1. How does the woman feel at first?
| A．Amused. | B．Curious. | C．Excited. |
| A．Flowers. | B．Trees. | C．Mushrooms. |
| A．Common. | B．Special. | C．Interesting. |
| A．On Thursday. | B．On Friday. | C．On Saturday. |
2 . Scientists have long considered the question of whether and how plants communicate. For years, the topic sparked controversy. Books like 1973’s The Secret Life of Plants suggest that plants grow well if you sing or play classical music. Such statements were later debunked: Any evidence that music helps plants grow is not convincing at all. Still, researchers firmly believe there is some sort of communication going on between plants.
Plant communication is a complicated topic. What we do know is that plants have a wide range of mechanisms for communicating with each other and their surroundings. “It’s quite clear that plants are not just unresponsive victims, but that they are very aware of nearby things,” says Richard Karban, an entomologist at the University of California. “And they respond to reliable information.”
When a plant sends out chemicals in the air in response to a perceived threat, other sensitive leavcs on that same plant, as well as the leaves of their neighbors, perceive those signals and subsequently increase their own defenses. Karban’s research, for instance, shows that plants sound the alarm when they’re attacked by pests, so that other plants respond by growing faster and stronger. Even other species, like tobacco, can sense and react to the alarm.
In a study published in the journal Cell this March, Lilach Hadany, a professor at Tel Aviv University, put tomato and tobacco plants in an isolated box and then recorded ultrasonic (超声的) sounds. They experimented with, cutting stems or leaving them without water to simulate drought. The researchers found that the plants emitted (popping and clicking sounds at around 60 decibels in response, approximately as loud as human chatter. These sounds were at an ultrasonic frequency that humans can’t naturally hear, however. Hadany’s team even matched different sounds to the plants’ environment. And each type of stress could be matched with a specific, identifiable sound.
“We don’t know if they’re using the sound, or if the sounds are emitted in a completely passive way due to physiological changes,” Hadany says. “But we do know they are in the air, and they contain information.”
1. What does the underlined word “debunked” in Paragraph 1 mean?| A．Confirmed. | B．Ignored. | C．Disproved. | D．Promoted. |
| A．Plants can make no response to their attackers. |
| B．Chemicals are sent by plants to attack the perceived threat. |
| C．Plants rely little on their neighbors’ information to survive. |
| D．The alarm sounded by one plant travels beyond plants and species. |
| A．The sounds are loud enough to scare away pests. |
| B．The sounds are produced when plants are in danger. |
| C．The sounds can be heard by man without equipment. |
| D．The sounds can be matched to the human environment. |
| A．To inform readers. | B．To compare things. |
| C．To warn readers. | D．To advertise things. |
3 . Many of the foods we regularly eat in our daily lives come from plants, which are essential for our survival on the “blue planet.” But what about the few people who live — although for a short span of time — in space? Is it possible for them to grow plants on board the spaceship and be self-sufficient for weeks on end? Yes, it is.
In fact, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) ate the first space-grown salad (red romaine lettuce) on August 10, 2015. Even in a well-controlled environment like on the ISS, growing a plant in space is not an easy task. Traditionally, roots grow and spread downwards due to gravity. Still, in space, where the effect of gravity is negligible (忽略不计的), things change.
Roots grow in all directions in space. Other nutrients and water, which are essential for the growth of a plant, float all over the place! Can you imagine a plant floating in a spaceship, with its roots sticking out in every direction like the tentacles of a slimy sea creature surrounded by water and other nutrients?
Therefore, keeping this entire system going is very important. To achieve this, NASA astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Steve Swanson set up a special container named “Veggie” a few years ago, specifically designed for “space gardening” on the ISS.
Veggie contains “plant pillows”, which are essentially bags of fertilizer and dirt released in a controlled manner to facilitate plant growth. In the bags, small wicks (棉芯) are installed that absorb water. Seeds are glued to the wicks and arranged in the correct position so that their roots grow unidirectionally (downward) and ‘push out’ of the bag. For the plants to grow properly (i. e. , upward), LED lights shine above the plants, provide light for the shoots and support photosynthesis (the process by which plants prepare their food) for proper plant growth.
Space agencies worldwide are striving to develop more advanced methods and procedures to enable astronauts to safely grow and eat vegetables from space-grown vegetables.
