英语课代表让我查了这篇2022年大学英语六级阅读理解试题十二。文章围绕城市树木与高温展开，先读英文短文，再完成五道选择题；文后附参考答案、逐题解析和重点段落译文，方便对照理解文章论证。
阅读短文
Why Cities Need More Than Trees
On a hot summer afternoon, a street shaded by trees can feel very different from one lined with bare walls and dark pavement. The difference is not simply a matter of appearance. Trees block some sunlight before it reaches the ground, and water released from their leaves can cool the surrounding air. For this reason, planting trees is often presented as a straightforward way to reduce urban heat.
Yet the benefits of urban trees depend on where they are planted and how they are cared for. A row of young trees may offer little shade for years, while mature trees can be damaged by construction or prolonged drought. In some neighborhoods, limited space, underground pipes and narrow sidewalks make planting difficult. Cities that announce ambitious planting targets without planning for maintenance may end up with many dead saplings and few lasting improvements.
Researchers also point out that tree cover is often distributed unevenly. Wealthier districts may have leafy streets and parks, whereas areas with fewer resources can have more paved surfaces and less shade. This difference matters because people who work outdoors, live in poorly insulated homes or have limited access to air-conditioning face greater risks during heat waves. A citywide average can hide the fact that certain residents experience much more dangerous temperatures than others.
That does not mean trees are an ineffective response. It means they should be part of a broader plan. Cities can combine tree planting with reflective roofs, shaded bus stops, drinking-water stations and public cooling centers. They can also involve residents in choosing planting locations and caring for young trees. When local needs guide the work, trees are more likely to survive and shade is more likely to reach people who need it most.
Ultimately, the success of an urban greening project should not be measured only by the number of trees planted. It should also be judged by whether the trees survive, whether they lower temperatures in vulnerable neighborhoods and whether residents can use the shaded spaces. A smaller project that is carefully maintained may do more for public health than a much larger planting campaign that exists mainly on paper.
五道阅读理解题
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What is the main idea of the first paragraph?
A. Trees can make streets cooler by providing shade and releasing water.
B. Dark pavement is the only cause of high city temperatures.
C. Trees mainly improve the appearance of urban streets.
D. Summer afternoons are cooler in cities than in the countryside. -
Why might a city’s tree-planting plan fail to bring lasting benefits?
A. Residents usually refuse to walk under mature trees.
B. Young trees need time and proper care, and some planting sites are difficult to use.
C. Trees cannot grow near sidewalks or underground pipes.
D. Construction projects always increase the amount of shade. -
What does the third paragraph suggest about the distribution of tree cover?
A. It is generally equal across neighborhoods.
B. It is concentrated in areas with the highest temperatures.
C. It may reflect differences in neighborhood resources and residents’ exposure to heat.
D. It has little effect on people who work outdoors. -
According to the passage, what should cities do as part of a broader heat-response plan?
A. Replace all public parks with cooling centers.
B. Plant trees without consulting local residents.
C. Combine trees with measures such as reflective roofs and shaded bus stops.
D. Focus exclusively on neighborhoods that already have many trees. -
How should the success of an urban greening project be evaluated?
A. By the number of planting announcements made each year.
B. By how many trees are planted, regardless of whether they survive.
C. By whether trees survive and benefit residents who need shade.
D. By whether the project covers the largest possible area.
参考答案
1—5：A、B、C、C、C。
答案解析
答案：A。第一段说明树木能遮挡阳光，也能通过叶片释放水分降低周围空气温度，因此树荫街道会更凉爽。B把原因说成只有深色路面，原文没有这样断言；C只提到外观，忽略了降温作用；D则把城市与乡村作了比较，文中没有相关信息。
答案：B。第二段指出，幼树需要多年才能形成有效遮阴，成熟树木也可能因施工或干旱受损；狭窄人行道、地下管线等还会增加种植难度。因此，只有种植目标、缺少后续养护的计划，可能无法形成长期改善。C把“种植困难”夸大为“无法生长”，不符合原意。
答案：C。第三段将树木覆盖分布不均与社区资源差异联系起来，并说明缺少树荫的人更可能遭遇高温风险。城市平均气温可能掩盖不同居民实际承受的热风险。A与“分布不均”相反，D则与户外劳动者面临更高风险的描述相反。
答案：C。第四段明确提出，树木应纳入更全面的应对方案，并列出反光屋顶、带遮阴的公交站、饮水点和公共纳凉中心等措施。作者还强调听取居民意见、按社区需求选择种植地点。A、B、D都与这一综合思路不符。
答案：C。末段强调不能只计算种植数量，还要看树木能否存活、是否降低脆弱社区的温度，以及居民能否使用阴凉空间。因此，项目效果要落实到持续养护和实际受益上。A、B只关注数字或宣传，D只看规模，都不是作者提出的完整评价标准。
重点段落译文
研究人员还指出，城市树木覆盖往往分布不均。较富裕的街区可能拥有绿树成荫的街道和公园，而资源较少的地区则可能有更多铺装地面、更少遮阴。这种差异很重要，因为户外工作者、居住在隔热效果较差房屋里的人，以及难以使用空调的人，在热浪期间面临更高风险。全市平均数据可能掩盖一个事实：某些居民实际经历的温度要危险得多。
这并不意味着树木不是有效的应对方式，而是说树木应成为更广泛规划的一部分。城市可以将植树与反光屋顶、带遮阴的公交站、饮水点和公共纳凉中心结合起来，也可以邀请居民参与选择种植地点并照料幼树。由当地需求引导的绿化工作，更有可能让树木存活，也更有可能让最需要树荫的人真正受益。
做这类阅读题时，可先抓每段中心：第一段解释树木如何降温，第二段谈种植与养护的限制，第三段指出树荫分布不均，第四段提出综合方案，最后一段给出评价标准。将题干关键词与对应段落联系起来，再根据原文排除扩大、缩小或偷换概念的选项，答案会更清晰。
