1 . Have you watched news on TV or read newspaper recently? It has been a difficult time for people in California, US during the past month. As we all know, wildfires have spread through much of the state. According to CBS, at least 31 people have died so far. This makes them the most terrible wildfires in California so far.

Wildfires are uncontrolled fires. They usually happen in areas where few people live. They are most common in wooden areas in the US, Canada and Australia. They are also known as forest fires or grass fires, or as bushfires in Australia.

Lightning and volcanic eruptions(火山爆发) can cause wildfires. However, 90 % of wildfires are caused by people. According to the US National Park Service, burning campfires and garbage debris(碎片), cigarette butts and acts of arson(纵火) can easily cause wildfires.

Dry and hot weather, as well as wind, creates perfect wildfire conditions. They help wildfires spread quickly and last for weeks.

Wildfires can burn at over 900℃ and reach heights of more than 50 metres. Wildfires can move at a speed of up to 23 kilometres an hour, burning everything — trees, bushes, homes, even people, in their path.

The fires are also dangerous to animals. In Australia, koalas can’t get enough water from tree leaves because of wildfires. They have to leave their trees and find water somewhere else.

But sometimes, fires can be helpful for some plants. Heat from the fires makes some fungi (真菌), such as morel mushrooms(羊肚蘑), grow better. People can find more of them in the wild after a fire.

Hope that wildfires will never happen again.

1. According to the writer, which of the following can NOT cause wildfires?

A．Lightning and volcanic eruptions.	B．Burning campfires and cigarette butts.
C．Acts of arson.	D．Cooking meals at home.

2. Which is NOT true to describe wildfires?

A．Wildfires usually happen in areas where many people live.

B．Wildfires can burn at over 900℃.

C．Wildfires reach heights of more than 50 metres.

D．Wildfires can move at a speed of up to 23 kilometres an hour.

3. The heat of wildfires is helpful to ________.

A．people

B．animals

C．trees

D．morel mushrooms

4. What’s the best title of the passage?

A．The Terrible Wildfires	B．The Reasons of Wildfires
C．The Advantages of Wildfires	D．The Disadvantages of Wildfires

5. You may find the passage in ________.

A．a novel

B．a magazine

C．a diary

D．a textbook