Reading Passage
AI Technology Seeks Mate for 'World's Loneliest Plant
Artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to find a partner for an endangered male plant called Encephalartos woodii (E. woodii). The University of Southampton is leading this research project. The team is searching thousands of acres of forest in South Africa, where the only known E. woodii was found. All existing E. woodii plants are male clones and cannot reproduce naturally. This ancient species is very old and existed even before dinosaurs.
Dr. Laura Cinti, from the University of Southampton, is leading the project. She is using drones and AI to look for a female E. woodii. She believes there might still be a female plant somewhere in the forest. Finding a female would help the species reproduce naturally.
The only known E. woodii was discovered in 1895 in the Ngoye Forest. The team is using drones to capture images of the forest. So far, they have explored less than 2% of the 10,000-acre area. AI is analyzing these images to find plants that look like E. woodii. The forest has never been fully explored to see if a female plant exists.
E. woodii is still grown at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, in London, where it is called the "world's loneliest plant."
Vocabulary Exercises
1. Match the words with their meanings:
a. Endangered
b. Species
c. Clone
d. Reproduce
e. Drone
i. To produce young plants, animals, etc.
ii. A type of plant or animal
iii. A machine that flies without a human pilot
iv. Very rare and in danger of disappearing
v. An exact copy of something
2. Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the list: [forest, AI, project, ancient, discovered]
a. The _______ is located in South Africa.
b. _______ is helping scientists find the world's loneliest plant a partner.
c. This _______ species existed before the dinosaurs.
d. The research _______ is led by Dr. Laura Cinti.
e. The only known E. woodii was _______ in 1895.
Reading Comprehension Questions
1. What is the goal of the AI project led by the University of Southampton?
a. To create new types of plants
b. To find a female partner for the world's loneliest plant
c. To study the forest ecosystem
2. Where was the only known E. woodii found?
a. Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew
b. University of Southampton
c. Ngoye Forest in South Africa
3. Why can the current E. woodii plants not reproduce naturally?
a. They are all female
b. They are all male clones
c. They are too old
4. What technology is being used to search for the female E. woodii?
a. Satellites
b. Drones and AI
c. Submarines
5. How much of the forest area has been explored so far?
a. More than 50%
b. Less than 2%
c. 100%
Grammar Exercises
1. Choose the correct form of the verb:
a. AI _______ (is/are) being used in the hunt for the world's loneliest plant.
b. The team _______ (is/are) searching thousands of acres of forest.
c. Dr. Laura Cinti _______ (lead/leads) the project.
d. The project _______ (use/uses) drones and AI.
e. The forest _______ (has/have) never been fully explored.
2. Fill in the blanks with the correct prepositions: [in, for, by, with, of]
a. AI is being used _______ the hunt _______ an endangered plant.
b. The team is searching thousands _______ acres of forest.
c. The project is led _______ the University of Southampton.
d. The forest is located _______ South Africa.
e. Drones are capturing images _______ the forest.
Check your Answers
Vocabulary Exercise Answers
1. a-iv, b-ii, c-v, d-i, e-iii
2. a. forest, b. AI, c. ancient, d. project, e. discovered
Reading Comprehension Answers
1. b. To find a female partner for the world's loneliest plant
2. c. Ngoye Forest in South Africa
3. b. They are all male clones
4. b. Drones and AI
5. b. Less than 2%
Grammar Exercise Answers
1. a. is, b. is, c. leads, d. uses, e. has
2. a. in, for, b. of, c. by, d. in, e. of
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