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Listen to an Academic Talk Test #006
Listen to an Academic Talk
1. What is the lecture mainly about?
A) The nutritional needs of different plants
B) A chemical strategy used by plants for survival
C) The history of agricultural practices
D) How plants communicate with each other
2. According to the professor, what does the chemical juglone do?
A) It helps black walnut trees grow faster.
B) It attracts beneficial insects to plants.
C) It is harmful to plants like tomatoes.
D) It improves the quality of the soil.
3. What can be inferred about eucalyptus forests?
A) They have a wide variety of plant species.
B) The soil in them is unusually rich.
C) They support many types of garden vegetables.
D) They have limited undergrowth from other plants.
4. Why does the professor mention agriculture?
A) To introduce a different scientific topic
B) To question the effectiveness of allelopathy
C) To provide an example of a practical application
D) To contrast natural and artificial environments
Professor: Today we're going to discuss a fascinating plant strategy called allelopathy. This is when a plant releases biochemicals into the environment that influence the growth and survival of other nearby organisms, especially other plants. Think of it as a form of chemical warfare in the plant world.
A classic example is the black walnut tree. It produces a chemical called juglone, which is toxic to many other plants, including common garden vegetables like tomatoes. If you try to plant a tomato vine too close to a black walnut, it likely won't survive.
Similarly, many species of eucalyptus trees release chemicals from their leaves and roots that prevent the seeds of competing plants from sprouting. The implication of understanding allelopathy is significant, particularly for agriculture. Scientists are exploring how to harness these natural chemicals to create more eco-friendly herbicides.
A classic example is the black walnut tree. It produces a chemical called juglone, which is toxic to many other plants, including common garden vegetables like tomatoes. If you try to plant a tomato vine too close to a black walnut, it likely won't survive.
Similarly, many species of eucalyptus trees release chemicals from their leaves and roots that prevent the seeds of competing plants from sprouting. The implication of understanding allelopathy is significant, particularly for agriculture. Scientists are exploring how to harness these natural chemicals to create more eco-friendly herbicides.
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