1 . The Greenwood fire took its name from the nearby lake where lightning struck on Aug.15, causing a wildfire that burned for weeks. Fueled by drought and wind, its persistence dominated headlines for much of late summer and early fall in Minnesota. When the last flames were finally put out, the northern Minnesota fire had consumed nearly 27,000 acres, countless firefighting resources, and at its worst, the lives that some had built around nearby McDougal Lake. Vast areas of forest were left burned-out, with the black and bare remains of what were once massive pines.

But, despite the destruction left behind, Mother Nature is set to a comeback. When organic matter is burned from the forest floor, seeds dropped by plants and trees begin to take hold, with the sprouting species emerging first. The trees above have died, which sends a chemical signal to the root system that is actually more expansive than just under that tree, and that chemical response encourages those root systems to re-grow. Ten years ago, a fire ripped through 93,000 acres of Minnesota forest in and around the BWCA. Today, that burnt area's rebirth is well underway.

"Here in the Pagami Creek wildfire scar, we have Jack Pine, Red Pine, Black Spruce, Aspen and paper birch-those are our main species, those are the ones that are growing quickly. It's 10 years on, and these trees are 10 to 15 feet tall in many areas," said Kyle Stover from the U.S. Forest Service.

A wildfire kills most things in its path, but despite the flames and intense temperatures, rarely is everything reduced to ashes -and that plays a key role in a forest's regeneration. Just one year after the fire, the survivors dominate the forest, and grasses replace the burnt ground. Wildflowers are abundant bushes and small trees have started to grow, and Jack Pine returned. So, it's an amazing ecological system of creating new forest life when it appears that all is lost, one that has evolved throughout the ages, where fire has always played a vital role.

1. What can we learn about the Greenwood fire?

A．It was a natural occurrence	B．It was caused by drought.
C．it gained half-year fame.	D．It took many people's lives.

2. What happens to the burnt area after the fire?

A．Seeding growth is held up.	B．Burnt organic matter hardly functions.
C．Root systems spread further and wider	D．Chemicals in the soil are in greater demand.

3. What can we say about the trees and plants in Minnesota?

A．They are flammable	B．They are fire-resistant
C．They are fire-adapted.	D．They are overgrown.

4. What does the underlined word "one" in the last paragraph refer to?

A．A fire.

B．A life

C．A time.

D．A system

2 . When I was a kid, a sycamore (枫树) grew in front of my home. At the age of 10, I was just tall enough to reach its lowest branch and lift myself into its embrace. Sometimes two or three of my friends would join me in the sycamore, or in the maple down the street, or Mrs. DiMarco’s old peach tree, some of whose stout horizontal branches allowed us to sit shoulder to shoulder, eating sweet fruit.

In my small town there are some kinds of trees, their branches spreading wide, open for business. But I have not yet seen a climber. Perhaps computer games have replaced tree climbing, or maybe the activity went the way of monkey bars, which came to be viewed as too risky and have largely disappeared from playgrounds.

It is a sad loss. I have always believed that, since low-hanging branches provide no benefit to the tree, they must be meant for the child. Robert Frost understood this when he wrote:

When I see baches (桦树) bend to left and right,

Across the lines of straighter darker trees,

I like to think some boy’s been swinging them.

My only disagreement with Frost is his inference that tree climbing is a gender-specific task. Both boys and girls make a joyful climb.

The campus of the university where I teach has all sorts of trees. During a recent walk, I found myself bending under the branch of an immense spruce (云杉). I grabbed the thing, and a moment later was sitting on a branch. Then the memories came flooding back. The old sycamore, the friends, and finally, the reluctance to return to earth when the parental call to supper came.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t hear the student calling to me from below. He asked what I was doing. I didn’t waste time on explanations. “Come on up,” I said “The air’s fine.” But he only laughed and waved me off. He didn’t know what he was missing.

1. What does the underlined word “stout” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Slim.

B．Bent.

C．Smooth.

D．Strong.

2. What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A．Why kids don’t climb trees.

B．Why monkey bars are dangerous.

C．Why there is no business under trees.

D．Why kids are addicted to computer games.

3. What does the author want to prove by mentioning Robert’s poem?

A．Some branches of trees are useless.

B．Trees are intended for kids to climb.

