Researchers have found, for the first time plants letting out sounds when they are stressed. According to a study a team of scientists recorded tomato and tobacco (烟草) plants producing sound frequencies which humans cannot hear in stressful situations—such as when they experienced a lack of water or their stems (茎) were cut.
Previous research has shown that plants respond to stress by producing several visual and chemical signals. For example, stressed plants may differ in color and shape compared to unstressed plants. Meanwhile, some are also known to let out things in response to drought (干旱) or being eaten.
The latest study, meanwhile, is the first to identify plants making sounds which can be detected over a distance. The team detected the tomato plants made 35 sounds an hour on average when they were exposed to drought conditions, while the tobacco plants produced 11. When the stems of the plants were cut, the tomato plants made 25 sounds an hour on average and the tobacco plants produced 15. As a comparison, unstressed plants made less than one sound per hour on average, according to the study.
The team say that while they only tested tomato and tobacco, it’s possible that other plants could also produce sounds, adding that the latest findings could have an influence on agriculture. “Plant sound production could offer a new way for monitoring crops water state—a question of key importance in agriculture”, the authors wrote in the study more precise irrigation can save up to 50 percent of the water cost and increase the production.
“In times when more and more areas are exposed to drought due to climate change, while human population and consumption keep increasing, effective water use becomes even more important for food security”, they said “Our results, showing the ability to distinguish between drought-stressed and control plants on the basis of plant sounds, open a new direction in the field of precision agriculture.”
1.Which of the following best describes plants’ response to stress in the study?
A.Sing. B.Laugh.
C.Cry. D.Sigh.
2.What can we know from the first 3 paragraphs?
A.Humans can hear the sound produced by plants.
B.Stressed and unstressed plants look the same.
C.Plants in stressful situations make the fewest sounds.
D.Stressed tomato plants make more sounds than tobacco.
3.How can the study help agriculture?
A.Lower the cost. B.Better the quality.
C.Monitor climate change. D.Control the pests.
4.In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?
A.Science. B.Health.
C.Education. D.Culture.
高三英语阅读理解困难题
Researchers have found, for the first time plants letting out sounds when they are stressed. According to a study a team of scientists recorded tomato and tobacco (烟草) plants producing sound frequencies which humans cannot hear in stressful situations—such as when they experienced a lack of water or their stems (茎) were cut.
Previous research has shown that plants respond to stress by producing several visual and chemical signals. For example, stressed plants may differ in color and shape compared to unstressed plants. Meanwhile, some are also known to let out things in response to drought (干旱) or being eaten.
The latest study, meanwhile, is the first to identify plants making sounds which can be detected over a distance. The team detected the tomato plants made 35 sounds an hour on average when they were exposed to drought conditions, while the tobacco plants produced 11. When the stems of the plants were cut, the tomato plants made 25 sounds an hour on average and the tobacco plants produced 15. As a comparison, unstressed plants made less than one sound per hour on average, according to the study.
The team say that while they only tested tomato and tobacco, it’s possible that other plants could also produce sounds, adding that the latest findings could have an influence on agriculture. “Plant sound production could offer a new way for monitoring crops water state—a question of key importance in agriculture”, the authors wrote in the study more precise irrigation can save up to 50 percent of the water cost and increase the production.
“In times when more and more areas are exposed to drought due to climate change, while human population and consumption keep increasing, effective water use becomes even more important for food security”, they said “Our results, showing the ability to distinguish between drought-stressed and control plants on the basis of plant sounds, open a new direction in the field of precision agriculture.”
1.Which of the following best describes plants’ response to stress in the study?
A.Sing. B.Laugh.
C.Cry. D.Sigh.
2.What can we know from the first 3 paragraphs?
A.Humans can hear the sound produced by plants.
B.Stressed and unstressed plants look the same.
C.Plants in stressful situations make the fewest sounds.
D.Stressed tomato plants make more sounds than tobacco.
3.How can the study help agriculture?
A.Lower the cost. B.Better the quality.
C.Monitor climate change. D.Control the pests.
4.In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?
A.Science. B.Health.
