Question

    There was once a very wide tree in South Africa. 60 people could stand in its hollow trunk(空心树干). The tree reached over 18 meters into the sky and it was more than 1, 100 years old. But recently, that tree and others like it have died.1.

The tree was a baobab(猴面包树). Baobab trees grow in Africa and are called"the Tree of Life”.

Baobab trees usually live a long time. One of the oldest stood for more than 2, 400 years.

2.They noticed that nine of the thirteen oldest baobab trees and five of the six largest died in the following 12 years.

Stephan Woodborne, one of the six scientists, says more research(研究)is needed to know why the trees died.3.That's because the trees clearly weren't sick. Besides, many were in national parks, so they were protected from human activities. They believe that increasing temperatures and changing rainy seasons have made it harder for baobabs to live.

"The big ones and the old ones caught the attention of people, Woodborne says. "But it's not just those. 4.People should be more environment-friendly. It is one way to help protect baobabs and other trees from the effects of climate change, according to Woodborne. 5.

“We need to think about the way we live our lives. "Woodborne says. "If we all change what we do a little bit, it will start to make a difference.”

A.That could mean using less energy(能源) and making less waste(废料), when possible.

B.Smaller and younger baobabs are dying too.

C.However, they think climate change may be the main reason.

D.Scientists are wondering why.

E.In 2005, scientists began a research to find out the age of more than 60 baobabs.

Answer

1.D

2.E

3.C

4.B

5.A

【解析】

本文主要介绍了越来越多的猴面包树正在死亡，科学家们研究时发现，不仅树龄长的，越来越小的和树龄短的猴面包树也在死亡。他们认为，气温的升高和雨季的变化使猴面包树难以生存；人们的生活方式也是造成猴面包树死亡的因素，因此，人们应该注意环保。

1.句意：科学家想知道为什么。

根据前面“But recently, that tree and others like it have died”可知，最近，那棵树和其他类似的树都死了，结合选项可知，“Scientists are wondering why.科学家想知道为什么”符合语境。故选D。

2.句意：2005年，科学家们开始了一项查明60多棵猴面包树年龄的研究。

根据后面“They noticed that nine of the thirteen oldest baobab trees and five of the six largest died in the following 12 years.”可知，13棵最古老的猴面包树中有9棵，6棵最大的树中有5棵在接下来的12年里死亡，这应该是研究的结果，结合选项，应该是“科学家们开始了一项查明60多棵猴面包树年龄的研究”符合语境。故选E。

3.句意：然而，他们认为气候变化可能是主要原因。

根据后文“That's because the trees clearly weren't sick.”可知树木没有生病，所以空处是在说其它的原因，结合选项可知“他们认为气候变化可能是主要原因”符合语境。故选C。

4.句意：越来越小的和树龄短的猴面包树也在死亡。

根据前文说“大的和树龄长的猴面包树引起了人们的注意”及“But it's not just those但不仅仅是这些。” 结合选项可知，“越来越小的和树龄短的猴面包树也在死亡”与前文形成对照，故“Smaller and younger baobabs are dying too.”符合语境。故选B。

5.句意：这可能意味着在可能的情况下，使用更少的能源，减少浪费。

根据前文“People should be more environment-friendly.”及后面“We need to think about the way we live our lives.”可知，人们应该更环保，需要思考自己的生活方式，去注意保护环境；结合选项可知，“That could mean using less energy(能源) and making less waste(废料), when possible.”符合语境。故选A。