Would it surprise you to learn that, like animals, trees communicate with each other and pass on their wealth to the next generation?

UBC Professor Simard explains how trees are much more complex than most of us ever imagined. Although Charles Darwin thought that trees are competing for survival of the fittest, Simard shows just how wrong he was. In fact, the opposite is true: trees survive through their co-operation and support, passing around necessary nutrition "depending on who needs it".

Nitrogen (氮) and carbon are shared through miles of underground fungi networks, making sure that all trees in the forest ecological system give and receive just the right amount to keep them all healthy. This hidden system works in a very similar way to the networks of neurons in our brains, and when one tree is destroyed, it affects all.

Simard talks about "mother trees", usually the largest and oldest plants on which all other trees depend. She explains how dying trees pass on the wealth to the next generation, transporting important minerals to young trees so they may continue to grow. When humans cut down "mother trees" with no awareness of these highly complex "tree societies" or the networks on which they feed, we are reducing the chances of survival for the entire forest.

"We didn't take any notice of it" Simard says sadly. "Dying trees move nutrition into the young trees before dying, but we never give them chance." If we could put across the message to the forestry industry, we could make a huge difference towards our environmental protection efforts for the future.

1.The underlined sentence "the opposite is true" in Paragraph 2 probably means that trees .

A. compete for survival B. protect their own wealth

C. depend on each other D. provide support for dying trees

2."Mother trees" are extremely important because they .

A. look the largest in size in the forest B. pass on nutrition to young trees

C. seem more likely to be cut down by humans D. know more about the complex "tree societies"

3.The underlined word "it" in the last paragraph refers to .

A. how "tree societies" work B. how trees grow old

C. how forestry industry develops D. how young trees survive

4.We can learn from the passage that _______.

A. trees aren’t as complex as we think

B. Charles Darwin had the same opinion as Simard

C. if “Mother trees” are cut down, they won’t make difference to young trees.

D. trees can share resources with other ones by the underground fungi networks.

Bassanio looked at the three boxes, but he didn't read the writing on them. He looked at the gold and silver. “The world is tricked by appearances,” he said. “People often hide ordinary things with beautiful gold, silver, and jewels. People always agree with those who speak well, even if they say foolish things. Many people who seem brave are cowards(懦夫). I don't want these beautiful boxes of gold and silver. I will choose the lead(铅) box with its ordinary colour. It speaks more to me than all the gold and silver in the world. Please give me the key to the lead box. Let happiness be mine.” When Bassanio opened the box and saw the picture of Portia inside it, he loved her even more because the picture was very beautiful, but Portia herself was even more beautiful than the picture.

The writing inside the box told him that he had chosen the right box. It said that he should go to Portia and look into her eyes. She would be his wife. Bassanio could not believe it.

“Is it really true? Will you really be my wife? I am afraid to believe it until you say so.” Bassanio asked Portia.

“Look at me,”said Portia. “I am yours. Everything I am and everything I have is yours. Until now, I was the ruler(统治者) of this palace, master of my servants, and queen of myself. Now the palace, the servants and I are yours. I give them to you with this ring. Let it always be the symbol(象征) of our love. If you lose this ring, or sell it, or give it away, it will mean that you no longer love me.

(Adapted from The Merchant of Venice)

1.What kind of box did Bassanio choose?

A. Gold. B. Silver. C. Lead. D. Wood.

2.What did Bassanio see in the box?

A. A dead animal. B. A picture of a fool.

C. A picture of Portia. D. Lots of jewels.

3.Why did Bassanio choose the lead box?

A. Because he didn't like gold and silver.

B. Because he knew that Portia's picture was in the lead box.

C. Because Portia told him to choose the lead box.

D. Because he thought that the world is tricked by appearances and the lead box speaks more to him than all the gold and silver in the world.

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