As a shift in the polar vortex(极地涡旋)swept across much of the US, many people in the country were hit with a sudden snap of cold. Heavy ice and snow coupled with fallen trees caused the outages in major cities, with companies unable to tell their customers when power will be restored.
Polar vortexes were noticed long ago. But the first known use of the term “polar vortex” was in a magazine in 1853. Polar vortexes are present year-round, but we don’t hear about them until they cause problems. They maintain freezing temperatures at the North and South poles by moving in tight counter-clockwise patterns. Polar vortexes grow stronger in winter and weaken in summer. They are kept in place at the poles by another atmospheric current called the jet stream. However, when the jet streams weaken, the cold winds of the polar vortex are pushed southwards and it is during this time that people begin to pay attention!
In Texas, roads froze over, causing six traffic deaths, and many schools were shut-down. People are not the only Earthlings to struggle with the cold. Crops and animals are also freezing. This could have major consequences, especially if herds of cattle die. If snow blocks cattle, the animals can’t reach basic necessities like food and fresh water.
On a brighter note, some Texas cities were more prepared than others. For instance, Amarillo, which is located in North Texas, so they are more accustomed to colder temperatures. Amarillo is notable because the city was redesigned to stand up to severe winter storms. Officials have spread out fire stations to increase coverage of first responders, employed modified dump trucks for clearing ice, and upgraded civic centers to provide shelter during storms. Hopefully, other Texas cities will follow the good example set by Amarillo!
1. What does the underlined word “outages” refer to?| A．Traffic jams. | B．Possessions losses. |
| C．Power cuts. | D．Traffic accidents. |
| A．They grow stronger in summer. | B．They are affected by jet streams. |
| C．They were first observed in 1853. | D．They move in a clockwise direction. |
| A．Pleased. | B．Worried. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．Because it is located in the north of Texas. |
| B．Because it has been upgraded and modernized. |
| C．Because it has been regarded as an example to other cities. |
| D．Because it has taken effective measures to resist winter storms. |
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【推荐1】Pacific Asia Travel Association is warning people travelling to East Asia and the West and Central Pacific region about the ongoing threat of typhoons coming from the Pacific. The region covered by this warning includes countries in East Asia and the West and Central Pacific. Typhoons in these areas of Pacific may occur all the year round. However, historically, the most active months are June through November. Travellers in the region should pay attention to local weather reports and take appropriate action as needed.
People traveling abroad in these areas during the typhoon season may be forced to delay their travel or return home because of damages to airports and limited flight availability. In the event of a typhoon, you should be aware that you may not be able to leave an affected area within 24 to 48 hours or more. We recommend that you buy travel insurance to cover unexpected expenses during an emergency.
You may meet with uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous conditions after storms pass while you wait for transportation back home. In many places, typhoons are often accompanied by damaging high tides and flooding. If you are living close to the ocean, you may be at higher risk. Landslides and mudslides are also serious concerns during heavy periods of rain. Be sure to check with local authorities for safety and security updates. Because weather conditions can damage local facilities, security personnel and other emergency responders may not be able to assist you at all times.
Minor storms in these areas can develop into typhoons very quickly, limiting the time available for you to move safely. Please tell your family and friends where you are and keep in close contact with your operator, hotel staff, and local officials for evacuation (疏散) instructions in the event of a weather emergency. Protect your travel and identity documents against loss or damage as the need to replace lost documentation could delay your return home.
1. What may happen to travelers in a typhoon?| A．They may be forced to leave home. |
| B．They may be offered free travel insurance. |
| C．They may fail to get the latest weather reports. |
| D．They may stay in the affected area for over 48 hours. |
| A．Why travelers should keep in touch with others. |
| B．What travelers should do when a typhoon comes. |
| C．How travelers can move from the affected area safely. |
| D．When travelers need the travel and identity documents. |
| A．An official notice. | B．An introduction to an association. |
| C．A feature story. | D．A document from a travel agency. |
【推荐2】Can you survive an unannounced storm? Although there is expert broadcasting and we have cell phones, there are still some instances (情况) when the violent weather takes us by surprise.
While most Atlantic hurricanes form off the roust of Africa giving plenty of early warning, sudden Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico hurricanes form and move rapidly in less than a day’s time, endangering everyone and everything in their path.
Oil workers were trapped off the shore (海岸) when sudden storms appeared. Natural scientists have been stuck in coastal areas without storm warning. Ten years ago a Texas National Guard group was trapped on the beach by rain-forced flooding and bad to ride out (经受得住) a major hurricane during a training exercise. There’ve been a few instances when travelers were trapped on an island or in a coastal area and unable to escape in time.
