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, 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） 这篇阅读材料向我们介绍了气象卫星在预报天气中所发挥的重要作用。如今，许多国家的气象站都是在接收到卫星云图后，由气象学家进行研究分析，然后预报天气的。在卫星的帮助下，人们可以预测未来三五天或更长时间内的天气状况。

  1. A。本题属表层理解题。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 是该小题答案的出处。

  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。文章结尾的 Soon, perhaps, they may be able to forecast the weather for a week or more ahead 这句即是答案之所在。

  5. C。短文首句即点明了主旨。


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