3．An elm tree（榆樹）was planted in the first half of the 20
th century on a farm in Michigan，US.
In the 1950s，the family that owned the farm kept a bull chained to it.The bull walked around the tree，pulling a heavy iron chain（鐵鏈），which made a groove（溝）in the tree about a meter off the ground.The groove deepened over the years，though for whatever reason，it didn't kill the tree.
After some years，the family sold the farm and took their bull with them.They cut the chain，leaving most of it hanging down from the tree.Eventually，bark（樹皮）slowly covered the old chain.
Then one year later，disaster struck Michigan in the form of Dutch elm disease（疾?。?It left a path of death across vast area.All of the elms lining the road leading to the farm were infected and died.Everyone figured that the old elm tree would be next.There was no way the tree could last，with its age and the chain hanging off its chuck.
The present owners considered pulling the chain out and chopping the tree up into firewood before it died.But they simply couldn't bring themselves to do it.It was as if the old tree had become a family friend，so they decided to let nature take its course.Amazingly，the tree didn't die.Year after year，it grew stronger.Nobody could understand why it was the only elm still standing in the whole area.
Experts from Michigan University came to observe the tree later，examining the scar left by the iron chain.The experts decided that it was actually the chain that saved the elm's life.They reasoned that the tree must have absorbed（吸收）so much iron from the chain that it became immune（免疫）to Dutch elm disease.
It's said that what doesn't kill you will make you stronger.So if you're ever in Michigan，look for that beautiful elm tree.Look for the wound made by the chain—it serves as a reminder that ever with wounds，we can still have hope.Our wounds can give us the resources we need to cope and survive.They can truly make us strong.
（1）What is the right order of the events related to the elm tree？
a.The new owners left the elm tree as it was.
b.A farmer planted an elm tree on the farm.
c.A bull was chained to the elm tree by the owner.
d.The tree was left behind with most of the chain hanging down.
e.The elm tree survived and grew stronger gradually.
A．cdbea
B．bdcea
C．bcdae
D．cbade
（2）What can we learn about the elm tree from the article？
A．A heavy iron chain gradually became part of it.
B．The scar in the tree was completely healed（治愈）finally.
C．The tree was almost killed by the bull and its chain.
D．The tree grew stronger because of the owner's care.
（3）How did the elm tree survive Dutch elm disease？
A．Its thicker back protected it from the disease.
B．Infected（受感染的）trees near it were all chopped down.
C．It was saved by experts from Michigan University.
D．It got enough iron that sheltered（庇護(hù)） it from the disease.
（4）What message does the writer intend to convey（傳遞）？
A．We should make use of what we have to overcome difficulties.
B．Something we consider a weakness can make us stronger.
C．Never give up hope on life even in hopeless situation.
D．Letting nature take its course is the best way to deal with problems.