1. What does paragraph 2 mainly suggest?| A．Astronauts want to live a sustainable life. |
| B．Space-grown plants might take more efforts. |
| C．Plants have been successfully grown in space. |
| D．ISS makes it possible for plants to grow at will. |
| A．To honor someone. |
| B．To keep a system going. |
| C．To start up an enterprise. |
| D．To solve nutrient problem. |
| A．By turning to LED lights. |
| B．By positioning wicks upward. |
| C．By absorbing nutrition from dirt. |
| D．By providing necessary facilities. |
| A．ISS have astronauts work to grow food in space |
| B．NASA strives to make space gardening possible |
| C．Space agencies commit themselves to food safety |
| D．Food growth enables spaceships to be self-reliable |
1. What is Akira Miyawaki?
| A．A scientist. | B．A professor. | C．An officer. |
| A．Producing more oxygen. |
| B．Dealing with climate change. |
| C．Attracting different kinds of animals. |
| A．It helped communities build 100 forests. |
| B．It taught people to grow their own mini forests. |
| C．It educated kids about tiny forests. |
| A．Mini forests are inspired by a French scientist. |
| B．Miyawaki has planted more than 1,000 forests in Japan. |
| C．Planting mini forests has become popular in Europe. |
5 . Common water plant could provide a green energy source. Scientists have figured out how to get large amounts of oil from duckweed, one of nature’s fastest-growing water plants. Transferring such plant oil into biodiesel (生物柴油) for transportation and heating could be a big part of a more sustainable future.
For a new study, researchers genetically engineered duckweed plants to produce seven times more oil per acre than soybeans. John Shanklin, a biochemist says further research could double the engineered duckweed’s oil output in the next few years.
Unlike fossil fuels, which form underground, biofuels can be refreshed faster than they are used. Fuels made from new and used vegetable oils, animal fat and seaweed can have a lower carbon footprint than fossil fuels do, but there has been a recent negative view against them. This is partly because so many crops now go into energy production rather than food; biofuels take up more than 100 million acres of the world’s agricultural land.
Duckweed, common on every continent but Antarctica, is among the world’s most productive plants, and the researchers suggest it could be a game-changing renewable energy source for three key reasons. First, it grows readily in water, so it wouldn’t compete with food crops for agricultural land. Second, duckweed can grow fast in agricultural pollution released into the water. Third, Shanklin and his team found a way to avoid a major biotechnological barrier: For the new study, Shanklin says, the researchers added an oil-producing gene, “turning it on like a light switch”by introducing a particular molecule (分子) only when the plant had finished growing. Shanklin says, “If it replicates (复制) in other species-and there’s no reason to think that it would not — this can solve one of our biggest issues, which is how we can make more oil in more plants without negatively affecting growth.”
To expand production to industrial levels, scientists will need to design and produce large-scale bases for growing engineered plants and obtaining oil — a challenge, Shanklin says, because duckweed is a non-mainstream crop without much existing infrastructure (基础设施).
1. What can people get from duckweed firsthand?| A．Plant oil. | B．Stable biodiesel. |
| C．Sustainable water. | D．Natural heat. |
| A．Options for renewable energy. |
| B．Reasons for engineering genes. |
| C．The potential of revolutionary energy source. |
| D．The approach to avoiding agricultural pollution. |
| A．Industrial levels. | B．Unique design. |
| C．Academic research. | D．Basic facilities. |
| A．Duckweed Power | B．Duckweed Production |
| C．Genetic Engineering | D．Genetic Testing |
6 . A houseplant is pretty to look at and brings fresh air to your home. Besides, looking after a plant will give you something more to do and care about. Let’s look at the four best houseplants you can grow.
 Australian Pine A perfect “living decoration” to add in your house, it is good to look at and has a comforting feel. It can also serve as the perfect Christmas tree. It grows around 10 feet tall indoors. Remember that it requires plenty of light and fresh air. Otherwise, it becomes weak and an easy target for mites (螨虫). |  Dracaena The green and yellow pattern on its leaves looks great. It can grow to be around 10 feet tall. Just make sure you keep the soil surface dry between your watering periods because it gets influenced by too much water. Also, having this plant around a dog can be dangerous. It can be poisonous to dogs if they eat it. |
 Grape Ivy If you want something off the ceiling (天花板), this houseplant is the one for you. It’s a climbing plant, and it will make for a beautiful hanging basket decoration. The plant is full of life wherever it is hung. It needs to be kept wet in all its parts for good growth. |  Peperomia It is little in size, with long leaves. It adds energy to your living room and creates a comforting environment. As it’s not a very tall plant, you needn’t worry about how much space it will take up. The plant likes a dry surface of the soil. |
So what are you for? Choose the one that attracts you most, and give your home a wonderful addition.
