1 . 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。

Plant lovers believe that talking to plants helps them grow. Scientists have discovered there could be real     1     (true) in this belief. Researchers have discovered that plants give off sounds when they are stressed. The sounds are quite similar     2     a human cry. Unfortunately, plant sounds are at too high a frequency for the human ear     3     (pick) up. Humans can only hear frequencies of up to 16 kilohertz (赫兹). Using special Al technology, scientists can now pick up sounds     4     (send) out by plants that are up to 250 kilohertz. The Al can also tell differences between different types of plant sounds.

The research     5     (do) in a greenhouse at Israel’s Tel Aviy University. Lead researcher Professor Lilach Hadany said: “Plants usually give off sounds when they     6     (be) under stress. Each plant and each type of stress is connected with     7     specific sound.” She suggested that crop fields could be quite     8     (noise), saying “While unable to be picked up by the human ear, the sounds given off by plants can be heard by bats,     9     (mouse) and insects. Understanding these sounds could help us know when crops need watering,     10     means farmers could water their crops more efficiently and thus save water and money.

2 . Ways to Grow Your Own Plant Supports Instead of Buying Them

Many new gardeners think it is necessary to buy new items for their gardens, when in fact, careful design and the right plant choices can mean that your garden can actually provide the things you need.

One common example of the things that people buy when they could grow them in their own garden is plant supports.    1    . While there are numerous plant supports on the market, my professional take is you can do without buying any of these at all.

Many climbing and vining plants require some support as they grow. Sometimes, the plants you grow beside climbers or vines can provide all the support they need.     2     . The same thing can be true of a number of taller perennials (多年生植物). Growing them close can prevent them being blown over in strong winds.     3    , as you will need to think about competition and avoid overcrowding.

Of course, other living plants will not always be able to provide the support that is required. I find growing trees like the hazel or willow means you always have suitable material to use in your own garden.     4     . Do so early on in garden establishment and over time, you can easily become self-sufficient in garden plant supports-even in a small garden.

    5    , it can be helpful to think about longer-term needs in your garden. Grow not just eatable plants, but also a range of other plants which will allow you to become more self-sufficient over time.

A．Plenty of trees grow relatively quickly

B．Thick planting should be handled with care

C．Before you buy plant supports for your garden

D．Planting these trees in your garden can be a great choice

E．So when designing your garden and deciding which plants to grow

F．Plants like short peas can simply be grown close together and will hold each other up

G．Plant supports can be living, growing plants or branches cut from elsewhere in the space

3 . High on the top of California's White Mountains, the hard conditions make it difficult for life to take root. But for a certain type of tree — and for those who have travelled here to study it — this place is a perfect place.

These bristlecone pines are the oldest individual trees in the world. Researchers like Andy Bunn have come to learn from the ancients. "It's remarkable to sit here and have your hand on one of these trees and know that it was growing when the Pyramids were built." Bunn added.

"By studying samples (样本) from the trunks, it's possible to discover their hidden history. Each annual tree ring is like a time capsule of the environment for that year from which it was formed," said Matt Salzer, a scientist at the University of Arizona's Laboratory of Tree Ring Research. "And it contains many different types of information — chemical information, the information on growth, and climate information."

"If you're trying to look at people in the past through time, tree rings give you a way to do it in a way that makes sense in a human life," said University of Arizona Professor Charlotte Pearson. She first became fascinated with the bristlecones after reading about an ancient volcanic eruption on the Greek island of Santorini. "It blew my mind that trees on the other side of the world could possibly be used to date this thing within a single year," she said excitedly.

The oldest known living bristlecone is estimated to be over 4, 800 years old. For Bunn, the climate record written in the rings offers guidance for how we might think about what's happening in the present as we plan for the future. "What we're seeing increasingly is that a lot of the climate events that we are experiencing and living through right now have no example in the paleoclimate (古气候) record," he said. “So, we really are moving into unknown field."

1. Why does Bunn mention the Pyramids in Paragraph 2?

A．To state the trees' age is very old.	B．To prove his discovery is important.
C．To attract readers' attention.	D．To stress the hard living condition of the trees.

2. What's the third paragraph mainly about?

A．The result of the research.	B．The process of the research.
C．The method of the research.	D．The significance of the research.

3. What do the underlined words "It blew my mind" in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．It confused me.	B．It surprised me.
C．It defeated me.	D．It disappointed me.

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Paleoclimate record is hard to find.

B．There are lots of unknown things about pines.

C．Studying the tree rings is important for climate research.

D．There were frequent occurrences of the extreme climate events.

4 . A disease called “Panama” is threatening supplies of the world’s most popular fruit—banana.

The disease started in Asia in the 1990s, and later spread to Africa and the Middle East. A new outbreak was discovered last year in Australia. World health officials worry that the disease could travel to Latin America, one of the top banana producers in the world.

This is a big concern because bananas are an important source (来源) of income and nutrients for millions of people. They are grown in 135 tropical (热带的) nations. The United Nations lists bananas as one of the most important foods, along with rice, wheat and corn.

Randy Ploetz, America’s top banana expert, explained Panama disease affects the Cavendish banana. The Cavendish is the most popular one of more than 500 kinds of bananas. “The industry is waking up to the problem,” Ploetz said. “If the disease spreads to Latin America, it could hurt the world’s economy along with food supplies for millions of people.”

Robert Bertram, chief scientist for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), told VOA, “In Africa, Asia and tropical America, bananas are an important food source for more than 100 million people. As a cash crop, bananas are sold in local and international markets. Banana exports provide jobs and foreign money that producing countries need.”

Bertram said USAID is organizing a worldwide effort to stop the growth of Panama disease. At Wageningen University in the Netherlands, researchers are looking for Cavendish replacements. Their work is difficult. Researchers said a replacement will have to resist Panama disease, and survive the shipping time needed to get bananas to stores thousands of miles away from banana fields. And, yes, they will have to taste good.

1. Where was Panama disease recently found?

A．In Asia.	B．In the Middle East.
C．In Australia.	D．In Latin America.

2. What does the underlined “the problem” in paragraph 4 refer to?

A．Short supply of rice, wheat and corn.	B．Panama disease’s effects on bananas.
C．The popularity of 500 kinds of bananas.	D．Latin American nations’ poor economy.

3. Which of the following might be a possible way to stop the spread of Panama disease?

A．Selling bananas in more international markets.

B．Providing more money for producing countries.

C．Finding replacements for Cavendish bananas.

D．Getting bananas stored miles away from fields.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Food and agriculture.	B．History and geography.
C．Modern technology.	D．Environmental pollution.