Question

The plants grown by Wageningen University researchers in Mars-like soil back in March have been analyzed and the results are excellent: at least four of the crops do not contain harmful heavy metal levels and are perfectly safe to eat, the University researchers report.

If you’ve seen The Martian, you can remember how much Matt Damon got done living off of his poo-powered crop of potatoes. It just goes to show how important it is for a long-term colony to be able to grow their own food locally. We’ve taken one step closer to that goal in March, when Netherlands’ Wageningen University reported that they’ve managed to grow ten different crops in Mars-like soil.

However, growing food doesn’t do us much good if eating it kills us, and researchers were worried that these crops contained dangerous heavy metals like lead or cadmium(镉) from the martian soil. But future colonists are delighted, as lab analysis of the crops determined that at least four of them are safe to eat.

Led by ecologist Wieger Wamelink, the team tested radishes, tomatoes, rye, and peas. They looked at cadmium, lead, aluminium(铝), nickel(镍), copper, chrome(铬), iron, arsenic(砷), manganese(锰), and zinc(锌) contents in the plants, and didn’t find any in dangerous levels. In fact, some of these vegetables have lower levels of heavy metals than those grown in regular potting soil. The plants were also tested for vitamins, alkaloids(生物碱), and flavonoids(类黄酮), with good results. While there are six more crops to test, Wamelink himself said that the results up to now are “very promising.”

“Growing food locally is especially important to our mission of permanent settlement, as we have to ensure sustainable food production on Mars. The results of Dr. Wamelink and his team at Wageningen University & Research are significant progress towards that goal,” said Mars One co-founder and CEO Bas Lansdorp in a press release.

A crowdfunding campaign is underway (and will be until the end of August) to fund the test of the remaining crops, potatoes included. If all the crops test out safe, with concentrations of heavy metal the FDA and the Dutch Food Agency consider as safe, Wamelink’s team will host a “Martian dinner” at the Wageningen greenhouse.

But I’ve seen the movie. Stay clear of the potatoes.

1.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. Four crops grown in martian soil have been tested safe to eat, with no heavy metals in.

B. The ability to grow food locally can ensure the permanent stay on Mars.

C. The team temporarily lack money to test the remaining six crops.

D. A “Martian dinner” will be hosted after all the remaining crops have been tested.

2.What is Bas Lansdorp’s attitude towards the research results?

A. Neutral.B. Indifferent.C. Unfavorable.D. Praiseful.

3.The author writes the passage in order to _________.

A. prove that it is practical to grow crops on Mars in the future

B. show crops grown in martian soil are safe for people to eat

C. point out the importance of growing food locally for long-term settlement

D. report the recent research findings of the possibility of growing food on Mars

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.D

【解析】

试题分析：文章主要介绍了用类似火星上的土来种植植物的实验，通过对收获的庄稼进行检测，发现重金属含量没有超标，这是人们可以在火星上定居的重要因素。

1.C 细节理解题。依据文章第一段中的“crops do not contain harmful heavy metal levels and are perfectly safe to eat,”可知，A项中“no heavy metals”错误，重金属的含量未超标，不是没有重金属；依据文章第五段中的“Growing food locally is especially important to our mission of permanent settlement”可知，在当地种植植物是重要不是确保定居的因素，故B项错误；依据第六段中的“A crowdfunding campaign is underway (and will be until the end of August) to fund the test of the remaining crops”可知，筹款运动在开展，说明检测是缺钱的，故C项正确；D项依据文章最后一段中的“If all the crops test out safe, with concentrations of heavy metal the FDA and the Dutch Food Agency consider as safe, Wamelink’s team will host a “Martian dinner” at the Wageningen greenhouse.”可知，应该是所有的庄稼被测试，并且测试结果证明是安全的，才能有这个“Martian dinner”项目执行，D项内容是第一步而非说明第二步，这个测试结果并不能显示所有的玉米安全，故D项不适合。

2.D 推理判断题。依据文章的大意可以断定作者对于研究的结果是肯定的，也是赞成的，故D项适合。A项表示“中立的”；B项是“无动于衷的”；C项是“反对的，不赞同的”。

3.3】D 推理判断题。依据文章大意，作者写这篇文章的目的是告知读者一项关于在火星上生长事物的实验研究成果，故D项正确。

考点：考查科普类文章阅读