Do you know mulch? Mulch is a protective cover of material that is spread on top of soil. It is usually made out of organic material, like crop waste. Farmers may keep the remains of corn or other crops on top of the soil. This creates mulch on the soil surface. The plant remains help protect the soil against wind and water damage. Mulching is one of the best things people can do for their plants. It also helps keep the soil from getting dry, and reduces the need for watering plants. It also limits temperature changes in the soil. And it stops unwanted plants, or weeds, from growing.
Organic mulch improves the condition of soil. As the mulch breaks down, it provides material which keeps the soil from getting hard. This improves the growth of roots and increases the movement of water through the soil. It also improves the ability of the soil to hold water. Organic mulch contains nutrients for plants. It also provides good environment for earthworms and other helpful living things in the soil.
It is easy to find organic mulch materials. Cut-up leaves and small pieces of tree bark can be used. Grass cuttings are also a good mulch for plants. Mulch from news- papers works well in controlling weeds.
The best time to add mulch depends on your goal. Mulch provides a thick barrier between the soil and the air. This helps to reduce temperature changes in the soil. As a result, mulched soil will be cooler than other soil in the summer. In winter, the mulched soil may not freeze as deeply as other soil. The best time is after the ground has frozen, but before the coldest weather arrives. Spreading mulch before the ground has frozen may attract small animals searching for a warm place to spend the winter. Delaying the spreading should prevent this problem. The animals will probably find another place to live.
【小题1】The author tells us the following EXCEPT .A．what mulch is and its advantagesB．the best time to add mulchC．the bad effects of mulchD．what can be mulch on the soil surface【小题2】 The following can be used as organic materials to make mulch EXCEPT .A．tree barksB．plasticC．grass cuttingsD．cut-up leaves【小题3】 The main idea of Paragraph 2 is that organic mulch can .A．improve the condition of soilB．improve the ability of the soil to hold waterC．provide a good environment for earthwormsD．improve the growth of roots and increase the movement of water through the soil【小题4】 From the last paragraph, we know .A．the best time to add mulch is in spring and summerB．the best time to add mulch is after the coldest weather arrivesC．the best time to add mulch is exactly the same time of each yearD．choosing the best time to add mulch can avoid attracting small animalsC
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(答案→)C
解析：文章介绍了农业中覆盖层的一些知识。覆盖层是置于植物周围土壤上助其生长的枯树叶、小树枝或粪肥等。覆盖层不但能够改良土壤环境，而且随着覆盖层的分解，它还能避免土壤的硬化问题。此外覆盖层也有助于水分的保持，但是添加覆盖层的时间也是有讲究的。
【小题1】C细节理解题。文章第一段介绍了mulch是什么，第二段介绍了mulch的好处，第三段讲用什么来充当mulch，第四段提到添加mulch的最佳时间，而对于mulch的坏处文中没有涉及，由此可知答案选C。
【小题2】B细节理解题。根据第三段Cut-up leaves and small pieces of tree bark can be used. Grass cuttings are also a good mulch for plant可知碎树叶、小树枝和碎草都可以用作mulch，故答案选B。
【小题3】A细节理解题。根据It also improves the ability of the soil to hold water可知护根或者覆盖层可以起到改良土壤的作用，所以答案选A。
【小题4】D细节理解题。根据末段Spreading mulch before the ground has frozen may attract small animals searching for a warm place to spend the winter. Delaying the spreading should prevent this problem可知在地面上冻以后添加覆盖层会避免小动物选择温暖的覆盖层过冬，所以选择最佳时间能避免这个问题，故答案选D。考点：考查社会科学类短文阅读。