C.Education. D.Culture.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
For the first time, researchers have discovered that some plants can kill insects in order to get additional nutrients. New research shows that they catch and kill small insects with their own sticky hairs near the roots and then absorb nutrients through their roots when the insects are killed and fall to the ground.
Professor Mark Chase, of Kew and Queen Mary, University of London, said: “The cultivated (改良的) tomatoes and potatoes still have the hairs. Tomatoes in particular are covered with these sticky hairs. They do trap small insects on a regular basis. They do kill insects.”
The number of these carnivorous plants is thought to have came up to 50 percent and many of them have until now been wrongly regarded as among the most harmless plants. Among them are species of petunia（矮牵牛）, some special tobacco plants and cabbages, some varieties of potatoes and tomatoes, etc. Researchers at Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, which carried out the study, now believe there are hundreds more killer plants than previously realized.
It is thought that the technique was developed in the wild to get necessary nutrients in poor quality soil – and even various plants grown in your vegetable garden still have the ability.
The researchers, publishing their finding in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, said: “We may be surrounded by many more murderous plants than we think.” “We are accustomed to thinking of plants as being immobile and harmless, and there is something deeply frightening about the thought of meat-eating plants," they added.
1.Tomatoes and potatoes kill insects to _____.
A. get more sticky hairs
B. make themselves grow better
C. make their roots stronger
D. avoid falling down to the ground
2.The word “carnivorous” in Paragraph 3 most probably means _____.
A. fast-growing
B. harmless
C. insect-killing
D. nutritious
3.The insect-killing technique of vegetables is developed most probably through _____.
A. evolution of species
B. helps from other garden plants
C. artificial cultivation
D. nutrients preserved in rich soil
4.The text is probably taken from _____.
A. a student book
B. a science fiction
C. a scientific repot
D. a bulletin board
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
For the first time, researchers have discovered that some plants can kill insects in order to get additional nutrients. New research shows that they catch and kill small insects with their own sticky hairs near the roots and then absorb nutrients through their roots when the insects are killed and fall to the ground.
Professor Mark Chase, of Kew and Queen Mary, University of London, said: “The cultivated (改良的) tomatoes and potatoes still have the hairs. Tomatoes in particular are covered with these sticky hairs. They do trap small insects on a regular basis. They do kill insects.”
The number of these carnivorous plants is thought to have came up to 50 percent and many of them have until now been wrongly regarded as among the most harmless plants. Among them are species of petunia(矮牵牛), some special tobacco plants and cabbages, some varieties of potatoes and tomatoes, etc. Researchers at Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, which carried out the study, now believe there are hundreds more killer plants than previously realized.
It is thought that the technique was developed in the wild to get necessary nutrients in poor quality soil and even various plants grown in your vegetable garden still have the ability.
The researchers, publishing their finding in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, said: “We may be surrounded by many more murderous plants than we think.” “We are accustomed to thinking of plants as being immobile and harmless, and there is something deeply frightening about the thought of meateating plants，” they added.
1.Tomatoes and potatoes kill insects to ________.
A．get more sticky hairs
B．make themselves grow better
C．make their roots stronger
D．avoid falling down to the ground
2.The word “carnivorous” in Paragraph 3 most probably means ________.
A．fastgrowing B．harmless
C．insectkilling D．nutritious
3.The insectkilling technique of vegetables is developed most probably through ________.
A．evolution of species
B．helps from other garden plants
C．artificial cultivation
D．nutrients preserved in rich soil
4.The text is probably taken from ________.
A．a student book B．a science fiction
C．a scientific repot D．a bulletin board
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Researchers have recorded penguins making sounds underwater for the first time — the first time such behavior has been identified in seabirds. These animals, like other seabirds, are highly vocal on land. They are known to communicate when their heads are above the water in the ocean, possibly for the purposes of group formation.
However, until the latest study — published in the journal Zoological Science — it was not known whether penguins made sounds underwater, like some other air-breathing marine predators, such as whales and dolphins. For their research, a team of scientists led by Andréa from Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, wanted to investigate this issue. To do so, they fitted adult penguins from three species with video cameras featuring built-in microphones.
