The world's most common banana could become extinct, which is bad for banana lovers and the banana industry. A fungus(真菌) called TP4 is killing millions of Cavendish banana plants. The Cavendish is the world's most common banana. The fungus stops water going inside the plant, so the banana cannot get the water it needs and it dies. Scientists first discovered TP4 in Malaysia in 1990. It quickly spread to other parts of Asia, and then to Australia and Africa. TP4 is carried by the wind, water, cars and even people's shoes. A little amount of it spreads across large areas very quickly.
Before we started eating the Cavendish banana, we ate a kind called the Gros Michel. Fifty years ago, it was the world's main banana. However, a fungus called Panama Disease killed it and it became extinct in 1965. Banana growers changed to the Cavendish banana. The problem for the banana industry is that burning all their banana plants will not help . This is because the fungus stays in the ground, so new plants cannot grow. Scientists say one answer is genetically modified (转基因的) bananas that are resistant to diseases like TP4 and Panama Disease.
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1.What kind of bananas are we eating now?
A TP4.
B Panama Disease.
C The Gros Michel.
D Cavendish bananas.
解析：选D。推理判断题。通过阅读第二段，可知其他三个选项都不是香蕉的名称，故选D。
2.The TP4 is ______ .
A a kind of banana
B a fungus
C a worm
D a medicine
解析：选B。细节理解题。根据第一段第二句A fungus called TP4 is killing millions of Cavendish banana plants.可知，故选B。
3.The TP4 was first found in ______ .
A Asia
B Africa
C Australia
D America
解析：选A。推理判断题。根据第一段倒数第三句It quickly spread to other parts of Asia, and then to Australia and Africa.可知，故选A。
4.The fungus stays _____ .
A in the air
B in the ground
C in banana leaves
D in bananas
解析：选B。细节理解题。根据第二段倒数第二句This is because the fungus stays in the ground,可知，故选B。
5.The underlined word “extinct” means ______ in Chinese.
A 失踪
B 消散
C 灭绝
D 逃离
解析：选C。词义猜测题。根据文章语境可知香蕉出现TP4等霉菌会杀死香蕉导致香蕉死亡等，可知是“灭绝”，故选C。
