Question

Washington, D.C. is home to famous buildings, memorials and museums that visitors love. But it is also home to a large and beautiful green space. There are many arboretums in the city. Today, we take you to the United States National Arboretum, an active center for both scientific research and public education.

Many people who come to Washington are astonished when they first visit the National Arboretum. The Arboretum is only a short drive from the center of the city. However, visitors often feel like they are remote from the busy American capital. The Arboretum covers one hundred eighty hectares of green space in the northeast part of Washington.  The area is famous for its beautiful flowers, tall trees and other plants. About nine thousand different kinds of plants grow there.

The National Arboretum was established by an act of Congress in 1927. Today, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service operates the Arboretum.

The goal of the Arboretum is to carry out studies and provide education in an effort to improve the environment. The goal includes protecting trees, flowers and other plants and showing them to the public. The National Arboretum is a popular stop for visitors to Washington. It is open every day of the year except December twenty-fifth, the Christmas holiday. Money is not necessary to visit the Arboretum.

As many as six hundred thousand people visit the Arboretum’s grounds each year. Hundreds of thousands of people also visit with the help of computers. They use the Arboretum’s Internet web site to learn about current research programmes and how to care for plants. Director Thomas Elias says Arboretum officials would like to see even more visitors. He says they believe that many people do not know it exists. Part of the problem might result from the fact that the Arboretum is about five kilometers from the closest train station. Many famous places in Washington are a short walk from Metrorail, the local train system.

The Arboretum is easy to reach by automobile or bus, however. About fifteen kilometers of roads have been built on the property. The roads connect to major collections and seasonal flowers. The Arboretum also welcomes people on bicycles. Disabled persons or those who want to walk only short distances may visit four beautiful areas that are close to each other.

1.The underlined word “arboretums” in Paragraph 1 means______.

A．memorials with trees and other plants around them

B．buildings with trees and other plants around them

C．museums with trees and other plants for scientific and educational purposes

D．places with trees and other plants for scientific and educational purposes

2.What do we learn about the National Arboretum according to the passage?

A．It lies to the northeast part of Washington, free to visit it.

B．In fact it is a short walk from Metrorail, the local train system.

C．It is surprising and attractive.

D．It is where the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service is.

3.Why was the National Arboretum established by an act of Congress?

A．To protect and study about nine thousand different kinds of plants there.

B．To make it a popular stop for visitors to Washington.

C．To grow trees for Christmas.

D．To improve the environment.

4.How many ways are there for visitors to choose if they visit the Arboretum?

A．Five. B．Six. C．Seven. D．Eight.

5.Which of the following would be the best conclusion of this passage?

A．Washington, D.C. is home to famous buildings, memorials and museums.

B．The National Arboretum in Washington offers science of nature and public education.

C．The National Arboretum in Washington is an interest of green place.

D．The National Arboretum is a place where trees and other plants are grown.

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.D

4.A

5.B

【解析】

试题分析：

1.D 词意猜测。根据第一段提到 There are many arboretums in the city. Today, we take you to the United States National Arboretum, an active center for both scientific research and public education今天我们带你去美国国家植物园，一个科学研究和公共教育都非常活跃的中心所在，故选D项。

2.C 细节理解题。根据第二段提到Many people who come to Washington are astonished when they first visit the National Arboretum 许多对于第一次去国家植物园感到非常的吃惊和The area is famous for its beautiful flowers, tall trees and other plants. About nine thousand different kinds of plants grow there这个地方以漂亮的花，高树和其它植物闻名，故说明很有吸引力，故选C项。

3.D 推断题。根据第四段提到The goal of the Arboretum is to carry out studies and provide education in an effort to improve the environment目的是从事研究，提供教育研究改善环境，故选D项。

4.A 推断题。根据倒数第二段提到可以通过网络，做火车。根据最后一段提到The Arboretum is easy to reach by automobile or bus做公交车， The Arboretum also welcomes people on bicycles. 也可骑自行车，再根据第二段提到he Arboretum is only a short drive from the center of the city.可以开车去，故一共五种。

5.B 推断题。根据第一段提到Today, we take you to the United States National Arboretum, an active center for both scientific research and public education这是个科学研究和公众教育都非常活跃的中心，故选B项。

考点：旅游类阅读。