1 . The rapid pace of global warming and its effects on habitats raise the question of whether species are able to keep up so that they remain in suitable living conditions. Some animals can move fast to adjust to a swiftly changing climate. Plants, being less mobile, rely on means such as seed dispersal(传播) by animals, wind or water to move to new areas, but this redistribution typically occurs within one kilometre of the original plant.

When the climate in a plant’s usual range becomes hotter than it can tolerate, it must find new, cooler areas that might lie many kilometres away. One explanation for long-distance seed dispersal is through transport by migratory (迁徙的) birds. Such birds swallow seeds when eating fruit and can move them tens or hundreds of kilometres outside the range of a plant species.

Gonzáiez-Vary and colleagues report how plants might be able to keep pace with rapid climate change with the help of migratory birds. The authors analysed the fruiting times of plants, patterns of bird migration and the interactions between fruit-eating birds and fleshy-fruited plants across Europe. Plants with fleshy fruits were chosen for this study because most of their seed transport is by migratory birds, and because fleshy-fruited plants are an important part of the woody-plant community in Europe. The common approach until now has been to predict plant dispersal using models fitted to abiotic (非生物的) factors such as the current climate. Gonzáiez-Vary instead analysed an impressive data set of 949 different seed-dispersal interactions between bird and plant communities, together with data on entire fruiting times and migratory patterns of birds across Europe. The researchers also analysed DNA traces from bird wastes to identify the plants and birds responsible for seed dispersal.

1. How do species adapt to climate changes when it’s too hot?

A．All animals will move away across great distanced.

B．Some plants depend on migratory birds to carry seeds.

C．Some plants depend on animals, wind or water to move.

D．Plants’ seeds disperse to cooler places of several kilometres away.

2. Why did researchers mainly study fleshy-fruited plants?

A．Most of these can’t fit rapid climate change

B．Migratory birds like making nests in them

C．Migratory birds transport their seeds.

D．They are favoured by most birds.

3. Why does the author mention “fleshy fruits” and “fruiting times” in paragraph 3?

A．To explain relations between fruit plants and migratory birds.

B．To clarify the reason why birds migrate in fruiting times.

C．To present a fact that migratory bird eats flesh fruits.

D．To show that fruits depend on migratory birds.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The advantage of fruit plants.

B．The destination of the bird migration.

C．The adaptation of fruit plants to the climate change.

D．The influence of climate change on plants and animals.

2 . 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。

Hua Weiguang,     1     retired teacher from Tongliao, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is a photography enthusiast.

A decade ago, the arrival of tree planters     2     (catch) Hua’s attention and the photos of the tree planters     3     (take) by Hua are evidence of the     4     (remark) transformation of the land. In those photos, hats, scarves and goggles, for the workers fighting desertification, are basic necessities to protect them     5     the wind and sand. There was no way to avoid the brutal summer heat in the land so the workers had to lie down on the ground or curl up in the narrow shade of their cars to cool off. And they also had to eat their lunch amid the blowing sands, taking in the small pieces of sand with their food.

“    6     we don’t fool the tree, it won’t fool you. You take it     7     (serious), and then it behaves in the same way to you. You put efforts to make it live, and the tree lives up to your     8     (expect),” the planters say.

China’s forest resources have increased by over 70 million hectares in the past decade,     9     (rank) first in the world. One tree after another, a green Great Wall has been built. Brush by brush, a green field     10     (paint) over the yellow sandy land up to now.

3 . Are plants intelligent？Science is beginning to think so. In 2013, The New Yorker published an article that set the plant sciences world on fire, forever changing the way both the public and researchers looked at and studied the plant kingdom. The “Intelligent Plant” was previously unheard of.     1     But fast forward to 2019, there are now dozens of research papers and hours of video prepared and published by plant biologists discussing so many facts of plant intelligence.    2    

Communication: A lot of evidence suggests that plants, trees in particular, can communicate with one another     3     It is in some ways similar to the Internet we use. The idea of plants forming such a relationship to interact is considered as an evolutionary outcome.

Learning:     4     What if plants can learn from experiences like the dogs？The scientists designed experiments, whose goal was to prove whether plants could learn, an idea that seemed impossible. Ultimately, they succeeded in not only their experiments, but also in proving that plants can actually learn.

Memory: As research and experiment continue into the plant memory, people can’t help but ask the question “how can something without a brain have memories？” Studies have determined that plants can indeed learn and create memories.     5    

Figuring out the “plant brain” question is the logical next step. As more research comes in, the more it seems to indicate plant intelligence as a very real possibility.

A．Can plants be taught？

B．Can they remember things in general？

C．This communication occurs through underground networks.

D．It makes no sense to research plants communication methods.

E．They can display their memory recall through learned response.

F．The following behavioral characteristics are from the experiments.

G．Therefore, the plant biology community claimed it was completely baseless.

4 . About 17 years ago, I became allergic to Delhi's air. My doctors told me that my lung function had gone down to 70 percent. My doctor told me that there were three plants, with which I could grow all the fresh air indoors to keep me healthy.

