Legend has it that an apple which fell from its branches was the inspiration for Sir Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity(引力). But now history’s famous fruit tree is paying the price of fame.
The thousands of visitors drawn to Sir Isaac’s childhood home each year could be damaging the tree. A willow barrier(围栏)has been put around the tree. It means visitors to the 17th century Woolsthorpe Manor, near Grantham, Lincolnshire, will no longer be able to sit under its branches as Newton was said to have been doing in 1665 when “the notion of gravitation came to mind.”
The National Trust, which owns the small manor(庄园)where Newton was born in 1642, said the 2ft-high barrier was designed to preserve the tree. Official Ann Moynihan said there had been no damage so far but warned that there could soon be a problem.“Visitor numbers have gone up by around 50 percent, to 33,000 a year in three years. The more people who visit, the more the earth will become compacted(压实) around the tree and over the roots. We just want to preserve the tree for another 400 years if we can.”She said visitors will still be able to take apples from the tree.
Visitor Chris Gwyther,37,said,“I suppose it is a pity that you can’t sit under the tree like Newton. But you can still see it and the tree is 400 years old, it needs saving for the future.”
Newton left no information saying he had been inspired by a falling apple. The story appeared in a book by French philosopher Voltaire published in 1727, the year Newton died at the age of 84.
小题1:Why do people go to Woolsthorpe Manor to see the apple tree?
A．Because of the story about the apple tree.
B．Because of the long history of the apple tree.
C．Because of the sweetness of the apple.
D．Because of the unusual flower of the apple tree.小题2:What is the reason that people can’t sit under the tree like Newton?
A．The manor is too crowded to sit around.
B．Their heads will be hit by the apples.
C．A willow barrier has been put around the tree.
D．There is something wrong with the apple tree.小题3:The underlined word preserve means “_____”.
A．keep something safe
B．make something grow
C．leave something as it is
D．let something be小题4:When did Newton have the inspiration for the discovery of gravity?
A．In 1642.
B．In 1665.
C．In 1820.
D．In 1727. 小题5:Which of the following sentences is true?
A．Newton himself wrote a letter about the story of the apple tree.
B．Newton’s family owes Woolsthorpe Manor and tells the story.
C．Visitor numbers have gone up to 32,000 every year.
D．A French philosopher wrote the apple tree story in a book.
小题1:A
小题2:C
小题3:A
小题4:B
小题5:D
题目分析：这篇短文中作者主要描述了牛顿根据苹果落地得出地球引力的那颗苹果树的遭遇，以及人们为了保护那颗苹果树所作出的努力以及关于牛顿发现引力与这棵树的渊源关系。
小题1:细节理解题。根据短文第五段最后一句话 The story appeared in a book by French philosopher Voltaire published in 1727, the year Newton died at the age of 84.可知人们来参观苹果树的原因归功于描述这棵特殊苹果树的故事；故选A。
小题2:细节理解题。根据短文第二段A willow barrier(围栏)has been put around the tree. It means visitors to the 17th century Woolsthorpe Manor, near Grantham, Lincolnshire, will no longer be able to sit under its branches 可知，因为围栏的存在阻止了人们继续坐在苹果树下像牛顿那样遐想了；故选C。
小题3:词义猜测题。根据短文第三段the 2ft-high barrier was designed to preserve the tree.和后面的there had been no damage so far可知，设置围栏的作用是为了保护树木的安全的；故选A。
小题4:细节理解题。根据短文第二段...as Newton was said to have been doing in 1665 when “the notion of gravitation came to mind.”可知，牛顿是在1665年发现地球引力的；故选B。
小题5:推理判断题。根据短文最后一句话 The story appeared in a book by French philosopher Voltaire published in 1727, the year Newton died at the age of 84.可知关于苹果树故事的书信不是牛顿写的，也没有描述是牛顿的家人拥有这个庄园叙述的这个故事，第三段Visitor numbers have gone up by around 50 percent, to 33,000 a year in three years.可C项的描述也不相吻合；故选D。