To the surprise of Andréa and her colleagues, the team recorded a total of 203 underwater vocalizations from the penguins in the underwater footage they captured over a month-long period in 2019. These are the first recordings of seabirds producing vocalizations underwater. “I couldn’t believe it. I had to replay it many times,” Andréa said.
The vocalizations that the team recorded — which sound like rapid whoops — were very short in duration, lasting about 0.06 seconds on average. And all of these sounds were emitted（发出）during dives in which the animals were searching for food. Currently, it is not clear why the penguins are making these sounds; however, they only produce them while hunting. In fact, more than 50 percent of the vocalizations were immediately preceded by an acceleration movement or followed by an attempt to hunt.
According to the researchers, this suggests that the sounds are related to hunting behavior — especially because the penguins tend to be alone when they make them, indicating that communication was not the purpose. The researchers guess that the penguins may be using the vocalizations to stun(使昏迷) their prey. However, much more research is required to determine why the penguins make these sounds, the scientists note.
1.How does Andréa’s team conduct the study about penguins?
A.By recording penguins’ sounds on land.
B.By fixing electronic devices on the penguins.
C.By observing penguins’ activities underwater.
D.By catching different kinds of adult penguins.
2.What can we infer from Andréa’s words in paragraph 3?
A.Penguins’ sounds are too low to hear.
B.She doubts if penguins could make sounds.
C.Penguins seldom make sounds underwater.
D.It’s not easy to obtain penguins’ sounds underwater.
3.When do penguins probably produce sounds underwater?
A.When they take a deep breath.
B.When they dive to hunt for food.
C.When they teach their babies diving.
D.When they communicate with their partners.
4.What is the scientists’ attitude towards the research results?
A.Cautious. B.Negative.
C.Supportive. D.Indifferent.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Over the last 70 years, researchers have been studying happy and unhappy people and finally found out ten factors that make a difference. Our feelings of well-being at any moment are determined to a certain degree by genes. However, of all the factors, wealth and age are the top two.
Money can buy a degree of happiness. But once you can afford to feed, clothe and house yourself, each extra dollar makes less and less difference.
Researchers find that, on average, wealthier people are happier. But the link between money and happiness is complex. In the past half-century, average income has sharply increased in developed countries, yet happiness levels have remained almost the same. Once your basic needs are met, money only seems to increase happiness if you have more than your friends, neighbors and colleagues.
“Dollars buy status, and status makes people feel better,” conclude some experts, which helps explain why people who can seek status in other ways－scientists or actors, for example－may happily accept relatively poorly-paid jobs.
In a research, Professor Alex Michalos found that the people whose desire－not just for money, but for friends, family, job, health－rose furthest beyond what they already had, tended to be less happy than those who felt a smaller gap(差距). Indeed, the size of the gap predicted happiness about five times better than income alone. “The gap measures just blow away the only measures of income.” Says Michalos.
Another factor that has to do with happiness is age. Old age may not be so bad. “Given all the problems of aging, how could the elderly be more satisfied?” asks Professor Laura Carstensen.
In one survey, Carstensen interviewed 184 people between the ages of 18 and 94, and asked them to fill out an emotions questionnaire. She found that old people reported positive emotions just as often as young people, but negative emotions much less often.
Why are old people happier? Some scientists suggest older people may expect life to be harder and learn to live with it, or they’re more realistic about their goals, only setting ones that they know they can achieve. But Carstensen thinks that with times running out, older people have learned to focus on things that make them happy and let go of those that don’t.
“People realize not only what they have, but also that what they have cannot last forever,” she says. “A goodbye kiss to a husband or wife at the age of 85, for example, may bring far more complex emotional responses than a similar kiss to a boy or girl friend at the age of 20.”
