1 . Salad is good for you, generally speaking, so growing fresh greens in orbit seems like a winning way for space workers to stay healthy. New research suggests that as nutritious as space salad might be, it could pose something of a risk to astronauts.

The problem is growing leafy plants like lettuce (生菜) in space can come with a side dish of bacteria (细菌), according to a new study from a team at the University of Delaware. In tests on plants grown in modeled micro-gravity, they were shown to actually be more sensitive than normal to the Salmonella enterica (SE) (沙门氏菌).

We know that the International Space Station (ISS) is home to a lot of aggressive bacteria, and if these space virus were to cause widespread sickness in an astronaut crew, it would mean lives were at risk. “You don’t want the whole mission to fail just because of a food safety outbreak,” says plant biologist Harsh Bais from the University of Delaware.

Bais and his colleagues used a device to perform some clever rotation tricks in the lab, putting lettuce plants into a similar state as they would be in micro-gravity. They then added SE bacteria to the leaves. What was interesting — and surprising — was that the tiny stomata (气孔) in the lettuce opened up to allow the bacteria to get in. Ordinarily, the job of the stomata is to keep dangerous attackers out, while at the same time helping the plant to breathe.

The researchers then added a more helpful species of bacteria, one that typically protects plants from external stressors. Again, the defense didn’t work in micro-gravity — suggesting there’s something about this state that disables the chemical reactions that the lettuce would normally use to keep itself safe.

Add in what we know about space bacteria being particularly tricky, and this is a potential problem. The team behind the study wants to see a lot more research into making sure our foodstuffs are safe outside of orbit.

1. Why can’t lettuce be grown in ISS?

A．Its leaves takes up too much space.	B．It brings in illness-causing bacteria.
C．It is only a side dish to astronauts.	D．It can’t grow well in micro-gravity.

2. What is Bais’ attitude to growing plants in space?

A．Negative.

B．Sensitive.

C．Enthusiastic.

D．Unconcerned.

3. What did the tiny stomata do in the experiment?

A．They kept lettuce from breathing.	B．They ensure the safety of lettuce.
C．They failed to function as expected.	D．They stopped all bacteria coming in.

4. What is a best tile for the text?

A．SE, the Worst Bacteria in Space	B．Greens for Salad, a Risk in Space
C．Lettuce, Plant Samples Used in Space	D．Food Safety, a Key Problem in Space

2 . Fungi (真菌) play an important role in ecosystems, are a source of food, and make key contributions to the world of medicine.     1    

An estimated two million fungal species — more than 90% of all fungi — have yet to be described by science, according to a science reporter.     2     Scientists are trying to find out more about this largely unexplored world, but it is challenging. Dr Martyn Ainsworth, a senior researcher from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London, says, “We can grow a certain number in the lab.     3     This has held back a lot of research.”

    4     “A lot of people are afraid of poisonous mushrooms,” says Dr Jassy Drakulic, a plant pathologist, “but only a very small proportion of the thousands of species of fungi in the world can cause disease.” Most are harmless and often beneficial, called by some “the hidden helpers of our environment”. Some fungi provide food and shelter for wildlife, help plants absorb water and nutrients and recycle waste and dead matter. Other types of fungi grow on the roots of trees and plants, forming a huge underground network that helps nourish trees.     5    

So, next time you add mushrooms to your dinner, take a painkiller for a headache, or go for a walk through the woods, remember to thank the living things that made it all possible — fungi.

A．Are mushrooms a type of fungus?

B．So, why do we know so little about them?

C．Wetlands are important because they provide food and shelter for wildlife.

D．The fact that we know so little about fungi leads us to misunderstand them.

E．“Fungi are really the behind-the-scenes team doing all the work,” adds Dr Ainsworth.

F．But there is a whole host of fungi that we cannot grow in the lab.

G．In the UK, there are around 25,000 species of fungi — five or six times more than plants.

3 . When you only have a balcony (阳台), it can be difficult to know what to grow.     1     And when space is limited, you don’t have room for experiments that go wrong. Now, I’ll show you how to take your balcony from bare to beautiful.

