Deer and the Forests of Kinkazan
题目：
The ancient beech forests of Kinkazan Island off the coast of northern Japan are in danger of disappearing. Few beech saplings (young trees)grow tall enough to reach the forest canopy(highest plant layer), so old trees are not replaced when they die. Most saplings are killed because they are browsed(fed on) by sika deer. Ironically, the slow decline in the forest results from an ancient tradition of protecting plants and animals because the island is the sacred site of an eighth-century shrine of the ancient Japanese Shinto religion. There are no natural predators of deer on the island and hunting is not allowed, so the number of deer has reached an exceptionally high density(50 per square kilometer). In 1984， after a winter of deep snowfall, half of approximately 600 deer starved to death, but the population has rebounded since then. Sika deer are remarkably versatile, feeding not only on the foliage of broad-leaved trees and conifers, but also on grass, dwarf bamboo, and (during the winter) tree bark. In some parts of Japan fallen leaves from deciduous trees make up a large proportion of their yearly diet, so their populations remain high even after most of the edible plants in the understory (lower level of growth) have been destroyed. Also, when forest openings are colonized by grass, a new and nutritious source of food becomes available, helping to sustain high numbers of deer. So even after tree saplings and many species of herbs and shrubs have been stripped out of the forest understory, the deer population will not necessarily decline.
The result has been a steady change in the forest ecosystem. The forest understory is dominated by Leucothoe grayana and other inedible shrub species. One interesting consequence was that Japanese macaques, the indigenous monkeys of Japan, were forced to shift their diet to include more plants that are inedible to deer, such as the leaves of Japanese barberry. A potentially more serious long-term trend is the invasion of canopy gaps by blackberry and silver grass. Because of the high mortality of tree saplings, these openings do not mature into forest but instead remain as dense patches of low shrubs and grass. Bit by bit, the ancient forest on Kinkazan Island is becoming an open grassland.
If grazing (eating) by deer is particularly intensive, then the site may undergo further change to become an expanse of Japanese lawn grass, Zoysia japonica. Zoysia is a short, dense grass that thrives with moderate grazing. When cropped by deer or other grazers, it produces vigorous new rhizomes (underground plant stems), stems, and leaves. Consequently, grazing increases the productivity of this grass, triggering the growth of tender young leaves that have high nutritional value for deer. The result is a grazing lawn, which is the type of vegetation found on the short-grass prairies of North America and the Serengeti Plains in East Africa. In these grassland systems, frequent grazing favors low-stature species that produce a dense carpet of grass with highly nutritious foliage and a large amount of food per bite, which increases the efficiency of grazers. This pattern is expected in ecosystems dominated by numerous grazers such as the prairie dogs and bison of North American short-grass prairies or wildebeest and other antelopes in East Africa grasslands, but is unexpected in a Japanese deciduous forest. Sika deer and Zoysia lawn grass form a self-perpetuating system, however, because deer favor this grass by eliminating competing plant species that would grow taller than the grass and shade it out, and Zoysia seeds are readily dispersed in the droppings of deer. A high proportion of Zoysia grass seeds pass through the gut of deer without being destroyed, and these seeds have a higher germination (development)rate than seeds that have not passed through a deer. Kinkazan Island already has a 17-hectare patch of Zoysia grassland that supports an amazingly dense concentration of deer (814 deer per square kilometer).
The key role of deer in this process was demonstrated by enclosing some grassy areas with deer-proof fences. When grassland on Kinkazan Island was protected from deer with fences, Zoysia grass was replaced with taller silver grass within a few years, and woody shrubs and tree saplings eventually grew taller than and replaced the silver grass. In contrast, areas outside the fences were still covered with short Zoysia lawn grass.
1
The ancient beech forests of Kinkazan Island off the coast of northern Japan are in danger of disappearing. Few beech saplings (young trees)grow tall enough to reach the forest canopy(highest plant layer), so old trees are not replaced when they die. Most saplings are killed because they are browsed(fed on) by sika deer. Ironically, the slow decline in the forest results from an ancient tradition of protecting plants and animals because the island is the sacred site of an eighth-century shrine of the ancient Japanese Shinto religion. There are no natural predators of deer on the island and hunting is not allowed, so the number of deer has reached an exceptionally high density(50 per square kilometer). In 1984， after a winter of deep snowfall, half of approximately 600 deer starved to death, but the population has rebounded since then. Sika deer are remarkably versatile, feeding not only on the foliage of broad-leaved trees and conifers, but also on grass, dwarf bamboo, and (during the winter) tree bark. In some parts of Japan fallen leaves from deciduous trees make up a large proportion of their yearly diet, so their populations remain high even after most of the edible plants in the understory (lower level of growth) have been destroyed. Also, when forest openings are colonized by grass, a new and nutritious source of food becomes available, helping to sustain high numbers of deer. So even after tree saplings and many species of herbs and shrubs have been stripped out of the forest understory, the deer population will not necessarily decline.
