1 . Hundreds of native North American plants, often dismissed as weeds, deserve a lot more respect, according to a new study. These plants, distant cousins of foods like cranberries and pumpkins, actually represent a botanical treasure now facing increased threat from climate change, habitat loss and invasive species.

The crops that the human race now depends on, including grains like wheat and tree fruit like peaches, originally were selected or bred(培育) from plants that grew wild hundreds or thousands of years ago. And those ancestral plants like the small wild sunflowers that can be found across the United States, still exist. “If you see them growing along roadsides, those are the ancestors,” says Colin Khoury, a research scientist at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture. Khoury says wild lettuce(莴苣) plants grow along roads, or in backyards, but go unrecognized. “They look nothing like lettuce,” he says. “They are scratchy, thorny, little and ugly.”

Khoury loves these wild relatives of food crops, not just for emotional reasons. “These wild plants are of great value,” he says. That wild sunflower, for instance, can survive in a salty environment that would kill most plants. So plant breeders cross-pollinate(使异花传粉) it with commercial sunflowers and create new varieties that can grow in places where the soil contains more salt. Other wild relatives may be hiding similarly remarkable gifts, Khoury says, such as genes that could help their domesticated(家养的) relatives survive diseases, deal with pests, or adapt to disruptions in the climate.

Khoury and some of his colleagues just finished a survey of about 600 wild crop relatives that grow in North America, and published it this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. They found that the survival chances for most of these plants are being undermined because of things like fires, farming and commercial development. The scientists argue that these endangered species deserve more protection. “It’s more just being aware that these plants actually exist,” Khoury says. “They need protection.”

1. What is the characteristic of wild lettuce plants?

A．They can be commonly seen.	B．They look the same as lettuce.
C．They are selected from grains.	D．They are smooth and beautiful.

2. Why does Colin Khoury consider wild relatives of food crops valuable?

A．They can improve soil quality.

B．They can slow down climate change.

C．They can kill most dangerous wild plants.

D．They can help with domesticated plants’ growth.

3. Which of the following best explains the underlined word in the last paragraph?

A．Assessed.	B．Destroyed.
C．Obtained.	D．Offered.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The Distant Cousins of Food Crops Are What We Really Need

B．Scientists Have Found a New Way to Increase Our Food Crops

C．Wild Relatives of Food Crops Deserve Respect and Protection

D．Everyone Should Take Action to Protect Botanical Treasures

2 . Trees have long played a special role in all aspects of human life. In ancient times, trees provided a place for humans to take shelter from storms, heat and even enemies. Today, the importance of trees continues to increase.     1    

Trees provide the necessary oxygen to breathe. Many industrial and development activities add huge quantities of carbon dioxide to the environment. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and in turn release fresh oxygen in the environment.     2     Thus, they are the most important contributors in maintaining the environmental balance.

Trees can prevent soil erosion (侵蚀) and clean soil. Trees bind (捆绑) the soil of the earth tightly.     3     They are highly beneficial for preventing soil erosion. Besides, poisonous chemicals and pollutants from various factories enter into the soil, thus causing soil pollution. Trees have the ability to store them or change them into less harmful forms.

    4     Trees satisfy the need of fuel for cooking in many areas around the world. Trees also provide wood for furniture and hundreds of household items. Wood pulp (浆) is used for making paper in industries. Also, trees produce a number of fruits and nuts which are sold at market. Some trees are even used to make medicines.

Trees provide life to birds and insects.     5     Insects get their food in the form of seeds, buds, and fruits. Thus trees are the most important supporters of life.

A．This lowers global warming.

B．Trees are of commercial importance.

C．This increases the drying effect on the soil.

D．More benefits of trees are being discovered.

E．They give them food, shelter, cover, and nest sites.

F．Trees provide wood for making furniture and paper.

G．Therefore, fast flowing water or heavy wind is unable to take away soil with it.

3 . Though they have a small figure, plants are armed with a metabolic (新陈代谢) system that allows them to collect, store and spend hard-earned energy for their survival. Perhaps the best-known part in this plant metabolic network is their ability to turn light into sugars and other forms of energy through photosynthesis (光合作用), a unique ability that allows plants to live in different environments.

But a plant’s dependence on sunlight has always presented one key question: What happens to a plant’s energy supply when night falls and sunlight becomes no longer available? A study published on Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences answered the question. Researchers report that a key factor to a plant’s ability to keep energy and survive the darkness of each nightfall rests in what experts call the circadian clock (生物钟).