First and foremost, you need to choose the right plants. Dreams of 10m-tall magnolias (兰树) have to be set aside, but there are plenty of plants that will grow well in pots on a balcony. Some plants, like Busy Lizzies, are all great container plants.    2    

    3     If yours faces east or west, it’ll only get direct sun for part of the day. But don’t despair, many plants actually prefer shade. Lettuces and salad leaves are all best grown in partial shade to stop them running to seed too quickly.

Another challenge you may face is wind. Many balconies are windy and exposed.     4     Make sure pots and furniture are not going to get blown over the side, securing them in place if necessary. And choose plants that can adapt to a windy spot-such as those that naturally grow by the sea.

You don’t need a garden to grow your own vegetables at home. There are lots of eatable crops that you can grow in pots-tomatoes and some herbs are all ideal.     5    Try using a woven plastic shopping bag, or lining a wooden container with an old compost bag (肥袋).

A．Many balconies are shady.

B．Create a windbreak if you can.

C．And you don’t need to buy purpose-made pots.

D．Plants in pots on sunny balconies can really bake.

E．You could make a dramatic statement with a living wall.

F．There are also lots of vegetables that will grow happily in pots.

G．Stepping out to be greeted by bare walls can be pretty dispiriting.

4 . For future humans to survive long periods on Mars, growing food on the planet is a must. It would be too costly and risky to rely upon rocket deliveries to meet the food needs of settlers. With this in mind, scientists are exploring ways to improve space farming.

Researchers work in a controlled greenhouse. They have identified a way that could improve crop production in simulated (模拟的) Martian soil, with different crops grown together. The method is called “intercropping”, invented by ancient Maya farmers in what is now Central America.

In their experiments, the researchers grew cherry tomatoes, peas and carrots together in small, round containers. Tomatoes grown in this way produced about double the amount of tomatoes grown alone—or “monocropped”—in the same simulated Martian soil. The tomatoes were also bigger. They flowered and matured earlier, gave more fruit per plant and had thicker stems. The amounts of peas and carrots did not increase with intercropping.

Rebeca Goncalves, an astrobiologist and lead writer of the study, said the research is the first time the intercropping technique was used in space soil, and that it was a big find—one that they could now build further research on. The crops were grown in simulated Martian regolith, a soil with no organic matter —a near-perfect physical and chemical match to real Martian soil.

The researchers added useful bacteria and nutrients. They also controlled the gases, temperature and humidity inside the greenhouse to match conditions expected in a Martian greenhouse. Intercropping involves growing plants with properties that could help each other grow. The method makes the best use of resources including water and nutrients.

The researchers said the tomato plants in intercropping may have benefited from being close to the pea plants. That is because the peas are good at turning nitrogen from the air, with the help of bacteria introduced into the soil, into an important nutrient. Overall, the tomatoes, peas and carrots grew well, though not as well as in Earth soil in the same greenhouse.

1. What is the benefit of intercropping mentioned in the article?

A．Increasing crop yield.	B．Preventing soil pollution.
C．Decreasing sunlight exposure.	D．Reducing water consumption.

2. What role did the peas play in the process of intercropping?

A．Enhancing growth of carrots.

B．Increasing fruit production in tomatoes.

C．Transforming nitrogen into a crucial nutrient.

D．Improving the variety of bacteria introduced into the soil.

3. What was the key finding of the research?

A．Carrots benefited the most from intercropping.

B．The crops grew as well as they would in Earth soil.

C．The presence of peas helped tomatoes produce more fruit.

D．Peas and carrots showed significant growth improvement in intercropping.

4. What is the main idea of the article?

A．Intercropping is developed for growing crops in space.

B．The study found Intercropping resulted in higher tomato yields.

C．Scientists are struggling to find ways to improve crop production in space.

D．Researchers successfully grew some plants in imitated Martian soil using intercropping.

5 . Four surprising ways algae (藻类) are driving innovation

Algae can be a double-edged sword. Increased human activity and climate change have caused explosions of algae populations in water bodies around the world sometimes choking entire ecosystems of sunlight and oxygen. Even though they are so closely associated with humanity’s negative impact on Earth, algae could also play key roles in helping fight pollution, viruses, and more.     1    

Filtering (过滤) water.

