Plant scientists consider them as fruit. Most other people think of them as vegetables. Whatever you call tomatoes, there are many different kinds of this popular and healthy food.
There are two groups of the plants. Small tomato plants grow to about one meter. They can be planted rather close together. Some short kinds do not require special care and are often gotten crop by machines. Large tomato plants can grow over two meters tall. They also produce larger fruits.
People who grow only a few plants can place wire cages around each one. The cage can be made of wire fence material. The cage helps the plant grow taller and produce a better crop.
Tomatoes often need extra calcium (Ca), or the fruits may be ruined. Add lime to the soil can solve this problem. Dry lands may also ruin the fruits. Tomatoes need water regularly. The soil should never dry out completely. Dried grass or leaves placed around the plant can help hold water in the soil and stop the growth of unwanted plants.
Tomatoes are native to South America. The tomato is a member of the potato family. The leaves of the plant are poisonous, like the leaves of its relatives. Before the 18th century, people grew tomatoes only as pretty plants. They called the bright red fruit a “love apple”, but would not eat it.
小题1:Which of the following is right about the small tomato plants?
A. They can grow to about 2 meters.
B. They can’t be planted close together.
C. Some of them don’t require special care.
小题2:People place wire cages around the plant in order to ___________.
A. protect the plant from being taken by others.
B. help the plant grow taller and produce a better crop
C. keep the plant from being eaten by animals
小题3:The underlined word “ruin” probably means “___________”.
A. grow B. destroy C. stop
小题4: People often give tomatoes extra calcium by ___________.
A. adding lime to the soil B. watering the plant regularly
C. putting dried grass around the plant
小题5:What can we learn from the passage?
A. Tomatoes are native to North America.
B. The leaves of the plant can also be eaten.
C. Americans began to eat tomatoes from the 18th century.
小题1:C
小题1:B
小题1:B
小题1:A
小题1:C
小题1:根据Some short kinds do not require special care 描述，可知有些西红柿不需要特殊照顾，故选C。
小题1:根据People who grow only a few plants can place wire cages around each one. The cage can be made of wire fence material. The cage helps the plant grow taller and produce a better crop.描述可知选B。
小题1:联系上文Tomatoes often need extra calcium (Ca), or 西红柿需要额外的钙，及转折连词，or可知此处是毁灭的意思，故选B，毁灭。
小题1:根据Add lime to the soil can solve this problem. 描述，可知选A。
小题1:根据Before the 18th century, people grew tomatoes only as pretty plants.描述可知，十八世纪以前西红柿只是作为观赏植物种植，人们从十八世纪以后开始食用西红柿，故选C。
