15．One weekend in May 2015，over 48centimeters of rain fell in Houston，Texas，USA．Soon the city was covered with water．The rising water rushed into the cars on the roads．There were 16deaths that weekend．
Changing Weather
The weather is changing．Over the last few years，heavy rains have caused floods （洪灾） in Brazil，Pakistan，and Thailand．Droughts （干旱） have struck Russia and Australia．Heat waves have killed thousands in Europe．There are more different kinds of terrible wild weather all over the world．In 2011alone，the bad weather caused the world to lose 150billion dollars．
Warmer and Wetter
As more wild weather events happen，a worried world is beginning to ask questions like：What is going on with the weather？And why？Many also want to know：Is this natural，or are we to blame （责怪）？
The answer seems to be：a little of both．Wild weather is natural． This global （全球的） warming makes heat waves more likely to happen．The higher temperatures also cause more water to enter the air．This causes much more rain．Some scientists also believe global warming makes some storms stronger．
This means we're likely to see more wild weather．"But we don't have to just stand there and take it，"says Scientist Michael Oppenheimer．He and other scientists say we need to stop the Earth from getting warmer．We also need to be prepared，to do things that will help save lives．
38．What is the purpose of the second paragraph？A
A．To give examples of wild weather events．
B．To guess how the weather will change．
C．To explain why the weather is changing．
D．To describe the weather events in 2011．
39．Which of the following can be put in the blank in Paragraph 4？D
A．And wild weather happens more and more．
B．And nature also influences human activity．
C．But humans have already paid enough attention to the wild weather．
D．But most scientists agree human activity has made the Earth warmer．
40．Which of the following would Oppenheimer probably agree with？C
A．It is too late to stop global warming．
B．Humans have nothing to do with global warming．
C．The weather will get better if we can stop global warming．
D．To find ways to keep our things safe is the most important．
41．What is the main idea of the passage？D
A．In May 2015，there was a deadly flood in Houston，Texas，USA．
B．There are more kinds of terrible wild weather all over the world．
C．Many scientists believe global warming makes some storms stronger．
D．Global warming causes wild weather events and that makes people worried．
分析 文章大意：本文讲述的是全球气候变化了，极端天气出现得更频繁，给人类带来了更大的损失．并分析了其形成的原因：地球变暖了，使得更多的湿热气流进入大气中，暴风雨更多更强．同时，科学家们呼吁人们行动起来，阻止地球变暖，行动起来，拯救地球生命．
解答 38-41：ADCD
38题答案：A 主旨推断题：第二段列举了巴西、巴基斯坦、泰国的洪灾，俄罗斯、澳大利亚的旱灾，欧洲的热浪等等，列举的是一系列的恶劣天气，与A项To give examples of wild weather events列举恶劣天气的例子吻合，故选A．
39题答案：D 推理判断题 根据第四段前句说Wild weather is natural：恶劣天气是自然的，后句说This global （全球的） warming makes heat waves more likely to happen：全球变暖使得更容易发生热浪．可以推测出中间这句过度到谈论地球变暖，与D项But most scientists agree human activity has made the Earth warmer．但是许多科学家同意人类活动使地球变暖了，故选D．
40题答案：C 语义理解题：根据最后一段"But we don't have to just stand there and take it，"says Scientist Michael Oppenheimer．Oppenheimer说：我们不得等着；He and other scientists say we need to stop the Earth from getting warmer他和其他科学家说我们需要行动起来，阻止地球变暖．意思与C．The weather will get better if we can stop global warming．如果我们能够阻止地球变暖，天气会变得好一些，故选C．
41题答案：D 主旨推断题：通读全文，本文讲述的是全球气候变化了，极端天气出现得更频繁，给人类带来了更大的损失．并分析了其形成的原因：地球变暖了，使得更多的湿热气流进入大气中，暴风雨更多更强．最后一段He and other scientists say we need to stop the Earth from getting warmer．We also need to be prepared，to do things that will help save lives．他和其他科学家说我们需要行动起来，阻止地球变暖，挽救生命．与D项Global warming causes wild weather events and that makes people worried．全球变暖引起了极端天气事件并且让人们担忧，故答案是D．
点评 本文是一篇日常生活类阅读，题目涉及多道细节理解题，做题时结合原文和题目有针对 性找出相关语句进行仔细分析，结合选项选出正确答案．推理判断也是要在抓住关键句子的基础上合理的分析才能得出正确的答案．