The three plants are Areca palm, Mother-in-law's Tongue and money plant. Areca palm is a plant which removes CO₂ and turns it into oxygen. We need four shoulder-high plants every person. The second plant is Mother-in-law's Tongue. It is called a bedroom plant because it turns CO, into oxygen at night. And we need six to eight waist-high plants every person. The third plant is money plant, and it preferably grows in hydroponics. This particular plant removes some harmful chemicals.

My team and I have tried these plants at our own building in Delhi, which is a 50,000-square-feet, 20-yearold building. And it has close to 1,200 such plants for 300 families. Our studies have found that there is a 42 percent probability of one's blood oxygen going up by one percent if one stays indoors in this building for 10 hours. Our experience also points to an amazing reduction in energy requirements in the building by an outstanding 15 percent. The government has published a study to show that this is the healthiest building in Delhi. And the study has also shown that, compared to other buildings, there is a reduced incidence of headaches by 24 percent.

In my opinion, these studies above are also important for the environment because the world’s energy requirements are expected to grow by 30 percent in the next decade. 40 percent of the world's energy is taken up by buildings currently, and 60 percent of the world's population will be living in buildings in cities with a population of over one million in the next 15 years. And there is a growing preference for living and working in air-conditioned places.

1. What is the function of the first paragraph?

A．To show the results of growing plants.	B．To give the reason for the author's studies.
C．To introduce the author's life.	D．To praise the author's doctor.

2. Which of the following can remove harmful chemicals according to the text?

A．CO2.

B．Oxygen.

C．Money plant.

D．Mother-in-law's Tongue.

3. What can we learn from the government's study?

A．The building with the three plants is the healthiest in Delhi

B．The possibility of headaches reduces by 40 percent.

C．The energy requirements in the building drop by 42 percent.

D．People can stay in the building for only 10 hours.

4. What does the author think of these studies?

A．Complex.

B．Boring.

C．Meaningful.

D．Useless.

5 . 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。

Giant Amazonian lily pads(睡莲叶) are the world’s largest and strongest floating plants and the giant Amazonian water lily has long fascinated scientists, architects and artists for    1    (it) beauty and sheer size. Yet how the lily’s leaves are able to grow as large as 10 feet across, strong enough to support the    2    (weigh) of a small child,    3    (remain) a mystery—till now. “    4    we showed through our experiments and modeling was that these leaves are uniquely strong and have great opportunities    5    (enable) them to grow really big,” says Thorogood, from a team of British and French scientists. In fact, the giant lily    6    (discover) by British explorers in South America in 1801 and symbolized the British Empire. But it became more than    7    symbol as botanists repeatedly attempted to grow it at home. The British gardener and architect Joseph Paxton was the first to    8     (success) grow the giant water lily. It inspired his design of the Crystal Palace, a London landmark of cast iron and glass that was built for the Great Exhibition of 1851. “Nature was the engineer,” Paxton said. “Nature has provided the leaf    9    special structures and supports that I,    10    (borrow) from it, have adopted in this building.”

6 . It turns out that sunflowers are more than just a pretty face: the ultraviolet (紫外线的) colours of their flowers not only attract pollinators (传粉者), but also help the plant regulate water loss, according to new research.

The yellow sunflower is a familiar sight, but it’s hiding something from the human eye — an ultraviolet bullseye (靶心) pattern, invisible to humans but not to most insects including bees. These bullseye patterns have long been known to improve the attractiveness of flowers to pollinators by increasing their visibility.

“Unexpectedly, we noticed that sunflowers growing in drier climates have flowers with larger ultraviolet bullseyes, and found that those flowers are able to keep water more efficiently. This suggests that these larger ultraviolet bullseyes help plants adapt to these drier environments,” says Dr. Marco Todesco.

Dr. Todesco and his colleagues grew almost 2,000 wild sunflowers of two species at the university in 2016 and 2019. They measured the sunflowers’ ultraviolet patterns, and analyzed the plants’ genes, and found that wild sunflowers from different parts of North America had ultraviolet bullseyes of very different sizes.

Larger floral ultraviolet patterns that have more of these compounds could help reduce the amount of water loss from a sunflower in environments with lower humidity (湿度), preventing too much water loss. In humid, hot environments, smaller ultraviolet patterns would promote the water loss, keeping the plant cool and avoiding overheating.

Sunflowers are planted for various purposes, including sunflower oil production, a roughly $20 billion industry in 2020. This research could help add to knowledge about how to attract pollinators, potentially increasing crop yields, says Dr. Todesco. “This work also helps us understand how sunflowers, and potentially other plants, better adapt to different areas or temperatures, which could be important in a warming climate.”

1. What do we know about sunflowers?

A．They don’t need pollinators.

B．Their flowers have special functions.

C．Their flowers can drive the insects away.

D．They can be grown in extremely cold areas.

2. What did Dr. Todesco and his colleagues do?

A．They analyzed 2000 kinds of sunflowers.

B．They planted sunflowers to carry out research.

C．They travelled to different parts of South America.

D．They helped people in North America plant sunflowers.

