The UN weather agency warned on Tuesday there was a good chance of an "El Nino" climate phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean this year, bringing droughts（干旱） and heavy rainfall to the rest of the world.
The World Meteorological (气象的) Organization (WMO) said its modeling suggested a "fairly large potential for an El Nino, most likely by the end of the second quarter of 2016".
The El Nino phenomenon occurs every two to seven years, when the trade winds that circulate surface water in the tropical (熟带的) Pacific start to weaken.
WMO pointed out Tuesday that since last December, trade winds had weakened and there had been a significant warming of the waters below the surface in the central Pacific.
“While there is no guarantee this situation will lead to an El Nino event, the longer the trade winds remain weakened, and subsurface temperatures stay significantly warmer than average, the higher chances are," it said.
Two thirds of climate models predicted that the phenomenon would begin sometime between June and August, with one-fifth suggesting it could start as early as May, and the remaining predicting no El Nino this year, it said.
It is often followed by a return swing of La Nina, which is characterized by unusually cool ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific.
"El Nino has an important warming effect on global average temperatures," Jarraud cautioned, stressing that combined with warming from greenhouse gases such events had "the potential to cause a sharp rise in global average temperature".
1. It can be inferred from the first two paragraphs that -'
A. a weather agency warned an "El Nino" would appear on Tuesday
B. WMO showed an El Nino would probably happen by June in 2016
C. an El Nino would bring heavy rainfall to the Pacific Ocean
D. The phenomenon of El Nino happens every seven years
2.What does the underlined phrase "this situation" in Paragraph 4 refer to?
A. Cool ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific.
B. A significant warming of the waters below the surface in the central Pacific.
C. Trade winds that circulate surface water in the Pacific.
D. Heavy rainfall in different areas all over the world.
3.According to the text, what might be the percentage of no "El Nino" this year?
A.13%. B.20%. C.67%. D.87%.
Two girls living next door to each other-a seemingly plain scene that has two very different life .stories behind it.
Chi Zhen, an 18-year-old student in Seville, Spain, used his camera to tell the story of two lives, which went widespread online. Comments on the photos indicate that they have inspired many, to believe that the future is in their own hands.
Chi has seen many youths living life without a goal, wasting their time and blaming bad luck for it.
Feeling regret for them, he took a series of photos of his friends Veronica and Anna Maria, both freshmen at the University of Seville in Spain. They live completely different life styles and are getting opposite results.
Chi hopes the photos will inspire those who have let go of their own fate (命运).
In the photos, Anna Maria, a Spanish girl, can be seen watching a TV programme . She spends most of her time in front of her laptop. She rarely goes out, because she thinks she's not attractive and doesn't know what to say in social situations. "'I'm not as lucky as Veronica," she often says.
But she doesn't know that while she's wasting time watching TV, -Veronica, the "lucky" girl next door，has taught herself four foreign languages and traveled to many places. She goes to the library frequently and her extensive knowledge and experience allow her to take part in any conversation and become the center of attention.
Chi thinks that Anna Maria resembles many of his Chinese .friends who study abroad. They are trapped to their little circles, never trying to change their fate./'They say 'maybe I'll do it in my next life', but they are in their 20s, their best time. How can they give up hope and accept this as their life?" Chi says.
The influence of the photos has gone far beyond what Chi expected. One user commented on his photos on Renren.com, saying, "A wall separates two worlds, and the life we have depends on what we do." Another is determined to make a change right away. "I'm turning off my laptop and not watching TV anymore," he wrote.
1.What would be the best title of the text?
A. A lucky dog in social circles
B. Comments on the photos
C. A photo separates two worlds .
D. Tales of two opposite lives
2. It can be concluded from the widespread photos online that _ '
A. life one has depends on what one does
B. Anna is an attractive girl with a goal
C. Veronica is much luckier than Anna
D. Chi wastes his time in taking photos
3.According to the text, Veronica _.
A. likes watching TV programmes
B. seldom chats with others
C. is often the centre of attention
D. lets go of her own fate
4.Many of Chi's Chinese friends who study abroad _ .
A. determine to make a change right away
B. like to travel to different places of interest
C. believe they will do better in next life
D. are more willing to live in little circles
For most people, Christmas is a time to relax in the company of family and friends. But for Santa Claus, and the thousands of fake Santas who impersonate（模仿） him every year, the Christmas season is time to get to work.
Although Santa Claus waits until Christmas Eve to take his famous sleigh (雪橇) ride, Santa impersonators can be found at shopping malls around America throughout the six weeks leading up to December 25. "When you see Santa talking with kids at your local mall, that's when you know Christmas really is on the way," says Mary Lewine of New York City.
