新素养 推理探究 Scientists have found a new way to study the health of soil—by listening to it. They think their way could help people monitor and improve soil around the world.
All living things—animals, insects, and even plants—make sounds, and by listening we can study those noises. The way has been used to watch bats, birds and sea animals. Scientists in Australia wanted to see if they could use listening to check how healthy soil was.
Soil can be filled with many living things, and the greater the variety(多样性) of living things, the healthier the soil. For example, animals without backbones like ants and earthworms help nutrients(营养物) and water pass through soil. However, the change of the environment and human activities have reduced the variety of living things in soil. “It’s very important to monitor the variety of living things in soil,” Robinson said.
For the study, the scientists first put special microphones(麦克风) into the soil and then moved away and stood silently. Next, they collected many hours of recordings from the Mount Bold area of Australia. Finally, they took some to check soil health.
The recordings showed the different sounds living things make underground. The study found that more different kinds of sounds suggested healthier soil. It also showed that listening is a good way to test soil health. It costs less and causes less loss than other ways, such as digging up soil and testing it. In the future, Robinson said, “Everyone can just buy their own little microphone and hear the sounds of soil.”
()37. What did scientists in Australia want to use listening for?
A. Checking the health of soil.
B. Studying living things’ noises.
C. Watching some living things.
D. Making some animals’ sounds.
()38. What can we learn about ants and earthworms from Paragraph 3?
A. It’s necessary to monitor them.
B. It’s natural for them to live in soil.
C. They are helpful to the health of soil.
D. They add the variety of living things.
()39. Paragraph 4 mainly talks about the study's .
A. steps
B. tools
C. result
D. purpose
()40. According to Robinson, what's the future of listening to soil like?
A. It will be used in other fields.
B. It can be used by more people.
C. It can dig up life underground.
D. It will bring more living things.

37. A 38. C
39. A 【解析】根据第四段内容，尤其是“first”“Next”和“Finally”可知，本段主要介绍了科学家们的实验步骤。
40. B

【分析】
本题为英语阅读理解题，需根据原文细节信息及段落结构分析各题答案：37题定位澳大利亚科学家的研究目的；38题定位蚂蚁和蚯蚓对土壤的作用；39题通过段落中的顺序词判断段落主旨；40题定位Robinson关于未来的表述。
【解析】
37题：根据第二段最后一句“Scientists in Australia wanted to see if they could use listening to check how healthy soil was.”可知，澳大利亚科学家想用听声音来检查土壤健康，故选A。
38题：第三段提到“For example, animals without backbones like ants and earthworms help nutrients(营养物) and water pass through soil.”，说明蚂蚁和蚯蚓有助于土壤健康，故选C。
39题：第四段出现“first”“Next”“Finally”等表示顺序的词，清晰展现了研究的操作流程，即本段主要介绍研究步骤，故选A。
40题：最后一段Robinson表示“In the future, ... Everyone can just buy their own little microphone and hear the sounds of soil.”，说明未来更多人可以使用这种方法，故选B。
【答案】
37.A 38.C 39.A 40.B
【知识点】
英语阅读理解、细节理解、主旨大意
【点评】
本文围绕“听土壤声音研究其健康”展开，题目侧重考查原文细节查找和段落主旨理解，需学生精准定位原文对应信息，整体难度适中。
【难度系数】
0.7