【答案解析】The lecture talks about two important adaptation abilities of alpine plants. The first one is low-growing feature. Most alpine plants have a height of no more than 10 centimeters and this little height can help them defend wind resistance and repetitive snow. Their deep root systems help them exploit more available food resources from the soil. Another feature is that they have a waxy coating, preventing moisture from evaporating and helping store water inside. Lastly, these perennials cost little energy and can use stored energy from previous year's growth. [听力原文] W: Alpine plants are strongly adapted to the extreme climates found at high altitude. They often grow in barren soil or shattered rock, with great changes in temperature from searing heat to extreme cold. They are often lashed by gales of forceful winds. However, these plants can still tenaciously grow, thanks to two important adaptation abilities. The low-growing feature of alpine plants has obvious advantage in defending wind resistance and repetitive snow falls. Most alpine plants have a height of no more than 10 centimeters and most of their biomass is concentrated in the roots, so these features can help prevent themselves from being destroyed by the wind. Water and available nutrients often lie far below the surface in mountain habitats. Plants with deep root systems are more capable to exploit available food resources. Another important feature is that a waxy coating can be found on some plants' leaves and stems in deserts and the alps. The wax prevents moisture from evaporating and helps to store water inside. Thick, waxy succulent leaves are another adaptation to help prevent water loss. It's interesting that alpine plants have many characteristics same with those in the deserts. The plants growing in these different habitats have to cope with similar harsh conditions and find ways to prevent water loss. Almost all alpine species are perennials. It takes a tremendous amount of energy for an annual plant to germinate, grow, produce a flower, and mature a seed all in one short season. It takes less energy for a perennial to grow and use stored energy from previous year's growth. If the growing season is too short in a given year or the conditions are not right, an annual plant may die without ever having the chance to produce the seeds.