1 . 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. |
2 . The world loves a cup of tea. It only takes a few grams to make a cup of tea and millions of tons of tea are consumed every year. Tea can be good for you because it contains some things that help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Tea also contains caffeine(咖啡因), which improves not only mental alertness but can also increase anxiety and cause other problems.
What would be agreeable is a tea plant that provides all the taste and goodness but with little or none of caffeine. Chen Liang and Jin Jiqiang in the Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences think they have found just such a plant, growing wild in a remote area in southern China’s Fujian Province. Known locally as hongyacha, the discovered plant grows only between 700 meters and 1,000 meters above sea level around a handful of Chinese villages. As they report in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, not only is the tea plant naturally caffeine-free but it also contains a number of unique medicinal compounds that, the locals believe, offer considerable health benefits.
The researchers are now exploring methods to protect hongyacha in its natural habitat while further studies are carried out. It can take time—and sometimes it does not work—for new plant varieties to be bred for commercial use. A pair of naturally caffeine-free coffee plants were discovered in 2003, but little progress has been reported. Tea lovers will be watching hongyacha with interest. And others will wonder what else is out there.
1. What’s the disadvantage of drinking tea according to paragraph 1?| A．It can make people hard to sleep. | B．It can make people feel anxious. |
| C．It can get people addicted. | D．It can take people much time. |
| A．It is nothing but just medicine. | B．It can only survive in greenhouses. |
| C．It is a good pick for caffeine lovers. | D．It has a good taste and little caffeine. |
| A．Its future location. | B．Its natural habitats. |
| C．Its future market. | D．Its production process. |
| A．A health magazine. | B．An advertising brochure. |
| C．A travel guidebook. | D．A newspaper. |
3 . Research has revealed many benefits to being in the presence of nature, whether that’s walking in a forest, having a small garden or keeping a few household plants.
“One study showed that patients in a hospital who had plants in their rooms reported less pain, lower blood pressure, less tiredness and less anxiety than patients without plants in their rooms,” says Jenny Seham, founder and director of AIM (Arts and Integrative Medicine) in New York. She explains,“Cortisol (皮质醇)，the stress hormone, has been shown to lower with plant interaction, lowering tiredness and blood pressure. Gardening and caring for plants can help turn people away from negative thoughts or emotions.”
Houseplant collections have become a popular social media trend. Jamie Keaton Jones, a psychologist, says, “For many people, tending to plants has become a hobby. This hobby enables them to experience greater comfort and beauty from the presence of living things sharing their space.”
“Plants and exposure to greenery have been found to have many mental health benefits, such as lowering stress, decreasing feelings of depression, increasing sociability, restoring focus, improving cognitive performance, improving mood and increasing self- confidence,” says Jones.
Studies have also shown that plants and gardening increase productivity and levels of serotonin (血清素), which is responsible for uplifting mood.
“Rather than focusing on the past or worrying about the future, plant care helps one concentrate on the present moment and provides a feeling of accomplishment,” says Gayle Weill, another psychologist in Washington.
Like any new skill or hobby, taking care of houseplants comes with a learning process. Anyone starting to care for plants should be patient and allow themselves time to learn the basics, leaving room for a little trial and error.
1. Where can the passage be found?| A．In a science magazine. | B．In a novel. |
| C．In a history book. | D．Ina biography. |
| A．Many hospitals keep plants in the patients’ rooms. |
| B．Doctors will use plants to cure the patients’ illness. |
| C．Keeping a few plants can get u out of tiredness. |
| D．Caring for plants can keep us away from bad mood. |
| A．Houseplant collections are not popular in recent days. |
| B．Keeping plants has many physical health benefits. |
| C．Studies have proved that plants are beneficial for uplifting mood. |
| D．For many of us, plant care is difficult and takes time. |
| A．Benefits of Keeping Houseplants | B．Research on Keeping Houseplants |
| C．Ways to Take Care of Houseplants | D．Opinions About Caring About Plants |
4 . Most of us are familiar with carrots.
Then we should choose a variety of carrots after the soil is prepared.
Early types should be sown in spring as soon as the soil is workable. They may also be sown under covers, though the covers should be removed after a few weeks.
Weeds should be removed regularly once the carrots have germinated. Watering is needed every two to three weeks. Watch out for pests and diseases.
Early carrots can be harvested about seven to nine weeks after sowing and main crop carrots should be harvested after ten to eleven weeks.
| A．There are many varieties. |
| B．They are good to people’s health. |
| C．They are usually orange in colour. |
| D．After about a week, the seeds come out. |
| E．Carrots are grown in an open site in fertile soil. |
| F．Carrot rust flies can be a serious problem for carrots. |
| G．Main crop types can be sown from late spring to early summer. |
5 . Gardeners are often puzzled by the sudden appearance of an unusual orchid(兰花) or sometimes are disappointed that their annuals have vanished. Scientists have discovered that some British flowers can lie dormant (休眠的) under the ground for up to 20 years, coming out to bloom only when the conditions are just right. Orchids seem particularly good at being dormant for years at a time, the scientists discovered.
