Question

The government says spending £4.2 million on planting trees in towns and cities will improve the quality of people’s lives. But do trees really make people happy?

Some British and US surveys suggest a thick green lawn, or well-landscaped yard can increase the government property prices by as much as 15%. But the government’s Big Tree Plant campaign, which aims to plant one million trees in English urban areas over the next four years, says trees are not only good for our bank balance, but they do wonders for our happiness. And it says getting people to plant makes communities even happier. So do people really care about trees and do they improve lives? Margaret Lipscombe, director of urban programs at the Tree Council, says, “Not only are trees beautiful but they are practical. Trees also encourage healthier lifestyles and studies have shown people are calmer when trees are in their community,” A US study suggests that patients who have a view of nature through hospital windows recover better after operations.

Ms. Lipscombe says that the trees have also been known to slow down the traffic because drivers will go more slowly when there is something in their sights. She admits some people have negative feelings about trees because they worry about slipping on berries, bird droppings on cars or blocked light.

Ms. Lipscombe also says when she first moved into the area, there were no trees on her street. “I t was an area where there were lots of factories with high walls. It looked like an abandoned place that you didn’t want, especially as a woman on your own. Now everything is different. With lots of trees around, the street looks more attractive. People are not as frightened and no longer run down the road to get home. The trees also bring people out onto the street and make a stronger community feel.”

1.What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?

A. The use of trees in medical treatment

B. The benefits of trees to people’s lives

C. The role of trees in cutting down government expense

D. How to make the best of trees

2.What can be inferred from Ms. Lipscombe’s words in the last paragraph?

A. Trees may offer people a sense of safety.

B. Trees may help people forget sad memories.

C. Factories should be built where people live.

D. Women shouldn’t go out alone at night.

3.Where does this passage most probably come from?

A. A news report

B. A scientific report

C. A health magazine

D. A textbook

Answer

1. B

2. A

3. C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。说明了树木能够对人们改善生活质量所带来的好处。

1.段落大意题。第二段倒数第二句“Not only are trees beautiful but they are practical. Trees also encourage healthier lifestyles and studies have shown people are calmer when trees are in their community”可知树不仅漂亮而且实用。树木也鼓励更健康的生活方式，研究表明，当树木出现在社区中时，人们会更平静。可推理第二段主要论述了树木对人们生活的好处，故选B。

2.推理判断题。根据最后一段倒数第一、二句“People are not as frightened and no longer run down the road to get home. The trees also bring people out onto the street and make a stronger community feel.”可知人们不再那么害怕，不再沿着路跑回家。树木也把人们带到街上，让社区感觉更强大。可推理树木会提供人们一种安全感。故选A。

3.主旨大意题。根据第一段第一句“The government says spending £4.2 million on planting trees in towns and cities will improve the quality of people’s lives.”可知政府表示，花费420万英镑在城镇植树将改善人们的生活质量。且根据文章内容主要为讲述树木对人们健康生活带来的好处，故本文章最有可能来自健康杂志，故选C。