You can put a postage stamp on it, you can write an address on it, and you can send it through the U. S. mail. No, it’s not an envelope or a package. It’s the amazing coconut! The coconut is different from most other fruits because every part of it is useful. People drink the milk and eat the meat, they use coconut oil as a lotion (护肤液), and they use the husks for containers (容器). People in some island nations have even used the coconut in place of money. It is possible that humans have been using coconuts in many of these different ways for thousands of years. Even today, people are still finding new uses for the coconut.

One of the more exciting uses of the coconut is as a source of energy in place of petroleum (石油). Scientists around the world are working on using coconuts for energy because coconuts are cheap, clean, and renewable. Already, coconut-rich countries such as Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Vanuatu are using coconut oil for this purpose. Engineers from these countries have made an effective biofuel out of coconut oil and alcohol. The fuel can power cars, trucks, ships, and even electric-power plants. In addition, the South Pacific islands of Tokelau are using coconut oil along with solar energy as their primary energy source. The two together can produce 100 percent of the electricity the islands need.

Students at Baylor University in Texas received a grant to study the coconut husk. The result shows that coconut husks can take in water very well. Mixing coconut husks with dry soil helps the soil to hold onto more of the water. The students are also finding that the fibers can replace plastic in some cases. For example, the students are looking into using coconut husk fibers instead of plastic in parts of car interiors. If this is possible, it will help to make vehicles more environmentally friendly.

The husk of the coconut is a perfect package. It protects the coconut from damage. When the coconut falls on the ground or into water, the husk protects it. Its strong husk is the reason the U. S. Postal Service allows people to send the coconut without any extra packaging anywhere in the country. All that is necessary is to stick some stamps right onto the coconut. Each year, tourists on the Hawaiian island of Molokai post about 3, 000 of these “coconut postcards”.

Coconuts grow naturally in over 80 countries of the world. They require only sun and regular rainfall. No extra care is needed. Every year, these 80 countries produce more than 61 million tons of coconuts. It is not surprising, then, that people want to find multiple uses for the coconut. Because they’re an easy-to-grow resource, coconuts really are more than just great souvenirs to bring home after a trip to the tropics.

【小题1】In Paragraph 2, what does the underlined part “this purpose” mean?

A．Coconuts are not only cheap and clean, but also renewable.

B．An effective biofuel is made out of coconut oil and alcohol.

C．People in coconut-rich countries use coconut a lot in daily lives.

D．Coconuts’ husks produce a source of energy in place of petroleum.

【小题2】What feature of the husk makes it so useful for planting?

A．The husk can take in water well.	B．The husk can be used instead of plastic.
C．The husk can be quickly mixed with soil.	D．The husk can help protect the environment.

【小题3】In the last paragraph, the writer proves that coconuts are an easy-to-grow resource by ________.

A．listing the facts	B．showing the results
C．expressing the opinions	D．comparing the numbers

【小题4】Which is the most suitable title for this passage?

A．A Perfect Package	B．A Fruit with Rich Uses
C．A Source of Energy	D．An Easy-to-grow Resource