【题目】 Every year, groups of tourists travel to central US states like Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska for their summer vacation. 【1】 They’re going to chase storms.
Once an activity only for scientists and adventurous types, storm chasing has now become an increasingly popular pastime for people from all over the world. 【2】 Storm chasers analyze weather reports and maps to locate an incoming storm before driving hundreds of miles toward it to witness a tornado in action.
The people going on these tours vary from curious first-time chasers looking for something different to storm chasing “addicts” like Nicholas Lee, a weather forecaster from the UK. 【3】 Now he saves up his vacation days to go storm chasing for three weeks every summer in the center of the US. It is the place well known for producing massive storms.
【4】 Since then the activity has continued to grow in popularity. Considering its potential dangers, it possesses, it is obviously not for everybody. And yet, more and more people are coming out doing the storm-chasing tours.
The real dangers of storm chasing are not just being swept up by a tornado. When a large tornado is predicted for the day, a number of storm chasers will drive to that high-risk area, causing serious traffic jams, which makes it harder to access the perfect spot to witness a tornado. The escape routes will be too congested as well. 【5】 Take the tornado that touched down near El Reno, Oklahoma in 2013. More than 150 people were injured, and 20 killed in it, including Tim Samaras, an experienced storm chaser plus his son and another partner.
Despite the increasing interest in storm chasing, it is still a very non-mainstream hobby.
A.Sometimes it can be life-threatening.
B.He went on his first storm-chasing tour in 2015.
C.But these people are not looking for sunshine or sightseeing.
D.He cannot wait to see that happening at any time soon.
E.Storm chasing was first popularized by the 1996 film Twister.
F.It means going to“high risk areas”where severe weather occurs.
G.How did potentially deadly weather become a popular tourist attraction?
在线课程【答案】
【1】C
【2】F
【3】B
【4】E
【5】A
【解析】
这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了追逐风暴这一活动，现在已经成为世界各地人们越来越流行的消遣方式。文章介绍了这一活动流行起来的时间以及面临的危险。
【1】
根据后文They’re going to chase storms.可知他们将追逐风暴。由此可知，这些人并不是在寻找阳光和观光，而是追逐风暴。故C选项“但这些人并不是在寻找阳光或观光”符合上下文语境，故选C。
【2】
根据后文Storm chasers analyze weather reports and maps to locate an incoming storm before driving hundreds of miles toward it to witness a tornado in action.可知风暴追踪者通过分析天气报告和地图来确定即将到来的风暴的位置，然后驱车数百英里去观察龙卷风的活动。由此可知，追逐风暴意味着要去会发生恶劣天气的高风险地区。故F选项“这意味着要去“高风险地区”，那里会发生恶劣天气”符合上下文语境，故选F。
【3】
根据上文The people going on these tours vary from curious first-time chasers looking for something different to storm chasing “addicts” like Nicholas Lee, a weather forecaster from the UK.可知参加这些旅行的人各不相同，从好奇的第一次追求不同的东西，到暴风追逐“瘾君子”，如Nicholas Lee，来自英国的天气预报员。由此可知，本句承接上文说明Nicholas Lee追逐风暴的经历。上文中Nicholas Lee可对应到B选项中He。故B选项“2015年，他开始了他的第一次追逐风暴之旅”符合上下文语境，故选B。
【4】
根据后文Since then the activity has continued to grow in popularity.可知从那时起，这项活动越来越受欢迎。由此可知，本句是在说明追逐风暴流行起来的原因。故E选项“追逐风暴最初因1996年的电影《龙卷风》而流行起来”符合上下文语境，故选E。
【5】
结合后文Take the tornado that touched down near El Reno, Oklahoma in 2013. More than 150 people were injured, and 20 killed in it, including Tim Samaras, an experienced storm chaser plus his son and another partner.可知以2013年袭击俄克拉荷马州尔里诺附近的龙卷风为例。事故造成150多人受伤，20人死亡，其中包括经验丰富的风暴追逐者Tim Samaras，以及他的儿子和另一名搭档。由此可知，有风暴追逐者丧生，可知追逐风暴可能会有生命危险。故A选项“有时可能会危及生命”符合上下文语境，故选A。