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

书面表达

　　根据下列漫画的内容和提供的词语，写一篇100～120词的英语短文，题目是TWO YOUNG TREES．

　　Mr Johnson；

　　plant trees；

　　supported by two poles；

　　experience wind and rain；

　　all sorts of trials各种经验；

　　well-steeled经过锻炼的；

　　fragile脆弱的；

阅读理解

　　Some people say we need to plant trees in places where rock concerts or conferences are held in order to absorb the carbon dioxide created by the event．This picture shows how trees can help，

　　Photosynthesis（光合作用）

　　①photosynthesis takes place when there is sunlight

　　②Carbon dioxide in air enters the leaves through tiny holes called stomata（气孔）

　　③leaves contain chlorophyll（叶绿素）which traps the sun's energy

　　④Plant's roots gather water from the soil

　　⑤Leaves use chlorophyll and sunlight to change the water and carbon dioxide into food，or sugar，for the plant

　　⑥Oxygen is released into the air

　　Source：Science Net

1．What is the best title of the diagram？

[　　]

A．How do trees absorb carbon dioxide？

B．How can the air be made cleaner？

C．Trees play an important part in our daily life．

D．How do trees get food in the soil？

2．We can infer________．

[　　]

A．The food for trees is made form the water and sugar in the soil

B．photosynthesis can't take place at night

C．photosynthesis can take place at any time

D．Trees help little in improving the air conditions

3．play an important part in catching the sun's energy．

[　　]

According to the diagram more trees should be planted________．

[　　]

阅读下面一篇短文，按照要求回答短文后面的问题：

　　A self－cleaning paint inspired by lotus leaves is being developed by Australian researchers. A paint compound is designed to prevent dirt from sticking to its surface.

According to the leader of the researchers, the initial inspiration for the paint came from nature. One researcher noticed that while lotus plants live in water, water never sticks to their leaves, “We asked if we could mimic (模仿) that property.”

　　Plant leaves keep clean because a thin, and slightly bumpy(隆起), coating of wax(腊膜) on them enables rain to easily wash the dirt from them. The team have mimicked the natural cleaning action of water on leaves by creating a synthetic(化合物) compound, which is designed to decrease the strength of the bond between dirt and the surface of paint.

　　The idea is yet to undergo a lot of testing. “Testing needs to be done outside and under certain conditions, and under certain temperatures, ” the researchers said.

　　If it proves itself, the new paint compound is designed to become part of the normal mixture of paint chemicals which include solvent, pigment and oxidants. The paint could be used on house exteriors, cars, road signs and billboards which would then be washed clean any time it rained. It could also make foot surfaces easier to wash.

Answer the following questions.

1．What is the self－cleaning paint?

________________________________

2．How do the researchers get the idea about this kind of paint?

________________________________

3．What is the basis of the new paint?

________________________________

4．What kinds of tests does the paint need?

________________________________

5．Which ways can the paint be used in future?