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2024年高考英语外刊时文精读精练 (3)
Botany Deafened 植物要‘聋’了
主题语境：人与自然 主题语境内容：人与环境，人与动植物
【外刊原文】（斜体单词为超纲词汇，认识即可；下划线单词为课标词汇，需熟记。）
【1】Many animals depend upon sound to find food, detect（发现） predators（捕食者） and communicate with one another. These species understandably suffer when loud motorways cut through their habitats（栖息地）. Some cope by singing more loudly, some change the timing of their calls to occur when fewer people are driving, others just move to quieter locales.
【2】All of these actions come with significant costs attached and scientists have long documented（记载） the ecological damage caused by noise pollution. It has always been assumed, however, that noise is a problem unique to animals. But a new study by Ali Akbar Ghotbi-Ravandi, a botanist （植物学家）at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, has revealed that plants suffer too.
【3】That plants can be hampered（阻碍） indirectly by noise pollution has never been in doubt. Since most flowering species depend upon pollinators（传粉者） and most fruit-bearing species need animals to disperse（传播） their seeds, it is obvious that if these animal partners are harmed by noise then their botanical（植物学的） counterparts（对应的事物） will do badly, too. What has remained unknown is whether or not plants themselves suffer directly from noise pollution.
【4】Sounds are concussive pressure waves （震荡压力波）transmitted through gases, liquids and solids. Scientists have previously hypothesised（假设） that plants may be able to sense these waves as they are struck by them. A number of experiments have confirmed this in recent years—plants bombarded with ultrasound（超声） in the lab have shown a range of adverse（不利的） responses including the expression of stress-related genes, stunted（矮小的） growth and reduced germination（萌芽） of seeds.
【5】Yet blasting（冲击） plants with ultrasound is not the same as growing them in the presence of actual traffic noise. To this end, Dr Ghotbi-Ravandi decided to set up an experiment to study precisely this question.
【6】Working with a team of colleagues, Dr Ghotbi-Ravandi grew two species in his lab that are commonly found in urban environments—French marigolds （法国万寿菊）and scarlet sage（一串红）. The plants were grown from seed and allowed to mature for two months in the same space before they were divided into two groups. One group was exposed to 73 decibels of traffic noise recorded from a busy motorway in Tehran for 16 hours a day. The other group was left to grow in silence. After 15 days had passed, samples were taken from the youngest fully expanded leaves on every plant in the experiment and studied.
【7】None of the plants exposed to the traffic noise did well. Analysis of their leaves revealed that all of them were suffering. The chemical compounds hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde （化学化合物过氧化氢和丙二醛）are indicators of stress in plants and both were found at much higher levels in the specimens exposed to the traffic noise. Most notably（显著地）, malondialdehyde levels in the sage plants exposed to noise were double what they were in those grown in silence and hydrogen-peroxide levels were three times higher in French marigolds grown with the noise than those grown in silence.
【8】These compounds were not alone. The team found that a range of hormones normally associated with healthy growth and development in plants were present at significantly reduced levels in the plants exposed to the noise. Two stress hormones, jasmonic acid and abscisic acid（应激激素茉莉酸和脱落酸）, which are normally produced to fend off insect attacks and deal with salty soil or very cold temperatures, were elevated（升高）. Even the weight of the fresh leaves differed—clippings from plants exposed to noise consistently weighed less than clippings from plants grown in silence.
【9】Dr Ghotbi-Ravandi’s results were published in the journal Basic and Applied Ecology. His findings make it clear that, though plants lack ears, the vibrations（震动） generated by the noise of traffic still bothers them enough to trigger（引发） potent（强有力的） stress responses that are not much different to those that would be found in plants exposed to drought, high salinity（盐分） or heavy metals（金属） in their soil.
【10】The next question is whether all noise pollution affects all species in the same way. The natural world is by no means silent. Alpine meadows（高山草甸） are exposed to no shortage of cacophonous gales（刺耳的大风）. Ferns （蕨类）grow along the edges of turbulent （湍流的）pools fed by thunderous（雷鸣的） waterfalls. Whether some plant species have evolved （进化）coping mechanisms（机制）, which might one day be collected and transferred（转化） into urban-dwelling（城市栖息） species, is a mystery worth exploring.
