In the second half of each year, many powerful storms are born in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean seas. Of these, only about a half a dozen generate (引起，导致) the strong, circling winds of 75 miles per hour or more that give them hurricane status, and several usually make their way to the coast. There they cause millions of dollars of damage, and bring death to large numbers of people.
The great storms that hit the coast start as innocent circling disturbances hundreds--- even thousands--- of miles out to sea. As they travel aimlessly over water warmed by the summer sun, they are carried westward by the trade winds. When conditions are just right, warm, moist air flows in at the bottom of such a disturbance, moves upward through it and es out at the top. In the process, the moisture in this warm air produces rain, and with it the heat that is converted to energy in the form of strong winds. As the heat increases, the young hurricane begins to swirl in a counter-clockwise (逆时针方向) motion.
The average life of a hurricane is only about nine days, but it contains almost more power than we can imagine. The energy in the heat released by a hurricane’s rainfall in a single day would satisfy the entire electrical needs of the United States for more than six months.
Water, not wind, is the main source of death and destruction in a hurricane. A typical hurricane brings 6 to 12 inch downpours resulting in sudden floods. Worst of all is the powerful movement of the sea, the mountains of water moving toward the low-pressure hurricane center. The water level rises as much as 15 feet above normal as it moves toward shore.
【小题1】When is an ordinary tropical storm called a hurricane?A．When it begins in the Atlantic and Caribbean seas.B．When it hits he coastline.C．When it is more than 75 mils wide.D．When its winds reach 75 miles per hour.【小题2】What is the worst thing about hurricane?A．The destructive effects of water. B．The heat they release.C．That they last about nine days on the average. D．Their strong winds.【小题3】The counter-clockwise swirling of the hurricane is brought about by .A．the low-pressure area in the center of the stormB．the force of waves of water.C．the trade windsD．the increasing heat【小题4】Apparently the word “downpour” in the fourth paragraph means .A．heavy rainfallB．dangerous wavesC．the progress of water to the hurricane centerD．the increasing heatD
网友回答
(答案→)D
解析：文章讲述了飓风的形成过程---是达到每小时75英里以上的热带风暴形成的，和对大自然和人类带来的巨大的危害。
【小题1】细节题。根据第一段第二行bees the strong, circling winds of 75 miles per hour or more that are called hurricanes。可知当一个热带风暴达到每小时75英里以上的时候，就被称为是飓风了，选D。
【小题2】细节题。根据最后一段第三行Water, not wind, is the main source of death and destruction(毁灭) in a hurricane.可知飓风最致命的是水的灾难性的影响。选A。
【小题3】细节题。根据第二段的句子：As the heat increases, the young hurricane begins to swirl in a counter-clockwise (逆时针方向) motion. 可知飓风的逆时针漩涡是由增加的热量造成的，选D。
【小题4】词义猜测题。根据后面的causing sudden floods可知“downpour”是指大量的降雨！选A。