2017年高一英语 阅读理解专项训练 Week Fifteen自然环境.docVIP

Week Fifteen 自然环境 一、阅读理解（共20小题；共40.0分） A Despite recent storms during the autumn and first part of the winter, drought conditions are forecast to continue over a large part of the Plains. Rainfall has been enough over the Ohio and lower Mississippi basins. However, unless there is a big turn later this winter and spring, more important problems could be ahead for the Mississippi River above the Ohio River connection. While a storm is forecast to swing northeastward over the Central states, much of the rain may fall south and east of St. Louis. Mississippi River levels are expected to dip again next week at St. Louis. Engineers has been taking steps to keep the shipping channel open by digging the river bottom, removing rocks and placing barriers under the water to reduce shifting soil. The rest is up to Mother Nature. Barge companies have been limiting their loads due to the low water levels. Snow fell over part of the winter wheat belt with the storm just after Christmas 2012. However, much more moisture is needed through the winter and into the spring. According to Dale Mohler, One of the big problems the Central states had last spring was a lack of thunderstorms. These groups of thunderstorms are the major source for spring rainfall and runoff over the Plains and Midwest, following melting snow early. There are concerns for drought continuing over the central High Plains and the northern Plains in general going into the spring, Pastelok stated that the pattern does not look to be as dry of a start this spring, when compared to last year from Iowa to the Ohio Valley and some moisture is likely to make appearances over the southern Plains. There is also some good news for the Southeast. Signs are that the drought—abnormally dry areas over Georgia and the Carolinas will shrink moving through the winter and should be mostly gone by the spring, Pastelok said. 1. Which place is still