There has been a dramatic increase in the number of natural disasters over the past few years, and it is assumed that global warming and climate change could cause even more disasters in the future. Some of the world’s leading cities are facing disasters like floods and heat waves.

    London

    London’s flood defences are getting older. Since 1982, the Thames Barrier(水闸)has protected the city from the threat of flooding, but it was only designed to last until 2030 and close once every two or three years. About 26 years later the barrier now closes five or six times a year and according to Environment Agency predictions, by 2050 the barrier will be closed on almost every tide if the problem is not addressed.

    There are 26 underground stations, 400 schools, 16 hospitals, an airport and 80 billion worth of property in London’s flood risk area, so large scale flooding would be disastrous.

    Paris

    Over a six week period in July and August 2003, more than 1 1,400—mainly elderly people—died in France from dehydration(脱水)and extremely high body temperature in a deadly heat wave. Heat waves of similar intensity(强度)are expected every seven years by 2050, so what can be done to make sure such a disaster does not happen again?

    One solution is to have air-conditioners installed in elderly care homes. But this is considered a short-term solution, as the increase in demand for electricity also increases carbon emissions(排放).

 In Paris the local authorities are encouraging architects to design new types of buildings such as the building “Flower Tower,” which uses a covering of bamboo to act as a natural air-conditioner.

Shanghai

    Shanghai is the fastest growing city on Earth. It has a population of 18 million and is only 4 meters above sea level. Sea levels are predicted to rise by 20 cm within the next century.

    An estimated 250，000 people move to Shanghai every year in search of work, placing extra demands on energy consumption. China relies heavily on coal—fired power stations, but these emissions increase temperatures and, in turn, warmer seas increase the risk of typhoons.

1.What problem should be settled now in London?

A．How to protect the city’s property

B．Where to build its flood defences

C．How to use the Thames Barrier to protect the city

D．How to improve the function of the old flood defences

2.Which of the following measures can’t solve the heat wave disaster in Paris?

A．Putting up new types of buildings with a covering of bamboo

B．Having air-conditioners installed in elderly care homes

C．Forbidding the city to build“Flower Tower”

D．Encouraging architects to design new types of buildings

3.The major threats to Shanghai are           ．

A．increasing population and coal-fired power stations

B．rising sea levels and typhoons

C．extremely high temperature and rising sea levels

D．extra demands on energy consumption and typhoons

4.The purpose of the passage is       ．

A．to tell us how to protect the big cities

B．to give advice on how to defend natural disasters

C．to explain what causes flood and heat waves

D．to warn us of the increasing natural disasters in big cities

5.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A．Big Cities Facing Big Disasters

B．Big Disasters in the Future

C．The Increase of Natural Disasters

D．Solutions to Natural Disasters

During recent years, floods and flash floods have caused billions of dollars in damage each year. They are among the most common and widespread of all natural disasters. Even more importantly, they’re No.1 weather-related killer. A flood can happen anywhere along the Mississippi, in New England, even in the desert.

The following are some fascinating facts about floods and flash floods.

A flood（commonly called river flood）is high flow of water from a river or similar body of water, happening over a period of time too long to be considered a flash flood. Flooding is caused in many ways. Winter or spring rains, together with melting snows, can fill rivers too quickly. Heavy rains from hurricanes or other tropical（热带的）systems can also produce river flooding. The Mississippi River Flood of 1993 was caused by repeated heavy rain from thunderstorms over a period of weeks.

Flash floods are quickly-rising floods which are usually the result of heavy rains over a short period of time, often only several hours or even less. They can also be caused by ice jams（冰塞）on rivers related to a winter or spring melting, or occasionally even a dam break. The constant influx（汇集） of water finally caused a great overflow to begin, powerful enough to sweep vehicles away, roll big stones into roadways, uproot trees, level（夷平） buildings, and knock bridges down. The speed of the rising of water is the most frightening.

Do remember: Move to higher ground and stay away from low areas during heavy rain. Stay out of flooded areas. Never allow children especially to play or walk in flowing water. Never drive your car into water of unknown depths.

43. What is the best title for the passage?

A. The power of floods               B. The damage of floods

C. The occurrence of floods           D. The facts about floods

44. The last paragraph is mainly about ______ .          

A. flood safety tips                B. the reasons for floods

C. the waste water systems               D. the swift flood waters

45. According to the passage, people are afraid of _____ most during flash floods.

A. the constant influx of water

B. the sudden occurrence of flash floods

C. the quick rising water

D. the great damage of flash floods

46. According to the passage, flash floods are ______.

A. great floods resulted from heavy rains in a short time

B. floods rising quickly from heavy rains in a short time

C. quickly-rising floods in a long time

D. floods happening over a long time

    There has been a dramatic increase in the number of natural disasters over the past few years，and it is assumed that global warming and climate change could cause even more disasters in the future．Some of the world’s leading cities are facing disasters like floods and heat waves．

    London

    London’s flood defenses are getting older．Since 1 982，the Thames Barrier(水闸)has protected the city from the threat of flooding，but it was only designed to last until 2030 and close once every two or three years．About 26 years later the barrier now closes five or six times a year and according to Environment Agency predictions，by 2050 the barrier will be closed on almost every tide if the problem is not addressed．

    There are 26 underground stations，400 schools，1 6 hospitals，an airport and 80 billion worth of property in London’s flood risk area, so large scale flooding would be disastrous．

    Paris

    Over a six week period in July and August 2003，more than 1 1,400---mainly elderly people―died in France from dehydration(脱水)and extremely high body temperature in a deadly heat wave．Heat waves of similar intensity(强度)are expected every seven years by 2050，so what can be done to make sure such a disaster does not happen again?

    One solution is to have air-conditioners installed in elderly care homes．But this is considered a short-term solution，as the increase in demand for electricity also increases carbon emissions(排放)．

    In Paris the local authorities are encouraging architects to design new types of buildings

 such as the building“Flower Tower,”which uses a covering．of bamboo to act as a natural

 air-conditioner．

    Shanghai

    Shanghai is the fastest growing city on Earth．It has a population of 1 8 million and is only 4 meters above sea level．Sea levels are predicted to rise by 20 cm within the next century．

An estimated 250，000 people move to Shanghai every year in search of work, placing extra demands on energy consumption．China relies heavily on coal―fired power stations，but these emissions increase temperatures and，in turn，warmer seas increase the risk of typhoons．

56．Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

    A．Big Cities Facing Big Disasters                    B．Big Disasters in the Future

    C．The Increase of Natural Disasters                D．Solutions to Natural Disasters

 57．What problem should be settled now in London?

    A．How to protect the city’s property．   

    B．Where to build its flood defences．

    C．How to use the Thames Barrier to protect the city．

    D．How to improve the function of the old flood defences．

58．Which of the following measures can’t solve the heat wave disaster in Paris?

    A．Putting up new types of buildings with a covering of bamboo．

    B．Having air-conditioners installed in elderly care homes．

    C．Forbidding the city to build“Flower Tower”

    D．Encouraging architects to design new types of buildings．

59．The major threats to Shanghai are           ．

    A．increasing population and coal-fired power stations

    B．rising sea levels and typhoons

    C．extremely high temperature and rising sea levels

    D．extra demands on energy consumption and typhoons

 60．The purpose of the passage is       ．

    A．to tell us how to protect the big cities

    B．to give advice on how to defend natural disasters

    C．to explain what causes flood and heat waves

    D．to warn us of the increasing natural disasters in big cities