Can plants talk? Modern research has found something amazing: they do communicate with each other.

       It has been known for some time that plants use chemicals to communicate with each other. This happens when a plant gets attacked(受到攻击) by insects. The plant gives out chemicals from the leaves that are being eaten. This is like a warning, or a call for help: “I’m being attacked!” When another plant gets the chemicals, it starts to give out its own, different chemicals. Some of these chemicals drive insects away. Others attract the wasps(黄蜂)! The wasps kill the insects that are eating the plants. Scientists hope to learn more about this plant warning system, so that we can use it to grow more crops.

More surprisingly, plants also use sound to communicate. People can’t hear these sounds; but plants are making them. Some plants make noises with their roots. Corn and chili plants do this. Some trees make clicking noises when there is not enough water.

Most surprisingly of all, plants have an amazing system of communication that can link nearly every plant in a forest. Scientists call this system the “wood wide web”. The wood wide web is linked underground by fungi(真菌). It links the roots of different plants to each other. It is in some ways similar to the Internet we use. Using the wood wide web, plants can share information and even food with each other.

Scientists are learning more every day about the secret ways in which plants talk to each other. Maybe one day we will know enough about plant communication to be able to “talk” with them.

【小题1】What will plants do when they are attacked by insects?

A．They will kill the insects quickly.

B．They will control the wasps to kill the insects.

C．They will send out signals to ask for help.

D．They will produce chemicals as a warning or a call for help.

【小题2】How are the wood wide web linked by fungi?

A．By making noises with their roots.

B．By connecting the roots of different plants to each other.

C．By sharing food and information with each other.

D．By spreading chemicals to each other.

【小题3】What is the writer’s purpose of the last paragraph?

A．To give people hope for further studies.

B．To praise scientists for their great achievements.

C．To call on people to protect the plants on Earth.

D．To encourage people to communicate with plants.

【小题4】You may read the passage in the ________ section of a newspaper.

A．culture	B．science
C．health	D．business

【小题5】What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．The secret language of plants.

B．The study about the plant warning system.

C．The plants that give warnings.

D．Why scientists do research about plants.