Question

Talking plants might sound like characters in a fairy tale. But recent scientific studies have shown that plants communicate with each other and with other living things in a surprising number of ways. To understand them, scientists say, we just have to learn their language. Farmers are especially interested in what plants have to say.

“Plants are able to communicate with all sorts of organisms (有机体). They can communicate with giant bacteria, with other plants and with insects. They do this chemically,” said Cahill, an Ecology Professor of the University of Alberta in Canada.
　 Plant scientists are just beginning to understand this chemical “ language”. Cahill says studies have shown, for example, that plants can evaluate conditions in their immediate environment and take appropriate actions. Plants have an ability, for example, to signal pain or discomfort caused by anything from temperature extremes to an insect attack. Jack Schultz, a professor of chemical ecology at the University of Missouri, says when a plant senses that it’s being eaten, it cannot walk away from trouble; on the contrary, it will release a chemical vapor that alerts other plants nearby.
　 “Their language is a chemical language, and it involves chemicals that move through the air that are easy to be changeable, and most of all are smells that we are familiar with,” Schultz explained.
　 “All plants responded to the attack by changing their chemistry to defend themselves,” Schultz recalled.“But we were quite surprised to find that nearby plants also changed their chemistry to defend themselves, even though they were not part of the experiment.”
　 Studies have also shown that plants under attack release pleasant chemicals. Those chemicals attract friendly insects that attack the pests eating the plant.

In the end, plants’ ability to communicate their needs---and our ability to understand them--- could help farmers reduce the use of poisonous chemicals, cut operating costs and limit damage to the environment.

55. The recent scientific studies have shown that plants can _________.

A. communicate with other living things in a chemical way

B. hardly react to any sudden change in temperature

C. use a very special chemical language which is familiar to us

D. respond to the attack by giving off poisonous chemicals

56.When being eaten by an insect, the plant will _________.

A. walk away from trouble

B. change its chemistry to kill the insect

C. release a chemical vapor to “ask” other plants for help

D. give off nice chemicals to attract friendly insects killing the pest

57.The underlined word “alert” most probably means “_________”.

A. warn　　　　　 B. protect　　　　　 C. threaten　 　　　　D. allow

58. Which would be the best title for the passage?

A. Communication between Plants　　　 B. A Chemical “Language”

C. Plants Can Talk　　　　　　　　　　 D. How Plants Protect Themselves

Answer 1

ADAC B 篇文章大意：本文是一篇科普文，主要讲述了“植物的特殊语言”及其功能以及这种特殊语言对农业生产可能产生的指导意义。

55. A。细节理解题。根据第二节“Plants are able to communicate with ….They do this chemically,”

可知答案。

56. D。细节理解题。根据第三节when a plant senses that it’s being eaten, it cannot walk away from trouble; on the contrary, it will release a chemical vapor…以及倒数第二节Those chemicals attract friendly insects that attack the pests eating the plant.可知答案。

57. A。词义推测题。根据前后文意可知，植物在遭受攻击时会释放一种化学物，这种物质有两种功能：①“警示、提醒”危险的存在①“求助”的信息。

58. C。文章标题或主旨大意题。文章讲述的主题是“植物的特殊语言”及其功能。因此选择C 项及概括了文章主题同时又生动风趣，尤其talk 一词充满了拟人化的幽默感。