Can trees talk? Yes, but not in words. Scientists have reason to believe that trees do communicate (交际) with each other. Not long ago, researchers learned some surprising things. First a willow tree attacked in the woods by caterpillars (毛虫) changed the chemistry of its leaves and made them taste so terrible that they got tired of the leaves and stopped eating them. Then even more astonishing, the tree sent out a special smell---a signal (信号) causing its neighbors to change the chemistry of their own leaves and make them less tasty.
Communication, of course, doesn’t need to be in words. We can talk to each other by smiling, raising our shoulders and moving our hands. We know that birds and animals use a whole vocabulary of songs, sounds, and movements. Bees dance their signals, flying in certain patterns that tell other bees where to find nectar (花蜜) for honey. So why shouldn’t trees have ways of sending message?
1. It can be concluded from the passage that caterpillars do not feed on leaves that ______.
A. are lying on the ground B. have an unpleasant taste
C. bees don’t like D. have an unfamiliar shape
2. The willow tree described in the passage protected itself by ______.
A. growing more branches B. communicating with birds and bees
C. changing its leaf chemistry D. shaking caterpillars off
3. According to the passage, the willow tree was able to communicate with other trees by ______.
A. waving its branches B. giving off a special smell
C. dropping its leaves D. changing the colour of its trunk
4. According to this passage, bees communicate by ______.
A. making special movement B. touching one another
C. smelling one another D. making unusual sound
5. The author believes that the incident described in the passage ______.
A. cannot be taken seriously B. should no longer be permitted
C. must be checked more thoroughly D. seems completely reasonable
19、(1分)
The year was 1932. Amelia Earhart was flying alone from North America to England in a small single—engined aeroplane. At midnight, several hours after she had left Newfoundland, she ran into bad weather. To make things worse, her altimeter (高度表) failed and she didn’t know how high she was flying. At night, and in a storm, a pilot is in great difficulty without an altimeter. At times, her plane nearly plunged (冲) into the sea.
Just before dawn, there was further trouble. Amelia noticed flames (火焰) coming from the engine. Would she be able to reach land? There was nothing to do except to keep going and to hope.
In the end, Amelia Earhart did reach Ireland, and for the courage she had shown, she was warmly welcomed in England and Europe. When she returned to the United States, she was honored by President Hoover at a special dinner in the White House. From that time on, Amelia Earhart was famous.
What was so important about her flight? Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly the Atlantic Ocean alone, and she had set a record of fourteen hours and fifty—six minutes.
In the years that followed, Amelia Earhart made several flights across the United States, and on each occasion (时刻) she set a new record for flying time. Amelia Earhart made these flights to show that women had a place in aviation (航空) and that air travel was useful.
1. Which of the following statements is NOT the difficulty which Amelia Earhart met in her flight from north America to England?
A. She was caught in a storm. B. The altimeter went out of order.
C. Her engine went wrong. D. She lost her direction.
2. When Amelia Earhart saw flames coming from the engine, what did she do?
A. She did nothing but pray for herself.
B. She changed her direction and landed in Ireland.
C. She continued flying.
D. She lost hope of reaching land.
3. According to the passage, what was Amelia Earhart’s reason for making her flights?
A. To set a new record for flying time.
B. To be the first woman to fly around the world.
C. To show that aviation was not just for men.
D. To become famous in the world.
4. Which of the following statements was NOT mentioned?
A. She was the first woman who succeeded in flying across the Atlantic Ocean alone.
B. She showed great courage in overcoming the difficulties during the flight.
C She was warmly welcomed in England, Europe and the United States.
D. She made plans to fly around the world.
5. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. Amelia Earhart—First Across the Atlantic.
B. Amelia Earhart—Pioneer in Women’s Aviation.
C. A New Record for Flying Time.
D. A Dangerous Flight from North America to England.
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