Unit 4 Amazing Plants and Animals任务型阅读专项训练2026-2027学年人教版英语八年级上册

八年级英语上册 Unit 4 Amazing Plants and Animals

任务型阅读专项训练

试题设计说明：

前3篇（基础篇）：词数180-200，3-4道细节题+1-2道推理/概括题

后2篇（提升篇）：词数200-220，2-3道细节题+2-3道推理/概括/观点题

每篇生词不超过3个，标注词义

问题答案字数：细节题不超过10词，概括/观点题不超过15-20词

Passage 1（词数：186）

热点导读：2025年，加州大学研究团队首次记录到树木在缺水时会发出高频声波，听起来就像树木在"喊叫"。这一发现可能帮助农民更好地监测作物健康状况。

The Singing Trees

Most people think of trees as silent. They stand still and never make a sound. But a team of scientists at the University of California has discovered that trees actually make noise when they are thirsty.

In 2025, the research team studied oak trees and pine trees. They put special microphones near the roots and branches of the trees. When the trees stopped getting water, the microphones picked up clicks and pops - sounds that humans cannot hear without help. These sounds happen inside the tree. When there is not enough water, tiny air bubbles form in the tree's xylem (木质部). As these bubbles burst, they create small explosions that make clicking noises.

The scientists found that thirsty trees make more frequent sounds than well-watered ones. Oak trees produce about 10 clicks per hour when they are dry, while pine trees make even more - up to 50 clicks per hour.

"We were surprised to hear that trees can make sounds," said Dr. Rachel Suttner, one of the researchers. "This could change the way we think about plants. Maybe trees are not as quiet as we thought." The team believes that one day, farmers might use "tree microphones" to check if their crops need water, saving time and resources.

Questions:

What did the scientists discover about trees?

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2. What causes the clicking sounds in trees?

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3. How many clicks per hour do pine trees make when dry?

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4. What does Dr. Rachel Suttner think about trees?

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5. What might farmers be able to do in the future with this discovery?

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Passage 2（词数：192）

热点导读：2025年，中国科学家在南海发现大片巨型海带森林，高度可达60米，是地球上最高的海洋生态系统之一，为数百种海洋生物提供了重要的栖息地。

The Underwater Forest

When you think of a forest, you probably imagine tall trees on land. But there is another kind of forest - one that lives underwater. In 2025, Chinese scientists discovered a huge kelp forest in the South China Sea. Some of the kelp plants grow up to 60 meters tall, making it one of the tallest ecosystems on Earth.

Kelp is a type of large brown seaweed. It grows in shallow, cool waters near the coast. A kelp forest can cover hundreds of square kilometers and provide food and shelter for hundreds of different species. Fish, crabs, sea turtles, and even sharks find homes among the tall kelp plants.

The newly discovered kelp forest in the South China Sea is especially important because it is home to several endangered species. Scientists have already identified 300 types of fish living in the area. Some of these fish are found nowhere else in the world.

"This discovery shows how much we still have to learn about the ocean," said Dr. Lin Wei, the lead researcher. "Kelp forests are like underwater cities - they support entire communities of life. We need to protect them before we lose what we have just found."

However, kelp forests are under threat. Rising ocean temperatures and pollution are causing some kelp forests around the world to shrink. The scientists are now working with local fishermen to protect the South China Sea kelp forest.

Questions:

1. How tall can the kelp plants in the South China Sea grow?

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2. What kind of plant is kelp?

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3. Why is the South China Sea kelp forest especially important?

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4. What threats do kelp forests face?

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5. What does Dr. Lin Wei compare kelp forests to?

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Passage 3（词数：198）

热点导读：2026年，瑞典科学家经基因检测确认一棵云杉树已有9500年树龄，是地球上已知最古老的独立生物体，比埃及金字塔还要古老得多。

The Oldest Living Thing

In the mountains of northern Sweden, there stands a tree that is almost 9,500 years old. Scientists from Uppsala University confirmed its age through DNA testing. This ancient spruce tree (云杉), known as "Old Tjikko," is the oldest known individual living organism on Earth.

Old Tjikko may look like an ordinary small tree. It is only about 9 meters tall and has a thin trunk. But its roots go much deeper - scientists found that the root system is at least 9,500 years old. The tree above ground dies and regrows many times, but the roots keep sending up new shoots (嫩芽). In this way, the root system has survived for nearly 10,000 years.

To understand how old this tree is, think about this: when Old Tjikko was just a small seed, the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt had not yet been built. Humans were only just starting to form civilizations. The tree has watched thousands of years of history pass by.

"Finding a tree this old is like finding a living library," said Professor Svante Pääbo. "Each ring in the tree tells a story about the climate, the environment, and the people who lived nearby. We can learn a lot from studying it."

Old Tjikko is now protected by law. Visitors are not allowed to touch or damage the tree. Scientists continue to study it to learn more about how trees survive for such long periods and how climates have changed over the millennia.