A sandstorm, also known as a dust storm, is exactly what it sounds like. A very strong windstorm especially in the desert carries clouds of sand or dust that greatly reduces visibility. This wind is usually caused by convection currents (对流气流), which are created by intense heating of the ground, and is usually strong enough to move entire sand dunes. Air is unstable when heated, and this instability in the air will cause higher winds to mix with winds in the lower atmosphere, producing strong surface winds.
Sandstorms can disturb people’s travel, and can sometimes destroy whole roads, and dry flat areas. Similar dust storms can be found on the planet Mars, and are thought to be seasonal. Today, the destruction of forests and too much farming of farmland can lead to sandstorms. Too much use of water resources can also cause sandstorms.
In the United States of America, sandstorms are rare because of the lack of large deserts and more importantly the development of proper agricultural techniques. The last recorded destructive sandstorm in American history was the Dust Bowl, which occurred on July 16, 1971 and was widely recorded by meteorologists (气象学家).
To protect themselves from sandstorms, some people wear protective suits. Special equipment can be fixed in some cars to prevent sand from getting into the engine. Sandstorms can cause coughs, and the sand and dust has also been known to carry “infectious diseases”. Sand particles, unlike dust ones, will block air passages, and cause a person who breathes them in to choke. Dust particles may cause an allergic (过敏的) reaction.
【小题1】Which of the following plays the first part in forming sandstorms?

A sandstorm, also known as a dust storm, is exactly what it sounds like. A very strong windstorm especially in the desert carries clouds of sand or dust that greatly reduces visibility. This wind is usually caused by convection currents (对流气流), which are created by intense heating of the ground, and is usually strong enough to move entire sand dunes. Air is unstable when heated, and this instability in the air will cause higher winds to mix with winds in the lower atmosphere, producing strong surface winds.

Sandstorms can disturb people’s travel, and can sometimes destroy whole roads, and dry flat areas. Similar dust storms can be found on the planet Mars, and are thought to be seasonal. Today, the destruction of forests and too much farming of farmland can lead to sandstorms. Too much use of water resources can also cause sandstorms.

In the United States of America, sandstorms are rare because of the lack of large deserts and more importantly the development of proper agricultural techniques. The last recorded destructive sandstorm in American history was the Dust Bowl, which occurred on July 16, 1971 and was widely recorded by meteorologists (气象学家).

To protect themselves from sandstorms, some people wear protective suits. Special equipment can be fixed in some cars to prevent sand from getting into the engine. Sandstorms can cause coughs, and the sand and dust has also been known to carry “infectious diseases”. Sand particles, unlike dust ones, will block air passages, and cause a person who breathes them in to choke. Dust particles may cause an allergic (过敏的) reaction.

1.Which of the following plays the first part in forming sandstorms?

A．The instability of the sand.

B．The instability of the wind.

C．The intense heating of the ground.

D．The speed of the wind.

2.From the second paragraph, we can learn that at present _______.

A．sandstorms are more often seen on Mars than on Earth

B．sandstorms have led to the lack of clean water resources

C．farming brings more harm than benefits to humans

D．human activities are a major cause of sandstorms

3.The author will most probably agree that ________.

A．there will soon be no sandstorms in the USA

B．humans haven’t thought of any way to deal with sandstorms

C．death caused by sandstorms is increasing all the time

D．humans should make more efforts to stop soil turning into desert

A sandstorm, also known as a dust storm, is exactly what it sounds like. A very strong windstorm especially in the desert carries clouds of sand or dust that greatly reduces visibility. This wind is usually caused by convection currents (对流气流), which are created by intense heating of the ground, and is usually strong enough to move entire sand dunes. Air is unstable when heated, and this instability in the air will cause higher winds to mix with winds in the lower atmosphere, producing strong surface winds.
Sandstorms can disturb people’s travel, and can sometimes destroy whole roads, and dry flat areas. Similar dust storms can be found on the planet Mars, and are thought to be seasonal. Today, the destruction of forests and too much farming of farmland can lead to sandstorms. Too much use of water resources can also cause sandstorms.
In the United States of America, sandstorms are rare because of the lack of large deserts and more importantly the development of proper agricultural techniques. The last recorded destructive sandstorm in American history was the Dust Bowl, which occurred on July 16, 1971 and was widely recorded by meteorologists (气象学家).
To protect themselves from sandstorms, some people wear protective suits. Special equipment can be fixed in some cars to prevent sand from getting into the engine. Sandstorms can cause coughs, and the sand and dust has also been known to carry “infectious diseases”. Sand particles, unlike dust ones, will block air passages, and cause a person who breathes them in to choke. Dust particles may cause an allergic (过敏的) reaction

1. 1.