With the excitement of Christmas, people often forget about the real people behind the red robes （长袍) and white beards, but being a mall Santa. is a tough job. "There is more to it than just sitting in a chair. There is more to it than just a red suit," said Timothy Connaghan, who has worked as a Santa for.38 years. "Children can really put the wear and tear on you.”
A recent survey showed some of the challenges that mall Santas face every year. About 90 percent of Santas claimed that children pulled their beards to see if they were real, and 60 percent said that up to ten kids cough or sneeze on them every day. Even more disturbing, one-third of the Santas admit to having children wet themselves while sitting on their laps.
So why would anyone take this job? For Ben Brauch, a retired high school teacher who has worked as a Santa for the last six years, the answer is simple-the children. "I see maybe 12,000 kids in a six-week period.
It's hard work, but it's worth it because you get to play with kids." In fact, Brauch loves his job so much that he keeps his white beard long all year.
1.According to Timothy Connaghan, we can conclude that _
A. all children are moved to tears when seeing Santa
B. a mall Santa is always sitting in a chair
C. a mall Santa tolerates a lot during Christmas
D. Santa impersonators are greatly admired
2.The underlined word "claimed" in the 4th paragraph probably means “ ”
A.hesitated B. stated C. worried D. insisted
3.Why does Ben Brauch love his job of Santa impersonator?
A. Because he can keep his white beard long all year.
B. Because he as nothing else to do after retiring.
C. Because he can earn a large sum of money.
D. Because he enjoys playing with children.
4.What is the best title of the text?
A. Santa impersonators during Christmas
B. The coming Christmas
C. Shopping malls in America
D. A disturbing job
Most of my friends are moving outside the city.. to avoid the noise, smog, traffic, and crime of the city.
One friend says, "The air is heavily polluted in the city, so I prefer to live outside, where the air is clean."
Another friend is unpleased with the traffic, "Downtown is crowded with cars! You can't find a parking place, and the traffic jams are terrible." Everyone is worried about crime, "The city is full of criminals-it's toodangerous."
For them, the rural(乡村的) life is a cure for all problems, green grass, flowers, swimming pools, barbecues, and so on. Yet after they have lived there for a year or so, they realize that rural life is not so pleasant as they were expecting. Why? Their gardens！ They soon learn that the main part of rural life is yard work . After they work all weekend in their gardens, they're too tired to swim in their pools or cook some meat on their barbecues. And they can't live in the countryside without a car. Most of them moved to the countryside to avoid traffic, but now they're blocked on a busy freeway two hours every day to drive to work downtown.
My opinions about urban life are different-I love to live downtown! Why? First, in the city, I can enjoy nature. I can walk through the park. smell. the flowers, sit on the grass and visit the animals in the zoo. Yet I don't have to do yard work or feed the animals. Also, I can get everywhere by bus; if there is a traffic jam, I can walk home. I think the criminal life will reflect changes in society too; if people are buying homes outside the city, the criminals will soon follow. Criminals want to avoid noise, smog, and pollution, too. Then, overcrowding and crime will be problems of the suburbs instead of the city!
1.The first paragraph is used to _ .
A. list some figures B. make comparison
C. lead to the topic D. give suggestions
2.What did those moving outside think of their life in the city?
A. Cosy. B. Convenient.
C. Colorful. D. Crowded.
3.What is the major problem for those who live in the countryside?
A. Being far from downtown.
B. Having gardens to take care of.
C. Failing to find parking lots.
D. Suffering heavy traffic on the road.
4.What is the author's attitude to his city life?
A. Approving.. B. Ambiguous.
C. Grateful. D. Doubtful.
书面表达
假设你是某国际学校的学生会主席李华，你校将举办一次英语演讲比赛。请你根据以下要点，用英语写一份书面通知。
英语演讲比赛 |
1. 主题：如何尊敬父母； 2. 时间：11月6日下午3点；地点：校会堂； 3. 演讲时长：每人6至8分钟； 4. 报名地点：校学生会办公室；截止时间：11月3日下午5点。 |
注意：1. 词数100左右；2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
翻译句子
1.德州位于山东省的西北部。(be situated)
2.在我们学校三分之二的学生来自乡下。（主谓一致）
3.昨天我是在阅览室还给你钱的。（It is ... that）
4.中国是第三个把人送到太空的国家。（动词不定式做定语）
5.封面是绿色的那本杂志属于我。（whose）
