Question

【題目】 There was once a very wide tree in South Africa. 60 people could stand in its hollow trunk(空心樹干). The tree reached over 18 meters into the sky and it was more than 1, 100 years old. But recently, that tree and others like it have died.【1】

The tree was a baobab(猴面包樹). Baobab trees grow in Africa and are called"the Tree of Life”.

Baobab trees usually live a long time. One of the oldest stood for more than 2, 400 years.

【2】They noticed that nine of the thirteen oldest baobab trees and five of the six largest died in the following 12 years.

Stephan Woodborne, one of the six scientists, says more research(研究)is needed to know why the trees died.【3】That's because the trees clearly weren't sick. Besides, many were in national parks, so they were protected from human activities. They believe that increasing temperatures and changing rainy seasons have made it harder for baobabs to live.

"The big ones and the old ones caught the attention of people, Woodborne says. "But it's not just those. 【4】People should be more environment-friendly. It is one way to help protect baobabs and other trees from the effects of climate change, according to Woodborne. 【5】

“We need to think about the way we live our lives. "Woodborne says. "If we all change what we do a little bit, it will start to make a difference.”

A.That could mean using less energy(能源) and making less waste(廢料), when possible.

B.Smaller and younger baobabs are dying too.

C.However, they think climate change may be the main reason.

D.Scientists are wondering why.

E.In 2005, scientists began a research to find out the age of more than 60 baobabs.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】E

【3】C

【4】B

【5】A

【解析】

本文主要介紹了越來越多的猴面包樹正在死亡，科學家們研究時發(fā)現(xiàn)，不僅樹齡長的，越來越小的和樹齡短的猴面包樹也在死亡。他們認為，氣溫的升高和雨季的變化使猴面包樹難以生存；人們的生活方式也是造成猴面包樹死亡的因素，因此，人們應該注意環(huán)保。

【1】句意：科學家想知道為什么。

根據(jù)前面“But recently, that tree and others like it have died”可知，最近，那棵樹和其他類似的樹都死了，結合選項可知，“Scientists are wondering why.科學家想知道為什么”符合語境。故選D。

【2】句意：2005年，科學家們開始了一項查明60多棵猴面包樹年齡的研究。

根據(jù)后面“They noticed that nine of the thirteen oldest baobab trees and five of the six largest died in the following 12 years.”可知，13棵最古老的猴面包樹中有9棵，6棵最大的樹中有5棵在接下來的12年里死亡，這應該是研究的結果，結合選項，應該是“科學家們開始了一項查明60多棵猴面包樹年齡的研究”符合語境。故選E。

【3】句意：然而，他們認為氣候變化可能是主要原因。

根據(jù)后文“That's because the trees clearly weren't sick.”可知樹木沒有生病，所以空處是在說其它的原因，結合選項可知“他們認為氣候變化可能是主要原因”符合語境。故選C。

【4】句意：越來越小的和樹齡短的猴面包樹也在死亡。

根據(jù)前文說“大的和樹齡長的猴面包樹引起了人們的注意”及“But it's not just those但不僅僅是這些。” 結合選項可知，“越來越小的和樹齡短的猴面包樹也在死亡”與前文形成對照，故“Smaller and younger baobabs are dying too.”符合語境。故選B。

【5】句意：這可能意味著在可能的情況下，使用更少的能源，減少浪費。

根據(jù)前文“People should be more environment-friendly.”及后面“We need to think about the way we live our lives.”可知，人們應該更環(huán)保，需要思考自己的生活方式，去注意保護環(huán)境；結合選項可知，“That could mean using less energy(能源) and making less waste(廢料), when possible.”符合語境。故選A。