落葉と落果：語彙・前置詞・内容一致（5段落×3問）

When we observe plants carefully, we notice that life and death exist together. The falling of leaves and fruits is not simply a sign of decline but an important strategy for survival. By letting go of old leaves, trees reduce water loss and prepare for new growth. When fruits drop ( ) the ground, the seeds inside can spread and find safe places to germinate. These small deaths are conditions for continued life. Looking at plants, we realize that living things constantly carry death within them.

In autumn, deciduous trees lose their leaves, and this process may look like weakness. However, shedding leaves prevents water loss during cold months when the ground is frozen and water is difficult to absorb. At the same time, nutrients are stored ( ) the roots for spring. What seems like an end is actually preparation for renewal. The cycle shows that the apparent death of one part is necessary for the health of the whole.

Fruits fall not only to free the tree from weight but also to spread seeds. Some fruits are eaten by animals, and the seeds are later released far away ( ) the original tree. Others rot on the soil, creating natural fertilizer that nourishes young plants. In this way, the death of a fruit ensures the life of the next generation. What looks like waste is, in fact, investment in the future.

Even flowers must die for seeds to appear. After blooming, petals fall, but this loss makes room for fruit to develop. The end of beauty is the start of productivity. Pollinated flowers carry within them the promise of another season. When petals drop ( ) the soil, they decompose, returning nutrients to the earth. Thus, what seems to vanish continues to work silently, linking death to new life.

Observing these cycles teaches us something about our own lives. Just as plants survive by releasing parts of themselves, people grow by letting go of certain habits, stages, or relationships. Endings may appear painful, but they prepare us for change. We, too, carry death and life together. By accepting this truth, we see growth not as avoiding loss but as passing ( ) it with courage.