With microplastic pollution documented in almost all water bodies, a recent study shows that through absorption, algae can help filter microplastics out of water.     2    

Fueling air travel.

    3     Researchers at a German algae cultivation facility are already using it to fuel drones. They believe this and other sustainable fuels could reduce carbon emissions from airplanes by up to 80 percent.

Fighting viruses.

Red algae can prevent the replication (复制) of some viruses, including COVID-19, according to a 2020 study.     4     Thus, it could become a powerful medication to treat HIV, the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (AIDS).

    5    

In 2019, freshwater algae were launched into space to turn the carbon dioxide exhaled (呼出) by astronauts on the International Space Station into oxygen. Since algae are also high in protein, they could replace up to 30 percent of astronaut food in the future.

A．Making space food more nutritious.

B．Making long-term space travel possible.

C．These are several ways algae are solving modern problems.

D．Some algae can also filter chemicals that can be used in fertilizers.

E．Brown algae have been shown to stimulate the body’s immune system.

F．Algae can produce more effective biofuels than traditional sources like soybeans.

G．It aims to harvest algae for energy while keeping the environment pollution-free.

6 . Growers are finding new ways to extend the British asparagus (芦笋) season and meet demand for this tasty and healthy crop.

Asparagus is believed to have been enjoyed as long ago as the ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman empires. It promotes healthy bacteria in the large intestine (肠) and can help reduce bloating (胀气). A source of vitamins K and C, it also has numerous benefits to the immune system generally.

Fans of asparagus will be delighted to know that nowadays there’s more opportunity than ever to get hold of homegrow n product. One of the country’s leading asparagus growers and pioneers of extending the British season is the Chinn family. The family grows Wye Valley-branded asparagus and sells into supermarkets, local restaurants, wholesale markets and processors.

The company has been growing asparagus since 2004 and has developed a reputation for innovation, using modern production and packing techniques to lock in the freshness immediately after harvesting. The traditional British asparagus season runs from 23 April to 21 June, but Chris Chinn says by using new varieties and polytunnels to protect the crop, his farm has massively extended that from February to late June.

Called “the Usain Bolt of vegetables”, British asparagus can actually grow up to 10cm in a single day. It thrives in free-draining sandy soils, and, as Chris puts it, “does not like wet feet”. That has made the past few months a big challenge for growers with the amount of rain that’s fallen so far this year.

In spite of that, this season, the Chinns pushed the envelope once again, harvesting the first commercial volumes for sale in a local Food store in early February — the earliest it’s ever been available. “This especially early crop is the product of innovative methods, and environmental sustainability is a key concern with us using only the sun’s heat, and on-farm compost,” says Chris. “We are absolutely delighted to be first to market with British asparagus once again.”

Chris says that with all asparagus spears picked and packed by hand, getting enough seasonal labour onto the farm is a constant headache for growers. There is hope, though, that technology will ultimately be able to help.

1. According to the passage, what can we know about the British asparagus?

A．It is a forgiving plant in low-lying areas.

B．It grows fast and can’t tolerate light shade.

C．It is good for immunity and physical well-being.

D．It grows in winter and likes growing in wet fields.

2. What does the underlined phrase “pushed the envelope” most likely mean?

A．Boosted the volume.	B．Unfolded the letter.
C．Reduced the pollution.	D．Stretched the boundaries.

3. What might be talked about in the paragraph that follows?

A．How to extend the asparagus season.

B．The reason for seasonal labor shortage.

C．Some technology to solve the labor shortage.

D．The constant headache for asparagus growers.

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

A．New Ways to Harvest the Asparagus

B．Asparagus, the Usain Bolt of Vegetables

C．Innovations to Extend the Asparagus Season

D．The Chinns, the Innovator of Growing Asparagus

7 . Joshua trees — some of the most unusual and famous plants of the American Southwest — have survived as a species for some 2.5 million years in the Mojave Desert. Now, they may face extinction due to climate change.

