二、阅读理解
The energy needs of human beings are growing faster and faster. Even though we have realized that overuse of every natural resource has done more harm than good, we continue to depend heavily on environmental unfriendly power sources, like coal. It’s time for us to face the problem and find a new way to power our electricity-driven lives.
Recently, a team of scientists from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT*) developed a desk lamp that needs no electricity to work. By making plants glow*, they created the greenest light source for ever.
They hope their discovery could lead to plant lights replacing electric lights. One day, even light that trees produce can replace street lights. Professor Michael Strano, lead author of the research, explained that his team wants to create continuable light sources and help the environment. He said, “ The vision* is to make a plant that will work as a desk lamp—a lamp that you don’t need electricity. The light is powered by the energy metabolism* of the plant itself.”
The researchers got the idea for their lightening plants from fireflies*. They looked at the matter in fireflies that makes them glow. They created nanoparticles* that hold the matter. They then put the nanoparticles into plant leaves to make them glow. The scientists were able to make plants glow for nearly four hours. Professor Strano said, “Our goal is to perform one treatment, when the plant is young or grownup, and have it last for the lifetime of the plant.” He thinks plant lights will be a part of our life in the future. He said, “We think this is an idea whose time has come.”

1 The scientists in the US have created a special desk lamp by using ________.
A. coal B. plants         C. fireflies           D. electricity
2. The lightening plants in the passage could keep giving light for ________.
A. about one day B. nearly six hours
C. the time they’re alive     D. about one sixth of a day
3. Why have the scientists worked on lightening plants?  
A. To stop using power sources.   B. To make plants live longer.
C. To protect our environment.     D. To create new kinds of plants.  
4. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Scientists believe plant lights will be widely used in the future.
B. Scientists got the idea of plant lights from electrical desk lamps.
C. Scientists have slowed down the energy needs of human beings.
D. Scientists have planted a new kind of trees to replace street lights.

【答案】1—4 BDCA