Question

Although Philcoxia minensis plants may look like a bunch of ordinary sticks and flow­ers, underground they are lean，green, meat-eating machines! Experts recently discovered that the plants trap and eat tiny worms. Less than one percent of all flowering plant species are meat-eating.

Philcoxia minensis plants grow in Brazil. They get some of their nutrients the way most plants do. Their roots absorb them from the soil. However, the small plants tend to grow in sandy areas where few nutrients are available. That fact made researchers wonder how the plants could survive, especially because their root systems are not developed well. Scientists became even more curious when they noticed that the plants have leaves underground

"It doesn’t make sense to have leaves underground, so we supposed that the plants are getting some other kind of benefit from the leaves," researcher Rafael Oliveira told report­ers.

Experts found roundworms (姻虫）stuck to the plants⁷ leaves. So they did an experi­ment. They grew special roundworms. Then they buried them in soil with Philcoxia minen- sis plants. When the experts later tested the plants ，leaves, they found evidence of the worms inside. Scientists say the plants trap the roundworms using a sticky substance. Then they release a special liquid to digest the tiny creatures.

The find has made experts hungry to know whether other meat —eating plants are hiding in plain sight. ‘‘This leads to the question of whether there are other carnivorous(食肉的） plants out there，” researcher Peter Fritsch told reporters.

55. Experts succeed in discovering that the plants _____

A. can grow in sandy areas B, can trap and eat tiny worms

C. look like ordinary flowers D. can be transplanted in some other countries

56. According to the whole text, what is unique about the plants?

A. They can survive in drought deserts.

B. They have some special nutrients to absorb.

C. Their root systems are highly developed with leaves underground.

D. They can trap and digest some tiny creatures.

57. The experts did the experiment to _____.

A. find the worms stuck to the plants' leaves

B. test the plants⁷ unusual leaves

C Solve the mystery about the meat—eating plants D. attempt more methods to grow plants in sandy areas

58. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

A. Some underground Adventures                   B Watch out ，Worms!

C. Keep off the plants!                                   D. An Attempted Murder

 

Answer 1

BDCB