18．Legend has it that an apple which fell from its branches was the inspiration for Sir Isaac Newton's discovery of gravity（引力）．But now history's famous fruit tree is paying the price of fame．
The thousands of visitors drawn to Sir Isaac's childhood home each year could be damaging the tree．A willow barrier（圍欄）has been put around the tree．It means visitors to the 17th century Woolsthorpe Manor，near Grantham，Lincolnshire，will no longer be able to sit under its branches as Newton was said to have been doing in 1665 when"the notion of gravitation came to mind．"
The National Trust，which owns the small manor（莊園）where Newton was born in 1642，said the 2ft-high barrier was designed to preservethe tree．Official Ann Moynihan said there had been no damage so far but warned that there could soon be a problem．"Visitor numbers have gone up by around 50 percent，to 33，000a year in three years．The more people who visit，the more the earth will become compacted（壓實） around the tree and over the roots．We just want to preservethe tree for another 400years if we can．"She said visitors will still be able to take apples from the tree．
Visitor Chris Gwyther，37，said，"I suppose it is a pity that you can't sit under the tree like Newton．But you can still see it and the tree is 400 years old，it needs saving for the future．"
Newton left no information saying he had been inspired by a falling apple．The story appeared in a book by French philosopher Voltaire published in 1727，the year Newton died at the age of 84．
51．Why do people go to Woolsthorpe Manor to see the apple tree？A
A．Because of the story about the apple tree．
B．Because of the long history of the apple tree．
C．Because of the sweetness of the apple．
D．Because of the unusual flower of the apple tree．
52．What is the reason that people can't sit under the tree like Newton？C
A．The manor is too crowded to sit around．
B．Their heads will be hit by the apples．
C．A willow barrier has been put around the tree．
D．There is something wrong with the apple tree．
53．The underlined word preserve means"A"．
A．keep something safe B．make something grow
C．leave something as it is D．let something be
54．When did Newton have the inspiration for the discovery of gravity？B
A．In 1642． B．In 1665． C．In 1820． D．In 1727．
55．Which of the following sentences is true？D
A．Newton himself wrote a letter about the story of the apple tree．
B．Newton's family owes Woolsthorpe Manor and tells the story．
C．Visitor numbers have gone up to 32，000every year．
D．A French philosopher wrote the apple tree story in a book．
分析 這篇短文中作者主要描述了牛頓根據(jù)蘋果落地得出地球引力的那顆蘋果樹的遭遇，以及人們?yōu)榱吮Ｗo那顆蘋果樹所作出的努力以及關(guān)于牛頓發(fā)現(xiàn)萬有引力定律與這棵樹的淵源．
解答 51．A．細(xì)節(jié)理解題．根據(jù)Legend has it that an apple which fell from its branches was the inspiration for Sir Isaac Newton's discovery of gravity（引力）．可知人們來參觀蘋果樹的原因是因為傳說有一個蘋果從這棵樹的樹枝上掉下來是牛頓艾薩克發(fā)現(xiàn)重力的靈感的故事．故選A．
52．C．細(xì)節(jié)理解題．根據(jù)短文第二段A willow barrier（圍欄）has been put around the tree．It means visitors to the 17th century Woolsthorpe Manor，near Grantham，Lincolnshire，will no longer be able to sit under its branches 可知，因為圍欄的存在阻止了人們繼續(xù)坐在蘋果樹下像牛頓那樣遐想了；故選C．
53．A．詞義猜測題．根據(jù)短文第三段the 2ft-high barrier was designed to preserve the tree．和后面的there had been no damage so far可知，設(shè)置圍欄的作用是為了保護樹木的安全的；故選A．
54．B．細(xì)節(jié)理解題．根據(jù)短文第二段…as Newton was said to have been doing in 1665 when"the notion of gravitation came to mind．"可知，牛頓是在1665年發(fā)現(xiàn)地球引力的；故選B．
55．D．推理判斷題．根據(jù)短文最后一句話 The story appeared in a book by French philosopher Voltaire published in 1727，the year Newton died at the age of 84．可知D是正確的．A是錯誤的，因為牛頓沒有寫與這棵蘋果樹有關(guān)的書信，也沒有描述是牛頓的家人擁有這個莊園并敘述了這個故事，第三段Visitor numbers have gone up by around 50 percent，to 33，000 a year in three years．可知C項的描述也不相吻合；故選D．
點評 本題是一篇逸聞趣事類的閱讀理解，做本題時，首先對原文材料迅速瀏覽，掌握全文的主旨大意． 其次，細(xì)讀題材，各個擊破．掌握全文的大意之后，細(xì)細(xì)閱讀每篇材料后的問題，弄清每題要求后，帶著問題，再回到原文中去尋找、捕獲有關(guān)信息．
