[2025 辽宁阜新期末]The osmanthus（桂花）is one of the most beloved autumn flowers. It is widely planted in China, with a very long planting history of more than 2,500 years. This famous plant even appeared in The Classic of Mountains and Seas（《山海经》）. Hangzhou, Suzhou and Guilin see the flower as their city flower.
The name "osmanthus" comes from the Greek word osma, meaning "sweet", and anthos, meaning "flower". Since the ancient times, the osmanthus has been a symbol of good things, like peace, love and happiness.
Legend（传说）has it that there is an osmanthus tree on the moon. A man named Wu Gang is ordered to cut it down. However, the tree can grow again. So Wu has to keep on cutting it again and again.
The osmanthus blooms between September and October, when the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated. So the osmanthus has become the best flower for people to enjoy with a full moon. It has been loved by many poets, including Li Qingzhao
and Yang Wanli from the Song dynasty. Yang wrote that the sweetness of the osmanthus is so clean and rich that it's hard to believe it comes from nature, not the moon in heaven. Chinese people's love for the osmanthus has become a part of their food culture. Osmanthus wine and tea are popular traditional Chinese drinks. For those who have a sweet tooth, there are many different kinds of food made with osmanthus. The osmanthus can also be collected to make honey and jam.
21. How long have Chinese people planted the osmanthus?

22. Why is the osmanthus considered the best flower to enjoy with a full moon?

23. What drinks can the osmanthus be made into?

24. What flower do you like best? Why? Write 30 words or more.

21. For more than 2,500 years. 根据“The osmanthus... with a very long planting history of more than 2,500 years.”可知,中国人种植桂花有超过 2,500 年历史了。
22. Because the osmanthus blooms between September and October, when the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated. 根据“The osmanthus blooms between September and October, when the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated. So the osmanthus has become the best flower for people to enjoy with a full moon.”可知答案。
23. Osmanthus wine and tea. 根据“Osmanthus wine and tea are popular traditional Chinese drinks.”可知,桂花可以被制成桂花酒和花茶。
24. I like the rose best. Because it is so beautiful and has a wonderful fragrance. They also symbolize love and romance. And there are a lot of roses with different colours. 开放性试题,言之有理且无语法错误即可。

【分析】本题是一篇关于桂花的阅读理解题，21-23题为细节理解题，需根据题干关键词定位原文对应内容提取答案；24题为开放性试题，需结合自身喜好围绕喜欢的花及原因作答，注意字数要求。
【解析】21题：根据题干询问种植时长，定位原文第一段“with a very long planting history of more than 2,500 years”，提取答案；22题：题干问桂花是与满月共赏的最佳花卉的原因，定位原文第四段“The osmanthus blooms between September and October, when the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated. So the osmanthus has become the best flower for people to enjoy with a full moon.”，整理原因；23题：题干问桂花可制成的饮品，定位原文第四段“Osmanthus wine and tea are popular traditional Chinese drinks.”，提取答案；24题：开放性试题，需结合自身情况作答，符合语法和字数要求即可。
【答案】21. For more than 2,500 years.
22. Because the osmanthus blooms between September and October, when the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated.
23. Osmanthus wine and tea.
24. I like the rose best. Because it is so beautiful and has a wonderful fragrance. They also symbolize love and romance. And there are a lot of roses with different colours.
【知识点】英语阅读理解、细节理解、开放性表达
【点评】本题为期末阅读理解题，侧重考查学生的信息定位能力与语言表达能力，细节题难度较低，开放性试题需结合自身合理作答，符合初中英语阅读的考查方向。
【难度系数】0.6