Circadian clocks are basically chemical timekeepers each plant owns that allow them to work out the passage of time and the duration of their chemical reactions, and give them a rough idea of their daily routine every 24 hours. Experts say like most clocks, these inner timepieces for plants also come with an alarm of sorts. Through a network of genes and cells, researchers say that plants have an inborn ability to adjust (调整) their clocks each night for the benefit of their own survival. Through this network they can know the rising and falling of the sun, how long each night will last and how much energy they need to keep to make it to each morning. This alarm, according to researchers, can single-handedly tell plants how to adjust their nightly metabolic schedule—and give their energy supply suitably—every night with shocking correctness.

The study shows that experts came to this conclusion after experimenting with genes inside Arabidopsis, a small flowing plant related to cabbage. In these plants, researchers discovered a collection of genes largely controlled by a special thing known as superoxide (过氧化物), which is often linked to a plant’s metabolism.

1. What is the plant metabolic network most famous for?

A．Taking in sugars.	B．Helping grow faster at night.
C．Collecting energy from others.	D．Making energy with sunlight.

2. What did the researchers try to make out?

A．How plants survive the night.

B．How sunlight affects plants’ circadian clock.

C．How long plants’ energy lasts during the night.

D．How the circadian clock gives plants information.

3. What can we learn about the circadian clock from paragraph 3?

A．It sometimes can’t work well.	B．It can adjust according to the weather.
C．It is controlled by some genes and cells.	D．It differs from one plant to another.

4. What will probably be discussed in the following paragraph?

A．How cabbage can survive the night.

B．What is a plant’s metabolism.

C．What role superoxide plays in the circadian clock.

D．What genes control the speed of plants’ growth.

4 . Located in a comer of north Brooklyn is a 3,000-square-fbot patch of open space. Keap Fourth, at the intersection of Keap and South 4th Streets, is a community garden established in 2013. It’s a well-known part in this largely Dominican and Puerto Rican neighbourhood, at the edge of trendy Williamsburg. The sun is out, and “it’s nearly planting season,” says Crito Thornton, a volunteer who manages the garden, with a grin. After a long winter made worse by Covid-19 there are finally signs of life in the daffodils blooming around the garden.

Keap Fourth is one of 550 community gardens which have sprung up at New York’s street comers since the 1970s, when the city’s economy collapsed and its landscape became dotted by abandoned lots. Activists sought to transform these urban scars into gardens where residents could relax and grow vegetables. These places now cover 100 acres across the city, tended by a volunteer army of nearly 23,000 green-fingered New Yorkers. The gardens are supported by GreenThumb, a government initiative established in 1978, which is now the country’s largest urban-gardening programme.

Running these spaces is no easy task. Keap Fourth’s neighbourhood has been troubled by drug dealers, who moved across the Williamsburg Bridge after being driven out of Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The garden is a popular drop-off point, with suspicious packages found among the greens. But the recent death of a local kingpin (毒枭) in a car accident and the efforts of the police may make the gardens more peaceful, says Mr. Thornton.

The future looks bright. A key issue in the past has been a manpower shortage for the harvest. But volunteer numbers across the city’s gardens have gone up slowly since the pandemic’s onset, as locked-down residents have desired for more open space. And in Keap Fourth’s case, the whole neighbourhood seems to have come together over the past year as few people now undergo the daily commute (通勤) across the river to Manhattan. A bountiful harvest is in prospect.

1. What can we infer about Keap Fourth?

A．It’s mostly owned by volunteers.	B．It can help save people’s lives.
C．It was most depressing last winter.	D．It brings its liveliness to people there.

2. Why have community gardens become popular since 1970s?

A．They have occupied New York,s street comers.

B．They have been regarded as urban scars.

C．They can be a way to take advantage of land.

D．They have covered 100 acres across the city.

3. What’s the author’s attitude to the gardens’ future?

A．Positive.

B．Negative.

C．Objective.

D．Indifferent.

4. What may contribute to the potential harvest this year?

A．The pandemic loss last year.	B．More open space.
C．Togetherness of the neighbourhood.	D．Daily commute across the river.

5 . Houseplants have been rising in popularity for good reasons. They can brighten our spaces, freshen the air and benefit our mental health. While the benefits aren't quite as measurable as getting our daily minerals and vitamins, plenty of positive findings show plants help us thrive.

Plants bring color and vitality to our worlds. Though maybe only subtly, our mood can be impacted by the surroundings. Green plants and cheery flowers are known to have a positive effect on mood because the mind equates plant life to the soothing, uplifting area of nature.

    1    Pops of white, pink, red, yellow or purple bring an extra dose of happiness.

Taking care of plants gives us a sense of pride and achievement.     2    But the quiet success of getting them to thrive makes it all worthwhile. Studies have shown tending plants helped patients who were hospitalized with mental health issues feel pride and a sense of achievement.

Plants' presence can cut down on stress. Interacting with plants reduce signs of both psychological and physical stress. When we engage in positive tasks that require mindful focus, we can absolutely benefit on both physical and psychological levels.     3    Each time you water them, use your senses to notice the colors, textures, and smells of the plant.

