The Secret Language of Plants
Talking plants have long been a thing of myths① and legends②.Many cultures have stories of talking trees [1]that give advice as well as③ warnings to people.Alexander the Great and Marco Polo were said to have visited such a tree in India.And in some modern stories，such as the film Avatar, trees can communicate with④ animals and people.
[1]that引导定语从句，修饰先行词talking trees。
[2]With us long believing that talking plants are fantasy⑤， new research has revealed something amazing：[3]it appears that plants can communicate after all⑥.
[2]with复合结构(with＋代词＋doing)作状语。
[3]it appears that ... 似乎……，it作形式主语，真正的主语是由that引导的从句。
[4]It has been known for some time that plants use chemicals to communicate with each other.This happens when a plant, say a bean plant, gets attacked by insects.The plant releases tiny amounts of⑦ chemicals from the leaves [5]that are being eaten.This is like a warning, or a call for help：“I'm being attacked！” When another bean plant detects⑧ the chemicals from its injured neighbour, it starts to release its own, different chemicals.Some of these chemicals drive insects away⑨.Others attract insects — the wasps⑩！ The wasps kill the insects that are eating the bean plants.Scientists hope to learn more about this plant warning system，[6]so that we can use it to grow crops without pesticides?.
[4]it作形式主语，真正的主语是that引导的从句。
[5]that引导定语从句，修饰先行词the leaves。
[6]so that引导目的状语从句，意为“以便，为了”。
More surprisingly, plants also use sound to communicate.People can't hear these sounds, but plants are making them.Some plants make noises with their roots?.Corn and chilli? plants do this.They also “listen” to the noises from other plants.A chilli plant can tell [7]if a neighbouring plant is helpful，or unfriendly.Some trees make clicking noises when there is not enough water，[8]indicating? drought is arriving.
[7]if引导宾语从句，作tell的宾语。
[8]indicating ...为现在分词短语作伴随状语。
Most surprisingly of all, plants have an amazing system of communication [9]that can link? nearly every plant in a forest.Scientists call this system the “wood wide web”．It is in some ways similar to? the Internet we use.[10]While the Internet is a worldwide network of computers [11]linked by cables? and satellites, the wood wide web is linked underground by fungi?.This fungal? network links the roots of different plants to each other.[12]Using the wood wide web, plants can share information and even food with each other.For example, some pine trees can send food to smaller pine trees to help them grow.But just like our own Internet, the wood wide web has its own version? of “cybercrime”．Plants can steal food from each other, or spread poisons to attack other plants.Perhaps one day scientists will learn [13]how to create a “firewall” to help prevent these attacks within the wood wide web.
[9]that引导定语从句，修饰先行词communication。
[10]While在此是并列连词，表示对比，意为“(对比两件事物)……而，……然而”。
[11]linked by ...为过去分词短语作定语，修饰名词computers。
[12]Using the wood ...为现在分词短语作伴随状语。
[13]“疑问词＋不定式”结构作learn的宾语。
Scientists are learning more every day about the secret ways [14]in which plants talk to each other.Who knows? Maybe one day we will know enough about plant communication to be able to “talk” with them ourselves.
[14]in which引导定语从句，修饰先行词ways。
