Most people agree that trees look nice. But not too many people know trees can also help us save money. Environmental scientists did some research and they learned that just one tree can save a city about 2,800 yuan over the tree's lifetime.
One way trees save money is by helping us save energy. Big trees stop the summer sun from shining directly to the buildings. Big trees block(遮挡) the winter wind. In this way, they help people to save the energy to make their homes and offices cool or warm. Saving energy means saving money!
()The underlined word "they" refers to "".

A.city cleaners
B.environmental scientists
C.big trees
D.tall buildings
【答案】C 解析:本题可采用"就近指代法"。根据"Big trees stop the summer sun from shining directly to the buildings. Big trees block(遮挡) the winter wind."(大树阻挡了夏日阳光直射到建筑物上。大树遮挡冬天的风。)可知,画线代词所在句是说"通过这种方式,大树帮助人们节省能源,使他们的家和办公室凉爽或温暖",即代词they指代前文提到的big trees。故选C。

C

【分析】本题是英语阅读理解中的代词指代题，解题可采用就近指代法：代词通常指代离它最近且符合语境的前文名词。先定位画线词“they”所在的句子，再往前找最近的复数名词，前文提到“Big trees stop the summer sun from shining directly to the buildings. Big trees block the winter wind.”，这些动作都是Big trees发出的，且能帮助人们节省能源，正好对应“they help people to save the energy”的语境，由此确定指代对象。
【解析】本题为英语阅读理解代词指代题，运用就近指代法分析：“they”所在句的前文最近的复数主语是“Big trees”，Big trees的作用（遮挡夏日阳光、冬日风）能帮助人们节省能源，符合“they help people to save the energy”的语境，因此“they”指代big trees，对应选项C。
【答案】C
【知识点】代词指代、英语阅读理解
【点评】本题是英语基础题型，考查代词指代的就近原则，难度较低，学生只要掌握就近指代的解题方法，就能轻松选出正确答案。
【难度系数】0.8