    4    It can be really difficult to adapt to change and new normals. Plants are constantly growing, sometimes struggling, not always blooming. They serve as an excellent physical reminder of our ever-changing lives.

We don't necessarily need houseplants to survive, but they certainly can make a positive difference in our lives when we bring them into our homes. The benefits of indoor plants are undeniable.     5    .

A．Parenting plants can be tough.

B．Treat plant care as a mindfulness practice.

C．So give plant-parenting a shot for yourself.

D．Plants remind us that change is a part of life.

E．Keeping plants reminds us of our link to people around us.

F．Green gives the mind a comforting sense of calm and positivity.

G．Caring for plants during leisure time is beneficial to housewives.

6 . Contrary to the long-held belief that plants in the natural world are always in competition, new research has found that in severe environments adult plants help smaller ones and grow well as a result.

The research, led by Dr Rocio, studied adult and seedling (幼苗)plants in the ecological desert in the south-east of Spain. Dr Rocio said, “If you're a seedling in a poor land — the top of a mountain or a sand hill, for example-and you’re lucky enough to end up underneath a big plant, your chances of survival are certainly better than if you landed somewhere on your own. What we have found, which was surprising, is an established large plant, called a ‘nurse’, protects a seedling; it also produces more flowers than the same plants of similar large size growing on their own.”

Other benefits of nurse-seedling partnerships include that more variety of plants growing together can have a positive effect on the environment. For example, vegetation areas with nurse plants with more flowers might be able to attract higher numbers of pollinators(传粉者)in an area, in turn supporting insect and soil life and even provide a greater range of different fruit types for birds and other animals.

“The biggest winner for this system of nursing a plant is biodiversity(生物多样性),” Dr Rocio said. “The more biodiverse an area, the greater number of species of plants, insect life, mammals and birds, and the better the chances of long-term healthy functioning of the environment and ecosystems. ” This system is win-win for adult and seedling plants in unfavorable environments.

The research is of value to those who manage and protect plants in tough environments. Most home gardeners and farmers plan to ensure their soil and conditions are the best they can be for plant growth, but the findings might be of value to those who garden in bare places.

1. What is a common understanding of plants?

A．They can help each other.	B．They can survive ill conditions.
C．They compete with each other.	D．They grow well on their own.

2. What will happen to seedling plants if they grow under adult plants?

A．They will produce more flowers.	B．They will die owing to competition.
C．They will make adult plants larger.	D．They will get support from adult plants.

3. What is the effect of the nurse-seedling partnership?

A．It leads to unfavorable environments.

B．It produces long-term healthy chances.

C．It attracts higher and larger pollinators.

D．It provides a more variety of plant types.

4. Who will benefit from the new research?

A．People studying organic farming.

B．People protecting plants on sand hills.

C．People wanting to change biodiversity.

D．People keeping more animals on the farm.

7 . Many studies have suggested that playing music for plants may have a certain influence on their growth. So, can plants really hear sounds? Do they actually like music? Are these true or just another popular story?

Since 1962, an Indian scientist has done several experiments on music and plant growth. He found that certain plants grew an extra 20 percent in height and weight when “listening” to music regularly. Later, he played music through loudspeakers placed around the field, and he found similar results for agricultural crops, such as peanuts, rice, and com, which produced more products at harvest time.

A Colorado greenhouse owner experimented with several types of plants and various types of music. She discovered that plants “listening” to rock music became dry gradually as if they had been a lack of water and then went to their end within a couple of weeks, while plants grew well when “listening” to classical music.

When it comes to understanding the effects of music on plant growth, it appears that it isn’t so much about the “sounds” of the music, but more to do with the vibrations (震动) created by the sound waves. In simple terms, the vibrations produce movements in the plant cells which help plants produce more nutrients. When plants don’t respond well to rock music, it isn’t because they “like” classical music better, but the vibrations produced by loud rock music create greater pressure that isn’t beneficial to plant growth.

Researchers at the University of California weren’t so quick to jump to conclusions about the effects of music on plant growth. They said that so far there had been very limited scientific evidence that playing music for plants helps them grow, and that more scientific tests were needed with strict control over factors such as light, water, soil, and so on.

1. What did the Indian scientist discover about crops listening to music?

A．They were lack of water.

B．They became dry gradually.

C．They grew more productive.

D．They tasted better than before.

2. What does the author intend to tell us about plants in Paragraph 4?

A．They may prefer quiet and soft music.

B．Vibrations from music can affect their growth.

C．Musical sounds help produce new plant cells.

D．They respond positively to different kinds of music.

3. In which section of the newspaper can we read the text?

A．Entertainment.	B．Music.
C．Social Activity.	D．Scientific Research.

