1 . Indoor plants might look as if they just sit around not doing much, but in many ways they are the unsung heroes of the home.
What are indoor plants?
Indoor plants, also known as houseplants or pot plants, are plants that like to grow indoors. Many of these species (物种) are not ideally suited to growing outside in the UK, especially in the winter.
Why are indoor plants good for you?
Will Spoelstra, who works at the Royal Botanic Gardens, says, “
Which plants can you grow?
Aloe vera, peace lilies and spider plants are some of the species that are easy to grow indoors. You can buy plants from supermarkets, garden centres or online. Younger plants are often cheaper than fully grown ones, and you get to care for them as they mature — which is part of the joy of owning plants. “
| A．All plants are different |
| B．Not only do they look beautiful |
| C．There are many benefits to growing plants indoors |
| D．Instead, they grow better inside, where it is warmer |
| E．Plants like peace lilies and devil’s ivy are among the best |
| F．Changing the pot of your plant from time to time will also help |
| G．Learning about the requirements of each plant can be very rewarding |
2 . Plants don’t have ears or a central nervous system, but new research out of the University of Missouri has demonstrated that they might still have the ability to “hear”. More specifically, plants have been shown to exhibit an immune (免疫) response to the mere sound of a hungry insect.
For the study, researchers played the sound of a caterpillar chewing to a group of plants, which caused slight vibrations (振动) on the plants’ leaves. The plants were able to recognize these vibration patterns as danger, and responded by mounting the appropriate immune response. In other words, it appears that plants can “hear” themselves being chewed on.
Researchers assume that plants achieve this remarkable ability thanks to proteins that respond to pressure found within their cell membranes. Vibrations cause pressure changes within the cell, which can change the behavior of the proteins; however, additional study will be required to confirm or deny this theory.
Once researchers identify the exact mechanisms at play in this process, it could lead to advances in crop protection. Farmers could potentially learn to use sound to cause a plant’s natural chemical defenses against insect threats, rather than turning to poisonous chemicals.
“We can imagine applications of this where plants could be treated with sound or genetically engineered to respond to certain sounds that would be useful for agriculture,” said study author Heidi Appel.
The study adds to the growing list of ways that plants have been shown to sense their environments. They are not the boring organisms that many people assume they are. For instance, some plants are able to communicate with each other and signal upcoming danger to their neighbors by releasing chemicals into the air. Plants can respond to light (think about sunflowers) and temperature. Some can even respond to touch, such as the Venus flytrap (捕蝇草), which snaps shut when an insect stimulates its hairs.
1. Why did researchers carry out the study?| A．To find out if plants can react to sounds. |
| B．To learn how plants recognize dangers. |
| C．To discover if plants can shake their leaves. |
| D．To see how plants improve immune systems. |
| A．To remove insects. | B．To protect crops. |
| C．To treat plant diseases. | D．To produce chemicals. |
| A．There are more plants than we know. |
| B．Plants are more active than we think. |
| C．Plants fit in well with their environments. |
| D．Lots of secrets about plants remain unclear. |
| A．Can plants “talk” with each other? |
| B．How do plants make use of sounds? |
| C．Can plants “hear” themselves being eaten? |
| D．How do plants defend themselves against attacks? |
3 . A few weeks ago, I received a package containing a small batch (一批) of seeds from my friend. When I asked her what it would grow
I sowed the seeds in a beautiful flowerpot. In the first few days, I was excited to search for the slightest
I watered the plant carefully. I placed the plant in the sunlight and rotated (旋转) it for a
Bending down and carefully studying the seedlings, I could almost
Now they are taller than the edge of the pot,
I am certain that after a few more days, my coriander plants will be ready for
| A．into | B．for | C．up | D．out |
| A．gradually | B．incredibly | C．ultimately | D．intently |
| A．samples | B．signs | C．routes | D．proofs |
| A．apparent | B．distinct | C．conventional | D．massive |
| A．allowed for | B．longed for | C．provided for | D．went for |
| A．intense | B．violent | C．balanced | D．exceptional |
| A．emerged | B．hatched | C．reserved | D．sank |
| A．pray | B．assess | C．forecast | D．hear |
| A．conflicted | B．facilitated | C．crowded | D．surrounded |
| A．subsequently | B．constantly | C．extensively | D．merely |
| A．howl | B．scream | C．thunder | D．whisper |
| A．initiative | B．leisure | C．harmony | D．luxury |
| A．possession | B．consumption | C．exposure | D．harvest |
| A．breaking into | B．relating to | C．brightening up | D．wearing down |
| A．touch | B．bunch | C．host | D．lot |
4 . We often try to save every drop of water in gardening. Yet this summer, over half of the world is experiencing “abnormally dry” weather, which means millions of people are living under drought conditions.
