Unlike what you may imagine, taking good care of a plant can be difficult, especially when it comes to how to water a plant. Many people are not sure how often or how much they need to water their plants. Even some farmers may have the same problem. Luckily, a new technology called GrowStream can help them “talk” to their plants.

GrowStream is a watering system. Its tubes (管子) have special tiny holes in them. When plants need water, they will release (释放) chemicals (化学物质) through their roots. When the holes detect (察觉) these chemicals, they will open. The plants then get water from these holes. As the plants “drink” enough water, they stop releasing these chemicals. And that “tells” the holes to close back up and stop watering.

This system can help save 45 to 50 percent more water than common watering systems. It was created by a company called RDI. The company has brought the GrowStream system to many farms in South Africa. It is also testing the system in the US. It will be used to make the city greener while saving more water.

“GrowStream is more than just a technology,” said Jan Gould, CEO of RDI. “We want it to ‘talk’ to people, too. It ‘says’ two things: The earth’s natural resources (资源) are not so much, and we should take better care of the planet through new technology.”

1.1. Why is it difficult to water a plant?

A Plants need too much water.

B It is hard to discover whether the plant needs water.

C Watering a plant takes too much time.

D Some farmers don’t teach you how to water a plant.

解析：选B。1. 题目类型：细节理解题 解析：根据文章第一段“Many people are not sure how often or how much they need to water their plants”可知，人们难以掌握植物浇水的频率和用量，本质是很难判断植物是否需要浇水。选项A“植物需要太多水”、选项C“浇水耗时久”、选项D“农民不教浇水方法”均未在文中提及，因此答案选B。

2.2. How does GrowStream make sure plants “drink” enough water?

A By providing water all the time.

B By releasing chemicals to help the plants “drink” enough water.

C By putting water into the plants’ roots.

D By detecting the amount of chemicals that the plants release.

解析：选D。2. 题目类型：细节理解题 解析：根据文章第二段内容，植物缺水时会释放化学物质，GrowStream系统的微孔检测到该化学物质后就会开启供水；当植物水分充足，停止释放化学物质，微孔就会关闭。由此可知，该系统是通过检测植物释放的化学物质含量来把控供水，确保植物喝到足量的水。选项A“持续供水”与原文相悖，选项B“释放化学物质帮助植物喝水”逻辑错误，是植物自身释放化学物质，选项C“将水注入植物根部”文中未提及，因此答案选D。

3.3. What does the underlined word “they” in Paragraph 2 refer to (指的是)?

A Plants.

B Holes.

C Chemicals.

D Tubes.

解析：选B。3. 题目类型：词义猜测题 解析：根据第二段“When the holes detect these chemicals, they will open”可知，这句话的主语是“holes（微孔）”，当微孔检测到化学物质后，会自动开启，因此“they”指代的是前文的“holes”，答案选B。

4.4. What is the main advantage of this new system?

A Saving time.

B Easy to use.

C Saving water.

D Cheap

解析：选C。4. 题目类型：细节理解题 解析：根据文章第三段“This system can help save 45 to 50 percent more water than common watering systems”可知，该系统最主要的优势是节约用水。选项A“节省时间”、选项B“使用便捷”、选项D“价格低廉”均未在文中提及，因此答案选C。

5.5. What does Jan Gould mean by saying the words? A. The earth is heavily polluted. B. People can talk with GrowStream. C. We have to find more natural resources. D. We have to find more natural resources.

A The earth is heavily polluted.

B People can talk with GrowStream.

C We have to find more natural resources.

D New technology can help save natural resources.

解析：选D。5. 题目类型：推理判断题 解析：根据文章最后一段简·古尔德的话，其核心观点是地球自然资源有限，而新技术可以帮助人们更好地保护地球、节约资源。选项A“地球污染严重”文中未提及，选项B“人类能和生长流对话”是字面意思的曲解，选项C“必须寻找更多自然资源”与原文观点不符，因此答案选D。