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

A．Can plants really hear music?

B．Can music improve plant growth?

C．Some ways to help plants grow fast.

D．Some types of music good for plants.

8 . 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。

The loquat(枇杷) is native to southeastern China. The     1     (leaf) of the loquat tree bear a similarity to the pipa,     2     ancient Chinese instrument. That's     3     it shares the same Chinese pronunciation with that of the instrument. The loquat was first planted by the Chinese people 1,800 years ago and spread abroad later on.

When     4     (study) in Japan in 1988, Lin Shunquan, a Chinese professor, found that the scientific name for the loquat was “Japanese plum“ internationally     5     that it was thought to be native to Japan. Since     6     (he) return to China in 1989, Lin Shunquan has been working to correct the name of the loquat. In 1998, his paper Loquat: Botany and Horticulture was published in a     7     (profession) journal, arguing that the loquat originated in China. Since Japan     8     (acknowledge) that the loquat originated in China in 2006, the name, “Chinese plum”, has been accepted worldwide.

In addition,     9     (devote) to advancing the loquat planting techniques, Professor Lin helped to develop the loquat industry. Due to the demanding techniques of growing loquat and the high cost of labor, few young people     10     (willing) take over. Lin Shunquan has also worked with Alibaba to establish a direct base, which has attracted young people to return to their hometowns to set up online shops.

9 . Trees are “social creature” that communicate with each other in cooperative ways that hold lessons for humans, too, ecologist Suzanne Simard says. Simard grew up in Canadian forests as a child of loggers before becoming an ecologist. She's now a professor of forest ecology at the University of British Columbia.

Trees are linked to neighboring trees by a network of fungi below the surface of the earth that resembles the nervous networks in the brain, she explains. In one study, Simard watched as a Douglas fir tree that had been injured by insects appeared to send chemical warning signals to a pine nearby. The pine tree then produced defense enzymes to protect against the insect.

“This was a breakthrough,” Simard says. The trees were sharing “information that actually is important to the health of the whole forest.”

In addition to warning each other of danger, Simard says that trees have been known to share nutrients at critical times to keep each other healthy. She says the trees in a forest are often linked to each other via an older tree she calls a “mother” or “hub” tree.

“In connecting with all the trees of different ages, the mother trees can actually ease the growth of these young trees,” she says. “The young trees will link into the network of the old trees and benefit from that huge resource capacity. And the old trees would also pass a little bit of carbon and nutrients and water to the young trees, at crucial times in their lives, that actually help them survive.”

The study of trees took on a new resonance for Simard when she suffered from breast cancer. During her treatment, she learned that one of the medicines she relied on was actually obtained from what some trees produce for their own mutual defense. She explains her research on cooperation in the forest, and shares her personal story in the new book Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest.

1. How could a Douglas fir tree send chemical warning signals to a pine nearby?

A．By an underground network of fungi.	B．By the nervous networks in the brain.
C．By making cooperation with each other.	D．By holding lessons to it as human beings.

2. According to Simard, what was a breakthrough?

A．Simard was-brought up in Canadian forests.	B．She became a professor of forest ecology.
C．The pine tree produced defense enzymes.	D．Vital information was shared among trees.

3. What helped Simard understand trees further?

A．Her rich knowledge of trees.	B．Her childhood in the forest.
C．Her medicine gained from trees.	D．Her research on cooperation.

4. In Simard's book we may discover the wisdom of the forest except          .

A．communicating cooperatively	B．warning each other of danger
C．sharing nutrients at critical times	D．sacrificing mother trees for survival

10 . 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。

As the world    1    （large）cotton consumer and the second largest producer of cotton, China has a long history of cotton cultivation. It is worth    2    （mention）that Xinjiang cotton is highly regarded because of its high yield and high quality.

    3    （locate）in the inland of Eurasia（欧亚大陆）, Xinjiang has a typical mild continental climate. Drought, little rain, sufficient heat, big temperature    4    （different）between day and night and long day make a good growth environment for cotton.

Though Xinjiang has little rainfall, it has a large number of snow-capped mountains, from which meltwater gives cotton abundant water resource. Meanwhile,    5    contrast to the instable rainfall in the monsoon（季风）regions, mountain snowmelt has the characteristics of stable water transportation,    6    is very suitable for the growth of cotton.

Xinjiang is lightly populated and has a vast planting area. It has    7    area of 1.66 million square kilometers and a population of about 23 million. The cotton planting area    8    （cover）25,019.3 square kilometers in 2020，according to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Xinjiang.

The combination of advantaged    9    （nature）conditions and mechanical technology makes Xinjiang cotton have good quality. Endless white cotton has also become one of the    10    （symbol）of great beauty in Xinjiang.