呵护我们的花朵

Flowers are what attract us most when we first see a plant. In fact,

they are very important parts for trees because they produce pollen and

also receive it from other plants. This enables the plant to form seedcontaining

fruit. Structurally speaking, flowers consist of the stamen

and pistil, but some may have only either of them. Some flowers are

so small that they become almost invisible, while some can grow to an

enormous size. For example, Rafflesia, the biggest flower in the world

found in Sumatra, is a huge kind of flower that is ninety centimeters in

diameter. However, because of the increasing damage of the rainforest

in Sumatra, where this huge flower with the weight of more than seventy

kilograms grows, Rafflesia is now faced with the threat of extinction.

Moreover, this kind of flower must live dependently upon other plants

because it cannot do photosynthesis ─ the way a plant uses sunlight

to produce nutrients. Another kind of huge flower is found in Columbia.

It is so big that the habitants there often pick it up and use it as a

hat. However, not merely are giant flowers on the verge of extinction,

but some flowers of ordinary size are also suffering a similar fate for

different reasons. The damage of their original birthplace is of course

the main reason. As is known to everybody, we human beings have

done many harmful things to nature because of the rapid development

of industry. However, sometimes flowers become extinct just because

people fetch too many of them or some animals simply eat all of them

out.

1. According to the text, flowers are important parts for trees because

________

(A) they are so beautiful that they attract us most when we first see a plant.

(B) they make it possible for trees to have fruit through the pollen they

produce.

(C) people use them as hats to shelter from heat in Columbia.

(D) some precious species are on the verge of extinction.

2. The biggest flower in the world called Rafflesia is now suffering the fate

of extinction because _______

(A) people in Sumatra pick too many of these flowers.

(B) it must live dependently upon other plants.

(C) the rain forest in Sumatra has been damaged.

(D) it is too big to live in rain forest.

3. According to the text, once a plant cannot do photosynthesis itself,

________

(A) it cannot produce food that keeps it alive.

(B) it has to live independently itself.

(C) it will soon be deserted.

(D) it has to be cut down as soon as possible.

4. According to the text, the main reason for the extinction of some precious

species of flowers is ________

(A) air pollution.

(B) the damage of natural environment.

(C) the increase of wild animals.

(D) their lack of nutrients.

（答案见下期）