四、阅读理解(每小题2分，满分20分)

A

In winter the weather in England is often very cold. In spring and autumn there are sometimes cold days, but there are also warm days. The weather is sometimes hot in summer, but it is not often very hot. There are often cool days in summer.

When the temperature is over 27℃, English people say it is hot. When the temperature is about 21℃, they say it is warm.

In the north of Europe it is very cold in winter. In the south of Europe the summer is often very hot. In the south of Spain and in North Africa the summer is always hot.

Water freezes at 0℃.When water freezes, it changes from liquid into ice. Water boils at 100℃.When water boils, it changes from liquid into steam.

36. What is the weather like in summer in England?

A. Hot.   B. Warm.    C. Cool.    D. Both A and C.

37. How high do English people think the temperature is hot?

A. About 27℃.  B. Over 27℃.   C. About 21℃.  D. Over 21℃.

38. What do you think “the north of Europe” means?

A. A part of a country.     B. The capital of Europe.

C. A country in the north of Europe.   D. A part of Europe.

39. When water freezes, it changes from            into            .

A. water; ice  B. water; steam  C. steam; ice   D. ice; water

40. The writer wants to tell us something about            .

A. the weather in Europe     B. the weather in England

C. some knowledge of the temperature  D. three states of water

B

Now satellites are helping to forecast(预报) the weather. They are in space, and they can reach any part of the world. The satellites take pictures of the atmosphere(大气) , because this is where the weather forms(形成).They send these pictures to the weather stations. So meteorologists(气象学家) can see the weather of any part of the world. From the pictures, the scientists can often say how the weather will change.

Today, hundreds of weather stations in sixty countries receive satellite pictures. When they receive new pictures, the meteorologists compare them with earlier ones. Perhaps they may find that the clouds have changed during the last few hours. This may mean that the weather on the ground may soon change, too. In their next weather forecast, the meteorologists can say this.

So the weather satellites are a great help to the meteorologists. Before satellites were invented, the scientists could forecast the weather for about 24 or 48 hours. Now they can make good forecasts for three or five days. Soon, perhaps, they may be able to forecast the weather for a week or more ahead(提前).

41. Satellites travel____ .