In a new study published in the journal Ecosphere, researchers and volunteer scientists surveyed nearly 4,000 trees in southern California’s Joshua Tree National Park to figure out where the oldest trees grew the best during historic periods of extreme heat and drought. Then, the researchers estimated (估算) how many of these Joshua safe areas would survive to the end of the century based on a range of climate change predictions.

The study authors found that if greenhouse gas emissions (排放物) are seriously limited and summer temperatures are limited to an increase of 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit, about 19% of the park’s Joshua tree habitat (栖息地) would survive after the year 2070. If no action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and summer temperatures rise by 9 degrees Fahrenheit or more, however, only 0.02% of the tree’s habitat would survive to the end of the century, leaving the tree close to extinction.

One way to save the Joshua trees from extinction is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, even if the habitats survive, these trees will still be in danger because of wildfires, which have also been happening more often as the climate warms. According to the researchers, fewer than 10% of Joshua trees survive when wildfires rush through their habitats.

“Removing grass is a way park rangers (护林员) are helping to protect the area from fire today,” Sweet, a plant ecologist at the University of California, said. “By protecting the trees, they’re protecting a host of other native insects and animals that depend on them as well.”

1. Why did the researchers survey some Joshua trees?

A．To predict the number of Joshua trees.

B．To know their past and predict their future.

C．To make sure they will be safe from disasters.

D．To set up more nature reserves for Joshua trees.

2. What would the researchers agree with as for Joshua Tree National Park’s Joshua trees?

A．Their future is in humans’ hand.

B．Their numbers are dropping greatly.

C．They may adapt to rising temperatures.

D．They are suffering most from climate change.

3. What does the last but one paragraph focus on?

A．Another way to save Joshua trees.

B．Another threat Joshua trees may face.

C．The importance of Joshua trees’ habitats.

D．The chance of fire happening to Joshua trees.

4. Which best describes the park rangers’ work of removing grass?

A．Skilled.	B．Challenging.
C．Creative.	D．Worthwhile.

8 . In a Parisian old shoe factory on the city’s outskirts, a new kind of life is taking root. Neoplants, a startup from Paris, has developed a special houseplant that could potentially help improve indoor air quality by removing harmful pollutants.

The plant is a modified variety of one of the most popular and low-maintenance houseplants. Its DNA has been altered to enhance its capacity to absorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air we breathe inside our homes. These VOCs include substances like formaldehyde, benzene. toluene. ethylbenzene, and xylene, which are commonly found indoors and can be harmful in large quantities.

The genetic tweaking also allows the plant to convert the absorbed VOCs into substances it can use. such as sugars and carbon dioxide, which then fuel its growth. While Neoplants’concept is quite promising, proving its effectiveness is a challenge.

Plant shops often claim their greenery can purify the air, but much of this belief stems from research conducted by NASA back in 1989. They found that houseplants could indeed absorb certain toxins. However, achieving the same level of toxin removal as simply opening a window would require an impractical number of plants   — anywhere from 10 to 1,000 per square meter.

So, does Neoplants’genetically modified houseplant offer a better solution? Field tests haven’t yielded definitive results yet, but there is hope for more conclusive testing in the future with the help of a new lab equipped with unique non-absorbent rooms that mimic real-life conditions . Additionally, the company is exploring potential applications for its gene-editing technology in areas such as carbon capture and phytoremediation, where plants are used to clean up contaminated environments

Neoplants is relying on patience and a bit of faith. It takes time for innovations to mature. “This will be the first time such a product exists.” says the company’s CEO. drawing a parallel to the early days of computers, which were not very powerful initially but still represented a significant breakthrough.

With Neoplants’ vision, the old shoe factory on the edge of Paris isn’t just a place where shoes were made; it’s where a novel approach to cleaning our indoor air is being cultivated — one that could someday make our homes healthier and more environmentally friendly.

1. What does Neoplants’genetically modified houseplant aim to do?

A．maintain its capacity easily	B．absorb VOC’s massively
C．alter its DNA completely	D．fuel its growth quickly

2. What can be inferred from this passage?

A．The absorbed VOCs can enhance the growth of the plant.

B．Opening a window can remove the same level of toxins as the Neoplants.

