Question

Would it surprise you to learn that, like animals, trees communicate with each other and pass on their wealth to the next generation?

UBC Professor Simard explains how trees are much more complex than most of us ever imagined. Although Charles Darwin thought that trees are competing for survival of the fittest, Simard shows just how wrong he was. In fact, the opposite is true: trees survive through their co-operation and support, passing around necessary nutrition “depending on who needs it”.

Nitrogen（氮）and carbon are shared through miles of underground fungi（真菌）networks, making sure that all trees in the forest ecological system give and receive just the right amount to keep them all healthy. This hidden system works in a very similar way to the networks of neurons（神经元）in our brains, and when one tree is destroyed, it affects all.

Simard talks about “mother trees”, usually the largest and oldest plants on which all other trees depend. She explains how dying trees pass on the wealth to the next generation, transporting important minerals to young trees so they may continue to grow. When humans cut down “mother trees” with no awareness of these highly complex “tree societies” or the networks on which they feed, we are reducing the chances of survival for the entire forest.

“We didn't take any notice of it.” Simard says sadly. “Dying trees move nutrition into the young trees before dying, but we never give them chance.” If we could put across the message to the forestry industry, we could make a huge difference towards our environmental protection efforts for the future.

1.What would be the best title for the passage?

A.Old Trees Communicate Like Humans

B.Young Trees Are In Need Of Protection

C.Trees Contribute To Our Society

D.Trees Are More Complex Than You Think

2.In Simard's opinion, trees _______.

A.compete for survival       B.protect their own wealth

C.depend on each other       D.provide support for dying trees

3.We can learn from the passage that            .

A. “mother trees” are usually of no use to other trees.

B. Charles Darwin had the same thought as Simard.

C. if “mother trees” are cut down, the survival for the entire forest will be affected.

D. people know much about the complex “tree societies”.

4.The underlined word “it” in the last paragraph refers to        .

A. how “tree societies” work

B. how trees grow old

C. how forestry industry develops

D. how young trees survive

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.C

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：像动物一样，树木也能互相交流，并且能够把“财富”传给后代，以保证它们的健康茁壮成长。树木通过彼此相互依靠而生存下去。一棵树在死前会把养分输送给后代，当树遭到砍伐时，其它树也会受到影响。

1.trees communicate with each other and pass on their wealth to the next generation”和第二段“UBC Professor Simard explains how trees are much more complex than most of us ever imagined.”可知，树木也能够相互交流并把财富传给后代，树木比我们想象的要更复杂，故选D。

2.trees survive through their co-operation and support”可知，树木通过相互合作和支持而生存下来，故选C。

3.when one tree is destroyed, it affects all.”和第四段“When humans cut down “mother trees” ...we are reducing the chances of survival for the entire forest.”可知，当一棵树被砍倒后，会影响周围所有的树，当“母树”被砍掉后，整个森林都可能会死掉，由此可见，母树影响着整个森林，故选C。

4.When humans cut down “mother trees” with no awareness of these highly complex “tree societies” or the networks on which they feed,”可知，人们并未注意到极其复杂的“树木群落”的存在，更不可能了解这个群落的运转机制，故选A。

考点：自然类短文阅读