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EARTH WEEK－A DIARY OF THE PLANET

　　Enduring Storms

　　Several more rounds of severe storms, tornadoes and flash flooding struck many parts of the American Midwest and Northeast as bad weather continued across the US for a second month.

　　Monsoon Storms

　　A south-west monsoon has caused havoc in parts of SriLanka. Government meteorologists said that unexpected monsoonal winds blew directly across the country from the Southern Hemisphere at about 100 km/h, producing several rounds of stormy weather. Nearly 250 houses in the capital Colombo were damaged.

For the week ending 3 July 1998

　　Mt. Etna Erupts

　　Sicily’s Mount Etna volcano erupted shortly after midnight on July 1, shooting“bombs”of lava nearly 1.5 metres in diameter on the eastern side of the mountain. The 30-minute eruption could be seen for several miles, but did not threaten any nearby villages.

　　Hurricane

　　Hurricane Blas lost strength as it moved over cooler waters in the Pacific Ocean to the west of Mexico. Blasformed off southwest Mexico during the previous week, but squalls on the outer fringes of the storm lashed western Michoacan State, killing four people when their wood and cardboard home collapsed.

　　Monkey Repellent

　　After years of unsuccessful attempts to keep crop-eating monkeys out of Japanese fields, a Tokyo research team believes that it may have finally found a way to prevent the damage caused by the monkeys. Animal raids on crops were successfully prevented by shooting chilli powder into the air, irritating the eyes and noses of monkeys that passed in front of carefully-placed warning sensors.“We’ve tried…all kinds of preventive measures, but the monkeys are smart enough to outwit the tricks,”said Toshiaki Wada, Director of the Tokyo Forestry Experiment Station in western Tokyo.

1．The monsoon is Sri Lanka ________.

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A．was of average strength

B．destroyed more property than previous monsoons

C．was not typical for that time of the year

D．affected only the outer areas of the nation

2．What aspect of Hurricane Blas does the map show?

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3．According to the information, which of the following statements is TRUE?

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A．The eruption of Mt. Etna lasted thirty days.

B．Hurricane Blas was formed off the coast of Italy.

C．The American Midwest had fine weather throughout July 1998.

D．The eruption of Mt. Etna did not destroy local villages.

4．According to the information, the monkeys in the Japanese fields ________.

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A．destroy crops

B．kill unsuspecting humans

C．spread eye diseases to humans

D．stop farmers from working

5．Toshiaki Wada, Director of the Tokyo Forestry Experiment Station, would describe the monkeys as ________.

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　 It’s only after three weeks into a new job that I made a serious mistake． My boss called it “extremely embarrassing” in a company-wide e-mail — which, 　 36　 , he wrote because he felt he needed to explain that what I did was something 　 37　 in the company should ever do． I wish I 　 38　 give a good excuse for what I did． At the very least, I wish I could explain it somehow — 　 39　 it on youth, inexperience or ignorance． Unfortunately, I’m 　 40　 , experienced and I know better．

　 41　 I work with some very kind and compassionate （富于同情心的） people． For the past couple of days many of them have taken time to 　 42　 by my desk and offer comfort, encouragement and support． Some have shared with me similar 　 43　 they have made． Evidently I’m not the only “　 44　 ” person here．

One of the exchanges I had this week was with Lois, the much-honored, much-respected professional who 　 45　 the desk right next to mine． Lois was completely 　 46　 about her work, and to be honest I was a little nervous about how she would 　 47　 to such an extremely embarrassing incident．

As I expected, Lois didn’t pass over the 　 48　 when she saw me the next day． She mentioned it directly, 　 49　 with empathetic consideration． She listened to my 　 50　 ． Just as I was ready to express my regrets, she brought my self-pity partly to a（n） 　 51　 ．

“It happened”, she said, “There’s nothing you can do to 　 52　 that． It happened． But it’s over now． It’s 　 53　 ． It’s in the past． You need to let it go, and move on．” And with that she returned her 　 54　 to her work, as if to say, “We’re done here．”

I beat myself up for weeks． At such times I need to remember those 　 55　 words: It’s over． It’s done． Let it go． And mostly, move on．

36．A． by the way 　　　　 B． in the way 　　　　　 C． on the way 　　　　 D． to the way

37．A． someone 　　　　　 B． anyone 　　　　　　　 C． no one 　　　　　　　 D． the one

38．A． should 　　　　　　　　 B． might 　　　　　　　　 C． will 　　　　　　　　　 D． could

39．A． fix 　　　　　　　　　 B． blame 　　　　　　　　 C． rely 　　　　　　　　　 D． put

40．A． outgoing 　　　　　　 B． old 　　　　　　　　　　 C． cheerful 　　　　　　 D． energetic

41．A． Thankfully 　　　　　 B． Naturally 　　　　　　 C． Generally 　　　　　 D． Hopefully

42．A． work 　　　　　　　　 B． stop 　　　　　　　　 C． watch 　　　　　　　　 D． sit

43．A． decisions 　　　　　　 B． troubles 　　　　　　 C． attempts 　　　　　　 D． mistakes

44．A． annoying 　　　　　　 B． confusing 　　　　　 C． embarrassing 　　　 D． puzzling

45．A． repairs 　　　　　　　 B． wants 　　　　　　　　 C． works 　　　　　　　　 D． occupies

46．A． mad 　　　　　　　　　 B． serious 　　　　　　　 C． curious 　　　　　　　 D． hopeful

47．A． react 　　　　　　　　　 B． agree 　　　　　　　　　 C． turn 　　　　　　　　　 D． adjust

48．A． issue 　　　　　　　　　 B． outcome 　　　　　　 C． standard 　　　　　 D． message

49．A． for 　　　　　　　　　　 B． therefore 　　　　　　 C． but 　　　　　　　　　 D． otherwise

50．A． challenge 　　　　　　 B． imagination　　　　　 C． conclusion 　　　　 D． explanation

51．A． order 　　　　　　　　 B． key 　　　　　　　　　　 C． end 　　　　　　　　　　 D． process

52．A． forget 　　　　　　　 B． ruin 　　　　　　　　　 C． prevent 　　　　　　　 D． change

53．A． broken 　　　　　　 B． done 　　　　　　　　 C． lost 　　　　　　　　　　 D． kept

54．A． attention 　　　　　　 B． skill 　　　　　　　　　　 C． patience 　　　　　　 D． interest

55．A． sweet 　　　　　　　　 B． pleasant 　　　　　　 C． meaningful 　　　　 D． colorful