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Scientists think that a weather pattern( 形式)calledE1 Nino( 厄尔尼诺现象)caused the drought( 干旱)in Australia. E1 Nino causes different weather in different parts of the world. It causes a lot of rain and floods in some places. It causes droughts in other places. Droughts can badly affect people and the land. Ill Nino lasts about a year.
In normal weather conditions, warm winds from South America blow from east to west across the Pacific Ocean. The winds early storms to Australia. These storms bring rain to Australia.
During an El Nino weather pattern the winds change direction. They blow from west to east across the Pacific Ocean. The storms no longer move across Australia. So Australia gets very little rain during El Nino.
The drought began in January , 1982. El Nino often Occurs at this time of year. But that year , El Nino was stronger than usual. There was very little rainfall(降雨量) in eastern Australia. There was also very little water in the rivers. The drought was at its worst in February ,1983 . At that time , the weather was very hot. The forests and fields were very dry. Cotton growers couldn't plant their cotton. Sheep farmers had no grass for their animals to eat. So many of them died. Because the forests were dry. forest fires started quickly. Some of the fires burned for a month. Many forests were destroyed. Over 2 , 000 people lost their houses in the fires and 75 people died.
The Australian drought ofl982-1983 affected thousands of people and animals. The drought cost the country over $ 3，000，000，000. It was a reminder(提示)to Australians of how the weather could change their lives.
1. From the passage we know El Nino is________.
A. a powerful storm
B. a place in Australia
C. a weather pattern
2. The underlined word "occurs" in the passage means “ ______” in Chinese.
A. 发生
B. 发展
C. 消失
3. Picture______ shows how EI Nino causes a drought in Australia.
4. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. There was very little rainfall in eastern Australia in 1982.
B. Many forests were destroyed in the Australian drought.
C. The Australian government paid over ;3,000,000,000 for this drought.
5. What's the main idea of the passage?
A. A drought happened in South America.
B. El Nino caused a great drought in Australia.
C. Australia got much rain during El Nino
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