When a storm is coming, most people leave the area as quickly ad possible and head for safety. But there are a few people who will get into their cars and go straight for the center of the storm. These people are willing to risk(冒…危险)being killed by floods or 100-kilometer-an-hour winds for the excitement of watching the storm close up.
“Storm chasing(追逐)” is becoming an increasingly popular hobby(喜好), especially in the Midwest of the United States, where there are frepuent storms between March and July. A storm chaser begins the day by checking the Internet for the latest weather reports, and then drives up to 1,000 kilometers to where the storm will be and wits for it to develop.
Although anyone can do it , storm chasing is extremely dangerous. The power of a big storm can throw a cow into the air or destroy a whole house in seconds. Storm chasers are also often hurt in accidents caused by driving in a heavy rain. If you are a beginner, it is much safer to join a group for storm-chasing vacations during the storm season.
Even then, storm chasing is not all adventure and excitement. “Storm chasing is 95% driving,” says Daniel Lynch, who spends most of his summer storm-chasing. “Sometimes you can sit around for hours waiting for something to happen, and all you get is blue sky and a few light showers.”
However, for storm chasers, it is all worth it. “When you get close to a storm, it is the most exciting sight you will ever see in your life,” says Jasper Morley. “Every storm is an example of the power of nature, It is the greatest show on Earth.”
1.For storm chasing, the first thing storm chasers do is to .
A. head straight for the center of the storm
B. get into the car for safety
C. wait patiently for the storm to develop
D. collect information about a coming storm
2.Beginners of storm chasing are advised .
A. not to drive in a heavy rain
B. to do it in an organized way
C. not to get too close to a storm
D. to spend more time on it in summer
3.By saying “it is all worth it” in the last paragraph, the author means that .
A. storm chasing costs a lot of money
B. storm chasing is worth hours of waiting
C. efforts in storm chasing are well paid
D. a storm presents the greatest show on Earth
4.What can we learn from the text?
A. Sometimes storm chasers get nothing but disappointment
B. Many storm chasers get killed in the storms.
C. Storm chasing is becoming popular around the world
D. Storm chasing is only fit for young people.
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Have you ever had to decide whether to go shopping or stay home and watch TV on a weekend? Now you 1do both at the same time. Home shopping television networks(网络) have become a 2for many people to shop without 3having to leave their homes.
Some shoppers are 4of department stores and supermarkets— 5the crowds, waiting in long lines, and sometimes 6of finding anything they want to buy. They’d rather sit quietly at home in front of the TV set and 7a friendly announcer describe a product 8a model shows it. And they can 9around the clock, buying something 10by making a phone call.
Department stores and even mail-under companies are 11to join in the success of home shopping. Large department stores are busy 12their own TV channels(频道)to encourage TV shopping. in the future. 13can ask questions about products and place 14, all through their TV sets.
Will shopping by television 15take the place of shopping in stores? Some industry managers think so. 16many people find shopping at a 17store a great enjoyment. And for many shoppers, it is still important to 18or try on dresses they want to buy. That’s 19specialists say that in the future, home shopping will 20together with store shopping but will never entirely replace(取代) it.
1.A. must B. should C. shall D. can
2.A. programme B. way C. reason D. purpose
3.A. ever B. never C. still D. once
4.A. proud B. fond C. tired D. careful
5.A. fighting B. striking C. treating D. stopping
6.A. sense B. doubt C. hope D. feeling
7.A. see B. watch C. let D. notice
8.A. until B. since C. if D. while
9.A. shop B. wait C. turn D. deliver
10.A. suitably B. cheaply C. simply D. hardly
11.A. nervous B. lucky C. epual D. eager
12.A. putting up B. making up C. setting up D. looking up
13.A. Guests B. Assistants C. Managers D. Customers
14.A. orders B. goods C. books D. answers
15.A. lastly B. finally C. especially D. fortunately
16.A. Then B. Yet C. However D. Therefore
17.A. general B. popular C. real D. true
18.A. design B. make C. wear D. touch
19.A. how B. why C. what D. when
20.A. exist B. practise C. follow D. appear
Mr. Green stood up in defence of the 16-year-old boy, saying that he was not the one ．
A．blamed B．blaming C．to blame D．to be blamed
Catherine bought a postcard of the place she was visiting, addressed to and then posted it at the nearby post office．
A．it; her B．it; herself C．herself; her D．herself; herself
— Four dollars a pair? I think it’s a bit too much．
— If you buy three pairs, the price for each will to three fifty．
A．come down B．take down C．turn over D．go over
You may drop in or just give me a call. will do．
A．Either B．Each C．Neither D．All
