Young trees don't just grow; they develop a personality and learn more about their environment
英语试题 08-23
Young trees don't just grow; they develop a personality and learn more about their environment and how they should best behave in it. They also help each other out whenever there's trouble.
The personality, just as among people, varies among trees. Some are anxious, some bold. On the author's land, there are three oak trees growing close together. One of the oak trees always starts to shed (脱落) its leaves two weeks earlier than the others. Since they all experience the same temperature, the same soil and the same length of day, such variables can't be the explanation. So what's happening? Well, this tree is simply more careful than the others. Whoever holds on to their leaves longer can do more photosynthesis(光合作用)and store more nutrients. However, the longer a tree keeps its leaves, the higher the risk of injury is.
Not only do trees make their own decisions, they also learn from their mistakes. A tree, for example, keeping its leaves too long during one year will never make this mistake again. This leads to several other conclusions: trees must notice the temperature and the length of the day and be able to save their nutrients somewhere. Obviously, trees don't have brains, but it is thought that by the sensitive tips of their roots they keep track of information and experiences.
But trees aren't only clever when it comes to caring for themselves. They also support each other whenever there's trouble by giving warnings and even taking care of the sick and weak conspecific ones with nutrients. For example, once the author found a very old tree stump (树桩). Its inside had rotted (腐烂) a long time ago to topsoil. But the wood on the outside of the stump was still living. How was this possible? Well, the stump was nourished (滋养) by its neighbors with nutrients from the root system, and had been for at least 400 years!
Why do trees do such a thing? It's simple: it's better together. Trees need the forest; it protects them from storms, provides the right microclimate and warns them of attacks.
42. Why does the author mention the three oak trees?
A. To illustrate trees can learn from experiences.
B. To show trees can make independent decisions.
C. To explain trees are quite supportive of each other.
D. To prove trees have the same personalities as humans.
The personality, just as among people, varies among trees. Some are anxious, some bold. On the author's land, there are three oak trees growing close together. One of the oak trees always starts to shed (脱落) its leaves two weeks earlier than the others. Since they all experience the same temperature, the same soil and the same length of day, such variables can't be the explanation. So what's happening? Well, this tree is simply more careful than the others. Whoever holds on to their leaves longer can do more photosynthesis(光合作用)and store more nutrients. However, the longer a tree keeps its leaves, the higher the risk of injury is.
Not only do trees make their own decisions, they also learn from their mistakes. A tree, for example, keeping its leaves too long during one year will never make this mistake again. This leads to several other conclusions: trees must notice the temperature and the length of the day and be able to save their nutrients somewhere. Obviously, trees don't have brains, but it is thought that by the sensitive tips of their roots they keep track of information and experiences.
But trees aren't only clever when it comes to caring for themselves. They also support each other whenever there's trouble by giving warnings and even taking care of the sick and weak conspecific ones with nutrients. For example, once the author found a very old tree stump (树桩). Its inside had rotted (腐烂) a long time ago to topsoil. But the wood on the outside of the stump was still living. How was this possible? Well, the stump was nourished (滋养) by its neighbors with nutrients from the root system, and had been for at least 400 years!
Why do trees do such a thing? It's simple: it's better together. Trees need the forest; it protects them from storms, provides the right microclimate and warns them of attacks.
42. Why does the author mention the three oak trees?
A. To illustrate trees can learn from experiences.
B. To show trees can make independent decisions.
C. To explain trees are quite supportive of each other.
D. To prove trees have the same personalities as humans.
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