D
The connection between people and plants has long been the subject of scientific research. Recent studies have found positive effects. A study conducted in Youngstown，Ohio，for example, discovered that greener areas of the city experienced less crime. In another，employees were shown to be 15% more productive when their workplaces were decorated with houseplants.
The engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT)have taken it a step further changing the actual composition of plants in order to get them to perform diverse，even unusual functions. These include plants that have sensors printed onto their leaves to show when they’re short of water and a plant that can detect harmful chemicals in groundwater. ＂We’re thinking about how we can engineer plants to replace functions of the things that we use every day,＂explained Michael Strano, a professor of chemical engineering at MIT.
One of his latest projects has been to make plants grow(发光)in experiments using some common vegetables. Strano’s team found that they could create a faint light for three-and-a-half hours. The light，about one-thousandth of the amount needed to read by，is just a start. The technology, Strano said, could one day be used to light the rooms or even to turn tree into self-powered street lamps.
in the future，the team hopes to develop a version of the technology that can be sprayed onto plant leaves in a one-off treatment that would last the plant’s lifetime. The engineers are also trying to develop an on and off＂switch＂where the glow would fade when exposed to daylight.
Lighting accounts for about 7% of the total electricity consumed in the US. Since lighting is often far removed from the power source(电源)-such as the distance from a power plant to street lamps on a remote highway-a lot of energy is lost during transmission(传输).
Glowing plants could reduce this distance and therefore help save energy.
What is the first paragraph mainly about?
这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了绿色植物对人们很有好处，因此麻省理工学院的工程师开发了一种发光植物。文章介绍了他们发明这种植物的过程，以及这种植物的一些优势，指出在未来发光植物有可能取代路灯，达到节约能源的作用。
主旨大意题。根据第一段中 A study conducted in Youngstown, Ohio, for example ,discovered that greener areas of the city experienced less crime. In another, employees were shown to be 15% more productive when their workplaces were decorated with houseplants.可知例如，在俄亥俄州扬斯敦进行的一项研究发现，城市绿化较好的地区犯罪率较低。在另一项研究中，当员工的工作场所被室内植物装饰时，他们的工作效率会提高15%。由此可知，第一段的主旨是关于绿色植物的益处。故选D。
What is the function of the sensors printed on plant leaves by MIT engineer?
细节理解题。根据第二段中 These include plants that have sensors printed on their leaves to show when they're short of water and a plant that can detect harmful chemicals in groundwater.可知这就包括叶子上印有传感器来显示植物缺水的情况的植物，还有一 种植物可以检测到地下水中的有害化学物质。由此可知，麻省理工学院工程师植物叶片上印上传感器的作用是检测植物缺水 的情况。故选 A。
What can we expect of the glowing plants in the future?
细节理解题。根据最后一段中 Glowing plants could reduce this distance and therefore help save energy.可知发光的植物可以缩短这段距离，从而帮助节约能源。由此可知，这种发光的植物在未来可能有助于减少能源消耗。故选 C。
Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
主旨大意题。根据最后一段中 Lighting accounts for about 7%of the total electricity consumed in the US. Since lighting is often far removed from the power source-such as the distance from a power plant to street lamps on a remote highway-a lot of energy is lost during transmission. Glowing plants could reduce this distance and therefore help save energy.可知照明约占美国总耗电量的 7%。由 于照明通常远离电源，例如从发电厂到偏僻公路上路灯的距离，在传输过程中会损失大量能源。发光的植物可以缩短这段距 离，从而帮助节约能源。结合文章主要说明了绿色植物对人们很有好处，因此麻省理工学院的工程师开发了一种发光植物， 文章介绍了他们发明这种植物的过程，以及这种植物的一些优势，指出在未来发光植物有可能取代路灯，达到节约能源的作用。由此可知，C选项“发光的植物能取代路灯吗？”最符合文章标题。故选 C。