C．Trees are a source of inspiration for poets.

D．Climbing trees is a unique right of boys.

4. What did the author think the student had missed?

A．The explanations to his question.

B．The fresh air above the tree.

C．The pleasure of climbing trees.

D．The sense of safety on earth.

3 . 阅读下面材料，在题后空白处填入适当的内容(每空一词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

The record of the    1    (tall) tree in Asia has been refreshed this week, as a team of Chinese researchers announced     2    (recent) that they discovered a giant cypress(柏树)measuring 102.3 meters in Tibet.

The record-breaking high tree, called Cupressus torulosa(西藏柏木),    3    (find) at the national nature reserve of the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon in Bome county, Nyingchi city, during a scientific investigation led by Peking University in May.

    4    (use) drones and laser radar to map the local cypress aggregation area, the team members confirmed the     5    (present) of the 102.3-meter tree. Besides, they detected a large number of trees over 85 meters high, including 25 over 90 meters. The findings have also contributed    6    the region having the highest density of giant trees in China and Asia after precision measurement, said Ren Yu,    7    is a team member from Peking University.

Mainly distributed in southeastern Tibet, Cupressus, torulosa has a narrow distribution area and     8    small population. Therefore, it has been listed    9    a national first-class protected plant.

The previous China tree height record     10    (hold) was an evergreen fir(常绿冷杉) measured at 83.4 meters by scientists in Tibet last year.

4 . 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。

Scientists in Florida have     1     (successful) grown plants in moon soil collected during NASA’s Apollo missions (任务) in the 1960s and 1970s.

    2     NASA-supported study at the University of Florida used soil collected by astronauts    3     (grow) Thale Cress 2 (拟南芥). To compare results, plants were also grown in Earth soil    4     was made to be similar to moon soil. The researchers     5     (add) water and then seeds to the soil, as well as daily nutrients (营养物). After just two days, their growth started.

According to Professor Anna-Lisa Paul, all the plants looked the same     6     the sixth day. After the sixth day,     7    , it was clear that the plants growing in moon soil were not as healthy as those growing in Earth soil.

DNA testing showed that those Thale Cress 2     8     (plant) in the moon soil were under stress. It was also found that the plants grew in different ways in soil from different parts of the moon. The soil collected during the Apollo 11 mission had been on the moon’s surface several billion years     9     (long) than the other soil, and the plants grown in it were the weakest.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson believes this research will help future space missions and that resources on the moon and Mars     10     (need) to develop food for astronauts living and working in space.

5 . When we think of insects that native plants support, we often think of bees and butterflies, but they really support many other insects as well as birds and mammals (哺乳动物). The fact that our native plants and wildlife have developed together means that they rely on each other to survive.

The biggest threat to these insects is the loss of their home. In fact, the insect population has reduced by an alarming 45% since 1974! By bringing native plant species into our gardens, we create natural feeding and nesting sites important to their survival and ours. By creating living areas for our native insects, we help to support native birds and other native wildlife, and thus, increase the natural biodiversity of our ecosystem.

Native plantings also have a positive effect on the overall health of our environment. They are used in bio-filters (生物过滤), and rain gardens. With their deep roots systems, natives are able to hold the soil, take in nutrients, catch and release water, as well as filter pollutants out of the water.

Native plants are the best choice for these situations because they are adapted to our soil, rainfall and climate, and are able to bear brief periods of wet soil and long periods of dryness. In addition to helping clear pollutants from our waterways, native plants, especially long-lived trees, also help our air quality by removing CO² at a higher rate than grasses due to their large root systems.

Besides all the amazing things native plants already do for our environment, having them in your garden will also help you save time and money. Because native plants aren’t as susceptible to pests and bacteria as non-natives are, so they don’t require the use of fungicides or pesticides. Putting in native plants is much easier than you think and extremely beneficial for not only your local environment but also for you. We encourage you to design a small area of your garden for native plants or reconsider whether you can add a few native plants to your existing garden. A little work can go a long way in supporting our local wildlife and ecosystem!

1. What is most likely to put native insects in danger?

A．Native birds are increasing.	B．Their homes are gradually lost.
C．Foreign wildlife is introduced.	D．The climate disasters appear frequently.

