In the 1950s, a family that owned a farm near Beulah, Michigan kept a bull chained to an elm (榆树). The bull paced around the tree, dragging the heavy iron chain, which led to a groove (槽) in the bark . The groove deepened over the years. Though for whatever reason, it did not kill the tree.
After some years, the family took their bull away. They cut the chain, leaving the loop around the tree and one link hanging down.
Then one year, agricultural disaster struck Michigan in the form of Dutch Elm Disease. All of the elms lining the road leading to the farm became infected and died. Everyone thought that the old elm would be the next.
The farm owners considered doing the safe thing: pulling it out and cutting it up into firewood before it died. But they simply could not bring themselves to do it. It was as if the old tree had bee a family friend. So they decided to let nature take its course.
Amazingly, the tree did not die. Nobody could understand why it was the only elm still standing in the county!
Plant experts from Michigan State University came out to observe the tree. They observed the scar left by the iron chain, now almost pletely covered by bark. The experts decided that it was the chain that saved the elm’s life. They reasoned that the tree must have absorbed so much iron from the chain that it became immune to the virus.
It’s said that what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger. Or, as Earnest Hemingway put it, Life breaks us all, but afterwards, many of us are strongest at the broken places.
【小题1】What did the family do with the elm when the agricultural disaster hit Michigan one year?A．They invited plant experts to observe it.B．They pulled it out and chopped it up into firewood.C．They prevented it from being infected by the disease.D．They did nothing and just let it be.【小题2】Which of the following statements is TRUE?A．A groove formed because of natural forces.B．The family decided to keep the tree because they had bee attached to it.C．All of the elms in Beulah, Michigan died of the disease.D．The plant experts advised the family to chop it down.【小题3】What actually saved the elm?A．The bull.B．The groove.C．The iron chain.D．The experts.【小题4】What would be the best title for the passage?A．Let nature take its courseB．Strengthened by our woundsC．Constant dripping wears away a stoneD．Bend, but don’t breakD
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(答案→)D
解析：在一个农场了，一颗榆树上用铁链子拴住一头牛，牛整天围着树转，形成了深深的疤痕，后来牛被牵走了，留下了铁链。一年榆树遭灾，许多树感染死亡，而这颗榆树却活了下来。专家说是铁链子使榆树有了免疫力。通过讲述一棵榆树的命运向读者讲述这样一个道理：伤疤困难会使我们更坚强地战胜困难，取得胜利。
【小题1】细节理解题。根据文中的So they decided to let nature take its course.可知，他们决定顺其自然和D项意思一致。
【小题2】推理判断题。A。第一段介绍：槽不是自然的力量，而是主人把一头牛用一个链子拴在树上形成的；根据第三段的描述，这家人把树看作是一个朋友；所有通往农场的道路两边的榆树都死了；文中没有提到植物专家的事。所以其他都不对，只有B正确。
【小题3】细节理解题。根据文中的The experts decided that it was the chain that saved the elm’s life.可知，是铁链子救了榆树的命。所以选C。
【小题4】主题归纳题。根据最后一段的意思可知：伤痛使人更坚强。所以选B。