Now satellites are helping to forecast(預報) the weather. They are in space, and they can reach any part of the world. The satellites take pictures of the atmosphere (大氣), because this is where the weather forms (形成). They send these pictures to the weather stations. So meteorologists(氣象學家) can see the weather of any part of the world. From the pictures, the scientists can often say how the weather will change.
Today, nearly five hundred 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 24or 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).
1. Satellites travel __________.
A. in space B. above space C. above the ground D. in the atmosphere
2. Why do we use the weather satellites to take pictures of the atmosphere?Because _______.
A. clouds form there B. the weather forms there
C. the weather satellites can do it easily D. the pictures can forecast the weather
3. Meteorologists forecast the weather _______.
A. without studying satellite pictures
B. before they receive satellite pictures
C. when they have received satellite pictures
D. after they have compared the new satellite pictures with the earlier ones
4. Maybe we』ll soon be able to forecast the weather for _________.
A. one day B. two days
C. five days D. seven days or even longer
5. The main idea of this passage is that satellites are now used in __________.
A. taking pictures of the earth B. receiving pictures of the atmosphere
C. weather forecasting D. doing other work in many ways
【答案及解析】
(A) 這篇閱讀材料向我們介紹了氣象衛星在預報天氣中所發揮的重要作用。如今，許多國家的氣象站都是在接收到衛星雲圖後，由氣象學家進行研究分析，然後預報天氣的。在衛星的幫助下，人們可以預測未來三五天或更長時間內的天氣狀況。
1. A。本題屬表層理解題。短文首句即是答案之所在。
2. D。From the pictures，the scientists can often say how the weather will change 是該小題答案的出處。
3. D。答案就在 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 中。
4. D。文章結尾的 Soon, perhaps, they may be able to forecast the weather for a week or more ahead 這句即是答案之所在。
5. C。短文首句即點明了主旨。
更多中考信息》》》新東方網中考頻道
新東方報名系統》》》我要報班
（責任編輯：蘭香子)