2. What does paragraph 4 mainly talk about?

A．Benefits of native plants.	B．Choices for native plants.
C．Relationships among native plants.	D．Advantages of long-lived plants.

3. What do the underlined words “susceptible to” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Easily affected by.	B．Greatly harmful to.
C．Constantly dotted with.	D．Potentially beneficial to.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．How you can clear your garden

B．How you can protect native wildlife

C．Why you need a garden with various plants

D．Why you should plant natives in your garden

6 . If you’re interested in growing a small food garden at home, hydroponic (水栽法的) gardening provides a way to grow fresh, nutrient-rich food in a quickly-changing world with limited resources.

What is a hydroponic garden?

    1     Plants can grow indoors, year round, in less space than traditional soil- based gardens in it. This means if you live in a tiny apartment or don’t have an outdoor area, you can still grow fresh food.

How does hydroponic gardening work?

Plants need sunlight, water and nutrients to grow.     2     But the basis of hydroponics is rooted in growing the food in nutrient-enriched water. A hydroponic system can be programmed to ensure a plant receives sufficient water, nutrients, light and even the correct PH level to provide each plant with what it needs to survive and thrive.

What plants can grow hydroponically?

A variety of different foods can be grown in a hydroponic garden.     3     Similar to what you can grow in a backyard hanging garden, the more popular vegetables grown in hydroponics include leafy greens and lettuces (生菜) . However, more complex systems can produce fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and more.

    4    

In addition to being able to grow food without soil and in small spaces, hydroponic gardening can contribute to solving social and environmental issues. In regions where people don’t have access to fresh vegetables, a hydroponic garden can be part of the solution. Hydroponic plants can grow 40% to 50% faster and produce 30% more than the plants growing in soil.     5     In some cases, you can grow produce that is even more nutrient.

A．Typically, plants get nutrients from soil.

B．What produce can a hydroponic garden offer?

C．What are the benefits of a hydroponic garden?

D．A hydroponic garden uses water instead of soil.

E．Microgreens are among the easiest plants to grow.

F．You can grow more produce in a shorter amount of time.

G．You can purchase a ready-to-go hydroponic garden or build your own.

7 . Plants and exposure to greenery have been found to have mental health benefits and like any new skill or hobby, taking care of houseplants comes with difficulty. Anyone starting to care for plants should be patient and allow themselves time to learn the basics. Here are several plants recommended for giving mental health benefits:

Snake Plant

These popular indoor plants have a striking appearance, with dark green sword-shaped leaves that have yellow or white stripes. It is a great first plant, and is very easy to care for. It grows in spaces with low sunlight, has visual appeal and cleans the air.

Lavender

Well known for its relaxing smell, lavender has a calming effect, aids in reducing stress, promotes sleep and specially has anti-inflammatory (抗炎的) effects when used as a medicine for skin. You can cut it off and dry the leaves or even put them into your bath.

Pothos

If you want to go bright green, try pothos. The plants grow long stems that can hang from a pot and grow downward, or the stems can climb and grow upward. They clean the air and look beautiful hanging down a bookcase or shelf.

Lemon Balm

This fragrant green herb is part of the mint family and is simple to plant. Known for its calming properties, it has a light lemony smell and has been used to improve sleep, reduce stress and anxiety.

Basil

The experience of growing, picking and using herbs you’ve grown yourself has a positive impact on your mental health, creating a sense of accomplishment. Eating basil has health benefits too. It has properties that help to relieve stress and anxiety, and eating it can clear your mind.

1. What do snake plant and pothos have in common?

A．Long stems.	B．Bright green leaves.
C．Purifying the air.	D．Relaxing your mind.

2. What is special about lavender?

A．Promoting sleep.	B．Resisting inflammation.
C．Reducing stress.	D．Clearing your mind.

3. If you are a cook, which plant may appear in the menu?

A．Basil.

B．Snake Plants.

C．Pothos.

D．Lavender.

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。

China is known as the Kingdom of Bamboo because it is the country with the most bamboo in the world. More than 400 species of bamboo, one third of all known species in the world, grow in China. The areas    1    produce the most bamboo are south of Yangtze River.

Bamboo was    2    (close) connected with the daily lives of people in ancient China. Su Dongpo,    3    literary giant of the Song Dynasty, said that people could not live    4     bamboo, and people of the time used bamboo as firewood and to make tiles, paper, rafts, hats, rain capes, and    5    (shoe).