【译文】
许多动物靠声音来觅食、察觉捕食者以及互相交流。一旦喧闹的高速公路穿过它们的栖息地时，这些动物所遭受的痛苦可想而知。对此，有些动物会叫得更大声；有些动物会改变自己
发出叫声的时间，等开车的人少一些时再发出叫声；其他动物则只是迁徙去了更安静的地方。
所有这些行动都需要付出巨大的代价，科学家们早就记录了噪音污染对生态造成的破坏。然而，人们一直认为噪音只会影响动物。但是，德黑兰(Tehran)沙希德·贝赫什提大学的植物学
家阿里·阿克巴尔·戈特比-拉瓦迪(Ali Akbar GhotbiRavandi)的一项新研究表明，植物也会受到影响。
毋庸置疑，植物会受到噪音污染的间接影响。由于大多数开花植物依赖于传粉者，而大多数结果植物需要动物来散播种子，很明显，如果这些动物受到噪音伤害，那么相应地，它们的植物伙伴们也会生长不良。目前尚不清楚的是，植物本身是否受到噪音污染的直接影响。
声音是通过气体、液体和固体传播的震荡压力波。科学家们此前曾假设，当植物受到压力波的冲击时，植物可能可以感觉得到。近年来，许多实验也已证实了这一点。在实验室中，受到超声波冲击的植物会出现一系列不良反应，包括应激相关基因的表达、生长受阻、种子发芽率降低。
然而，使用超声波冲击植物与在实际的交通噪音中种植植物是不同的。为此，戈特比-拉瓦迪博士决定做实验来准确地研究该问题。
戈特比-拉瓦迪博士和他的同事们在实验室里培育了两种常见于城市环境中的植物：法国万寿菊和一串红。这些植物在同一空间内从种子起培育至两个月成熟，然后分成两组。其中一
组每天16个小时在73分贝的交通噪音中生长，噪音是从德黑兰繁忙的高速公路上录下来的；另一组则在安静的环境中生长。15天后，从每株实验植物上摘取最嫩的、完全舒展的叶片作为样本进行研究。
在交通噪音环境中生长的植物，没有一株生长良好。对它们的叶子进行分析后发现，它们都遭受了损害。化学化合物过氧化氢和丙二醛是植物应激状态的指标，而在交通噪音环境下生长
的叶子中，这两种化合物的含量都高得多。最值得注意的是，相比于在安静环境中生长的鼠尾草，在噪音环境中生长的鼠尾草的丙二醛水平是其两倍，而在噪音环境中生长的法国万寿菊
的过氧化氢水平则是其三倍。
这些化合物并不是唯一的证据。研究小组发现，在噪音环境中生长的植物中，一系列通常与植物的健康生长和发育有关的激素水平显著降低。两种应激激素茉莉酸和脱落酸升高，而这两种激素通常用于抵御昆虫的攻击以及应对土壤盐化或极低的温度。甚至新剪下的叶子的重量也不同，相比于在安静环境中生长的植物，在噪音中生长的植物剪下来的叶子更轻一些。
戈特比-拉瓦迪博士的研究结果发表在《基础与应用生态学》杂志上。他的研究发现清楚地表明，尽管植物没有耳朵，但交通噪音产生的振动仍足以困扰它们，引发强烈的应激反应，而这些反应与那些在干旱、高盐化或重金属土壤中的植物所产生的应激反应别无二致。
接下来的问题是，是否所有的噪音污染都以同样的方式影响所有物种。自然界绝不是寂静无声的。高山草甸总是暴露于刺耳的大风中。蕨类植物沿着湍急的水塘边缘生长，而水随着瀑布雷鸣般的声音倾泻而下。一些植物物种是否进化出了应对机制，有朝一日可能会被收集起来、转化为城市栖息物种，这是一个值得探索的谜。
【背景知识】
越来越多的研究显示，鸟类和其他动物会根据人类的噪声，如交通的喧闹声或机械的声音改变自己的习性。但人类的噪音可不止是影响到动物而已，《皇家学会学报B》（Proceedings of the Royal Society B）刊登的一项研究发现，由于许多动物还会给植物授粉、以植物为食或传播种子，因此人类的噪声也会对植物产生间接影响。美国国家科学基金会（NSF）国家演化综合中心的克林顿·弗朗西斯（Clinton Francis）说道，假使噪音确实会对树这样长寿的植物产生连锁反应，那么即便噪声源得到消除，其影响也会持续数十年。
【课标词汇】
occur
1）发生
If any of these symptoms occur while you are taking the medicine, consult your doctor immediately.服药期间如果产生了这些症状中的任何一种，要立即就医。
2）存在；出现
Minerals occur naturally in the Earth's crust.矿物自然存在于地壳中。
3）（某人）想到，（想法或主意）出现在（某人）头脑中
Does it never occur to you that I might like to be on my own occasionally 你难道从没想过有时候我或许喜欢独处？
significant重要的；显著的
The talks between the USA and the USSR were very significant for the relationship between the two countries.美国和苏联的谈判对两国间的关系非常重要。
attach
1）系，绑；连接；使附着；附上；固定
I attached a photo to my application form.我在我的申请表上贴了一张相片。
Use this cable to attach the printer to the computer.用这条数据线连接列印机和电脑。
2）认为…有（重要性、价值、意义等）
I don't attach any importance/significance to these rumours.我不把这些谣传当作一回事。
assume假定；假设；认为
It is reasonable to assume (that) the economy will continue to improve. 认为经济将继续好转是有道理的。
It is generally assumed that stress is caused by too much work. 普遍认为，紧张是工作过重所致。
unique独一无二的；与众不同的；唯一的；独特的；罕见的
Each person's genetic code is unique except in the case of identical twins.每个人的遗传密码都是独一无二的，同卵双胞胎除外。
As many as 100 species of fish, some unique to (= only found in) these waters, may have been affected by the pollution.有多达100种鱼类可能已经受到污染，其中有些在别的水域已绝迹。
reveal揭露；泄露；透露
He was jailed for revealing secrets to the Russians.他因为向俄国人泄密而被监禁。
Her biography revealed that she was not as rich as everyone thought.她的自传透露她并非像大家所想像的那样富有。
expose暴露；露出；使曝光
The plaster on the walls has been removed to expose the original bricks underneath.墙上的灰泥已经抹去，露出了里面的墙砖。
He damaged his leg so badly in the accident that the bone was exposed.他的脚在车祸中受了重伤，骨头都露了出来。
