Last summer, we visited a bank in Kunming, but this bank holds life instead of money. It’s called the Germplasm Bank of Wild Species in Southwest China (中国西南野生生物种质资源库). Its seed (种子) bank, the largest one in Asia, keeps nearly 100,000 collections from over 11,000 kinds of wild plants.

We learned that many scientists made hard journeys to fill this bank. They climbed mountains, crossed highlands, and traveled through forests to collect valuable seeds. One scientist, Li Heng, led more than 20 trips to high mountains — even after the age of 61 — and got badly hurt after falling from the back of a horse during her work. But nothing could stop her. She often said to her team, “Choose one thing, and give yourself to it.” Another scientist, Guo Yongjie, collected seeds from Mount Qomolangma at 6,212 meters above sea level. This is the highest place ever for collecting plant seeds. He spent over 200 days a year in the wild, just to add one more kind of plant seed to the bank.

“A seed is hope,” one scientist shared. These seeds are not just tiny plant parts; they carry genes (基因) that may help us grow better crops (庄稼), make new medicines, or bring back lost forests. But some kinds of plants are disappearing, and we may lose them forever. Therefore, collecting valuable seeds is a race against time. It is a job that needs patience, courage and love.

Saving seeds is everyone’s job. Such seed banks are not only found in China. By working with seed banks in Norway, the UK, and some other countries around the world, the scientists can turn these treasures into a shared hope in the far future.

As we left, we had a deeper respect for the scientists who have spent their lives on this quiet but great work. The seeds they save carry life, hope, and a better future for all living things on the earth.

1.1. What do the numbers in Paragraph 2 show?

A The value of the highlands.

B The efforts of the scientists.

C The influence of the forests.

D The heights of the mountains.

解析：选B。推理判断题。第二段列举数字：李恒61岁后仍带队20多次进山；郭永杰在海拔6212米珠峰采集种子，每年200多天在野外。这些数字体现科学家采集种子付出的巨大努力。所以选B。

2.2. Why is collecting valuable seeds called “a race against time”?

A Because the task needs patience.

B Because the job is slowing down.

C Because many seeds share genes.

D Because some plants are dying out.

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据文中“But some kinds of plants are disappearing, and we may lose them forever. Therefore, collecting valuable seeds is a race against time.”，一些植物正在灭绝，我们可能会永远失去它们，所以采集珍贵种子是和时间赛跑。die out和disappear同义。所以选D。

3.3. What can help scientists save seeds according to Paragraph 4?

A Working separately.

B Collecting plants freely.

C Cooperating internationally.

D Spreading hopes widely.

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据文中“By working with seed banks in Norway, the UK, and some other countries around the world, the scientists can turn these treasures into a shared hope in the far future.”，科学家和挪威、英国等国种子库合作，也就是开展国际合作来保护种子。cooperate internationally国际合作。所以选C。

4.4. What is the best title (标题) for the text?

A Seeds of hope

B Changes for lives

C Plants on the earth

D Scientists in banks

解析：选A。主旨大意题。全文反复提到“A seed is hope”，种子承载生命、希望与地球生物美好的未来。Seeds of hope（希望之种）最贴合文章主旨。所以选A。