The
number
of
trees
larger
than
two
feet
across
has
declined
by
50
percent
on
more
than
46,000
square
miles
of
California
forests,
the
new
study
finds.
No
area
was
spared
or
unaffected,
from
the
foggy
northern
coast
to
the
Sierra
Nevada
Mountains
to
the
San
Gabriels
above
Los
Angeles.
In
the
Sierra
high
country,
the
number
of
big
trees
has
fallen
by
more
than
55
percent;
in
parts
of
southen
California
the
decline
was
nearly
75
percent
Many
factors
contributed
to
the
decline,
said
Patrick
Mclntyre,
an
ecologist
who
was
the
author
of
the
study.
Woodcutters
targeted
big
trees.
Housing
development
pushed
into
the
wood
Aggressive
wildfire
control
has
left
California
forests
crowded
with
small
trees
that
compete
with
big
trees
for
resources(资源).
But
in
comparing
a
study
of
California
forests
done
in
the
1920s
and
1930s
with
another
one
between
2001
and
2010,
Mclntyre
and
his
colleagues
documented
a
widespread
death
of
bi
that
was
evident
even
in
wildlands
protected
from
woodcutting
or
development
The
loss
of
big
trees
was
greatest
in
areas
where
trees
had
suffered
the
greatest
water
shortage
The
researchers
figured
out
water
stress
with
a
computer
model
that
calculated
how
much
water
trees
were
getting
in
comparison
with
how
much
they
needed,
taking
into
account
such
things
as
rainfall
air
temperature,
dampness
of
soil,
and
the
timing
of
snowmelt(
HOE)
Since
the
1930s,
Mclntyre
said,
the
biggest
factors
driving
up
water
stress
in
the
state
have
een
rising
temperatures,
which
cause
trees
to
lose
more
water
to
the
nd
earler
snowmen
which
reduces
the
water
supply
available
to
trees
during
the
dry
season
27.
What
is
the
second
paragraph
mainly
about?
A.
The
seriousness
of
big-tree
loss
in
California
B.
The
increasing
variety
of
California
big
trees
C.
The
distribution
of
big
trees
in
California
forests
D.
The
influenee
of
farming
on
big
trees
in
California
28.
Which
of
the
following
is
well-intentioned
but
may
be
bad
for
big
trees?
A.
Ecological
studies
of
forests
B.
Banning
woodcutting.
C.
Limiting
housing
development
D.
Fire
control
measures
29.
What
is
a
major
cause
of
the
water
shortage
according
to
Mclntyre?
A.
Inadequate
snowmelt
B.
A
longer
dry
season
C.
A
warmer
climate
D.
Dampness
of
the
air.
30.
What
can
be
a
suitable
title
for
the
text?
A.
California's
Forests:
Where
Have
All
the
Big
'Trees
Gone?
B.
Cutting
of
Big
Trees
to
Be
Prohibited
in
California
Soo
C.
Why
Are
the
Big
Trees
Important
to
California
Forests?
D.
Patrick
McIntyre
Grow
More
Big
Trees
in
California