1.According to the passage, the feeling of happiness __________.
| A．is determined partly by genes |
| B．increases gradually with age |
| C．has little to do with wealth |
| D．is measured by desires |
2.Some actors would like to accept poorly-paid jobs because the jobs ____________.
| A．make them feel much better |
| B．provide chances to make friends |
| C．improve their social position |
| D．satisfy their professional interests |
3.Aged people are more likely to feel happy because they are more _________.
| A．optimistic |
| B．successful |
| C．practical |
| D．emotional |
4.Professor Alex Michalos found that people feel less happy if __________.
| A．the gap between reality and desire is bigger |
| B．they have a stronger desire for friendship |
| C．their income is below their expectation |
| D．the hope for good health is greater |
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Over the last 70 years, researchers have been studying happy and unhappy people and finally found out ten factors that make a difference. Our feelings of well-being at any moment are determined to a certain degree by genes. However, of all the factors, wealth and age are the top two.
Money can buy a degree of happiness. But once you can afford to feed, clothe and house yourself, each extra dollar makes less and less difference.
Researchers find that, on average, wealthier people are happier. But the link between money and happiness is complex. In the past half-century, average income has sharply increased in developed countries, yet happiness levels have remained almost the same. Once your basic needs are met, money only seems to increase happiness if you have more than your friends, neighbors and colleagues.
“Dollars buy status, and status makes people feel better,” conclude some experts, which helps explain why people who can seek status in other ways－scientists or actors, for example－may happily accept relatively poorly-paid jobs.
In a research, Professor Alex Michalos found that the people whose desire－not just for money, but for friends, family, job, health－rose furthest beyond what they already had, tended to be less happy than those who felt a smaller gap(差距). Indeed, the size of the gap predicted happiness about five times better than income alone. “The gap measures just blow away the only measures of income.” Says Michalos.
Another factor that has to do with happiness is age. Old age may not be so bad. “Given all the problems of aging, how could the elderly be more satisfied?” asks Professor Laura Carstensen.
In one survey, Carstensen interviewed 184 people between the ages of 18 and 94, and asked them to fill out an emotions questionnaire. She found that old people reported positive emotions just as often as young people, but negative emotions much less often.
Why are old people happier? Some scientists suggest older people may expect life to be harder and learn to live with it, or they’re more realistic about their goals, only setting ones that they know they can achieve. But Carstensen thinks that with time running out, older people have learned to focus on things that make them happy and let go of those that don’t.
“People realize not only what they have, but also that what they have cannot last forever,” she says. “A goodbye kiss to a husband or wife at the age of 85, for example, may bring far more complex emotional responses than a similar kiss to a boy or girl friend at the age of 20.”
1.According to the passage, the feeling of happiness __________.
A．has little to do with wealth B．increases gradually with age
C．is determined partly by genes D．is measured by desires
2.Some actors would like to accept poorly-paid jobs because the jobs ____________.
A．make them feel much better B．improve their social position
C．provide chances to make friends D．satisfy their professional interests
3.Aged people are more likely to feel happy because they are more _________.
A．optimistic B．successful C．practical D．emotional
4.Professor Alex Michalos found that people feel less happy if __________.
