Would it surprise you to learn that, like animals, trees communicate with each other and pass on the

C
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 (真菌) 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 (神经元) 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.
8. What can we learn from Professor Simard’s words in paragraph 3?
A. Trees depend on each other. B. Trees protect their own wealth.
C. Trees compete for survival. D. Trees provide support for dying trees.
9. Why are “Mother trees” extremely important?
A. Because they know more about the complex “tree societies”.
B. Because they seem more likely to be cut down by humans.
C. Because they look the largest in size in the forest.
D. Because they pass on nutrition to young trees.
10. What does the underlined word “it” in the last paragraph refer to?
A. How young trees survive. B. How “tree societies” work.
C. How forestry industry develops. D. How trees grow old.
11. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. Old Trees Communicate Like Humans.
B. Young Trees Are in Need of Protection.
C. Trees Are More Fantastic Than You Think.
D. Trees Contribute to Our Society.
【答案】8. A    9. D    10. B    11. C
【解析】