Trees should only be pruned when there is a good and clear reason for doing so and , fortunately,the number of such reasons is small. Pruning involves the cutting away of obergrown and unwanted branches, and the inexperienced gardener can be encouraged by the thought that more damage results from doing it unnecessarily than from leaving the tree to grow in its own way.

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

如何快速准确地进行阅读答题

在回答阅读理解题时，首先要理解文章的主旨和细节。以下是一些快速准确答题的技巧和解题步骤：

1. 把握文章的主旨：阅读文章时，首先要了解文章的主题，抓住文章中心思想。通常在文章的开头或者结尾可以找到明确的表达。

2. 注意题干中的关键词：题目中往往有提示，帮助你聚焦文章中的关键信息。比如，题目中的“目的”“原因”“效果”等词汇，都能引导你找到相关段落或句子。

3. 快速定位相关信息：根据题目关键词，快速扫描文章，定位相关段落或句子进行详细阅读。要特别注意细节，比如数字、特殊词汇等，它们往往是答案的线索。

4. 注意细节和语境：在回答题目时，除了要理解句子意思外，还要结合上下文。文章中的某些句子需要根据语境来做出正确的判断。

5. 排除干扰选项：有些选项看似正确，但仔细阅读后可能会发现与文章内容不符。通过排除法，可以帮助你减少错误。

题目分析与解答：

1. Pruning should be done to ______.

• 文章提到修剪是为了确保树木的形状和大小，促进小枝的生长，使树木更健康。因此正确答案是 b. improve the shape of the tree。

2. Trees become unhealthy if the gardener ______.

• 文章提到树木可能会因为过多的枝条生长在中心而导致空气流通不畅，影响健康。所以答案是 a. allows too many branches to grow in the middle。

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

• 文章明确说明，涂抹这种物质是为了防止疾病侵入伤口。正确答案是 b. To prevent disease entering a wound。

4. A good gardener prunes a tree______.

• 文中强调修剪应该是偶尔进行，只有在必要时才修剪。正确答案是 c. occasionally when necessary。

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

• 文章的目的是为了给出修剪树木的实用指南，而不是介绍修剪的其他方法或树木生病的原因。正确答案是 a. To give practical instruction for pruning a tree。