Question

Can trees talk? Yes, but not in words. Scientists have reason to believe that trees do communicate (交际) with each other. Not long ago, researchers learned some surprising things. First a willow tree attacked in the woods by caterpillars (毛虫) changed the chemistry of its leaves and made them taste so terrible that they got tired of the leaves and stopped eating them. Then even more astonishing, the tree sent out a special smell---a signal (信号) causing its neighbors to change the chemistry of their own leaves and make them less tasty.

Communication, of course, doesn’t need to be in words. We can talk to each other by smiling, raising our shoulders and moving our hands. We know that birds and animals use a whole vocabulary of songs, sounds, and movements. Bees dance their signals, flying in certain patterns that tell other bees where to find nectar (花蜜) for honey. So why shouldn’t trees have ways of sending message?

1.It can be concluded from the passage that caterpillars do not feed on leaves that ______.

A．are lying on the ground                   B．have an unpleasant taste

C．bees don’t like                        D．have an unfamiliar shape

2.The willow tree described in the passage protected itself by ______.

A．growing more branches                  B．communicating with birds and bees

C．changing its leaf chemistry                D．shaking caterpillars off

3.According to the passage, the willow tree was able to communicate with other trees by ______.

A．waving its branches                      B．giving off a special smell

C．dropping its leaves                      D．changing the colour of its trunk

4.According to this passage, bees communicate by ______.

A．making special movement                 B．Telling one another

C．smelling one another                    D．making unusual sound

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.B

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲述的是动植物之间的多种不同的交流方法。

1.B 推理题。根据第一段3,4行First a willow tree attacked in the woods by caterpillars (毛虫) changed the chemistry of its leaves and made them taste so terrible that they got tired of the leaves and stopped eating them.说明毛毛虫不喜欢吃这样的树叶，故B正确。

2.C 细节题。根据第一段3,4行by caterpillars (毛虫) changed the chemistry of its leaves说明是靠改变树叶的味道来保护自己的，故C项正确。

3.B 细节题。根据第一段最后2行the tree sent out a special smell---a signal (信号) causing its neighbors to change the chemistry of their own leaves and make them less tasty.说明树木是靠发出气味让它的周围别的树知道这个信息，所以B正确。

4.A 细节题。根据文章最后一段2,3行We know that birds and animals use a whole vocabulary of songs, sounds, and movements. Bees dance their signals, flying in certain patterns that tell other bees where to find nectar (花蜜) for honey.说明动物可以靠做一些特别的运动来进行交流，故A正确。

考点：考查科普类短文