Michael Hutchings, Professor of Ecology at the University of Suss, said: “Being underground means they cannot receive sunshine, neither flower nor reproduce. And yet this study has shown that many plants in a large number of species frequently go through dormancy (休眠). Many of these species have found ways to overcome the loss of sunshine during dormancy, especially by gradually developing their ability to get what they need from soil. This allows them to survive and even grow well during dormant periods.”
The research found that dormancy occurs when the weather is poor, or there is a new threat from animals or competing plants. Sometimes winters are so mild that the plant does not realize that spring has begun. Dormancy in seeds has been widely known about and studied for years, but the dormancy in adult plants is far less well-known and understood.
The study, led by Professor Richard Shefferson in University of Tokyo, is the first detailed analysis of the causes. Dormancy appears to be more common near the equator (赤道), where threats from factors such as disease, competition, animals and fire are more severe. Co-author Dr. Eric Menges said:“ In those areas, it is most suitable for plants to remain dormant and then to grow when favourable conditions exist for growth and flowering. ”
1. What does the underlined word “vanished” mean in the first paragraph?| A．Adapted. | B．Shrunk. | C．Disappeared. | D．Woken. |
| A．What results dormancy leads to. |
| B．How the orchid developed their ability to get energy. |
| C．Why some species can survive terrible conditions. |
| D．How the orchid lives through dormant periods. |
| A．Dormancy in plants is common in regions along the equator. |
| B．Orchids are the only plants that can be dormant for years. |
| C．Dormancy in seeds is far less well-known and understood. |
| D．Most gardeners don’t want to plant orchids. |
| A．Survival of the Fittest |
| B．Dormant Flowers Underground for Years |
| C．Why Some British Flowers Stay Dormant |
| D．New Research on Dormancy in Orchids |
6 . History is filled with many legends of man — eating plants and trees. A man — eating flower was described in the ship’s log of Arkwright. He described this as a large flower with bright petals (花瓣) capable of releasing a special smell that causes the victim to rest on the large petals. Once the victim was in its trap, the flower would close over the victim and digest him alive.
There really are carnivorous plants that can catch and consume small insects, but are there or have there ever been meat-eating plants capable of catching humans, as some explorers have claimed? In this article, we’ll look at one of the most famous man-eating plants in the world and what discoverers and the locals had to say about it — Nicaraguan Vampire Vine.
Found in the swamps (沼泽地) of Nicaragua, local natives refer to this plant as “The Devil’s Snare”. It has been described as an octopus in general appearance. A naturalist called Dunstan spent two years studying the local plant and animal life and made this discovery in a swamp close to Lake Nicaragua. Dunstan was collecting specimens in the area when his dog let out a loud cry.
Unsure whether or not this was due to pain, terror, or a combination of the two, Dunstan rushed to the source of the dog and saw it in a network of roots. These were dark in color, somewhat black, and sent out a sticky gum that had a horrible smell. Dunstan used his knife to cut these tendrils (触须) immediately but was initially unable to do so. Not only were these difficult to cut with just his knife, but they actively fought back.
Dunstan did manage to save his dog, but both suffered injuries during this encounter. Dunstan’s both hands were swelling; his dog was covered in blood. The dog didn’t know which way to go and had trouble walking. Not much else is known about this plant, but the locals do fear it immensely and leave it well alone.
1. How did the man-eating flower attract victims to get close to it?| A．Set up a trap. | B．Show their beautiful appearance. |
| C．Send out a smell. | D．Provide them with petals to rest. |
| A．vegetarian | B．world-famous | C．cruel | D．meat-eating |
| A．It appears together with octopus. |
| B．It could strike back when attacked. |
| C．It had tendrils that could digest dogs. |
| D．It was found by Dunstan in Lake Nicaragua. |
| A．The dog wasn’t seriously hurt in the end. |
| B．Dunstan saved his dog without being hurt. |
| C．People learned more about this plant in detail. |
| D．The locals didn’t dare to get close to the plant. |
7 . The story started from a popular video, in which a tourist pulled a flower out of the ground in Tibet and boiled it with other food.
He might not know what he dug up was not an ordinary one but snow lotus, an extremely rare species. The exact number existing in the wild is unknown, but scientists believe that the species is dying out and people are not allowed to collect them for private or even scientific use since 2000.
The snow lotus generally only grows above the snowline of the Tibetan Himalayas or Heaven Mountain in Central Asia. In order to survive the harsh environment and strong wind, it grows thick hair on the outside, which keeps the plant from the cold. And it often has to grow around six to eight years before its only flowering time in life.
Only very few plants and animals survive in such an environment. Therefore, each snow lotus is key part of fragile (脆弱的) ecosystem around it. When someone digs one out of the ground, he/she not only wastes the plant’s own years of efforts, but also threatens the ecological (生态的) balance of about one square kilometer around it.
For a long time, many people collect the lotus flowers to sell as herbal (药草的) plants to others, even though their herbal effects are not proved. Regardless of the fact, some traders do misleading advertising about them and illegally sell them at high prices. As a result, the species is in danger. The snow lotus is not the only plant that suffers from the illegal sale of certain people because they carry a sense of mystery. It is time the law offered stricter protection of these rare plants for the ecological environment.