Escaping from the storm-threatens areas is generally a choice for most of us — but not for all. Each year thousands of islanders across the Caribbean face the danger of hurricanes without so much as a public shelter to hide in. Most ride out the storm in their homes.
But there’re a few things yon ran do to prepare yourself for some unexpected emergencies. Being prepared for the unexpected may be your best and only defense. If you’re headed outdoors for a few days or weeks, you should always carry a flashlight with extra batteries, a Beidou device, and a basic medical box. If you’re traveling in your ear, remember you may suffer high winds. You’d better not stay inside to avoid being blown away along with your car. Keeping your head and your courage up is essential (必要的) to survival in any type of danger. Let common sense guide you and always be prepared for the worst.
1. According to the text, most Atlantic hurricanes _______.| A．form in the Caribbean Sea | B．develop off the coast of Africa |
| C．come from Gulf of Mexico | D．are from the Pacific Ocean |
| A．People trapped by sudden storms. |
| B．The bad situations of oil workers. |
| C．The Texas National Guard group. |
| D．The danger of traveling on an island. |
| A．We can get through the storm because of the expert broadcasting. |
| B．Being prepared for the unexpected is likely to be our best and only defense. |
| C．Escaping from the storm-threatened arras is a choice for all of us in general. |
| D．We should stay inside the car to avoid being blown away in high winds. |
| A．To give some advice. |
| B．To encourage traveling |
| C．To give some warnings. |
| D．To understand the danger of storms |
【推荐3】Staying Safe in a Vehicle
Wildfires are common in dry, hot climates, but they can happen anywhere.
Ensure that you can breathe. Once you’re in a car, you’ll need to ensure that the car is safely sealed from the smoke surrounding you.
Drive if you can. If the vehicle runs and you’re capable of driving it, then do so. But it’s important to drive slowly and keep your headlights on, so that you can see your surroundings and anyone else on the road can see you.
Remain in the vehicle. If the smoke is too thick to see the road, or if you cannot drive the car for any reason, you should remain in the vehicle.
Know what to expect.
| A．Don’t drive through heavy traffic. |
| B．Don’t drive through heavy smoke. |
| C．You need to break a window to enter the vehicle. |
| D．It’s important to know what to expect so that you do not panic. |
| E．Most wildfires start small, often from human causes, but spread very quickly. |
| F．This is crucial, since you will otherwise risk passing out from carbon monoxide (一氧化物). |
| G．You can lie down on the floor of the vehicle and cover yourself with a blanket or coat, if possible. |
【推荐1】Prashant Mandal shares a small hut with his wife and four kids, lives on less than $2 a day and recently suffered medical debts of more than $4,000 after his teenage son got sick last year. Yet, despite Mandal’s modest earnings, he spends 20 percent of his income on solar energy, an expense which is key to drawing in customers and helping his children to study. Across the globe, about 1.2 billion people live without electricity. Such limitations are not only inconvenient, but they put people in low-income countries at a greater risk of developing serious health condition. People living without electricity typically rely on kerosene lamps and other harmful light sources, which can lead to burns, injuries, poisoning and other risks .
Realizing the need for a more efficient energy source, a handful of for-profit companies have developed business models that enable under-served people to purchase solar energy, and, in turn, protect themselves and the environment in the process. Simpa Networks, which focuses its efforts on rural India, is such a company that has found a way to make solar energy affordable and accessible to people in need. Customers are charged a small down payment. Then, through its “progressive purchase” model, they pay in advance for a designated amount of energy consumption. A number of other companies have found ways to get solar energy into the hands and homes of people who typically can’t afford electricity. MPOWERD, a New York-based company, invented an inflatable solar light that is powered by the sun, and is also able to store that energy.
The Luci, which can provide light for up to about 12 hours, is marketed in the developed world as an efficient camping light. Those sales allow the company to keep its production costs down so that they’re actually affordable in low-income countries. “Energy poverty is discouraging but solvable if we all work together,” said John Salzinger, MPOWERD’s co-founder. “Every single consumer’s purchase helps us reduce costs, and then we pass those savings on to those who need affordable lights the most.”
