奇速英语官网—英语在线学习平台_让学英语更快乐_更快速

Another above-average hurricane season is in the forecast for 2022. A prediction issued Thursday by scientists at Colorado State University says there will be at least nineteen named storms and nine hurricanes—four of which will be Category Three or higher. An average season normally has fourteen named storms, around seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

Residents living along the U.S. coastline and in the Caribbean should be prepared for “an above-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall” near their homes, researchers said. Hurricane season begins officially in June and lasts through November. “As is the case with all hurricane seasons, coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for them,” the researchers said. “They should prepare the same for every season, regardless of how much activity is predicted.”

The busier-than-average predicted season continues a trend that researchers have seen for some time. Last season, CSU scientists predicted 17 named storms and four major hurricanes. It ended up being the third most active season on record, with 21 named storms. There were seven hurricanes last season—four of which were considered major.

Hurricanes are likelier to be larger and more powerful as they form over hotter ocean water. Thanks to climate change, global sea-surface temperatures are rising. Not all storms make landfall. But those that do can lead to more than $1 billion in damage, especially as these storms continue to cause more severe flooding. Longtime emergency manager Chauncia Willis says climate change has made the threat of a natural disaster more significant: Storms are becoming larger and more powerful and are creating more damage.

1.What can be learned from the second paragraph?

A Residents should prepare differently based on prediction.

B All residents in the U.S. should prepare for hurricanes.

C A hurricane season usually lasts about half a year.

D One hurricane can’t make an active season.

解析：选C。C细节判断题。根据第二段第二句“Hurricane season begins officially in June and lasts through November.”可知，飓风季开始于6月，持续贯穿到11月。由此可知飓风季持续近半年。故选C。

2.How does the author support the prediction in Paragraph Three?

A By introducing a concept.

B By making a comparison.

C By making an argument.

D By giving an example.

解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据第三段“Last season, CSU scientists predicted...It ended up...”可知作者在第三段举例支持了该预测的可能性。故选D。

3.Why are storms becoming more powerful?

A They form over ocean water.

B The surface of the sea is rising.

C Severe flooding continues to happen.

D Climate keeps changing.

解析：选D。D细节理解题。根据最后一段最后一句的“climate change has made the threat of a natural disaster more significant: Storms are becoming larger and more powerful...”可知，气候改变使自然灾害的威胁变大，使得暴风雨更大更强烈。故选D。

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A The history of storms and hurricanes in the U.S.

B Reasons for large and powerful hurricanes in the U.S.

C Residents’ preparations for the coming hurricane season.

D The prediction of a more active hurricane season this year.

解析：选D。D主旨大意题。根据文章主旨句“Another above-average hurricane season is in the forecast for 2022.”和各段出现的高频词“predict”可知本文主要讲的是对今年飓风比往年更加活跃的预测。故选D。