Many people like the feeling of the gentle wind in spring. Many like to see the falling leaves dancing in the wind in autumn. But sometimes, when the wind becomes a storm, it can be very destructive(具有破坏性的).
A series of such storms struck the US last month and caused very serious damage and human pain.
Every year, major storms cause many problems around the world. There is nothing people can do to stop these powerful forces of nature. But new techniques are helping scientists to predict(预测) how, when, and where big storms will happen. The more exact scientists’ warnings are, the better people can prepare for the storms.
Predictions are improving. “We’re gotten better over the years, especially the last few years,” says Phil Klotzbach, a scientist at an American university. How is a storm formed? Even if scientists know where a storm will happen, winds can suddenly change, carrying the storm to a new direction. “For a hurricane to happen, conditions have to be just right, ” Klotzbach says.
First, the ocean water needs to be warm enough so that it evaporates and rises into the air. As it rises, the vapor（水蒸气）cools and turns back into liquid. This process gives off heat. This produces energy like an engine that causes winds to increase. It drives the formation(形成) of a hurricane.
If wind speeds reach 40 miles per hour, the system is called a “tropical storm”(热带风暴), and it gets a name. At 75 miles per hour, it becomes a hurricane.
Hurricanes that hit the US start when a thunderstorm forms off the coast of Africa. Storms also develop over tropical waters in other parts of the world.
On average, 60 or 70 storms form off Africa every year. About 10 of them get names. There are usually about six hurricanes. Two tend to be very big, with winds of 115 miles per hour or higher.
The hurricane season lasts from June to November. Ninety percent of all hurricanes hit in August, September, and October.
49. 1.According to the passage, hurricanes usually ____.
A. form off the coast of Africa and America
B. travel at 40 miles per hour and get its name
C. cause sea winds to rise and blow over the sea
D. hit parts of the world in summer and autumn
50. 2.The underlined word “evaporates” probably means “____”.
A. begins to move B. gets lost C. becomes hot D. changes into gas
51. 3.Which of the following about the information of a hurricane is the correct order?
a. The ocean water evaporates and goes into the air.
b. Heat creates energy and causes winds to increase.
c. The vapor cools.
d. The ocean water is warm enough.
e. The vapor changes back into liquid.
f. This course gives out heat.
A.a, d, e, b, c, f B.a, b, c, f, d, e C.d, a, c, e, f, b D.d, a, b, c, e, f
52. 4.According to the passage, the speed of the biggest two hurricanes reaches ____.
A.115 miles per hour B.110 miles per hour
C.75 miles per hour D.95 miles per hour
EVENTS
Bicycle tour and race
A bike tour and race will be held on August 26 and 27(Sat. & Sun.). At 5:30am, the riders will leave Tian'anmen Square and ride the first 35 kilometres as a training leg. Then the next 55 kilometre leg, from Yanjiao to Jixian, will be the first competitive part of the tour. The riders and their bikes will then be taken from Jixian to Changli.
The second racing leg of the tour will be from Changli to the seaside of Nandaihe, covering a distance of 20 kilometres. Saturday night includes the stay at Nandaihe and supper. Sunday morning is free for play at the seaside. At noon all the people and their bikes will be taken back to Beijing.
Cost: 200 yuan Telephone: 4675027
Brazilian footballers
The Brazilian Football Club will play Beijing Guo'an Team at the Workers Stadium on August 26. The club has four national team players . Also coming is 1994 US World Cup star Romario. He has promised to play for at least 45 minutes.
Ticket prices: 60, 100, 150 yuan
Time/Date: 4:30 pm, August 26(Sat.) Telephone: 5012372
Rock climbing
The Third National Rock Climbing Competition will be held on August 26-27 at the Huairou Mountain-climbing Training Base. More than 10 teams from Beijing, Wuhan, Dalian, Jilin and other places will take part in it. A Japanese team will give an exhibition climbing. Free for spectators(观众).
Take a long-distance bus from Dongzhimen to Huairou.
Time/Dates: 9-12 am, August 26 and 27
Telephone: 7143177, 7144850, Wang Zhenghua
45. 1.The main purpose of announcing the above events is to give information about __________.
A. visiting teams B. famous players
C. things to do for the weekend D. prices to pay for the sports events
46. 2.If you take part in the bike tour, you will ride for __________.
A. 35 kilometres B. 55 kilometres C. 75 kilometres D. 110 kilometres
47. 3.What is special about the rock climbing competition?
A. A foreign team takes part in it.
B. You can watch it without paying.
C. You don't have to be a sportsman to take part.
D. The bus trip to the place of the competition is free.
48. 4.If you want to find something to do for Saturday afternoon, which telephone number will you call?
