An Amazing Plant

Bamboo: a grass like no other · 不是树的「树」

It grows easily in tropical countries. Many people think it's a tree, but it's really a grass. There are about 1,000 species of this amazing plant around the world. It has been used to build houses, bridges, furniture, pipelines, and surgical needles small enough to sew nerves.

There's a bridge in China nearly 2,000 years old that is made of this material. It can be used in place of steel, concrete, and wood, and it has a much lower cost. Many people think of it as a product of yesterday, but it could easily become a star product of the future. Why?

Well, for one thing, it's easy to grow. And it grows very quickly. How about three centimetres an hour! That's fast. But wait! In Japan, one species can grow more than one metre in one day! The record is one metre in one hour. In Brazil, one species can grow up to 45 metres in height. Best of all, it can reach full height in about two months. In comparison, it takes about 50 years for a tree to mature to a height for it to be harvested. Another incredible thing about this grass is that when you cut a stem from it, a new stem quickly grows back to replace it.

What is it? You've probably already guessed it. It's bamboo!

In fact, studies have shown that bamboo is tougher than the wood from some of the world's strongest trees. Its stems are strong and flexible. It's lightweight, easy to work with and cheap to produce. And, it's good for the environment. The list goes on and on.

A Frenchman even built and flew an airplane made of bamboo! It was fast and easy to handle. He called it the "flyboo".

One more thing: there is only one animal on this planet that eats nothing but bamboo. Do you know what that animal is? It's an endangered and protected species. It lives in China. It's black and white, and very cute.

You guessed it—the panda bear!

An Amazing Plant — Bamboo: a grass like no other

It grows easily in tropical countries. Many people think it's a tree, but it's really a grass. There are about 1,000 s(1)__________ of this amazing plant around the world. It has been used to build houses, bridges, furniture, pipelines, and s(2)__________ needles small enough to sew nerves.

There's a bridge in China nearly 2,000 years old that is made of this m(3)__________. It can be used in place of steel, c(4)__________, and wood, and it has a much lower cost. Many people think of it as a product of yesterday, but it could easily become a star product of the future. Why?

Well, for one thing, it's easy to grow. And it grows very quickly. How about three centimetres an hour! That's fast. But wait! In Japan, one species can grow more than one metre in one day! The record is one metre in one hour. In Brazil, one species can grow up to 45 metres in height. Best of all, it can reach full height in about two months. In comparison, it takes about 50 years for a tree to m(5)__________ to a height for it to be harvested. Another i(6)__________ thing about this grass is that when you cut a stem from it, a new stem quickly grows back to replace it.

What is it? You've probably already guessed it. It's bamboo!

In fact, studies have shown that bamboo is t(7)__________ than the wood from some of the world's strongest trees. Its stems are strong and f(8)__________. It's lightweight, easy to work with and cheap to produce. And, it's good for the environment. The list goes on and on.

A Frenchman even built and flew an airplane made of bamboo! It was fast and easy to handle. He called it the "flyboo".

One more thing: there is only one animal on this p(9)__________ that eats nothing but bamboo. Do you know what that animal is? It's an e(10)__________ and protected species. It lives in China. It's black and white, and very cute.

You guessed it—the panda bear!

📌 重点单词 · Key Vocabulary

🔗 重点词组 · Key Phrases

💡 语法小贴士 · Grammar Tips

🎋 文化拓展 · Bamboo in Chinese Culture

竹子在中国文化中的地位无可替代：「梅兰竹菊」四君子、「岁寒三友」都有它的一席之地。古人用竹简抄书、用竹管写字（「笔」的竹字头就是见证），苏东坡甚至说「宁可食无肉，不可居无竹」。可以说，读懂了竹子，就读懂了中国人对品格的理解——虚心、有节、坚韧。

竹子还是「以竹代塑」「以竹代木」的环保明星：它三五年即可成材，吸收二氧化碳的能力比同等面积的树木更强。2022 年国际标准化组织还发布了「竹子 terminology」相关标准，推动竹产业全球化。文中那座近两千年历史的竹桥，正说明这种材料经得起时间考验。

本文的写作结构非常典型：前三大段只说「它」而不点名，用用途、寿命、生长速度层层吊胃口，第四段一句「It's bamboo!」才揭晓谜底；结尾又用同样的猜谜手法引出熊猫，首尾呼应。这种「谜语式说明文」既有趣味性，又把说明对象的特征自然铺陈开——写作文时不妨借鉴。