunk can be used by people to build everything.

B．Its flowers can turn into a kind of cucumber.

C．Its leaves and branches can keep the rain water cool and clean.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for this text?

A．The baobab—unusual but useful.

B．The baobab—a tree that people can make good use of.

C．The baobab—a strange tree that can make ropes.

9 . As Earth’s climate continues to change, a plant’s ability to adapt to its changing environment is important to its survival. Often, to stay alive, a plant must move locations by releasing its seeds, but plants are rooted in the ground and cannot move themselves. Instead, they are dependent on animals or the wind to carry their seeds to a new location.

Playing an essential part in an ecosystem (生态系统), plants create resources like food and medicine for us human beings. A team of researchers developed the model to better understand how plants can stay resiliency (韧性) when facing challenges like climate change.

“Once seeds are released from a plant, we wanted to know how far they can go because as wind conditions shake, the seeds will be moved around differently because of various weights, sizes, and shapes,” says Binbin Wang, an assistant professor at the University of Missouri.

Changes in one part of the ecosystem can create a “snowball effect” on other parts. That’s why understanding seed spread is important. Plants can only make this move once during their life — as a seed, says Lauren Sullivan, an assistant professor at Michigan State University.

“Understanding how plants move as seeds year-round is important for us to analyze how they’ll be able to handle climate change,” Sullivan says. “This movement is also important for how we can increase diversity (多样性) in the ecosystem.” “We’re now able to partner with researchers. This innovative approach can help us develop accurate models that are simple enough to make good predictions in a short time.”

The model, which makes predictions based on seed and plant type, plant height, and wind speed, can develop an entire year’s worth of predictive data in just one or two days. As part of their future work, the team will develop educational programming for K-12 and college students. For example, they will provide opportunities for college students to explore how different disciplines, such as agriculture, biological sciences, and engineering, can work together to solve different real-world problems.

1. Why did the researchers develop the model?

A．To learn how plants handle challenges like climate change.

B．To find out what helps seeds travel to different places.

C．To study the effects climate change has on plants.

D．To create more food and medicine resources.

2. Which of the following may not influence how far a seed can travel according to Binbin Wang?

A．Its weight.

B．Its location.

C．Its size.

D．Its shape.

3. What can we learn about the “movement” of plants from paragraph 4 and 5?

A．It is caused by the change of the climate.

B．It can happen during the whole life of a plant.

C．It has an effect on other parts of the ecosystem.

D．It’s hard to be predicted for the diversity of ecosystem.

4. What do the researchers plan to do next?

A．Explore different disciplines for college students.

B．Work together to solve different real-world problems.

C．Develop educational programming for students to explore.

D．Make valuable predictions about the type and height of the plants.

10 . Have you ever tried a cactus (仙人掌) pear? Yes, its prickly surface makes it an unusual-looking fruit but it is widely used in Mexican dishes. This fruit from the cactus is really good for you because it is helpful in fighting against many diseases, and has many health benefits (利益). There are actually over 200 types of cactus fruit and they grow in hot dry places.

Since the world is getting hotter and drier, it is even more difficult for hot dry places to grow major crops (庄稼) that need more water. Therefore, providing food and fuel will go a long way in a world that is heating up. Researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno, set out to see if the cactus pear could become a superfood that could feed people and animals, remove carbon (碳) from the atmosphere and be used as a biofuel.

While the study looked at many types of cactuses, they settled on the nopal cactus or Opuntia. The fruit can be gathered as food and the rest of the cactus can be used for taking in carbon and can be used as biofuels according to biology professor Cushman. The plant keeps water by closing its pores (气孔) during the hottest part of the day to limit water loss and opens them at night. Cushman hopes to use the genes from this plant to add them to other plants.

They are also studying the Opuntia stunting disease, which causes cactuses to grow smaller plants and less fruits, in order to find out how it spreads. They hope to learn how to create tools to recognize and treat it so that they can help Opuntia become a prolific crop.

In a world that is also gaining population, finding a new superfood will go a long way in feeding a planet that will need 50-90 percent more food in 2050. Eating more plant-based foods will also reduce the amount of land needed for more food protection.

1. What can we know about the cactus pear?

A．It is of great benefit to people.

B．It is the main food for Mexicans.

C．It can’t be seen outside Mexico.

D．It grows in hot wet places.

2. What is the feature of the nopal cactus?

A．It is easy to be gathered.

B．It has fewer pores 10 save water.

C．It is suitable for various conditions.

D．It is eatable and good for the environment.

3. What does the underlined word “prolific” in Paragraph 4 most probably mean?

A．Helpful.

B．Unusual.

C．Attractive.

D．Fruitful.

4. What is the best title of the text?

A．Getting away from increasingly higher temperatures

B．Cactus pears may become the new superfood crop

C．A cactus is the plant living well in dry areas

D．Providing plant-based food for the world