Use of English (2022)

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 neuronlike 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.

1.

[A]coined

[B]discovered

[C]collected

[D]issued

2.

[A]attributed

[B]directed

[C]compared

[D]confined

3.

[A]Unless

[B]When

[C]Once

[D]Though

4.

[A]coped with

[B]consisted of

[C]hinted at

[D]extended to

5.

[A]suffers

[B]benefits

[C]develops

[D]differs

6.

[A]acceptance

[B]evidence

[C]cultivation

[D]creation

7.

[A]doubted

[B]denied

[C]argued

[D]requested

8.

[A]adapting

[B]forming

[C]repairing

[D]testing

9.

[A]analogous

[B]essential

[C]suitable

[D]sensitive

10.

[A]just

[B]ever

[C]still

[D]even

11.

[A]restriction

[B]experiment

[C]perspective

[D]demand

12.

[A]attaching

[B]reducing

[C]returning

[D]exposing

13.

[A]However

[B]Moreover

[C]Therefore

[D]Otherwise

14.

[A]temporarily

[B]literally

[C]superficially

[D]imaginarily

15.

[A]list

[B]level

[C]label

[D]load

16.

[A]recalled

[B]agreed

[C]questioned

[D]added

17.

[A]chances

[B]risks

[C]excuses

[D]assumptions

18.

[A]danger

[B]failure

[C]warning

[D]control

19.

[A]represents

[B]includes

[C]reveals

[D]recognizes

20.

[A]humble

[B]poor

[C]practical

[D]easy

答案与解析 (Answers)

1. [A] coined. 解析：词汇搭配。the term was coined 表示“创造/杜撰了这个术语”。

2. [C] compared. 解析：植物行为的某些方面可以与动物的智力“相比较（be compared to）”。

3. [D] Though. 解析：前后分句构成让步关系。“尽管（Though）”植物缺乏大脑，但电信号的发射依然触发了反应。

4. [C] hinted at. 解析：这些反应“暗示了（hinted at）”意识的存在。coped with 应对；consisted of 组成；extended to 延伸到。

5. [D] differs. 解析：植物生物学与动物生物学“差异（differs）”极大。differ from 表示“与...不同”。

6. [B] evidence. 解析：差异如此之大，以至于所谓的植物智力的“证据（evidence）”是站不住脚的。

7. [C] argued. 解析：科学家们“主张/争论（argued）”植物拥有类似神经元的细胞。denied 为否认，doubted 为怀疑，与语境相反。

8. [B] forming. 解析：这些细胞相互作用，“形成（forming）”了植物神经系统。

9. [A] analogous. 解析：固定搭配 be analogous to，意为“类似于...”。形成了一个类似于动物的神经系统。

10. [D] even. 解析：表示递进关系。他们“甚至（even）”声称植物有类似大脑的指挥中心。

11. [C] perspective. 解析：指代上一段科学家的观点。这种“视角/观点（perspective）”只有在过度简化的前提下才说得通。

12. [B] reducing. 解析：reduce A to B 意为“把A简化/归约为B”。将复杂的大脑简化为一系列电脉冲。

13. [A] However. 解析：转折关系。前半段说“有点道理”，然后转折说“然而（However）”，植物的信号传导只是表面上相似。

14. [C] superficially. 解析：植物的电信号与动物大脑的激发仅仅是“表面上（superficially）”相似。

15. [B] level. 解析：a threshold level of... 表示“...的阈值水平”。意识的进化需要一定水平的复杂性和容量。

16. [D] added. 解析：承接前文的话语，他“补充道（added）”。

17. [A] chances. 解析：the chances are zero 表示“几率为零”。植物没有神经系统，所以它们拥有意识的几率实际上是零。

18. [A] danger. 解析：植物扎根在原地，无法逃离“危险（danger）”。

19. [D] recognizes. 解析：投入能量去发展一个能“识别（recognizes）”威胁并感受痛苦的身体系统。

20. [B] poor. 解析：既然植物无法逃跑，那么能感知痛苦对它们毫无益处，这将是一个非常“糟糕的（poor）”进化策略。

核心长难句精解 (Highlighted Sentences)

1. 同位语从句与被动语态：
"The idea that plants have some degree of consciousness first took root in the early 2000s; the term “plant neurobiology” was coined around the notion that some aspects of plant behavior could be compared to intelligence in animals."
【解析】第一个 that 引导同位语从句，解释 idea 的内容。分号后半句中 was coined 是被动语态（被创造），第二个 that 也是同位语从句，解释 notion（观念）的内容。
【翻译】植物具有某种程度的意识这一观点在21世纪初首次扎根；“植物神经生物学”这个术语是围绕着“植物行为的某些方面可以与动物的智力相比较”这一概念而创造的。

2. so...that 结果状语从句：
"Plant biology is complex and fascinating, but it differs so greatly from that of animals that so-called evidence of plants’ intelligence is inconclusive, the authors wrote."
【解析】so...that... 引导结果状语从句，表示“如此...以至于...”。句中的 that of animals 指代 animal biology，以避免重复。
【翻译】植物生物学复杂而迷人，但它与动物生物学差异如此之大，以至于所谓的植物智力证据是毫无定论的，作者们写道。

3. 动名词作主语与定语从句：
"Plants can’t run away from danger, so investing energy in a body system which recognizes a threat and can feel pain would be a very poor evolutionary strategy..."
【解析】investing... pain 是动名词短语作主语，其谓语是 would be。在主语中，which 引导定语从句修饰 a body system。
【翻译】植物无法逃离危险，因此，把能量投入到一个能够识别威胁并能感受到疼痛的身体系统中，将是一个非常糟糕的进化策略……