Question

Think plants are just boring green things that you use for food and decoration? Think again! Plants are able to do some pretty awesome things that you’re probably totally unaware of.

Researchers have discovered that plants have the ability to communicate with an underground network made up of fungus (真菌) , which serves the plants in many ways. Tomato plants use the fungus web to warn each other of their own unhealthy conditions. Trees connected through the fungus network could move nutrients (养分) to and from each other. It is believed that larger trees move nutrients to smaller ones to help them to survive.

Not only that, but they can also damage unwelcome plants by spreading poisonous chemicals through the fungus. It sounds like the plant world had the Internet before we did.

Some plants have a rather impressive line of defense against being eaten. When sensing they are being swallowed, they give off a chemical into the air that attracts the insect’s natural enemy. The enemy attacks the bug, thus saving the plants. This is basically the plant kingdom version of getting your older brother to beat up that kid who steals your lunch money.

You might be aware that humans and animals have an internal clock. But did you know that plants also have this clock? This means they can prepare for certain times of day just like we do. Is it because they can react to light at sunrise? In a study, scientists found that plants use the sugars they produce to keep time, which help to regulate the genes responsible for the plant’s own internal clock. So, in a sense, ―wake up with petunias (矮牵牛) ‖ is just as valid as ―wake up with the chickens.‖

Nature is full of surprises. So for those of you who didn’t know the wonders of plants, now you do.

1.How many ways does the network of fungus serve the plants?

A. Two.    B. Three.

C. Four.    D. Five.

2.What does the underlined words ―your older brother‖ in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A. The chemical given off by plants.    B. The insect’s natural enemy.

C. The bug attacked by the enemy.    D. The plant to be eaten by the insect.

3.What helps the plant keep time?

A. The sugars produced by itself.    B. Its own genes.

C. The time of sunrise.    D. Its response to light.

4.What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A. To show his love of different plants.

B. To share his study on some awesome plants.

C. To introduce the unknown abilities of plants.

D. To make people aware of plant protection.

Answer

1. B

2. B

3. A

4. C

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，介绍了植物有很多人类没有发现的本领，包括：拥有一个通过真菌为媒介的地下“网络”来互通消息、能够自己想办法防御昆虫袭击和拥有植物生物钟。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段中的“Tomato plants use the fungus web to warn each other of their own unhealthy conditions. Trees connected through the fungus network could move nutrients (养分) to and from each other. It is believed that larger trees move nutrients to smaller ones to help them to survive.”及第三段中的“Not only that, but they can also damage unwelcome plants by spreading poisonous chemicals through the fungus.”可知，网状真菌可以帮助西红柿发出自身处于不健康状况的警告信息(use the fungus web to warn each other of their own unhealthy conditions)、传送营养物质(move nutrients to and from each other)、通过传播有害化学物质破坏不良植物 (damage unwelcome plants by spreading poisonous chemicals through the fungus)，因此一共有三种方式，故B项正确。

2.词义猜测题。第四段讲述了植物有一种使人印象深刻的防止被吃的方式：当感觉到要被吃掉时，它们会释放一种化学物质到空气中，吸引昆虫的天敌，天敌进而攻击昆虫，间接救了植物。这种现象就好像植物界的大哥代替你教训偷你午餐费的小孩一样。这句话把 plants 比喻成“你”，kid 比喻成“the insect”，因而 your older brother 就是the insect’s natural enemy，故B项正确。

3.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中的“In a study, scientists found that plants use the sugars they produce to keep time, which help to regulate the genes responsible for the plant’s own internal clock. ”可知，植物可以利用自身产生的糖分来区分时间，这些糖分有助于调节作用于植物自身生物钟的基因，故A项正确。

4.作者意图题。根据第一段中的 Plants are able to do some pretty awesome things that you’re probably totally unaware of.可知，作者指出植物有很多人类没有发现的本领，后文逐步展开、进行详细介绍，因此作者写这篇文章的目的是介绍植物不为人知的能力，故C项正确。