Question

A sandstorm, also known as a dust storm, is exactly what it sounds like. A very strong windstorm especially in the desert carries clouds of sand or dust that greatly reduces visibility. This wind is usually caused by convection currents (對流氣流), which are created by intense heating of the ground, and is usually strong enough to move entire sand dunes. Air is unstable when heated, and this instability in the air will cause higher winds to mix with winds in the lower atmosphere, producing strong surface winds.

Sandstorms can disturb people’s travel, and can sometimes destroy whole roads, and dry flat areas. Similar dust storms can be found on the planet Mars, and are thought to be seasonal. Today, the destruction of forests and too much farming of farmland can lead to sandstorms. Too much use of water resources can also cause sandstorms.

In the United States of America, sandstorms are rare because of the lack of large deserts and more importantly the development of proper agricultural techniques. The last recorded destructive sandstorm in American history was the Dust Bowl, which occurred on July 16, 1971 and was widely recorded by meteorologists (氣象學家).

To protect themselves from sandstorms, some people wear protective suits. Special equipment can be fixed in some cars to prevent sand from getting into the engine. Sandstorms can cause coughs, and the sand and dust has also been known to carry “infectious diseases”. Sand particles, unlike dust ones, will block air passages, and cause a person who breathes them in to choke. Dust particles may cause an allergic (過敏的) reaction.

1.Which of the following plays the first part in forming sandstorms?

A．The instability of the sand.

B．The instability of the wind.

C．The intense heating of the ground.

D．The speed of the wind.

2.From the second paragraph, we can learn that at present _______.

A．sandstorms are more often seen on Mars than on Earth

B．sandstorms have led to the lack of clean water resources

C．farming brings more harm than benefits to humans

D．human activities are a major cause of sandstorms

3.The author will most probably agree that ________.

A．there will soon be no sandstorms in the USA

B．humans haven’t thought of any way to deal with sandstorms

C．death caused by sandstorms is increasing all the time

D．humans should make more efforts to stop soil turning into desert

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.C

2.D

3.D

【解析】

試題分析：文章介紹了沙塵暴的形成和危害，已經如何防止沙塵暴。

1.細節題：從第一段的句子：This wind is usually caused by convection currents (對流氣流), which are created by intense heating of the ground,可知沙塵暴的最初形成是因為地面的熱量。選C

2.細節題;從第二段的句子：Today, the destruction of forests and too much farming of farmland can lead to sandstorms. Too much use of water resources can also cause sandstorms. 可知現在沙塵暴的形成主要是人的活動。選D

3.推理題：從第三段的句子;In the United States of America, sandstorms are rare because of the lack of large deserts and more importantly the development of proper agricultural techniques.可知作者認為人類應該努力不讓泥土變成沙漠。選D

考點：考查環保類短文

點評：文章介紹了沙塵暴的形成和危害，已經如何防止沙塵暴。內容比較適中，對于考生的能力要求不高，只要認真細致閱讀，不難發現答案。可以先看題目再讀文章，這樣可以提高閱讀的速度。還要準確定位考點。特別是推理題，要結合上下文的暗示做題，掌握方法是關鍵。