A．the gap between reality and desire is bigger
B．they have a stronger desire for friendship
C．their income is below their expectation
D．the hope for good health is greater
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
University of Pennsylvania researchers say that for the first time they have linked social media use to increases in depression and loneliness． The idea that social media is anything but social when it comes to mental health has been talked about for years， but not many studies have managed to actually link the two． To do that， Penn researchers， led by psychologist Melissa Hunt， designed a study that focused on WeChat， Snapchat and Instagram．
The study was conducted with 143 participants， who before they began， completed a mood survey and sent along photos of their battery screens， showing how often they were using their phones to access social media． "We set out to do a much more complete study which attempts to imitate real life．" Hunt said．
The study divided the participants into two groups： The first group was allowed to maintain their normal social media habits． The other， the control group， was restricted to 10 minutes per day on social media． The restrictions were put in place for three weeks and then the participants returned and were tested for outcomes such as fear of missing out， anxiety， depression and loneliness．
The results showed a very clear link between social media use and increased levels of depression and loneliness． "Using less social media than you normally do would lead to significant decreases in both depression and loneliness，" Hunt said．
Social media invites what Hunt calls "downward social comparison．" "When you're online， it can sometimes seem that everyone else is cooler and having more fun and included in more things and you're left out，" Hunt said． And that's just generally discouraging． "Every minute you spend online is a minute you are not doing your work or not meeting a friend for dinner or having a deep conversation with your roommate．" And these real life activities are the ones that can encourage self﹣esteem and self﹣worth， Hunt added．
"People are on their devices， and that's not going to change，" she said． But as in life， a bit of control goes a long way．
1.Before the study was conducted， the participants completed a survey to ．
A. imitate people's real life
B. link loneliness to depression
C. show their use of social media
D. prove social media is important
2.The results of the study showed using less social media would result in ．
A. people's fear of missing out
B. higher levels of depression
C. obvious relief in loneliness
D. lower levels of happiness
3.In Hunt's opinion， which activity benefits more to mental health？
A. Hiking out with friends．
B. Making comparison with others．
C. Playing computer games in spare time．
D. Logging onto social media and having fun．
4.Which can be the best title of the passage？
A. A Study on Social Media．
B. How to Improve Mental Health．
C. People Addicted to Social Media．
D. Social Media Influences Mental Health．
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Researchers claim to have found the first proof _______ getting a regular eight hours a night really does make you appear healthier and more attractive.
| A．as | B．that | C．how | D．which |
高三英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析
In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, two plants were brought to England, for the first time, by Sir Walter Raleigh, both of which are now very much used—the tobacco-plant and the potato. Sir Walter had sailed across the seas to America, in search of new lands; and he brought back both these plants with him.
When he was in America, he had seen the Indians smoke, and before long he acquired the habit himself. He became extremely fond of smoking, and frequently indulged in the practice.
When he returned to England, he was sitting by the fire one day, and began to smoke. In the middle of his smoking, the door opened, and in came his man-servant. Now this man had never in his life seen any one smoke, and did not know that where was such a plant as tobacco. So, when he saw the smoke coming from his master’s mouth, he thought that he was on fire!
But very soon the old servant got used to seeing people with smoke coming out of their mouths; and all the young nobles of the court began to smoke because Sir Walter did so.
At first, people did not like the potato at all: nobody would eat it. Yet Sir Walter told them how useful it would be. The potato, he said, could be made to grow in England. He told them that, when the corn-harvest failed—which it often used to do—people need not starve if they had plenty of potatoes.
Queen Elizabeth, who was a very clever woman, listened to what Sir Walter said, and had potatoes served up at her own table. There the grand people who dined with her majesty were obliged to eat them. But they spread a report that the potato was poisonous, because it belongs to the same order as the deadly nightshade(龙葵属植物) and many other poisonous plants. So, in spite of all that the Queen could do, no one would eat potatoes, and they were left for the pigs.
The people did not find out their mistake till many years afterwards when the French king Louis XVI asked his people to eat them. And people began to find out how good and wholesome they were. The potato was more and more liked; and now there is hardly any vegetable that is more highly esteemed.
1.What do we know about Sir Walter?
A.He introduced the tobacco-plant and the potato to England.
B.He went to America in order to do research on plants and animals.
C.He was forced to smoke by the Indians in America during his stay there.
D.He taught Queen Elizabeth how to smoke in court with the young nobles.
2.People were afraid of the potatoes at first because ___________.
A.the Queen refused to eat them herself
B.they were used as poison by the Indians
C.they were long used as food for the pigs
D.they belong to the poisonous nightshade
3.What can we learn from the text?
A.Both the tobacco plant and the potato were native to France.
B.Young nobles in England refused to smoke for the terrible smell.
C.It was not easy to grow corn back in the age of Queen Elizabeth.
D.The English people were the first to accept potatoes as tasty food.
4.What conclusion can we draw from the two stories?
A.Only those who are willing to take risks can succeed in the end.
B.They are lots of new plants on the earth that can be used as food.
C.All people are afraid to try things that are new and strange to them.
D.The upper class had huge influence on the way people lived in the past.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
I found her nice and honest ____ I saw her．
A．for the first time B．the first time
C．on the first time D．at first
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析