2 . 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. |
2. What can we learn about polar vortexes?
| 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. |
3. What might be the attitude of the people in Texas towards the Polar vortex?
| A．Pleased. | B．Worried. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Doubtful. |
4. Why is Amarillo striking?
| 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. |
