After eight years of careful cultivation, the apple tree coming from science master Issac Newton’s hometown is flowering outdoors for the first time in Shanghai.

The special apple tree at Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden began flowering last week. The tree is expected to produce at least three apples this autumn, said Zhang Zhe, a staffer with the garden’s cooperation and exchange department. After the tree yields fruit, the garden plans to hold an afternoon tea event so locals can come to taste the apples, Zhang added.

The original tree, located at Woolsthorpe Manor in the UK’s Lincolnshire, is probably the world’s most famous apple tree as it inspired Newton to discover the law of gravity. To allow more people in China, particularly young people, learn the scientific spirit of daring to think and explore from Newton’s apple tree, five branches of the original tree were brought to China by the Shanghai Science and Technology Association in March 2015 with the help of the UK’s National Trust and the British consulate in Shanghai. 

Once they arrived in Shanghai, the branches were soon grafted(嫁接) onto potted apple trees that evening. The grafted apple trees have grown well in the garden’s greenhouse, with some flowering and fruiting the very next year in 2016. The garden transplanted(移栽) the strongest grafted apple tree from the greenhouse to an outdoor area in September 2022. Local horticulturists(园艺师) have made detailed plans to help the precious tree, which prefers a cool climate, to get over the challenges posed by Shanghai’s upcoming high temperatures and humidity.

“Trees belong to nature. By transplanting Newton’s apple tree from the greenhouse to the natural environment, we can better spread the scientific spirit of Newton,” noted the garden directors. “We hope these apple trees in Shanghai can inspire future ‘Chinese Newtons’.”

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1.What will happen in autumn?

A The apples will be taken to Beijing to be tested.

B There will be an afternoon tea party in the garden.

C People will take the apple tree back to the UK.

D The apples will be shown in the museum.

解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据第二段最后一句的“After the tree yields fruit, the garden plans to hold an afternoon tea event so locals can come to taste the apples”可知，在这棵树结出果实后，花园计划举办一场下午茶活动，当地人可以来品尝“牛顿的苹果树”在上海结出的苹果。故选B。

2.What’s the purpose of bringing Newton’s apple tree branches to China?

A To educate.

B To persuade.

C To advertise.

D To entertain.

解析：选A。A推理判断题。根据第三段的“To allow more people in China, particularly young people, learn the scientific spirit of daring to think and explore from Newton’s apple tree”可知，“牛顿的苹果树”的五根枝条被带回中国嫁接种植是为了让中国人，特别是中国年轻人，学习牛顿勤于思考、勇于探索的科学精神。故选A。

3.What can we know from Para. 4?

A How people helped the apple tree adapt to the new environment.

B How the famous Newton’s apple tree were taken to China.

C Why the apple tree is well-known around the world.

D Why people took the special apple tree to China.

解析：选A。A细节理解题。根据第四段内容可知，通过该段我们可以知道人们是如何帮助嫁接苹果树适应中国的环境的。故选A。

4.What is the text mainly about?

A How Isaac Newton’s apple tree spread across the world.

B Newton’s famous apple tree to experience zero gravity.

C Isaac Newton’s apple tree still grows at his family’s house.

D Newton’s apple tree blossoms outdoors in Shanghai.

解析：选D。D主旨大意题。本文主要向我们讲了正宗牛顿苹果树首次在上海室外开花的相关情况。故选D。