First, pruning may be done to make sure that trees have a desired shape or size. The object may be to get a tree of the right height, and at the same time to help the growth of small side branches which will thicken its appearance or give it a special shape. Secondly, pruning may be done to make the tree healthier. You may cut diseaed or dead wood, or branches that are rubbing against each other and thus cause wounds. The health of a tree may be encouraged by removing branches that are blocking up the centre and so preventing the free movement of air.

　　One result of pruning is that an open wound is left on the tree and this provides an easy entry for disease, but itis a wound that will heal. Often there is a race between the healing and the desease as to whether the tree will live or die, so that there is a period when the tree is at risk. It should be the aim of every gardener to reduce which has been pruned smooth and clean, for healing will be slowed down by roughness. You should allow the cut surface to dry for a few hurs and then paint it with one of the substances available from garden shops produced especially for this purpose. Pruning is usually without interference from the leaves and also it is very unlikely that the cuts yu make will bleed. If this does happen,it is, of course,impossible to paint them properly.

　　1.Pruning should be done to ______.

　　a.make the tree grow taller

　　b.improve the shape of the tree

　　c.get rid of the small branches

　　d.make the small branches thicker

　　2.Trees become unhealthy if the gardener ______.

　　a.allows too many branches to grow in the middle

　　b.does not protect them from wind

　　c.forces them to grow too quickly

　　d.damages some of the small side branches

　　3.Why is a special substance painted on the tree?

　　a.To make a wound smooth

　　b.To prevent disease entering a wound

　　c.To cover a rough surface

　　d.To help a wound to dry

　　4.A good gardener prunes a tree______.

　　a.at intervals throughout the year

　　b.as quickly as possible

　　c.occasionally when necessary

　　d.regular every winter

　　5.What was the author's purpose when writing this passage?

　　a.To give pratical instruction for pruning a tree.

　　b.To give a general description of pruning

　　c.To explain how trees develop diseases

　　d.To discuss different methods of pruning.

　　答案：babca

　　四級閱讀理解精選練習二：

　　On Thursday afternoon Mrs. Carke, dressed for going out, took her handbag with her money and her key in it, pulled the door behind her to lock it and went to the over 60s Club. She always went there on Thursdays. It was a nice outing for an old woman who lived alone.

　　At six o'clock she cane home, let herself in and at once smelt cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke in her house? How? How? Had someone got in? She checked the back door and the windows. All were locked or fastened, as usual. There was no sign of forced entry.

　　Over a cup of tea she wondered whether someone might have a key that fitted her front door-"a master key"perhaps. So she stayed at home the following Thursday. Nothing happened. Was anyone watching her movements? On the Thursday after that she went out at her usual time,dressed as usual, but she didn't go to the club. Instead she took a short cut home again, letting herself in through her garden and the back door. She settled down to wait.

　　It was just after four o'clock when the front door bell rang.Mrs. Clarke was making a cup of tea at the time. The bell rang again, and then she heard her letter-box being pushed open. With the kettle of boiling water in her hand, she moved quietly towards the front door. A long piece of wire appeared through the letter-box, and then a hand. The wire turned and caught around the knob on the door-lock. Mrs. Clarke raised the kettle and poured the water over the hand. There was a shout outside, and the skin seemed to drop off the fingers like a glove. The wire fell to the floor, the hand was pulled back, and Mrs. Clarke heard the sound of running feet.

　　1.Mrs. Clarke looded forward to Thursday because_______.

　　a.she worked at a club on the day

　　b.she said visitors on Thursdays

　　c.she visited a club on Thursday

　　d.a special visitor came on Thursday

　　2.If someone had made a forced entery,_______.

　　a.Mrs.Clarke would have found a broken door or window

　　b.he or she was still in the house

　　c.things would have been thown about

　　d.he or she would have needed a master key

　　3.On the third Thursday Mrs. Clarke went out_______.

　　a.because she didn't want to miss the club again

　　b.to see if the thief was hnging about outside

　　c.to the club but then changed her mind

　　d.in an attempt to trick the thief

　　4.The lock on the front door was one which_______.

　　a.needed a piece of wire to open it

　　b.could he opened from inside without a key

　　c.could't be opened without a key

　　d.used a knob instead of a key

　　5.The wire feel to the floor_______.

　　a.because Mrs.Clarke refused to open the door

　　b.when the man's glove dropped off

　　c.because it was too hot to hold

　　d.because the man justwanted to get away

　　答案：cadbd