The word “versatile” in the passage is closest in meaning to
Vocabulary Questions词汇题
Ahard to control
Bhard to satisfy
Cable to adapt
Ddestructive
2
The ancient beech forests of Kinkazan Island off the coast of northern Japan are in danger of disappearing. Few beech saplings (young trees)grow tall enough to reach the forest canopy(highest plant layer), so old trees are not replaced when they die. Most saplings are killed because they are browsed(fed on) by sika deer. Ironically, the slow decline in the forest results from an ancient tradition of protecting plants and animals because the island is the sacred site of an eighth-century shrine of the ancient Japanese Shinto religion. There are no natural predators of deer on the island and hunting is not allowed, so the number of deer has reached an exceptionally high density(50 per square kilometer). In 1984， after a winter of deep snowfall, half of approximately 600 deer starved to death, but the population has rebounded since then. Sika deer are remarkably versatile, feeding not only on the foliage of broad-leaved trees and conifers, but also on grass, dwarf bamboo, and (during the winter) tree bark. In some parts of Japan fallen leaves from deciduous trees make up a large proportion of their yearly diet, so their populations remain high even after most of the edible plants in the understory (lower level of growth) have been destroyed. Also, when forest openings are colonized by grass, a new and nutritious source of food becomes available, helping to sustain high numbers of deer. So even after tree saplings and many species of herbs and shrubs have been stripped out of the forest understory, the deer population will not necessarily decline.
According to paragraph 1, what is one reason that sika deer populations have been able to reach high density levels on Kinkazan lsland?
Factual Information Questions事实信息题
AThere are no animals on Kinkazan Island that prey on sika deer.
BSevere winter conditions have little or no negative effect on sika deer.
CHerbs and shrubs that are harmful to deer have been stripped out of the forests.
DHunting is limited on Kinkazan lsland to the area surrounding an eiehth-century shrine
3
The result has been a steady change in the forest ecosystem. The forest understory is dominated by Leucothoe grayana and other inedible shrub species. One interesting consequence was that Japanese macaques, the indigenous monkeys of Japan, were forced to shift their diet to include more plants that are inedible to deer, such as the leaves of Japanese barberry. A potentially more serious long-term trend is the invasion of canopy gaps by blackberry and silver grass. Because of the high mortality of tree saplings, these openings do not mature into forest but instead remain as dense patches of low shrubs and grass. Bit by bit, the ancient forest on Kinkazan Island is becoming an open grassland.
According to paragraph 2, how has the changing deer population affected the forest ecosystem on Kinkazan Island?
Factual Information Questions事实信息题
AIt has forced japanese macaque populations to shift their location on the island.
BIt has created areas within forests where no vegetation of any kind grows.
CIt has led to the creation of dense patches of silver grass and blackberry shrubs.
DIt has caused the disappearance of Japanese barberry and other important plants.
4
The result has been a steady change in the forest ecosystem. The forest understory is dominated by Leucothoe grayana and other inedible shrub species. One interesting consequence was that Japanese macaques, the indigenous monkeys of Japan, were forced to shift their diet to include more plants that are inedible to deer, such as the leaves of Japanese barberry. A potentially more serious long-term trend is the invasion of canopy gaps by blackberry and silver grass. Because of the high mortality of tree saplings, these openings do not mature into forest but instead remain as dense patches of low shrubs and grass. Bit by bit, the ancient forest on Kinkazan Island is becoming an open grassland.
Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 2 about Leucothoe grayana on Kinkazan lsland?
Inference Questions推理题
AIt is now the main food oflapanese macaques.
BIts populations have been greatly reduced by changes in the forest ecosystem.
CIt is one of the tallest plants in the Kinkazan forests.
DIt has become one of the main plants of the understory because deer do not eat it.