C．Neoplants will need powerful computers to make a significant breakthrough.

D．Conclusive testing needs conducting to achieve definite results.

3. What does the underlined term “phytoremediation” in paragraph 5 most likely mean?

A．The process of using plants to absorb nutrients.	B．The process of using plants to purify the air.
C．The process of using plants to explore applications.	D．The process of using plants to edit certain genes.

4. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．Science fiction.

B．A scientific textbook.

C．A news article.

D．An art magazine.

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。

In November 2023, China launched a three-year action plan to promote the use of bamboo as a replacement     1     plastic. Actually, I’ve been using bamboo products more often over the years.

The look and feel of bamboo are absolutely above and beyond plastic,     2     there must be more positive aspects to bamboo other than just aesthetics (美学). When compared to    3     (healthy) plastic, bamboo is a highly renewable, natural material that is biodegradable (可生物降解的) and     4     (become) the “green gold” of modern times in recent years because it has so many good qualities.     5     (live) in a time when most of our homes are filled with plastic, I think it’s time     6     (wake) up to the green alternative and realize     7     (it) full potential as a planet protector.

This super-powered plant is actually a grass and looks like a weed in terms of     8     quickly it can grow and where it can live. The production costs of bamboo are     9     (extreme) low due to the easy availability of this material, and it requires almost zero adjustment when people produce bamboo products. From household objects to decorative settings, the quantity of uses bamboo has     10     (go) beyond our wildest dreams and I’d love to see it becoming more popular as time goes on.

10 . Honeybees command a lot of attention in insect conservation circles, as they are important for pollinating our food supply. But the findings from researchers emphasize the importance of prioritizing other pollinators or insects like wild bees, moths and butterflies in conservation efforts, too.

For the study, ecologists Joshua Kohn and Dillon Travis from the University of California, painstakingly tracked the pollination of flowers from two plant species in San Diego — white sage and Phacelia distans. Often Travis sat for hours waiting for a single pollinator, honeybees or other insects, to land on a flower. Each time he put a mesh (网状的) bag on the flower to prevent any new visitor, then back to collect seeds from different visitors. Back in the greenhouse, the team grew the seeds, analyzing characteristics that reflected their quality, such as how many seeds grew and survived and how many leaves or flower seedlings (幼苗) grew from them.

They found flowers pollinated by honeybees make fewer and lower-quality seeds than flowers visited by other pollinators. The white sage and Phacelia distans plants produced roughly half the amount of seeds from flowers pollinated by honeybees compared with other pollinators. And Phacelia distans seeds from honeybee-pollinated plants grew into seedlings with fewer flowers.

The researchers also found that honeybees visited about twice as many flowers on one plant before moving to the next than the average of other pollinators, causing honeybees to transfer more pollen in flowers of the same plant, thus resulting in fewer and lower-quality and more inbred (近亲繁殖的) seeds. Other pollinators more often flew between different plants, probably transferring more diverse pollen.

Travis says, “Honeybees’ pollination habit can impact ecosystems and agriculture in the long term. One potential consequence could be that native plant populations decline as next generations become more inbred, reducing biodiversity.”

“It is time to actually shift our dependence for pollination from largely honeybees to other native species as well,” says Jaya Sravanthi Mokkapati, an entomologist at Penn State University.

1. What does paragraph 2 focus on about the research?

A．Its procedures.	B．Its members.
C．Its impact.	D．Its significance.

2. Why do plants pollinated by honeybees produce fewer and lower-quality seeds?

A．Honeybees cause big damage to plants’ seeds.

B．Honeybees are less selective while pollinating.

C．Honeybees’ pollination efficiency is unexpectedly low.

D．Honeybees prefer to pollinate flowers of the same plant.

3. What did Travis think of their findings?

A．Misleading.

B．Worrying.

C．Creative.

D．Helpful.

4. What is Jaya Sravanthi Mokkapati’s point of view?

A．Native plant populations are declining at a high speed.

B．Honeybees’ pollination impacts plant seeds temporarily.

C．More attention should be paid to protecting other pollinators.

D．Honeybees’ pollination depends more on other native species.