It’s hard to tum down a tasty banana. They taste good and you don’t have to wash them before eating them. However, British scientists say that the fruit may disappear by 2050.
One reason for this is climate change. Scientists at the University of Exeter collected data from 27 countries and regions that produce 86 percent of the world’s bananas. They found that climate change has improved growing conditions in 21 of these countries. In the past 60 years the average yield has reached 1.37 tons of bananas per hectare.
However, if temperatures keep rising, this advantage will disappear. Ten of the countries, including India, the world’s biggest producer of bananas, will produce fewer bananas. By 2050, the fruit may die out.
Shouldn’t bananas grow more easily if it’s hotter outside? In fact, the perfect temperature range for growing bananas is between 24℃ and 32℃. If temperatures get too high, they will stop growing.
Another reason for this phenomenon is diseases. Unlike other crops, the bananas we grow come from shoot cuttings rather than seeds. This means that all banana plants have the same genotype. In other words, if a disease is able to kill one plants it could kill them all.
One serious disease is called Panama. Caused by fungus（真菌）in the soil, it spreads easily. It has spread across South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia. If one banana plantation suffers from the disease, it will take 30 years until it is able to grow bananas again. Scientists have not found a cure for this disease.
12．What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A．People’s love for bananas. B．The taste of bananas.
C．The future disappearance of bananas. D．The convenience of eating bananas
13．What might happen if temperatures keep going higher?
A．More countries will start to grow bananas.
B．Bananas will not be able to grow any more.
C．Bananas will grow better in most countries.
D．Bananas won’t be as tasty as before.
14．How many reasons for the disappearing of bananas are mentioned in the text?
A．Two. B．Three. C．Four. D．Five.
15．What does Paragraph 5 tell us?
A．What diseases bananas may suffer from. B．How bananas are grown.
C．How diseases can easily kill bananas. D．Which diseases can kill bananas.
【答案】
12．C
13．B
14．A
15．C
【分析】
这是一篇说明文，文章主要讲了香蕉可能消失的原因。
12．
词句猜测题。根据第一段中“However, British scientists say that the fruit may disappear by 2050.”（然而，英国科学家表示，这种水果可能会在2050年消失。）可知第二段中第一句话中的this指代的是香蕉的消失。故选C项。
13．
细节理解题。根据第四段中“If temperatures get too high, they will stop growing.”（如果温度过高，香蕉就会停止生长。）可推知如果温度持续升高，香蕉将不再生长。故选B项。
14．
细节理解题。根据第二段中“One reason for this is climate change.”（原因之一是气候变化。）以及第五段中“Another reason for this phenomenon is diseases.”（造成这种现象的另一个原因是疾病。）可知文中提及了造成香蕉消失的两个原因。故选A项。
15．
主旨大意题。根据第五段中“Another reason for this phenomenon is diseases.（造成这种现象的另一个原因是疾病。）”以及下文内容可知，本段主要讲述了疾病如何很容易杀死香蕉。故选C项。
One reason for this is climate change. Scientists at the University of Exeter collected data from 27 countries and regions that produce 86 percent of the world’s bananas. They found that climate change has improved growing conditions in 21 of these countries. In the past 60 years the average yield has reached 1.37 tons of bananas per hectare.
However, if temperatures keep rising, this advantage will disappear. Ten of the countries, including India, the world’s biggest producer of bananas, will produce fewer bananas. By 2050, the fruit may die out.
Shouldn’t bananas grow more easily if it’s hotter outside? In fact, the perfect temperature range for growing bananas is between 24℃ and 32℃. If temperatures get too high, they will stop growing.
Another reason for this phenomenon is diseases. Unlike other crops, the bananas we grow come from shoot cuttings rather than seeds. This means that all banana plants have the same genotype. In other words, if a disease is able to kill one plants it could kill them all.
One serious disease is called Panama. Caused by fungus（真菌）in the soil, it spreads easily. It has spread across South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia. If one banana plantation suffers from the disease, it will take 30 years until it is able to grow bananas again. Scientists have not found a cure for this disease.
12．What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A．People’s love for bananas. B．The taste of bananas.
C．The future disappearance of bananas. D．The convenience of eating bananas
13．What might happen if temperatures keep going higher?
A．More countries will start to grow bananas.
B．Bananas will not be able to grow any more.
C．Bananas will grow better in most countries.
D．Bananas won’t be as tasty as before.
14．How many reasons for the disappearing of bananas are mentioned in the text?
A．Two. B．Three. C．Four. D．Five.
15．What does Paragraph 5 tell us?
A．What diseases bananas may suffer from. B．How bananas are grown.
C．How diseases can easily kill bananas. D．Which diseases can kill bananas.
【答案】
12．C
13．B
14．A
15．C
【分析】
这是一篇说明文，文章主要讲了香蕉可能消失的原因。
12．
词句猜测题。根据第一段中“However, British scientists say that the fruit may disappear by 2050.”（然而，英国科学家表示，这种水果可能会在2050年消失。）可知第二段中第一句话中的this指代的是香蕉的消失。故选C项。
13．
细节理解题。根据第四段中“If temperatures get too high, they will stop growing.”（如果温度过高，香蕉就会停止生长。）可推知如果温度持续升高，香蕉将不再生长。故选B项。
14．
细节理解题。根据第二段中“One reason for this is climate change.”（原因之一是气候变化。）以及第五段中“Another reason for this phenomenon is diseases.”（造成这种现象的另一个原因是疾病。）可知文中提及了造成香蕉消失的两个原因。故选A项。
15．
主旨大意题。根据第五段中“Another reason for this phenomenon is diseases.（造成这种现象的另一个原因是疾病。）”以及下文内容可知，本段主要讲述了疾病如何很容易杀死香蕉。故选C项。
