In old times，man considered lightning to be one of the great mysteries（神秘事物）of nature．In fact a single flash of lightning 1.6 kilometers long has enough electricity to light one million lamps．
The American scientist，Benjamin Franklin，was the first to suggest that lightning is in fact electricity formed between the earth and clouds high above．It happened in 1752．In the same year，he also built the first lightning rod（避雷针）to protect buildings from being struck by lightnings．
Modern science has discovered that lightning is very strong and powerful．A lightning between a cloud and the earth may be as long as 13 kilometers，and travels at a speed of 30 million meters per second．Scientists have the opinion that there are about 2000 million flashes of lightning per year．In the United States alone，it kills almost one person per day．
The safest place to be in during an electrical（电的）storm is a closed car．Outside，one should go close to low ground for cover and not stop under a tree．Also one should stay out of water and away from metal fences．Inside a house people should keep away from open doorways and windows and not touch wires or metal things．
【小题1】From this passage we know lightning is____．

A big, mighty(高大的) tree stood in a forest. Its branches(树枝) spread out and its roots (根) went deep in the earth. A lot of people came here to have a rest under it. And a lot of birds stood on its branches to sing and dance. The big tree was very proud all the time.
At the foot of the tree, there was a little plant. The plant was thin, and seemed to be blown down by any of a little wind.
One day, the two neighbors were having a little chat.
“Well, little one,” said the tree to the plant, “why not put your feet deeply in the earth, and raise your head high in the air as I do?”
“I see there is no need to do so,” said the plant with a smile. “In fact, I think I may be safer in this way.”
“Safer?” said the tree. “Are you safer than I am? Do you know how deep my roots are in the earth and how strong my branches are? Who can possibly pull me out by the roots or bow my head to the ground?” And the tree didn’t want to say anything to the weak plant.
But the tree was to regret its words very soon. One evening, a great hurricane(飓风) came. It blew the trees off their roots and almost destroyed the forest completely. It uprooted（将……连根拔起）the mighty tree and blew it away with great force.
When the storm had gone, the villagers living nearby came to check the damage. The mighty tree lay on the ground, but the little plant still stood there.
【小题1】Who was the big tree’s neighbor?

A big, mighty(高大的) tree stood in a forest. Its branches(树枝) spread out and its roots (根) went deep in the earth. A lot of people came here to have a rest under it. And a lot of birds stood on its branches to sing and dance. The big tree was very proud all the time.

At the foot of the tree, there was a little plant. The plant was thin, and seemed to be blown down by any of a little wind.

One day, the two neighbors were having a little chat.

“Well, little one,” said the tree to the plant, “why not put your feet deeply in the earth, and raise your head high in the air as I do?”

“I see there is no need to do so,” said the plant with a smile. “In fact, I think I may be safer in this way.”

“Safer?” said the tree. “Are you safer than I am? Do you know how deep my roots are in the earth and how strong my branches are? Who can possibly pull me out by the roots or bow my head to the ground?” And the tree didn’t want to say anything to the weak plant.

But the tree was to regret its words very soon. One evening, a great hurricane(飓风) came. It blew the trees off their roots and almost destroyed the forest completely. It uprooted（将……连根拔起）the mighty tree and blew it away with great force.

When the storm had gone, the villagers living nearby came to check the damage. The mighty tree lay on the ground, but the little plant still stood there.

1.Who was the big tree’s neighbor?

2.Why was the big tree proud before its neighbor?

3.Why didn’t the big tree want to say anything to the little plant?

4.What did the villagers living nearby see after the hurricane had gone?

5. What’s probably the best title of the passage?