3. What is Dr. Todesco’s attitude to the research on sunflowers?

A．Positive.	B．Doubtful.
C．Negative.	D．Critical.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．A Hidden Function of Flowers of Sunflowers

B．Researchers Found a New Species of Sunflower

C．Sunflowers Can Change the Colours of Sunshine

D．Ultraviolet Bullseye Patterns Attract More Insects

7 . Gardens come in all shapes and sizes.     1     But with a little planning and a few tips, you’ll be growing in no time.

One of the most important things to remember when planning a garden is to grow what you love. This way, you’ll be sure to enjoy the process. You can grow vegetables. If you don’t like vegetables, try fruits or flowers. You can grow a garden to feed yourself, your neighbors, and a family that’s going through a hard time.     2     Find your interest.

Once you decide what type of garden you’d like to start, you’ll need to plan a few things before getting to work.     3     Find a place that is fairly flat and gets good sunlight. After that, it is necessary to pick the right soil. An expert at a gardening store can advise you on the best soil for your needs.

After you have the correct soil, choose your plants. Will you start with seeds or young plants? Growing from seeds is often less expensive. And it’s more satisfying, because you have a chance to watch the growth from seed to plant.     4     There’s a better possibility your plant will survive the environment condition to produce.

    5     I suggest planting right before the start of the growing season so the plants can adapt to the soil. You’ll see them start to produce sooner.

A．Now you’re ready to plant your garden.

B．Starting a new one might seem challenging.

C．But growing from young plants is easier.

D．First, work out where your garden will lie.

E．You’ll be able to plant season after season and try to grow new things.

F．It will help you explore and understand the whole progress of these plants.

G．There are many different things you can grow and many different reasons to grow.

8 . How to Start Gardening

If you are feeling the itch(渴望) to get a green thumb and start gardening, we cannot blame you.    1    So, let’s get you on the way to starting your own gardening that is right for you!

The first step is to come up with an idea of what you want to grow. If you are going to grow a crop, make sure it is something you will eat. You also need to make sure your area has the right climate, and that you are planting at the right time. Most plants will require planting in spring, but sometime planting in the fall,so make sure you know the life cycle of a plant and when you should plant it.    2    

After you have chosen what you want to grow, picture your garden or even draw up a plan. Look at what will go where depending on how much sun it needs.     3    Think about walls and fences and how they will impact the suns’ placement in your garden. You should also think about access for watering, picking and nurturing your plants.

Testing your soil is necessary.     4    A majority of crops in your garden will need neutral pH 7 soil. If the soil is not nutritious enough, consider fertilizer on a more regular basis. Always find out what kind of soil the plant needs first and then supply the correct soil to the correct plant.

    5    You should always make sure that you choose the right seeds before you start planting. It is wise to learn which plants will grow best when directly seeded in the garden and which plants are better as transplanted plants. Then it is time to get planting.

A．Choose the right seeds and then plant them.

B．It has so many benefits and it is hard to resist.

C．You should also look up a seeding calendar as well.

D．Consider the sun in the sky above your garden as well.

E．And keep the kids’ play area away from the planting areas.

F．Many green hands to the gardening scene do not know this.

G．It is also worth looking into what grows well in your local area and what doesn’t.

9 . Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have decided to get our hands dirty and get into gardening, but did indoor plants purify (净化) air?

In an often-cited 1989 NASA report, a scientist Bill Wolverton claimed that household plants could provide a “promising economical solution to indoor air pollution.” However, more recent researches have poured cold water on the idea.

Scientists studying the effectiveness of indoor plants for the passive removal of air pollution, found houseplants make “at best, modest contributions of about 0.9-9% to indoor pollution removal effectiveness,” they reported in 2017 in the Journal of Building and Environment. The tests, performed in a laboratory to simulate the effects on a typical U. S. home, found houseplants hardly affected the environment. To make a meaningful difference to the air quality of your home, you’d need to fill a room from top to bottom with plants, they suggest, While a single spider plant won’t purify the air, a green wall covered in plants just might, found scientists in a study published in 2020 in the Journal of Environmental Management.

While the benefits of plants purifying the air are less certain, a recent study from Princeton University finds that gardening is beneficial for physical and mental health. Another study found that indoor gardening lowered stress responses compared to the demands of completing a computer task.

Although plants can make your home a more pleasant environment and taking care of them can have mental health benefits, it’s unlikely they’ll do much to purify the air-unless you’ re going to buy hundreds. So if you’ re concerned about air quality in your home, we’ll advise you to invest in an air purifier.

1. What can we infer about the 1989 NASA report?

A．It agreed with the latest research.	B．It had a great impact on the economy.
C．It suggested plants purified indoor air.	D．It provided much evidence for experiments.

2. What is the main idea of paragraph4?

A．The recent studies on air quality.	B．The healthy benefits of gardening.
C．Professors’ views on indoor pollution.	D．Comparison between gardening tasks.

3. How should we remove indoor air pollution according to the text?

A．By using an air purifier.	B．By growing particular plants.
C．By improving gardening skills.	D．By decorating walls with plants.