Choosing water-saving plants
If you are gardening under water restrictions, decide which plants need water least. Older trees, especially fruit, nut, and even evergreens, can suffer during drought, while newly planted trees require regular watering until their roots become established.
Watering effectively
Most plants require an average of 2 to 4 centimeters of water each week under normal conditions. That need could increase, however, during periods of extreme heat, when the soil dries out more quickly.
Consider using recycled household water, also called gray water, to water plants. Unsalted water left over from boiling eggs or vegetables provides extra nutrients. Dish and bath water that is not too oily will not harm plants.
| A．Using fresh clean water. |
| B．Choosing recycled water. |
| C．And melons have deep roots. |
| D．Try to water your plants all at once. |
| E．Do not water your plants once weekly. |
| F．And many of the people have plants to worry about. |
| G．And water from washing fruits and vegetables can be used around the garden. |
5 . The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, in the UK, are home to thousands of fascinating plants, but none are as lonely as the Encephalartos woodii, an ancient cycad (苏铁门植物) species and, most likely, the last one of its kind.
It was in 1895 that botanist John Wood noticed this interesting looking palm tree on a steep slope in southern Africa. Spellbound by its multiple trunks and arched palm fronds (苏铁类植物的叶), Dr. Wood —who made his living collecting rare plants — had some stems removed and sent to London in a box. It ended up in the Palm House at the Royal Botanical Gardens, where it has been waiting for a mate for over a century. Despite numerous efforts to find it a mate, the Encephalartos woodii at Kew remains alone, unable to produce an offspring (后代) and reproduce its species. For this reason, many consider it the world’s loneliest plant.
Two hundred million years ago, when dinosaurs still roamed the world, cycads were everywhere. They made up around 20% of plants, acted as shelter for some dinosaur species and as food supply for others. They managed to somehow survive five ice ages, adapted to coexist with new species of plants, but as time passed, their numbers dwindled. Like all other cycads, Encephalartos woodii went from numbering millions of specimens, to thousands, and today, possibly just one, a male.
Some plants have both male and female organs, but not Encephalartos woodii. Without a female specimen to produce the seeds, it can never mate.
The Encephalartos woodii is technically not the last of its kind. It has been cloned several times, and its clones can be found in several botanical gardens around the world. It can even mate with some closely related species, but it can’t produce a true offspring. It just sits there, the last of its ancient species waiting for a female species to be found somewhere on Earth. "Surely this is the loneliest organism in the world," biologist Richard Fortey once wrote, "growing older, alone, and fated to have no successors. Nobody knows how long it will live. "
1. What can we learn about the Encephalartos woodii?| A．It has been the last of its species for centuries. |
| B．It once was a common being with male and female organs. |
| C．Scientists’ efforts to produce any young of it were in vain. |
| D．It used to play an important role in the survival of dinosaurs. |
| A．Weakened. | B．Declined. | C．Multiplied. | D．Rocketed. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Appreciative. | C．Sympathetic. | D．Tolerant. |
| A．The World’s Loneliest Plant | B．The Last Cycad on Earth |
| C．The Plant That Outlived Dinosaurs | D．The Ancient Cycad found by John Wood |
6 . 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. |
| A．Benefits of native plants. | B．Choices for native plants. |
| C．Relationships among native plants. | D．Advantages of long-lived plants. |
| A．Easily affected by. | B．Greatly harmful to. |
| C．Constantly dotted with. | D．Potentially beneficial to. |
| 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 |
7 . The cooling effect of trees reduces the surface temperature of European cities in the summer by up to 12°C in some regions. In contrast, green spaces without trees have an insignificant effect, according to a study that strengthens the case for tree planting to help cities adapt to global warming.
Jonas Schwaab at ETH Zurich in Switzerland and his colleagues used land surface temperature data collected by satellites to compare the temperature differences between areas covered by trees, treeless urban green spaces, such as parks, and urban constructions such as roads and buildings. They analysed 293 cities from across Europe.
The land surface temperature measured by satellites isn't the same as the air temperature, which is more closely linked to what humans would feel, says Schwaab. "Usually, the air temperature difference between tree-covered areas and built-up areas would be much smaller than the land surface temperature differences," he says.
The team found that tree-covered areas in cities have a much lower land surface temperature compared with surrounding areas. The differences were between 80C and 12C in central Europe and between 0°C and 4°C in southern Europe.
The cooling effect of trees comes largely trom shading and transpiration（蒸腾）. This process takes heat energy from the surrounding environment for evaporation（蒸发）, lowering the surrounding temperature. In the warmer climate of southern Europe, the soil is typically drier, so the cooling effect of transpiration is lower than in regions further north, says Schwaab.