1. Which of the following can serve as a Christmas tree?| A．Australian pine. | B．Dracaena. | C．Grape ivy. | D．Peperomia. |
| A．be careful with mites | B．hang it from the celling |
| C．keep dogs away from it | D．leave the surface of the soil wet |
| A．Its leaves are short. | B．It is small in size. |
| C．It likes much water. | D．It is a climbing plant. |
| A．Politics. | B．Business. | C．Travel. | D．Life. |
1. What are the good seeds confirmed by?
| A．Containers. | B．X-rays. | C．Freezers. |
| A．To be preserved for long. |
| B．To tackle climate change. |
| C．To safeguard food supply. |
| A．Where seeds are stored. |
| B．How the seed bank works. |
| C．Why seed banks are important. |
8 . Four Best Plants to Give as Gifts
Choosing a gift for someone is always a challenge. Giving plants is one way to try if the recipient is already a plant-lover. Here are some sure to impress as thoughtful gifts.
Jade Plant
The jade plant is a large succulent (肉质植物) that makes a perfect gift for someone who’s mastered parenting succulents. With a woody stem (茎), it looks like a tree once growing tall enough. Besides occasional watering and a bright window, the jade plant has few other requirements. A good challenge for ambitious owners is to regularly cut off its heavy leaves to reduce weight.
Christmas Cactus
This is a succulent with eye-catching flowers that appear in winter. You might assume it a picky plant, but nothing could be further than the truth. It prefers bright, indirect light and grows well in average potting soil. This plant prefers a steady watering schedule, especially in winter. To encourage more growth, plant it in a hanging container that allows its branches to hang down.
Paperwhite
Some people just aren’t interested in keeping houseplants around long-term, and paperwhite flowers are an excellent gift for anyone you know who fits this mould. Paperwhites grow from bulbs (鳞茎) and will produce flowers out of season. The roots need to be kept relatively damp, but once they are blooming (开花), there’s not much that can go wrong. They can be replanted outside after they have run their course.
Corn Plant
The corn plant is forgiving of variable light conditions and watering routines. It grows slowly, but can reach a height of four to six feet, and can make an impressive floor plant. Its leaves turn paler in direct sunlight to reflect the extra light, and darker green in shady conditions to maximize sunlight absorption.
1. Which plant requires practised gardening experience?| A．Jade plant. | B．Christmas cactus. | C．Paperwhite. | D．Corn plant. |
| A．By replanting it outside before blooming. | B．By watering it regularly during blooming. |
| C．By cutting off most of its heavy leaves. | D．By making its branches grow upwards. |
| A．The frequency of watering. | B．Its flowering time. |
| C．Its rate of growing. | D．The amount of sunlight. |
9 . Suzanne Simard, a professor of forest ecology who called herself a “forest detective”, was raised in mountains in Canada. Few scientists make much impact with their PhD thesis, but, in 1997, she did just that. Her research on the “wood wide web” made the cover of Nature and transformed our understanding of forests. What was then a challenge to traditional ideas is today widely accepted.
A mushroom is the part of a fungus (真菌) that sticks up above the ground. Thin, white threads grow from its stem deep into the soil. These threads are called hyphae (菌丝). Hyphae connect themselves to tree roots. They also stretch from root system to root system, like an underground network. This network may go for miles. Hyphae pick up nutrients and water from soil. The fungus threads that connect to tree roots share their nutrients and water with the trees. In return, they sip a bit of the sugar the trees make. Sharing helps both trees and mushrooms live. It’s also how trees communicate.
When a tree is being eaten by bugs, it makes chemicals to shoo them away, sort of like bug repellent (驱虫剂). The chemicals travel through the tree, down its roots, and into the hyphae network. Other trees connected to the network taste the chemicals. That tells them a nearby tree is under attack, so they start to make their own bug repellent. Trees do more than share warnings through the hyphae. They also help each other. In the fall, paper birch trees drop their leaves and can no longer make sugar. So, a fir tree that stays green all winter uses the network to send extra sugar to the birch until spring comes again. This system of sharing information and nutrients through the hyphae is sometimes called the “wood wide web”, because it works a bit like the Internet.
