阅读训练：Natural__Disasters教案(1).docVIP

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阅读训练：NaturalDisasters

SectionA

Sealevelsrosetwofeet(60centimeters)higherthanpredictedthissummeralongtheeasternshorelineoftheUS,surprisingscientists.

“Usually,predictingseasonaltidesandsealevelsisacertainprocess,”saidRichDewing,directoroftheU.S.NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(美国国家海洋和大气管理局).ButEastCoastresidents1reportedthesealevelwashigherthanpredicted.Scientistssaiditwaslikelyassociatedwithshort-termweathereventsliketropical2storms.However,thesehighsealevelslastedforweeks,throughoutJuneandJuly.

Nowanewreporthasidentifiedtwomajorfactorsbehindthehighsealevels—aweakenedGulfStream(墨西哥湾暖流)andsteadywindsfromthenortheasternAtlantic.TheGulfStreamisanorthward-flowingsuperhighwayofoceanwaterofftheU.S.EastCoast.Runningatfullstream,thepowerfulcurrentpullswaterintoits“orbit3”andawayfromtheEastCoast,butthissummer,forreasonsunknown,“theGulfStreamsloweddown,”Dewingsaid,“sendingwatertowardthecoasts—andsealevelsshootingupward.”What’smore,autumnwindsfromthenortheasternAtlanticarrivedafewmonthsearlier,pushingevenmorewatertowardthecoast.

Thehigherwaterscausedinconvenienceforsomefishermen.“Acoupleofsandbeachesweoncenormallyfishedfromwereflooded,andthewaterwashigherthanitnormallywouldbe,”saidPaulineApostolate,afisherman.Evenbeforethenewreport,Apostolatesaidmanylocalfishermenhadalreadyattributed4thesealevelrisetothestrongwindsfromthenortheast.

Buttheessentialpuzzleremains.“WhydidtheGulfStreamslowdown?Whydidthefallwindpatternappearearlier?”NOAA’sDewingsaid,“Wedon’thavethoseanswers.”

Notes:

1.residentn.居民；住户

2.tropicaladj.热带的

3.orbitn.(天体等运行的)轨道

4.attributev.把……归因于

词数：194处理时间：3′55″

Readthepassageandthenchoosethebestanswertoeachquestion.

1.Whichofthefollowingfact