The team also found that the cooling provided by treeless green spaces is insignificant, and in some instances green areas without trees can even be warmer than the surrounding urban areas.
Extreme heat is a growing problem for cities in Europe and elsewhere as the planet gets hotter. The findings show that trees can have a big influence on cities across Europe, but since the size of their effects varies, heat reduction strategies should be tailored to suit each region, says Schwaab.
1. What's the purpose of the study?| A．To measure land and air temperatures. | B．To suggest planting more trees in cities. |
| C．To make people aware of global warming. | D．To stress the importance of green spaces. |
| A．The soil is drier | B．The climate is coluer. |
| C．There're more green spaces. | D．There're more roads and buildings. |
| A．Wet lands should be enlarged. | B．Dry soil should be reduced. |
| C．More roads should be built. | D．Solutions should be different. |
| A．Trees Cool the Land Surface Temperature of Cities. | B．Researchers Raise Solutions to Extreme Weather |
| C．High Tech Lowers Land Surface Temperature | D．Extreme Heat Does Harm to the Environment |
8 . The number of trees larger than two feet across has declined by 50 percent on more than 46, 000 square miles of California forests, the new study finds. No area was spared or unaffected, from the foggy northern coast to the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the San Gabriels above Los Angeles. In the Sierra high country, the number of big trees has fallen by more than 55 percent; in parts of southern California the decline was nearly 75 percent.
What is the second paragraph mainly about?
| A．The seriousness of big-tree loss in California. |
| B．The increasing variety of California big trees. |
| C．The distribution of big trees in California forests. |
| D．The influence of farming on big trees in California. |
9 . Underground farming, as the name may suggest, is the practice of growing food underground.
Until recently, underground farming is a recent and important trend, but why? Because of its potential (潜力) and the benefits that it brings.
·
It has been estimated that even if cities were to build rooftop greenhouses on every possible building and fill the parking spots with growing containers — it would only be able to reach around 5% of the crop requirements of the city.
·Lowers Heating Costs for Building Above
Even the most efficient LED lights generate waste heat, which means that they heat up the farm, and for most modern indoor farms that's a major issue because not only energy is lost through lighting, but it's also required to cool down the farm.
·Enables Farming in Unfriendly Environments
Obviously when going under a certain depth, the weather and environmental conditions of the surface have no effect on the growing environment.
| A．Replaces rooftop greenhouses. |
| B．Increases the urban farming capacity (容量). |
| C．Underground farms have a big advantage here. |
| D．It aims at creating stable underground environments. |
| E．Growing in cities is highly limited due to less empty space. |
| F．Underground farms can reduce that waste of energy as much as possible. |
| G．So it's possible to build productive farms in deserts and even mountainous areas. |
10 . Too often, houseplant decisions are made suddenly. We find a fine plant at the supermarket and say, “That’s so pretty. I want it.” So we bring home a healthy, tropical (热带的) plant only to find it, weeks later, on death’s doorstep.
Before buying a tropical plant or indoor flowering plant, look around your house and decide where you would like to see it. It is not necessary to choose the brightest place, as there are great houseplants for nearly all light conditions. After determining where new plants are needed, decide what shape the plants should be. Perhaps you need something tall to fill an empty corner or soften an empty wall.
Once you have a list of the spaces you need to fill and the plant forms you would like to try, visit the garden center or greenhouse and look at the offerings. Mid-winter is the best time for tropical plant shopping since most stores fill the gap between gardening seasons with tropical orders. Ordered a lot, they are cheaper in the winter as well.
Ask the salesman which plants are the easiest to grow; this list should include cast iron plant, parlor palms, snake plants, peace lilies and so on. Flowering plants are the most difficult to grow and should be avoided if you are new to indoor plants. If you must have one, look for Jasmine Sambac, an easy plant.
Don’t lose heart if you buy something and it doesn’t survive. Tropical plants are suited to warm, moist (潮湿的) and protected air. They are not suited to some places in hot northern homes. Remember that a lovely plant that looks good in your living room for only a year is still a better action than last night’s pizza.
1. What should we consider before buying a houseplant?| A．Its color and shape. | B．Its flowering period. |
| C．The area which it belongs to. | D．The place where we will put it. |
| A．There are more plants to choose from then. |
| B．The gardening business then is increasing. |
| C．The plants look more beautiful then. |
| D．The plants grow better then. |
| A．We’d better not buy the pizza made last night. |
| B．The living conditions are important to plants. |
| C．Few people can keep tropical plants alive. |
| D．It is wrong to keep tropical plants indoor. |
| A．Where to buy houseplants. |
| B．When to grow houseplants. |
| C．How to choose a proper houseplant. |
| D．Whether houseplants are easy to grow. |