5
If grazing (eating) by deer is particularly intensive, then the site may undergo further change to become an expanse of Japanese lawn grass, Zoysia japonica. Zoysia is a short, dense grass that thrives with moderate grazing. When cropped by deer or other grazers, it produces vigorous new rhizomes (underground plant stems), stems, and leaves. Consequently, grazing increases the productivity of this grass, triggering the growth of tender young leaves that have high nutritional value for deer. The result is a grazing lawn, which is the type of vegetation found on the short-grass prairies of North America and the Serengeti Plains in East Africa. In these grassland systems, frequent grazing favors low-stature species that produce a dense carpet of grass with highly nutritious foliage and a large amount of food per bite, which increases the efficiency of grazers. This pattern is expected in ecosystems dominated by numerous grazers such as the prairie dogs and bison of North American short-grass prairies or wildebeest and other antelopes in East Africa grasslands, but is unexpected in a Japanese deciduous forest. Sika deer and Zoysia lawn grass form a self-perpetuating system, however, because deer favor this grass by eliminating competing plant species that would grow taller than the grass and shade it out, and Zoysia seeds are readily dispersed in the droppings of deer. A high proportion of Zoysia grass seeds pass through the gut of deer without being destroyed, and these seeds have a higher germination (development)rate than seeds that have not passed through a deer. Kinkazan Island already has a 17-hectare patch of Zoysia grassland that supports an amazingly dense concentration of deer (814 deer per square kilometer).
Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
Sentence Simplification Questions句子简化题
AEcosystems dominated by grazers include North American short-grass prairies, East African grasslands, and japanese deciduous forests.
BThis pattern is not expected in aJapanese deciduous forest, though it is in certain grazer-dominated ecosystems.
CGrazers such as prairie dogs, bison, wildebeests, and other antelopes are unexpected in lapanese forests
DThis pattern is expected in numerous ecosystems, including short-grass prairies and grasslands.
6
If grazing (eating) by deer is particularly intensive, then the site may undergo further change to become an expanse of Japanese lawn grass, Zoysia japonica. Zoysia is a short, dense grass that thrives with moderate grazing. When cropped by deer or other grazers, it produces vigorous new rhizomes (underground plant stems), stems, and leaves. Consequently, grazing increases the productivity of this grass, triggering the growth of tender young leaves that have high nutritional value for deer. The result is a grazing lawn, which is the type of vegetation found on the short-grass prairies of North America and the Serengeti Plains in East Africa. In these grassland systems, frequent grazing favors low-stature species that produce a dense carpet of grass with highly nutritious foliage and a large amount of food per bite, which increases the efficiency of grazers. This pattern is expected in ecosystems dominated by numerous grazers such as the prairie dogs and bison of North American short-grass prairies or wildebeest and other antelopes in East Africa grasslands, but is unexpected in a Japanese deciduous forest. Sika deer and Zoysia lawn grass form a self-perpetuating system, however, because deer favor this grass by eliminating competing plant species that would grow taller than the grass and shade it out, and Zoysia seeds are readily dispersed in the droppings of deer. A high proportion of Zoysia grass seeds pass through the gut of deer without being destroyed, and these seeds have a higher germination (development)rate than seeds that have not passed through a deer. Kinkazan Island already has a 17-hectare patch of Zoysia grassland that supports an amazingly dense concentration of deer (814 deer per square kilometer).
According to paragraph 3, which of the following statements about Zoysia grass is NOT correct?
Negative Factual Information Questions否定事实信息题
AZoysia grass grows particularly well in shady areas.
BZoysia plants grow very close together and remain low to the ground.
CZoysia benefits from being regularly eaten by animals.
DNew growth of the Zoysia plant provides good nutrition for grazers.
7
If grazing (eating) by deer is particularly intensive, then the site may undergo further change to become an expanse of Japanese lawn grass, Zoysia japonica. Zoysia is a short, dense grass that thrives with moderate grazing. When cropped by deer or other grazers, it produces vigorous new rhizomes (underground plant stems), stems, and leaves. Consequently, grazing increases the productivity of this grass, triggering the growth of tender young leaves that have high nutritional value for deer. The result is a grazing lawn, which is the type of vegetation found on the short-grass prairies of North America and the Serengeti Plains in East Africa. In these grassland systems, frequent grazing favors low-stature species that produce a dense carpet of grass with highly nutritious foliage and a large amount of food per bite, which increases the efficiency of grazers. This pattern is expected in ecosystems dominated by numerous grazers such as the prairie dogs and bison of North American short-grass prairies or wildebeest and other antelopes in East Africa grasslands, but is unexpected in a Japanese deciduous forest. Sika deer and Zoysia lawn grass form a self-perpetuating system, however, because deer favor this grass by eliminating competing plant species that would grow taller than the grass and shade it out, and Zoysia seeds are readily dispersed in the droppings of deer. A high proportion of Zoysia grass seeds pass through the gut of deer without being destroyed, and these seeds have a higher germination (development)rate than seeds that have not passed through a deer. Kinkazan Island already has a 17-hectare patch of Zoysia grassland that supports an amazingly dense concentration of deer (814 deer per square kilometer).
