Question

【題目】Human, Don’t Come too Close

Frequent touching from humans may change plants’ genes and slow their growth.

When we see babies or pets, we can’t help gently touching them to show our love. And they give us happy feelings back. But a recent study shows that it’s different for plants.

A study, published in The Plant Journal, shows that plants don’t “l(fā)ike” to be touched. That’s because touching changes their genes (基因) and, even worse, can slow their growth.

Professor Jim Whelan of the La Trobe Institute in Australia gave an explanation. “The lightest touch from a human, animal, insect, or even plants touching each other in the wind, leads to a huge gene change in the plant,” Science Daily reported.

In order to test the theory, the scientists did an experiment on plants. They grew a number of plants to the age of four weeks. Then they touched them with a paintbrush every 12 hours over a 36-hour period.

They found that as a response to the touch, the mitochondria (線粒體) in the plants had been partly destroyed. The mitochondria, as Science Alert noted, are the “powerhouse of the cell (細胞)”. The mitochondria produce energy for the rest of the cell in both animals and plants.

If this “powerhouse” is weakened, the plants will lose a large amount of energy that should have supported their growth. Whelan further explained to Science Daily, “If the touching is repeated, then plant growth is reduced by up to 30 percent.”

Although the process does have a strong effect on plants, usually the plants survive. Touching changes the plants, but it’s not necessarily a bad change.

According to Science Alert, frequent touching or moving plants will make them grow shorter than other ones. The researchers believe this change, in some way, could be helpful. It may help plants fight threats to their health such as insects and bad weather.

The new research findings have led to a deeper understanding of the plants’ response to touching. And the research might “open up new ways to reduce sensitivity (敏感性) and improve growth in the future”, Science Alert reported.

【1】Why did the scientists do the experiment?

A. To test if touching can change the genes of plants.

B. To show that plants’ and animals’ genes are different.

C. To tell when touching has effect on plants and animals.

D. To find out why some plants grow more slowly than others.

【2】What did the scientists find in their experiment?

A. Repeated touching shortened the plants’ life by four weeks.

B. Touching slowed down plant growth by reducing energy for growth.

C. Repeated touching made plants die sooner than they were expected to.

D. Mitochondria in the plants couldn’t produce energy because of touching.

【3】What do the scientists think of the fact that touch makes plants become shorter?

A. The plants will be more likely to be attracted by insects.

B. The plants will be more easily harmed by bad weather.

C. The plants will be less sensitive to being touched.

D. The plants will be better at fighting dangers.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】B

【3】D

【解析】

文章大意：文章介紹的是科學(xué)家們通過實驗證明一個理論—植物不喜歡被人觸摸，以及理論依據(jù)。

【1】句意：科學(xué)家為什么做這個實驗？—為了測試觸摸是否能改變植物的基因。

本題是細節(jié)理解題，根據(jù)文章第二段第二行That’s because touching changes their genes (基因) and, even worse, can slow their growth和第四段第一行In order to test the theory, the scientists did an experiment on plants可知，科學(xué)家做這個實驗是為了測試觸摸是否能改變植物的基因，故答案選A。

【2】句意：科學(xué)家在他們的實驗中發(fā)現(xiàn)了什么？—觸摸會降低植物的生長能量，從而減緩植物的生長。

本題是細節(jié)理解題，根據(jù)文章第二段第二行That’s because touching changes their genes (基因) and, even worse, can slow their growth和第六段第三行“If the touching is repeated, then plant growth is reduced by up to 30 percent.”可知，“觸碰會降低植物生長能量從而減緩生長”故答案選B。

【3】句意：科學(xué)家們?nèi)绾慰创�觸摸使植物變短的事實？—這些植物更善于和危險作斗爭。

本題是細節(jié)理解題，根據(jù)文章第八段第二、三行in some way, could be helpful. It may help plants fight threats to their health such as insects and bad weather可知，“植物更善于戰(zhàn)勝危險”故答案選D。