Directions: Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C or D on the ANSWER SHEET. (10 points)
The idea that plants have some degree of consciousness first took root in the early 2000s; the term “plant neurobiology” was ___1___ around the notion that some aspects of plant behavior could be ___2___ to intelligence in animals. ___3___ plants lack brains, the firing of electrical signals in their stems and leaves nonetheless triggered responses that ___4___ consciousness, researchers previously reported.
But such an idea is untrue, according to a new opinion article. Plant biology is complex and fascinating, but it ___5___ so greatly from that of animals that so-called ___6___ of plants’ intelligence is inconclusive, the authors wrote.
Beginning in 2006, some scientists have ___7___ that plants possess neuron-like cells that interact with hormones and neurotransmitters, ___8___ “a plant nervous system, ___9___ to that in animals,” said lead study author Lincoln Taiz. “They ___10___ claimed that plants have “brain-like command centers” at their root tips.”
This ___11___ makes sense if you simplify the workings of a complex brain, ___12___ it to an array of electrical pulses; cells in plants also communicate through electrical signals. ___13___, the signaling in a plant is only ___14___ similar to the firing in a complex animal brain, which is more than “a mass of cells that communicate by electricity,” Taiz said.
“For consciousness to evolve, a brain with a threshold ___15___ of complexity and capacity is required,” he ___16___. “Since plants don’t have nervous systems, the ___17___ that they have consciousness are effectively zero.”
And what’s so great about consciousness, anyway? Plants can’t run away from ___18___, so investing energy in a body system which ___19___ a threat and can feel pain would be a very ___20___ evolutionary strategy, according to the article.
解析动宾搭配。coin a term“创造一个术语”是固定搭配，与本句“the term ‘plant neurobiology’ was coined around the notion”——围绕该观念造词，吻合，故选 A。discovered/collected/issued 均不与 a term 形成“新造词汇”一义。
解析状语连接。本句“___ plants lack brains, the firing of electrical signals... nonetheless triggered responses”——“尽管植物无脑，电信号仍引发某种反应”是让步关系，Though 最贴切，故选 D。Unless 表否定条件、When 表时间、Once 表“一旦”，均不构成“无脑也有信号”的让步。
4.
A) coped with
B) consisted of
C) hinted at
D) extended to
答案 C
解析短语搭配。triggered responses that hinted at consciousness“引发了暗示意识的反应”，hint at“暗示”最贴切，故选 C。coped with“应对”、consisted of“由……组成”、extended to“延伸至”均不能精准描述“疑似有意识”的暗示意味。
5.
A) suffers
B) benefits
C) develops
D) differs
答案 D
解析搭配+语义。differ greatly from——“与……差别很大”，本句“plant biology... differs so greatly from that of animals”是新观点的核心论据，故选 D。suffers/benefits/develops 与 from 不形成“差异”关系。
6.
A) acceptance
B) evidence
C) cultivation
D) creation
答案 B
解析语义推断。“所谓 ___ of plants’ intelligence is inconclusive”——所谓“证据”不能下定论，evidence 与下句论证逻辑相扣，故选 B。acceptance“接受”、cultivation“栽培”、creation“创造”均不能与 inconclusive 形成“证据不足以定论”的论述。
解析副词强调。前句已说“植物有神经系统”，本句进一步“They even claimed that plants have brain-like command centers”——递进强调更强的主张，even“甚至”最贴切，故选 D。just“只是”削弱程度；ever“曾经”、still“仍然”均不强化“更进一步”这一递进关系。
解析搭配。reducing it to an array of electrical pulses“把它简化为一组电脉冲”，reduce sth to sth 表“归结/简化为”，故选 B。attaching/returning/exposing 与 to an array 不构成“化繁为简”的语义。
解析搭配。a threshold level of complexity and capacity“一定阈值水平的复杂度和容量”，level 与 of complexity 自然搭配，故选 B。list“清单”、label“标签”、load“负担”均与 complexity and capacity 不通。
解析搭配+语义。“the chances that they have consciousness are effectively zero”——“它们具有意识的可能性几乎为零”，chances“可能性”最贴切，故选 A。risks“风险”不合“具有意识”的语义；excuses“借口”、assumptions“假设”均与“可能性”不一致。
18.
A) danger
B) failure
C) warning
D) control
答案 A
解析语义推断。plants can’t run away from danger——“植物无法逃离危险”，与下文“识别威胁、感知疼痛”逻辑闭环，故选 A。failure“失败”、warning“警告”、control“控制”均不与 “run away from” 构成“逃离危险”一义。
19.
A) represents
B) includes
C) reveals
D) recognizes
答案 D
解析动宾搭配。a body system which recognizes a threat“识别威胁的身体系统”，recognize a threat 最贴切，与“能感知痛”互相呼应，故选 D。represents/includes/reveals 与 a threat 不构成“识别”一义。