B
Scientists have found a new way to study the health of soil—by listening to it. They think their way could help people monitor(监测) 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 worms help nutrients(营养) 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 made 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.”
()29. 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.
()30. What can we learn about ants and worms 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 to the variety of living things.
()31. What does Paragraph 4 mainly talk about?
A. The study's steps.
B. The study's tools.
C. The study's result.
D. The study's purpose.
()32. 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.

29. B 30. B 31. D 32. C

【分析】
1. 第29题：定位原文第二段关于澳大利亚科学家使用听力的目的描述，对比选项匹配答案；
2. 第30题：结合第三段对蚂蚁和蠕虫在土壤中作用的描述，分析选项得出结论；
3. 第31题：概括第四段的核心内容，判断其主要谈论的研究相关方面；
4. 第32题：找到Robinson关于土壤听力未来应用的表述，对应选项选出答案。
【解析】
29题：原文第二段提到科学家通过听力研究生物的声音，澳大利亚科学家想用听力研究生物的声音，对应选项B；
30题：第三段说明蚂蚁和蠕虫是土壤中自然存在的生物，帮助土壤中营养和水流通，对应选项B；
31题：第四段阐述了这项研究的目的，即探究能否用听力检测土壤健康，对应选项D；
32题：Robinson提到未来每个人都能使用小麦克风听土壤的声音，对应选项C。
【答案】
29.B 30.B 31.D 32.C
【知识点】
英语阅读理解，细节理解，主旨概括
【点评】
本题为围绕土壤健康新研究的英语阅读理解题，考查学生快速定位信息、理解文本细节及概括段落主旨的能力，内容贴近科学研究，难度适中。
【难度系数】
0.5