阅读理解。
I believe that animals possess greater intelligence than most people think But plants? I've never considered
the possibility of plant intelligence. The idea seems absurd.
Yet I've had friends argue that plant intelligence might exist. "What are the differences between plants and
animals?" they ask, and then they argue about certain species that seem to share the intelligence of both plants
and animals.
New research suggests that plants communicate via "networks". Plant communication is not idea, and
cannot indicate that it is a kind of intelligence, but it is still interesting.
Recent research from Vidi researcher Josef Stuefer at the Radboud University Nijmegen shows that plants
have their own chat systems that they can use to warn each other. Therefore plants are not boring and passive
organisms that just stand there waiting to be cut down or eaten up; many plants form internal communication
networks and are able to exchange information networks and are able to exchange information efficiently.
Many herbal plants such as strawberries and clovers (三叶草) naturally form networks. Individual plants
remam connected with each other for a certain period of time by means of runners (plant stems that grow
along the ground and put down roots to form new plants). These connections enable the plants to share
information with each other via intemal channels. They are therefore very similar to computer networks. But
what do plants chat to each other about?
Recently Stuefer and his colleagues were the first to prove that clover plants warn each other via the
network links if danger is nearby. If one of the plants is attacked by caterpillars (毛虫), the other members of
the network are warned via an internal signal. Once warned the intact (完好无损的) plants strengthen their
chemical and mechanical (机体的) resistance so that they are less attractive to advancing caterpillars. Thanks
to this early warning system, the plants can stay one step ahead of their attackers. The research has shown that
this significantly limits the damage to the plants.
Again, I don't believe this reflects intelligence, but it's certainly fascinating.
1. The author thinks that the plant communication _____. [ ]
A. is absolutely a new idea
B. is a sign of plant intelligence
C. is related to animal communication
D. is interesting and fascinating
2. Clover plants warn each other when danger is nearby by _____. [ ]
A. making sounds
B. releasing chemicals
C. strengthening mechanical resistance
D. sending internal signals
3. Which of the following statements about the research is NOT true? [ ]
A. Most plants have no chat system and are passive organisms.
B. Individual plants can also remain connected with each other.
C. The communication between clover plants can protect them from damage.
D. The research is the first to show how clover plants warn each other.
4. The author's attitude towards plant intelligence is _____. [ ]
A. unconcerned
B. doubtful
C. positive
D. hopeful
5. What's the best title for the passage? [ ]
A. Does Plant Communication Really Exist?
B. Some Discoveries About Clover Plant.
C. Does Plant Communication Imply Intelligence?
D. A New Study on Plant Communication.