It is feared that people living near the power station may have been exposed to radiation.人们担心居住在发电站附近的居民可能已经受到辐射。
confirm
1)确认，确定（安排或会议）
Six people have confirmed that they will be attending and ten haven't replied yet.有六人已确认将参加，还有十人尚未答覆。
Flights should be confirmed 48 hours before departure.应该在起飞前48小时确认航班。
2)确定；证实；肯定
The smell of cigarette smoke confirmed what he had suspected: there had been a party in his absence.烟味证实了他的猜疑：他不在时这里举行过派对。
9.precise精确的；准确的，确切的
The bunker's precise location is a closely guarded secret.掩体的确切位置严格保密。
There was a good turnout for the meeting - twelve of us to be precise.出席会议的人不少——确切地说有我们12个人。
10.divide（使）分开；（使）分组
At the end of the lecture, I'd like all the students to divide into small discussion groups.讲座结束后，我想让所有学生分成几个讨论小组。
There's a narrow alley which divides our house from the one next door.一条窄窄的小巷将我们的房子和邻居的隔开了。
This path marks the dividing line between my land and my neighbour's.这条路是我和邻居的土地分界线。
11.expand扩大，增加，增强（尺码、数量或重要性）
Metals expand when they are heated. 金属受热会膨胀。
A child's vocabulary expands through reading. 孩子的词汇量通过阅读得到扩大。
12.associate联想；联系
I always associate the smell of baking with my childhood. 一闻到烘烤食物的味道，我就想起了童年。
The cancer risks associated with smoking have been well documented.抽烟有引发癌症的危险，这两者的关联是有详尽的文献为证的。
consistent
一贯的；坚持的；始终如一的
Her work is sometimes good, but the problem is she's not consistent.她工作有时不错，问题是她不能始终如一。
2)一致的，吻合的；符合的
We do not consider his behaviour to be consistent with the holding of a high-ranking job.我们认为他的行为与他位居要职的身份不相符。
14.generate造成；引起；使存在
Her latest film has generated a lot of interest/excitement.她最近的一部影片引起了广泛的兴趣／使众多观众很是兴奋。
These measures will increase the club's ability to generate revenue/income.这些措施将会提升俱乐部的创收能力。
15.explore探测；勘查；探索；研究;探究
The children have gone exploring in the woods.孩子们去树林里观察大自然了。
Let's explore this issue/idea more fully.让我们进一步探讨一下这个问题／计划。
【重点短语】
1. depend upon/on 依赖，取决于
例句：The rate of growth of GNP will depend upon the rate of growth of aggregate demand. 国民生产总值的增长率将依赖于总需求的增长率。
2.bombard sb/sth with sth 用…猛烈轰击…；向某人不停地提出问题（批评、咨询）
例句：He bombarded Catherine with questions to which he should have known the answers.他不停地追问凯瑟琳他本该知道答案的问题。
3. in the presence of 在……出现的时候，在……面前
例句：The talks took place in the presence of a diplomatic observer. 会谈是在一位外交观察家在场的情况下进行的。
4.fend off 挡开，避开
例句：She managed to fend off questions about new tax increases. 她设法避开了关于新增赋税的问题。
5.by no means 决不
例句：He was forceful, but by no means a zealot. 他很有说服力，但绝不是个狂热分子。
6.in doubt 怀疑的
例句：The future of the stadium is in doubt because of a lack of money.由于缺少资金，该体育馆能否建成还不确定。
depend upon 依靠，依赖
例句：Charities depend on people supporting their activities.慈善机构的慈善活动要依靠民众的支持。
suffer from 经历，遭受
例句：Mary's suffering from ill health at the moment.玛丽眼下身体不好。
a range of 多种多样的
例句：I offered her a range of options.我给了她各种选择。
set up创建;建立;安排;组建
例句：The two sides agreed to set up a commission to investigate claims...双方同意组建一个委员会来调查那些索赔要求。
【长难句分析】
原文：His findings make it clear that, though plants lack ears, the vibrations generated by the noise of traffic still bothers them enough to trigger potent stress responses that are not much different to those that would be found in plants exposed to drought, high salinity or heavy metals in their soil.
