A 40 -year-wait for plant to flower – and then it dies

A plant has flowered for the first time after almost 40 years at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Just before flowering, the Agave franzosinii more than quadrupled in height – growing a rate of almost 3ft a week until it was as tall as a house. The plant outgrew its conservatory, forcing staff to remove parts of the roof to allow its progress to continue. When it did finally bloom, most of the 3in yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers were outside the building. However, as Agaves die shortly after flowering the glorious display did not last long.
The plant is of the same family as the Agave tequilana, which is used to make the spirit tequila. Collectively they are known as “century plants”, as it was previously thought they only flowered every hundred years. Where they grow in arid parts of Mexico, they are an oasis for wildlife, as they are full of pollen and nectar, attracting birds, bees and bats.
By chance, the flowering took place while Sir David Attenborough was filming at Kew Gardens for a new series, Kingdom of Plants 3D. Its progress was filmed for the show.
Before it died, staff at Kew took some seeds from it, which have already been sown and reached around 2ft in height. They are expected to flower some time around the middle of the century.

Question 1 [2 points] Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.
a) This Agave Franzosinii has bloomed before.
b) Gardeners at Kew had to modify the building to let the plant grow.
c) Tequila can be made from the Agave Franzosinii plant.
d) Only insects are attracted to Agave plants.

Question 2 [2 points] Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) Why is this family of plants called “century plants”?
b) Why was Sir David Attenborough at Kew Gardens?

Question 3 [1.5 points] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.
a) speed (paragraph 1)
b) soon (paragraph 1)
c) luckily, coincidentally (paragraph 3)

Question 4 [1.5 points]

Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) As Agaves die shortly after flowering, the glorious display did not last for a long time.
If ….. .............................................
b) Sir David Attenborough was filming a new series at Kew Gardens and recorded the plant’s progress.
A new series ………………………………………………, and the plant’s ……………………….. .
c) “We took some seeds from the plant and we hope they will flower some time around the middle of the century,” a Kew representative said.
A Kew representative said that they ………………………………….. and that………………………

Question 5[1.5 points]

Write a short essay (between120-150 words) on the following topic:
“We could not live without plants”. Discuss.