When a storm is coming, most people leave the area as quickly as possible and head for safety…But there are a few people who will get into their cars and go straight for the center of the storm．These people are willing to risk being killed by floods or 100-Kilometer- an-hour winds for the excitement of watching the storm close up．

　 “Storm chasing (追逐)”is becoming an increasingly popular hobby，especially in the Midwest of the United States, where there are frequent storms between March and July．A storm chaser begins the day by checking the Internet for the latest weather reports, and then drives up to l,000 kilometers to where the storm will be and waits for it to develop．

　  Although anyone can do it，storm chasing is extremely dangerous．The power of a big storm  can throw a cow into the air or destroy a whole house in seconds．Storm chasers are also often hurt in accidents caused by driving in a heavy rain．If you are a beginner, it is much safer to join a group for storm - chasing vacations during the storm season．

　  Even then，storm chasing is not all adventure and excitement．“Storm chasing is 95％driving，”says Daniel Lynch，who spends most of his summer storm-chasing．“Sometimes you

Can sit around for hours waiting for something to happen，and all you get is blue sky and a few light showers.”

　  However，for storm chasers，it is all worth it. “When you get close to a storm，it is the most exciting sight you will ever see in your life，”says Jasper Morley．“Every storm is an example of the power of nature．It is the greatest show on Earth．”

1.For storm chasing，the first thing storm chasers do is to　　　 ．

2.Beginners of storm chasing are advised　　　　

3.By saying “it is all worth it” in the last paragraph，the author means that　　　

4.What can we learn from the text?

完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36-55各题所给的四个选项（A，B，C和D）中，选出最佳选项。

Trudy, an American girl, tried swimming across the English Channel. That was August 6, 1962. Her father had　 36　 her two things. One was not to pull her out of the water　 37　 she asked. The other was to give her a red sports　 38　 if she made it.

In gay spirits Trudy　 39　 out , swimming strongly. All the swimmers started at 7：09 in the morning. His father and the trainer were going along in a boat beside her.

At ten o’clock, rain began falling.　 40　 , Trudy trod （踩）water while drinking and eating a chicken leg. Then she started swimming　 41　 The wind was　 42　 and the sea became rougher.

Late　 43　 the wind became even worse. The trainer　 44　 it was useless trying to finish. He called to Trudy to　 45　 .

“No human being could do it in this weather, ” he said, “It’s　 46　 to go on.

However, her father shouted, “Don’t grab her. Let her　 47　 ”

At seven o’clock the tides（潮水）turned　 48　 her. It was more difficult to move ahead. But Trudy still swam on. She　 49　 victory was possible now, for the English coast was in　 50　 .

It was getting dark. A sound could be heard　 51　 the wind; hundreds of car horns （喇叭）were cheering her on. With　 52　 strength, she finished the last 200 yards.

At 9：35 p.m. Trudy got out of water. She had swum some 35 miles in　 53　 the 21 - mile - wide - Channel　 54　 a strong storm. But she had made it in 14 hours and 30 minutes.

“Well, Pop, ”she said to her father. “I　 55　 I get my car this time, don’t I”

36．A. given                  B. refused              C. allowed             D. promised

37．A. as                    B. unless               C. even if              D. when

38．A. suit                    B. shoe                C. hat                 D. car

39．A. rushed                 B. left                 C. started               D. worked

40．A. At midday              B. In the morning          C. In the evening    D. In the late afternoon

41．A. faster                  B. better               C. again               D. across

42．A. stopping　              B. rising               C. changing            D. increasing

43．A. morning               B  afternoon           C. evening             D. night

44．A. thought                B. considered           C. decided             D. felt

45．A. keep up                B. slow down          C. give up              D. take a rest

46．A. difficult                        B. stupid               C. impossible           D. unnecessary

47．A. go                    B. decide              C. come out            D. go on

48．A. towards                B. with                C. at                  D. against

49．A. realized                 B. noticed              C. found out            D. thought

50．A. the distance                     B. reach               C. sight                D. hand

51．A. over                  B. in                  C. with                D. from

52．A. fresh                  B. greater              C. weakening           D. remaining

53．A. flying                  B. swimming          C. crossing             D. passing

54．A. in spite of                B. because of            C. against              D. during

55．A. demand               B. am afraid            C. hope               D. guess

Surfing: It’s Not Just for Boys Any More

If you asked high school girls to name their favorite sports, most would probably say basketball or volleyball. I happen to be one of the few girls who would 　36　:surfing. But isn’t that a boy thing? Some people 　37　.Most certainly not.?

I started surfing about five years ago and　38　in love with the sport on the very first day. Riding that first 　39　 was the best feeling I had ever experienced.?

When I try to 　40　 surfing with other things, I find it very difficult because, in my ___41_　,there’s nothing like it. It involves body,　42　,and soul. There’s sand between my toes and cool, salt water all 　43　 us. The feeling I get when I’m surfing across that 　44　,becoming one with the 　45　,is like I’m weightless.?

The one thing I can 　46　 from surfing and not any other sport is endless challenge. You can never be the “best surfer” because the ocean 　47　 an uncountable variety of waves that nobody can ever master. The variations of surfing styles are wonderful. Some surfers are free and flowing; others are very aggressive and 　48　.All of these things attract me to surfing and make it ?　49　 ? from any other sport.?

I’ve 　50　 to tell every girl I know to do something that people don’t think girls can do. It’s part of being human to advance to new 　51　,so shouldn’t it be expected that girls should step up and start 　52　 the limits of things boys and men used to dominate??

There’re women 　53　 side by side with the President of our country, so why not side by side with the boys 　54　 the football team or out in the water surfing? Give girls a chance to __55　, and they will.?