本句包含一个宾语从句和两个定语从句。首先，主句为“His findings make it clear”，it为形式宾语；“that the vibrations...potent stress responses”为宾语从句；“that are not much different to those”为定语从句，修饰responses；“that would be...in their soil”为定语从句，修饰 those。
译文：他的研究发现清楚地表明，尽管植物没有耳朵，但交通噪音产生的振动仍足以困扰它们，引发强烈的应激反应，而这些反应与那些生长在干旱、高盐或重金属土壤中的植物所产生的应激反应别无二致。
【课标词汇精练】
根据语境，从上面的“课标词汇”和“重点短语”中选用合适的单词及其正确形式将句子补充完整。
Student numbers rapidly.
He is closely in the public mind with horror movies.
There has been a improvement in her attitude.
What the witness said in court was not with the statement he made to the police.
The new development will 1500 new jobs.
The best way to the countryside is on foot.
He would not where he had hidden her chocolate eggs.
About 800,000 children are to poisons each year.
I've accepted the job over the phone, but I haven't in writing yet.
Her announcement (that) she would be resigning as Prime Minister.
He caught me at the moment that I fainted.
After World War Two, Germany was into two separate countries.
The success of the system is not .
The country heavily on foreign aid.
London employers were a desperate shortage of school-leavers.
An accident involving over ten vehicles has in the east-bound lane.
Violence of some sort seems to in every society.
It never even to us that he hadn't been invited.
There has been a increase in the number of women students in recent years.
In Britain, packets of cigarettes come with a government health warning to them .
She great value to being financially independent.
Let us for a moment that the plan succeeds.
I'd recognize your handwriting anywhere - it's .
There is opinions on this issue.
Tell us when and why you started your business and how you went about .
Keys：
are expanding句意：学生人数在迅速增加。
associated句意：在公众的心目中，他总是和恐怖电影紧密联系在一起。
consistent句意：她的态度一直在改进。
consistent句意：证人在法庭上的证供和他对警方的陈述不一致。
generate 句意：新开发项目将会创造1500个新的就业岗位。
explore 句意：在农村考察，步行是最好的方法了。
reveal句意：他就是不说他把她的巧克力蛋藏在哪里了。
exposed 句意：每年有大约80万儿童中毒。
confirmed句意：我已在电话中接受了这份工作，但还没有书面确认。
confirmed句意：她的声明证实了她将会辞去总理职位。
precise句意：他正好在我晕倒的那一刻抓住了我。
divided句意：第二次世界大战之后，德国被分成了两个独立的国家。
in doubt.句意：这种制度的成功确定无疑。
depends句意：该国对外援的依赖非常严重。
suffering from句意：伦敦的雇主正面临中学毕业生严重缺失的困境。
occurred句意：在东向车道上发生了一起涉及十多辆汽车的交通事故。
occur句意：每个社会似乎都会存在某种形式的暴力。
occurred句意：我们压根儿没想到他未被邀请。
significant 句意：近年来，女学生的人数有了显著增加。
attached句意：在英国，香烟的包装盒上都印有政府的健康警告。
attaches 句意：她特别看重经济独立。
assume句意：咱们暂时假设计划成功。
unique句意：无论在哪里，我都能认出你的笔迹——它太与众不同了。
a wide / whole range of 句意：在这个问题上，存在着很多不同的意见。
setting it up句意：告诉我们你是何时出于何种原因开办了自己的企业，又是如何着手创建的

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