单选题 Artificial flowers are used for scientific as well as for decorative purposes. They are made from a variety of materials, such as wax and glass, so skillfully that they can scarcely be distinguished from natural flowers. In making such models, painstaking skill and artistry are called for, as well as thorough knowledge of plant structure. The collection of glass flowers in the Botanical Museum of Harvard University is the most famous in North America and is widely known throughout the scientific world. In all, there are several thousand models in colored glass, the work of two artists-naturalists, Leopold Blaschka and his son Rudolph.
The intention was to have the collection represent at least one member of each flower family native to the United States. Although it was never completed, it contains more than seven hundred species representing 164 families of flowering plants, a group of fruits showing the effect of fungus diseases, and thousands of flower parts and magnified details. Every detail of these is accurately reproduced in color and structure. The models ate kept in locked cases, as they are too valuable and fragile for classroom use.

单选题 Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A. An Extensive Collection of Glass Flowers.
B. The Live Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka.
C. Flowers Native to the United States.
D. Materials Used for Artificial Flowers.

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】根据文章中心大意，第一段第一句和第四句，Artificial flowers are used for scientific as well as for decorative purposes. The collection of glass flowers in the Botanical Museum of Harvard University is the most famous in North America and is widely known throughout the scientific world。作出该项选择。

单选题 Which of the following statements about Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka is TRUE?
A. They were brothers. B. They were artists.
C. They were florists. D. They were farmers.

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】根据第一段最后一句，the work of two artists-naturalists，Leopold Blaschka and his son Rudolph作出该项选择。

单选题 It can be inferred from the passage that the goal of Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka was to ______.
A. create a botanical garden where only exotic flowers grow
B. do a thorough study of plant structure
C. make a copy of one member of each United States flower family
D. show that glass flowers are more realistic than wax flowers

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】根据第二段第一句，The intention was to have the collection represent at least one member of each flower family native to the United States作出该项选择。

单选题 In line 2 (Pare. 2), the word "it" refers to which of the following phrases?
A. "the intention" (line 1) B. "the collection" (line 1)
C. "one member" (line 1) D. "each flower family" (line 1)

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】此处考察代词的指代用法。It指前一句的表语从句，to have the collection represent at least one member of each flower family native to the United States。

单选题 Which of the following is NOT included in the display at the Botanical Museum of Harvard University?
A. Models of 164 families of flowering plants.
B. Magnified details of flower parts.
C. Several species of native birds.
D. A group of diseased fruits.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】根据第二段第二句，it contains more than seven hundred species representing 164 families of flowering plants, a group of fruits showing the effect of fungus diseases, and thousands of flower parts and magnified details，选项A、B、D都提到，排除选项C。