阅读理解
As
we all know, trees are always stationary: they stay more or less where
you plant them, and no one worries about finding a tree wandering around a park
or back yard.
However,
there is one special exception, some say: the so called walking palm tree (棕榈树) was found in the rainforests of Central and South America. Many
people believe it can really walk around. This is because of its unusual root
system: while most trees have one trunk, the palm breaks into many smaller
roots a few feet off the ground, giving it the appearance of many little legs.
The
amazing walking ability of the palm tree has always been told by rainforest
guides to tourists for years, and appears in many sources of documents as an
amazing plant adaptation. As journalist Sherry Seethaler writes in her book
Curious Folks Ask 2: "Screen writers searching for the perfect B-movie (小成本电影) plant hero could take inspiration from the walking palm, The tree
slowly walks from shade to sunlight by growing new roots toward the light."
A
tree that walks in search of the sun is a fascinating, strange story. And it's
not true either; the tree is real enough, but it doesn't walk. It sits where it
began to grow, not moving except under the force of wind or an axe.
Biologist
Gerardo Avalos is one of the world's top experts on the Socratea exorrhiza. His
analysis of the plant and its roots shows that the walking tree can't walk
because its roots don't move. A few roots on one side or another may die off,
but the trunk itself remains, well, rooted to the spot.
"My
paper proves that the belief of the walking palm is just a myth," Avalos
said. "Thinking that a palm tree could actually track the sunlight changes
by moving slowly over the forest floor…is a myth that tourist guides find
amusing to tell visitors to the rainforest."
(1)
What does the underlined word "stationary" in Paragraph 1 mean?
A . Not standing.
B . Not moving.
C . Not growing.
D . Not dying.
(2)
Why do people think Socratea exorrhiza can walk around?
A . It has no roots underground.
B . It appears to have several trunks.
C . It grows a few feet off the ground.
D . It appears to have many little legs.
(3)
What can we learn about the palm tree from the passage?
A . It wanders around the rainforest at night.
B . It grows in Central and North America.
C . It is a popular attraction among visitors.
D . It grows well in the shade of the rainforests.
(4)
What does biologist Gerardo Avalos believe?
A . The palm tree cannot actually walk at all.
B . The palm tree can move its roots.
C . The palm tree cannot track the sunlight.
D . The palm tree cannot keep its trunk growing.
答案: B
D
C
A