In paragraph 3, why does the author mention that Zoysia seeds that have passed through the gut of a deer have a higher germination rate than seeds that have not?
Factual Information Questions事实信息题
ATo explain why Zoysia grass grows better in some parts of Kinkazan forest than in others
BTo point out a similarity between the Kinkazan forest ecosystem and grazer-dominated ecosystems elsewhere
CTo offer a reason why sika deer favor Zoysia grass over competing plant species
DTo help support the claim that a special, mutually beneficial relationship exists between sika deer and Zoysia grass
8
The key role of deer in this process was demonstrated by enclosing some grassy areas with deer-proof fences. When grassland on Kinkazan Island was protected from deer with fences, Zoysia grass was replaced with taller silver grass within a few years, and woody shrubs and tree saplings eventually grew taller than and replaced the silver grass. In contrast, areas outside the fences were still covered with short Zoysia lawn grass.
According to paragraph 4, what happened to the grassy areas on Kinkazan lsland that were fenced off from deer?
Factual Information Questions事实信息题
AWithin a few years, Zoysia grass replaced the taller silver grass in these areas.
BThe forest gradually began to return in these areas.
CIn most cases.the fenced-off areas remained covered with short lawn grass.
DWoody shrubs replaced tree saplings in these areas.
9
The ancient beech forests of Kinkazan Island off the coast of northern Japan are in danger of disappearing. [■] Few beech saplings (young trees)grow tall enough to reach the forest canopy(highest plant layer), so old trees are not replaced when they die. [■] Most saplings are killed because they are browsed(fed on) by sika deer. Ironically, the slow decline in the forest results from an ancient tradition of protecting plants and animals because the island is the sacred site of an eighth-century shrine of the ancient Japanese Shinto religion. [■] There are no natural predators of deer on the island and hunting is not allowed, so the number of deer has reached an exceptionally high density(50 per square kilometer). [■] In 1984， after a winter of deep snowfall, half of approximately 600 deer starved to death, but the population has rebounded since then. Sika deer are remarkably versatile, feeding not only on the foliage of broad-leaved trees and conifers, but also on grass, dwarf bamboo, and (during the winter) tree bark. In some parts of Japan fallen leaves from deciduous trees make up a large proportion of their yearly diet, so their populations remain high even after most of the edible plants in the understory (lower level of growth) have been destroyed. Also, when forest openings are colonized by grass, a new and nutritious source of food becomes available, helping to sustain high numbers of deer. So even after tree saplings and many species of herbs and shrubs have been stripped out of the forest understory, the deer population will not necessarily decline.
Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage
The failure of young trees to reach maturity is not generally due to disease or insect infestation.Insert Text Questions句子插入题
Where would the sentence best fit？Click on a square sentence to the passage.
10
The ancient beech forests of Kinkazan lsland are gradually disappearing.
Prose Summary Questions概要小结题
Select 3 answers
AHigh- density populations of sika deer are expanding their territory on the island, spreading outward from forested areas to areas covered with low shrubs and grasses.
BGaps are opening up in the forest canopy when old trees die because most beech saplings are killed as a result of browsing by deer and thus never reach adult size.
CPlants that deer dislike now dominate in the remaining forest understory, some animals have had to change their diet, and open areas with grass and low shrubs are increasing.
DSome forest plants, such as the blackberry and silver grass cannot grow in the increased sunlight present in canopy gaps and thus are disappearing from the forest ecosystem.
EDeer promote the growth and spread of Zoysia lawn grass, which in turn benefits deer by providing them with a nutritious food that can be efficiently consumed.
FStudies have demonstrated that deer prefer to eat silver grass when both it and Zoysia grass are available, and when deer are removed from the area, Zoysia grass tends to replace silver grass.
