One of the rarest flowering plants in the world, the Snowdonia hawkweed, grows wild only
in Snowdonia National Park in northern Wales. The region is rocky and mountainous, and the air
is cool and damp. The Snowdonia hawkweed prefers this habitat. In fact, it grows nowhere else
in the world. It is even picky about where it grows in the park.

Snowdonia hawkweed is about 11 inches tall. Its bright yellow blossoms have thin petals
with ragged edges. The Snowdonia hawkweed may not be the most beautiful plant in the world,
but it is a favorite snack of sheep.
In 1953, the Snowdonia hawkweed disappeared. People feared that the plant was gone
forever. They believed that sheep grazing on the land had eaten the last few plants. So, the
people who ran the park removed the sheep from the area, hoping that the hawkweed might
return. Forty-nine years later, a group of plant scientists found the yellow flowers blooming in one
spot in the park. The hawkweed had returned!
Scientists collected seeds from the plant in case it disappeared again. But since 2002,
the rare plant has continued to bloom in the park.
1. Which phrase best describes the climate of Snowdonia National Park?
A. cold and snowy B. hot and dry C. cool and damp D. warm and windy
2. Which group of people would probably care most if Snowdonia hawkweed disappeared?
A. Scientists who study plants
B. Farmers who graze their sheep in the mountains
C. Scientists who study rare birds and insects
D. Visitors who enjoy hiking in the mountains
3. From the passage, you can conclude that Snowdonia hawkweed _____ .
A. is the most beautiful plant in the world
B. grows like a weed in northern Wales
C. was always rare
D. will never be seen again in the wild
4. Which adjective best describes how people felt when Snowdonia hawkweed was found in
2002?
A. curious B. disappointed C. concerned D. thrilled
5. The underlined word “grazing” can be defined as_____.
A. eating grass in fields B. bathing in a river
C. roaming around the village D. walking over the hills
34. The underlined word “it” refers to_____ .
A. the hawkweed B. the seed C. the park D. the land