Local climate sets the stage for the wood wide web, researchers say. In cool temperature and boreal forests, where wood and organic matter decay slowly, network-building EM fungi rule. By contrast, in the warmer tropics where wood and organic matter decay quickly, AM fungi dominate. These fungi form smaller webs and do less intertree swapping, meaning the tropical wood wide web is likely more localized.
Ecologist Thomas Crowther’s results suggest that as the planet warms, about 10% of EM-associated trees could be replaced by AM-associated trees. Microbes in forests dominated by AM fungi deal with carbon-containing organic matter faster, so they could liberate lots of heat-trapping carbon dioxide quickly, potentially accelerating a climate change process that is already happening at a frightening pace.
1. What do we know about Suzanne Simard?| A．She was a professor and a forest detective. |
| B．Growing up in the countryside, she made the cover of Nature. |
| C．Like many other scientists, she made big influence on her PhD thesis. |
| D．Her idea of the “wood wide web” used to challenge people’s thoughts. |
| A．They facilitate tree communication. | B．They form an underground network. |
| C．They produce sugar and share it with trees. | D．They share nutrients and water with the trees. |
| A．They release warning signals through leaves. |
| B．They produce real bug repellent to kill insects. |
| C．They make use of hyphae to produce chemicals. |
| D．They send chemical signals through the network. |
| A．It might slow down carbon release. | B．It would break down organic matter. |
| C．It might speed up climate change. | D．It might lead to faster tree growth. |
10 . In times of intense stress, people sometimes let it out with a scream and a new study suggests that plants might do the same. Researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel has found that plants let out ultrasonic (超声的) screams when damaged or stressed by drought.
The noises, falling within a range of 20 to 100 kilohertz, are too high-frequency for humans to hear, but other plants and some animals perceive them. Insects might be listening for sounds from stressed plants to assess their condition before laying eggs on their leaves. A moth (蛾) may decide against laying eggs on a plant that sounds water-stressed.
Researchers attached recording devices directly to plants to listen for secret sounds inside their stems (茎). In drought, air bubbles formed, burst and caused vibrations (振动) within the tissue that normally carries water up the plants’ stems. The process was picked up by the attached recording devices, but researchers wanted to know if any plant sounds could travel through the air.
So the team placed microphones 10 centimetres from stressed-out tomato and tobacco plants. They subjected one set of crops to drought and another to physical damage. A third group was untouched.
The microphones did pick up distinct sounds. On average, drought-stressed tomato plants let out about 35 ultrasonic screams per hour, while those with cut stems made about 25. Drought-stressed tobacco plants let out about 11 screams per hour, and cut crops made about 15 sounds in the same time. The average number of sounds from untouched plants fell below one per hour.
The researchers also attempted to identify each plant group just based on its screams. Using a type of artificial intelligence calculations, the team picked out distinct features in each set of sounds and successfully sorted their plants into three kinds: “dry, cut or untouched.”
If it is not too costly to set up the recording in a field situation, farmers might be able to hear these stress signals too. In future, enabling farmers to listen for water-stressed plants could “open a new direction”, which will be increasingly important as climate change exposes more areas to drought.
1. The moth is mentioned in paragraph 2 to show __________.| A．moths need enough water when laying eggs |
| B．some animals are able to hear plants scream |
| C．some insects are picky about their surroundings |
| D．wildlife species depend on each other when stressed |
| A．Plants’ sounds couldn’t be detected by humans. |
| B．Plants can be grouped according to their features. |
| C．Plants’ screams are related to stress types in a way. |
| D．Air bubbles contribute to the lack of water in plants. |
| A．Supporting evidence for the research result. |
| B．Potential application of the research findings. |
| C．A further explanation of the research methods. |
| D．A reasonable doubt about the research process. |
| A．Plants’ Vibrations: Way to React to Stress |
| B．Stress Signals: Secret Newly Found in Plants |
| C．Green Screams: Plants Make Noises When Stressed |
| D．Ultrasonic Screams: Discovery Opens a New Chapter |