In the Han Dynasty, bamboo    6    (use) for paper making because it produced high- quality paper and was    7    (expensive);three tons of bamboo could yield one ton of paper pulp(纸浆). And bamboo is still an important raw material for paper making today. Some 1,600 years ago, people wrote with brushes on xuan paper    8    (make) from young bamboo, and xuan paper is still popular for Chinese calligraphy and paintings.

Tall and graceful with luxuriant foliage(枝叶),bamboo is an    9    (idea) plant for household courtyards and parks. It tolerates the heat of summer and the cold of winter, and it regenerates after    10    (cut).

9 . Growing flowers is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.     1     All you really need to grow your own flowers is a potato, a plastic bottle, a rose, and plenty of fertilized soil. You might wonder what the potato and the plastic bottle are for. Even though this unusual combination might be strange to you, it really works incredibly well.

    2    The second step is to remove all leaves and thorns from it and give it a diagonal(斜的) cut around 3 centimeters below the head of the rose. It is important that the rose stays in shape so be careful when preparing the rose. You can then place it in a vase and store it like that for a few days.

The third step is to drill a small hole in a potato.     3     So when the rose is put in, it is tightly secured and does not move around. After you are done with the potato, you have to place plenty of fertilized soil on the bottom of a pot or a similar container.     4     Then you have to place them carefully on the soil. Once you find the right position, you have to fill up your pot with the remaining soil. The potato should be located around 5 centimeters below the surface of the soil. .

The final step is to cut out the bottom of the plastic bottle and then place it around the rose.     5    

A．It should be just the size of the rose.

B．You really don’t need to be a gardening professional.

C．First of all, you need to choose a rose you really like.

D．There is a simple trick that can be used to help roses grow.

E．Once you, have prepared the soil, place the rose in the potato.

F．Flowers are expensive, so why not grow them in your own garden?

G．Now all you need to do is water the soil occasionally and have some patience.

10 . Sunflowers are huge plants with bright yellow flowers. They have a long history in North America. There is evidence that they were used for food and for medicine by Native Americans beginning around 1000 B. C. The seeds from sunflowers were likely brought to Europe by Spanish explorers around the late 16th century. Over time, they found their way to Eastern Europe. Today, Ukraine is the world’s leading producer of the plants. Sunflowers are grown for their seeds and to make oil.

If you start growing sunflowers from seeds, put them in room-temperature water for 2-8 hours before planting to start the growing process. Plant each seed into dirt 2.5 centimetres deep and 15 to 30 centimetres apart. Plant them after the danger of frost has passed or start indoors three weeks before your last frost date. Keep the soil wet, but not too wet, until the seeds begin to grow.

Sunflower plants can be moved outdoors when the danger of frost has passed in your area. Choose a place outside that will provide the plants with at least 6- 8 hours of direct sunlight each day.

As the plants grow, they will develop long roots that work their way deep into the ground. So, before planting, it is important to loosen the soil. Dig at least one third of a metre down and remove any rocks.

Mixa large amount of compost (堆肥) into the soil where the plant will grow. Compost provides important, lasting nutrients that will help the plants all season long. The sunflowers may not need additional nutrients if they are planted with compost. If compost is not added during the planting process, provide nutrients through a slow release, all-purpose fertilizer (肥料) one or two times during the growing season.

1. What can be known about the sunflower in Paragraph 1?

A．It originated in South America.	B．It was initially used to make oil.
C．It has a history of 3,000 years or so.	D．It was taken to Europe by British explorers.

2. What are sunflower growers advised to do?

A．Keep the seeds in water for 10 hours.

B．Plant seeds 2.5 centimetres apart.

C．Never put new plants in direct sunlight each day.

D．Plant seeds indoors 21 days before your last frost date.

3. Why is it important to loosen the soil before planting?

A．It is friendly to roots’ growth.	B．It helps to hold water in the soil.
C．It guarantees adequate supplies of air.	D．It is more efficient in keeping temperature.

4. What are Paragraphs 2-5 mainly about?

A．How to select sunflowers.	B．How to grow sunflowers.
C．When to fertilize sunflowers.	D．When to move sunflowers.