四、阅读理解(共15小题;共30分)

A

Weather is all around us. Weather may be one of the first things you see after you wake up. If  it is cold and snowing, you'll wear a jacket when you go outside. If it's hot and sunny, you may wear shorts. Sounds easy, right? But what is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather talks about something outdoors(户外) in some place at some time. Weather tells us something from minute to minute. Weather can change a lot in a very short time. Weather is what we hear about on the television news every night.

Climate talks about the total(总数) of all weather in a year in a given place. It's about the weather of a season. Climate tells us what it's usually like in the place where you live. San Diego is known as having a warm climate, Buffalo a snowy climate, and Seattle a rainy climate. How would you describe(描述) the climate where you live?

41. The passage is about the difference between                 .

A. weather and climate B. spring and autumn

C. old and hot weather D. fine and bad weather

42. When you tell others it'll be rainy tomorrow, you talk about                 .

A. weather B. time C. date D. climate

43. When you know Beijing is very cold in winter, you know something about                 .

A. weather B. climate C. the year D. the month

44. What does the word "climate" mean?

A. 天文 B. 天气 C. 气候 D. 地球

45. Which of the following describes weather?

A. Winter is very cold. B. Summer is very hot.

C. Hainan isn't cold in winter. D. It's cloudy today.

B

New Zealand is beautiful no matter what time of the year or season you visit. The best time to visit New Zealand is the time that suits you best. The weather in New Zealand is fine all year round. However, if you have more than one date in mind, the following information may help with your travel plans.

The warmest months of the year are from September to April. December, January and February are the three hottest months of the year. It is summer. The long summer days are wonderful for water sports.

Spring is from September to November. It can be hot, warm or cool. The weather is quite different. That depends on the places you visit. You can travel to Alexandra in Central Otago and Hastings in Hawk's Bay.

Autumn is from March to May. It is a pleasant season in New Zealand. The temperature is a few degrees lower than that of summer.

The winter season runs from June to August. The mountainous areas are covered with snow during winter and there is a little rainfall in some places. This is a good time for skiing.

46. The purpose of the author in writing the first paragraph is                 .

A. to show how beautiful New Zealand is

B. to offer the best time for travelers to travel to New Zealand

C. to tell us not to travel to New Zealand without knowing the weather there

D. to tell us any time is OK but you'd better choose the suitable time for your travel to New Zealand

47. Which sport is suitable in December and January in New Zealand?

A. Going skating. B. Playing soccer.

C. Going swimming. D. Going skateboarding.

48. What is the weather in spring in New Zealand like?

A. It is very hot.

B. It is pretty cool.

C. It is hot but wet in spring.

D. It's different in different places.

49. Which month is the best if you want to play with snow?

A. July. B. December. C. February. D. November.

50. What is the best title for this passage?

A. A Famous Country B. Seasons in New Zealand

C. Come to New Zealand D. Places in New Zealand

C

No one can change the weather. But if we read the signs correctly around us, we can know how the weather will be. This way of telling what the weather will be like on the following one or two days is called weather forecasting.

For many centuries and in all countries, people have studied the weather and tried to make weather forecasting. Rings around the sun are a sign of coming rain. Many people feel their joints hurt before the coming of wet weather. Some birds fly high if the fine weather is coming, but they fly near ground if rainy or stormy weather is on the way. It is probably because the insects which they are hunting fly low. If you see a rainbow during rainy weather, this is a sign that the weather will become clear and fine. Such rainbows come in the evening. If the stars twinkle clearly at night, then fine weather will continue. If a fog appears in the evening just above a river, then the day will be warm. If the sunset is mostly red in color, then the following day will be fine. If a rainbow appears in the morning, rainy weather will probably come.

Most of the above sayings have been made by the people who have used their eyes and brains to make weather forecasting.

51. People's joints hurt                 .

A. is a sign of wet weather B. because they are ill

C. without any reason D. because of the insects

52. Which is true about weather forecasting?