四级-2015.12-卷一-Part3-SectionA.PDFVIP

四级-2015.12-卷一-Part 3-Section A [For many American], 2013 ended with an unusually 对于大多数美国人来说，2013 bitter cold spell. 年以异常的短暂极寒气候收尾。全 November and December experiences early snow 国大部分地区，11 月和 12 月大雪 and bone-chilling temperatures [in much of the country], 提前而至，气温刺骨般寒冷。成为 【part of a year (when, [for the first time in two decades], 迄今 20 年这两个月份气温统计以 record-cold days will likely turn out to have outnumbered 来，可能首次使创纪录的寒冷天数 record-warm ones)】. 最终超过创纪录的温暖天数。但是 But the U.S. was the exception; /November was the 美国成为例外，11 月气温过高前所 warmest (ever saw) , /and current data indicates that 未见。现有数据显示，2013 年可能 2013 is likely to have been the fourth hottest year [on 已成为有记录以来第四气候最热 record]. 的年份。 Enjoy the snow now, 【 because chances are good 好好享受这雪吧，因为 2014 that 2014 will be even hotter, [perhaps the hottest year 年很有可能将会更热，或许达到有 since records have been kept]】. 记录以来气候最热的一年。科学家 That’s because, [scientists are predicting, 2014 will 们已经预测到，2014 年全球气候将 be an EI Niuo year]. 迎来“厄尔尼诺”现象。 EI niuo, [Spanish for “the child”], occurs 【 when 厄尔尼诺在西班牙语是“小孩 surface ocean waters [in the southern Pacific] become 子”的意思。这种现象由南太平洋 abnormally warm】. 表层海水异常升温引起。广阔的太 So large is the Pacific, [covering 30% of the planet’s 平洋占据了地球表面积的 30%，海 surface], that the additional energy (generated by its 水升温所产生的额外热量足够导 warming) is enough to touch off a series of weather 致全球范围的气温变化。发生在东 changes [around the world]. 南亚和澳大利亚的极干旱现象正 EI Ninos are associated with abnormally dry 是与厄尔尼诺现象有关联。同时， conditions [in Southeast Asia and Australia]. 厄尔尼诺现象还会导???南美、北美 They can lead to extreme rain [in parts of North and 部分地区的极端降雨天气，甚至会 South America], [even as southern Africa bore dry 使本来气候干旱的南非地区降水 weather]. 增加。海洋生物也会收到影响；厄 Marin