1. What did the author intend to tell us about the tourist?| A．He destroyed an endangered plant. | B．He has good outdoor survival skills. |
| C．He discovered a special kind of flowers. | D．He has made many popular short videos. |
| A．To fight for enough living space. | B．To make the flower less obvious. |
| C．To protect it from extreme conditions. | D．To prevent it from being dug out easily. |
| A．It is hard for people to find a snow lotus. |
| B．It takes many years for a snow lotus to fully grow. |
| C．Some rare plants usually grow in weak environments. |
| D．The snow lotus is very important to the local ecosystem. |
| A．We should call on the public to protect rare plants. |
| B．We should learn to recognize different plants. |
| C．We should follow all the laws in our country. |
| D．We should avoid taking wild plants as food. |
8 . Coffee is one of the world’s favorite drinks. Globally, 600 billion cups are drunk each year—profits from global coffee production will top ＄400 billion in 2021. However, the coffee bean itself is under threat from climate change. Now a Finnish research group has grown beans in the lab to offer the world a sustainable espresso (浓缩咖啡).
Plant cells were adapted to produce coffee cell cultures (培养物) and then grown at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. Bio-technologists, chemists, and food scientists worked together to select the right cell lines and developed a roasting process. Afterwards, a group of specialists created the taste and smell pattern. The result is a drink that smells and tastes almost the same as the traditionally grown coffee. “It’s not perfect,” admitted lead researcher Heiko Lash, “because good coffee-making is an art, but this could be the start of something beautiful.”
Scientists say the issues with coffee as a commercial crop are widely known. The worst of them are the loss of trees (especially in major exporting countries like Brazil), water pollution and bio-diversity loss. Lab-grown coffee could actually do the planet a huge favor. Growing coffee cultures takes a lot of energy, but transportation can be reduced to the lowest level if production takes place locally. Besides, chemicals are not needed at all, and any water used in the process can be recycled.
“We have now proved that lab-grown coffee can be a reality,” said VTT’s Paige Rischer. “The true effect of this scientific work will happen through companies who are willing to re-think about food production. Finally, all efforts would result in more sustainable and healthy food for the benefit of the consumer and the planet.”
The Sustainable Coffee Challenge (SCC) thinks coffee consumption could triple (三倍) by 2050, so society will need to produce the drink in much more efficient ways. Solving some of its most painful problems is a priority, but with science on our side, at least we have better alternatives.
1. What can we know about the VTT research on their coffee?| A．It is grown in a traditional way. | B．It is the result of a new art. |
| C．It develops without cell lines. | D．It tastes similar to common coffee. |
| A．Coffee beans will be recycled. | B．Water pollution will be reduced. |
| C．Little energy will be needed. | D．Chemicals will be better used. |
| A．A scientific way to grow coffee. | B．Consumers’ changed attitudes. |
| C．People’s environmental awareness. | D．The food companies’ participation. |
| A．Drinking coffee is becoming a global trend. | B．Coffee bean production is under threat. |
| C．Lab-grown coffee has become a reality. | D．Problems of coffee growing will be solved. |
9 . Baseball Plant
Where it's found: South Africa
This is a ball-shaped juicy plant. Unluckily, it was unsustainably harvested because more people around the globe have decided to grow baseball plants around them. Luckily, some botanical gardens have started to grow this plant. In this way, it will no longer need to be obtained from the wild so that it does not become extinct.
Corpse Flower
Where it's found: Sumatra, Indonesia
The corpse flower is also listed as an endangered plant and there are about 1, 000 plants growing in the wild. This plant sends out a smell of rotting（腐烂）meat during its nightly peak bloom. This allows it to attract pollinators like flies from miles away. It can grow an astonishing eight feet tall and can weigh up to 170 pounds.
African Starfish Flower
Where it's found: Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Don't fall in love with its beautiful flowers, because this is yet another plant that's known for its bad smell. It smells like rotting meat and looks like a rotting animal! Unluckily, it is endangered due to destroyed habitats, plant collectors as well as the Zulus, who use the plant as a cure for hysteria（癔病）.
Hydnora Africana
Where it's found: Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Ethiopia
This has an appearance similar to mushroom until the flower opens. At this point, the plant transforms from a leafless brown-gray plant to something that looks more like an animal than a plant. While this is also a smelly plant, it is an edible（可食用的）fruit that is loved by many animals and even humans! It makes for a tasty food when mixed with cream and can also treat conditions like diarrhea（腹泻）.
1. What can be inferred about the baseball plant?| A．It gives out a bad smell. | B．Its flowers have a strange shape. |
| C．It is a kind of food for the locals. | D．It is endangered in its wild habitat. |
| A．South Africa. | B．Botswana. | C．Indonesia. | D．Ethiopia. |
| A．They have great sizes. |
| B．They can be used as drugs. |
| C．They look like rotting animals. |
| D．They change shapes to keep away enemies. |