A. 4675027 B. 7143177 C. 5012372 D. 7144850
Tim Welford, aged 33, and Dom Mee, aged 30, both from England, were keen on (=like... very much) rowing boats. They made a plan to row across the Pacific Ocean from Japan to San Francisco. The name of their rowboat was “Crackers”. It was about seven meters long.
They set out from Japan on May 17,2001. They had rowed nearly 5,500 miles when their boat was hit by a fishing ship on September 17,2001. Luckily they both escaped unharmed, but their boat was badly damaged and they had to abandon( = stop)their journey.
In a radio interview, Dom expressed his disappointment and explained how the accident took place.
“A fishing ship came towards us with nobody on the bridge and ran us down. It all happened so quickly. I managed to dive into the water. Tim felt it would be safer to stay on board. He was trapped inside as the boat was driven under the water. Finally some people appeared on the ship and saw me in the water. I shouted at them to stop the ship and to get Tim out. When the ship stopped, I eventually saw Tim, and I was very, very happy that we were still alive. We were very disappointed that we couldn’t reach San Francisco. But we are alive. That above everything is the most important. ”
41. 1. How long had Tim and Dom been at sea when their boat was hit by a fishing boat?
A. For one month B. For two months.
C. For three months. D. For four months.
42. 2.According to Dom, the main reason for the accident was that________.
A. Tim and Dom were too careless
B. the speed of the fishing ship was too fast
C. nobody on the fishing ship saw them
D. their rowboat was not strong enough
43. 3.Dom said that the most important thing in this accident was that________.
A. their rowboat was not damaged
B. both of them existed after a dangerous time
C. they enjoyed this journey
D. they failed to reach San Francisco
44. 4.Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?
A. Some people on the fishing ship saved them.
B. Tim and Dom were going to San Francisco in the rowboat because they had no money to buy airplane tickets.
C. Dom dived into the water when the accident happened because he thought it would be dangerous to stay on board.
D. Dom told people about their dangerous experience when he was interviewed on the radio.
Dear Laura,
I just heard you tell an old story of gift giving and unselfish(无私的) love in your program. You doubted that such unselfish love would happen in today’s world. Well, I’m here to give you 21 .
I wanted to do something very 22 for my fifteen-year-old son, who has always been the perfect child. He 23 all summer to earn enough money to buy a used motorcycle. Then, he spent hours and hours on it 24 it looked almost new. I was so 25 of him that I bought him the shiniest helmet（头盔） and riding outfit（全套装备）.
I could 26 wait for him to open up his gift. In fact, I barely slept the night before. Upon wakening, I went to the kitchen to 27 the coffee, tea, and morning goodies. In the living room was a beautiful keyboard with a 28 : “To my wonderful mother, all my love, your son.”
I was so 29 . It had been a long-standing joke in our family that I wanted a piano so that I could 30 lessons. “Learn to play the piano, and I’ll get you one” was my husband’s 31 .
I stood there shocked, crying a river, asking myself how my son could 32 this expensive gift.
Of course, the 33 awoke, and my son was thrilled with(对…感到激动) my reaction. Many kisses were 34 , and I immediately wanted him to 35 my gift.
As he saw the helmet and outfit, the look on his face was not 36 what I was expecting. Then I 37 that he had sold the motorcycle to get me the keyboard.
Of course I was the proudest mother 38 on that day, and my feet never hit the ground for a month.
So I wanted you to know, that kind of love still 39 and lives even in the ever-changing world of me, me, me!
I thought you’d love to 40 this story.
Yours,
Hilary
P.S. The next day, my husband and I bought him a new “used” already shiny motorcycle.
1.A. hope B. advice C. support D. courage
2.A. polite B. similar C. special D. private
3.A. played B. studied C. traveled D. worked
4.A. after B. before C. unless D. until
5.A. sure B. fond C. proud D. confident
6.A. perhaps B. really C. almost D. hardly
7.A. start B. cook C. set D. serve
8.A. note B. notice C. word D. sign
9.A. disturbed B. confused C. astonished D. inspired
10.A. give B. take C. draw D. teach
11.A. reason B. request C. comment D. response
12.A. present B. afford C. find D. order
13.A. neighbor B. building C. home D. house
14.A. exchanged B. experienced C. expected D. exhibited
15.A. tear B. open C. check D. receive
16.A. purely B. basically C. obviously D. exactly
17.A. realized B. remembered C. imagined D. supposed
18.A. only B. still C. ever D. even
19.A works B. exists C. matters D. counts
20.A. send B. publish C. share D. write
A net is to a fisherman ______ a gun is to a hunter.
A. that B. as if C. what D. how
The second-hand car David bought the other day is as good as new; ______ it is in excellent condition.
A. anyhow B. besides C. otherwise D. therefore