1. Why does the text mention Prashant Mandal in Paragraph 1?| A．To tell us the situation of his family. | B．To state Prashant Mandal’s sufferings. |
| C．To show the convenience of solar energy. | D．To lead in the topic of the article. |
| A．Those who can produce solar energy. |
| B．Those who have access to enough electricity. |
| C．Those who live without sufficient electricity. |
| D．Those who are willing to use solar energy. |
| A．They can pay step by step. | B．They can pay after using it. |
| C．They must fully pay first. | D．They can buy it at a discount. |
| A．Concerned. | B．Optimistic | C．Discouraged | D．Neutral |
【推荐2】The Mysterious World of Deep-Sea Creatures
The deep sea remains one of the least explored and understood environments on our planet. Lying below the sunlit upper layers of the ocean, the deep sea is a region of permanent darkness, freezing temperatures, and massive pressure. Yet, life thrives (茁壮成长) here in some of the most astonishing ways.
* The Black Dragonfish *
Residing at dephs of up to 2,000 meters, the black dragonfish is a predator with a thin and long body and sharp teeth. What makes it unique is its ability to produce its own light, a phenomenon known as bioluminescence. This helps it attract prey (猎物) and communicate with potential mates.
* The Giant Squid *
Long a stuff of legends and tales, the giant squid, which occasionally attacks whales, can reach lengths of up to 43 feet. Its massive eyes, the size of dinner plates, allow it to detect weak light in the deep dark waters. Encounters with this enormous creature are rare, and much of its life remains unknown.
* Tube Worms at Hydrothermal Vents *
In the depths of the ocean, hydrothermal vents (热液喷口) shoot superheated water packed with minerals. Around these vents, communities of tube worms thrive, reaching lengths of up to 2 meters. They possess no mouth or digestive system; instead, bacteria inside them process the minerals from the vents to produce energy.
Modern technology has enabled humans to explore deeper into the ocean than ever before. Using remotely operated vehicles and deep-sea submersibles (潜水器), scientists can now study these creatures in their natural habitats, uncovering secrets that could hold the key to understanding life’s adaptability.
1. What ability is unique to the black dragonfish?| A．Generating light for itself. | B．Attracting and capturing prey. |
| C．Discovering light in the deep water. | D．Communicating with other creatures. |
| A．The black dragonfish | B．The tube worm. | C．The giant squid. | D．The whale. |
| A．An academic article. | B．An experimental report. |
| C．A travel guide. | D．A natural science magazine. |
【推荐3】National parks across the USA offer visitors more than just hiking paths and points of interests. Park guests can now get to know their beautiful landscapes and rich histories in a whole new way with these adventure ideas.
• Golfing in Death Valley National Park
You’ve played the world’s best golf courses, but have you played the world’s lowest? Put the ball at the Furnace Creek Golf Course located in California’s remote Death Valley National Park. In addition to golf, the course also sets the stage for a horse-drawn carriage sightseeing offered through the resort’s Furnace Creek Stables.
• Luxury Camping in Yellowstone National Park
Want to experience sleeping under the stars? Far and Away Adventures serves up luxury-camping trips into Yellowstone National Park, covering States of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, complete with comfortable bedding and tents, delicious meals, and backcountry adventures. Guests are guided to a remote campsite along Yellowstone Lake by boat, and spend several days boating along its shores, fishing, and hiking among some of the park’s most original landscapes.
• Dog sledge in Denali National Park
Experience a dog sledge trip through one of the last wild frontiers (边疆), Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. A team of dogs and experienced guides from EarthSong Lodge lead guests into the remote and calm land inside Alaska. Although day trips are available, multi-day sledge travels allow visitors to learn the art of dog dragging, not to mention enjoying grand views of Mt. McKinley.
• Canyon Vistas Mule Ride in Grand Canyon National Park
Take in the Grand Canyon, located in State of Arizona, by four-footed mule (骡子) for breathtaking views along the edge and into its depths. Mule rides have been offered at the Grand Canyon since 1887, and are a rich part of the canyon’s history. A new four-mile tour along the edge, the Canyon Mule Ride, takes approximately three hours to complete. Along the path, riders speak to the geologic shapes and human history of the area.
1. Among the national parks mentioned above, how many of them offer animal service for guests to enjoy beautiful natural scenery?| A．One | B．Two |
| C．Three | D．Four |
| A．The four national parks are located in different states of the USA. |
| B．In Death Valley National Park, guests can play the world’s best golf courses. |
| C．Of the four national parks, Yellowstone National Park covers the largest area. |
| D．Park visitors have recently been offered mule rides in Grand Canyon National Park. |
| A．Death Valley National Park | B．Yellowstone National Park |
| C．Denali National Park | D．Grand Canyon National Park |
