As large parts of the Amazon burn, weather experts are warning that rainfall is unlikely to put out the fires in the coming weeks. The Amazon is the world's largest rainforest. Brazil's National Space Research Institute reports that the number of fires has risen by 85 percent to more than 77,000 in the past year. That is the most since the research center began keeping records in 2013. The fires are not limited to Brazil. At least 10,000 square kilometers of land are burning in Bolivia, near its border with Brazil and Paraguay.
Brazil's government has sent troops and military airplanes as part of firefighting efforts. But they will only be able to put out smaller fires and help to prevent new fires, experts say. The larger fires can only be put out by heavy rain.
The rainy season in the Amazon usually begins in late September. It takes weeks to build to widespread heavy rains throughout the area. The little rain that will fall in the next 15 days will be in areas that need it the least, says Maria Silva Dias. She is a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Sao Paulo. "The whole area needs it to rain more...and this will only happen around October," she said.
Heavy rain has to fall in a short enough period to put out a fire. If there is little rainfall, the water changes from a liquid to a gas and rises in the air, Dias explained. She said it would take at least 20 millimeters of rain within 1 to 2 hours to put out a forest fire, with more required for the larger ones.

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1.Which of the following statement is TRUE according to the passage?

A It is lucky that Amazon fires are just limited to Brazil.

B Troops and military airplanes will put out most of Amazon fires.

C There are big fires in large parts of the world's largest rainforest.

D The number of Amazon fires has risen by 65 percent in the past year.

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据文章第一段第一、二句As large parts of the Amazon burn, weather experts are warning that rainfall is unlikely to put out the fires in the coming weeks. The Amazon is the world's largest rainforest.可知，由于亚马逊大部分地区起火，气象专家警告称，未来几周降雨不太可能扑灭大火。亚马逊是世界上最大的雨林，故选C。

2.What can we infer from the last two paragraphs?

A The little rain will put out Amazon fires.

B It takes months to build to widespread heavy rains.

C Heavy rain around October may put out Amazon fires.

D The rainy season in the Amazon will begin in early September.

解析：选C。推理判断题。根据文章第三段最后一句The whole area needs it to rain more...and this will only happen around October以及第四段第一句Heavy rain has to fall in a short enough period to put out a fire.可知，10月左右大面积的暴雨可能会扑灭亚马逊大火，故选C。

3.According to the passage, __________ will completely put out a forest fire.

A troops and military airplanes

B little rain in a long enough period

C less than 20 millimeters of rain within 3 to 4 hours

D more than 20 millimeters of rain within 1 to 2 hours

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据文章第四段第三句She said it would take at least 20 millimeters of rain within 1 to 2 hours to put out a forest fire, with more required for the larger ones.可知，在1至2小时内至少需要20毫米的降雨才能扑灭一场森林大火，更大的森林火灾需要更多的降雨，故选D。

4.The article mainly tells us _________.

A how rain put out Amazon fires

B there are many fires in Amazon

C the rainy season in Amazon is coming

D the rain will not put out Amazon fires for weeks

解析：选D。主旨大意题。文章主要介绍了亚马逊雨林大面积起火，即将到来的雨季似乎带来了希望。但专家称未来几周内雨水无法扑灭亚马逊大火，故选D。