   Which of the following plays the first part in forming sandstorms?

   1. A.
      The instability of the sand
   2. B.
      The instability of the wind
   3. C.
      The intense heating of the ground
   4. D.
      The speed of the wind
2. 2.

   From the second paragraph, we can learn that at present _______

   1. A.
      sandstorms are more often seen on Mars than on Earth
   2. B.
      sandstorms have led to the lack of clean water resources
   3. C.
      farming brings more harm than benefits to humans
   4. D.
      human activities are a major cause of sandstorms
3. 3.

   The author will most probably agree that ________

   1. A.
      there will soon be no sandstorms in the USA
   2. B.
      humans haven’t thought of any way to deal with sandstorms
   3. C.
      death caused by sandstorms is increasing all the time
   4. D.
      humans should make more efforts to stop soil turning into desert

The 12—year—old CEO（首席执行官）of a Web site design company will be one of 300 business and political leaders accompanying Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien on a trade visit to China in March.

Keith Peiris, who founded Cyberteks Design in June 1999 and now has 25 clients （客户）in North America ,insisted in an interview that he is “just like any other kid.”

He and his father will spend nine days on the Team Canada trip to Beijing ,Shanghai and Hong Kong ,where Chretien aims to showcase the best of Canadian business in the most populous country in the world .

A glance at the complex ,elegant animations （动画）on his www.cybertecks.com site shows the extent of Peiris’ talent . “He doesn’t want to be No.2,”his father Deepal said proudly .

His father ,who is now vice president of operations at Cyberteks ,said , “I am teaching my son what I know .We make decisions together .I haven’t done anything my son disagreed with .He makes the final decision .”

The company has seven offices in the United States and five part—time employees who ,like the Peiris family ,work from their London homes .  

Keith Peiris admitted some potential clients change their minds when they learn his age ,but the well—informed not—yet—teenager tries to ignore them .

“Suddenly ,I’ve been called a whiz kid or geek ,which I am not too happy about .A few people have asked if they should call me ‘mister’, but I stay casual , I am still a kid .

That Keith Peiris insisted that he is “just like any other kid” shows he is           .

A．proud        B．modest            C．honest             D．excited      

Who makes the final decision on operations at Cyberteks Design?

A．Keith Peiris       B．Deepal Peiris          C．Jean Chretien        D．Both A and B.

According to the information in the passage ,which is the best and fastest way to know more about the Web giant ?

A．We can go to Canada to pay him a visit .         

B．We can make an international telephone call to him.

C．We’d better visit his web site—www.cyberteks.com.

D．We can write to his father for the kid’s information.

Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?

A．Keith Peiris is a Canadian boy .       

B．All the employees of the child’s company work at home .

C．The Canadian Prime Minister means to show off Keith’s success during his stay in China .

D．Keith always tries his best to be the best in the field of web site designing .

The 12—year—old CEO（首席执行官）of a Web site design company will be one of 300 business and political leaders accompanying Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien on a trade visit to China in March.
Keith Peiris, who founded Cyberteks Design in June 1999 and now has 25 clients （客户）in North America ,insisted in an interview that he is “just like any other kid.”
He and his father will spend nine days on the Team Canada trip to Beijing ,Shanghai and Hong Kong ,where Chretien aims to showcase the best of Canadian business in the most populous country in the world .
A glance at the complex ,elegant animations （动画）on his www.cybertecks.com site shows the extent of Peiris’ talent . “He doesn’t want to be No.2,”his father Deepal said proudly .
His father ,who is now vice president of operations at Cyberteks ,said , “I am teaching my son what I know .We make decisions together .I haven’t done anything my son disagreed with .He makes the final decision .”
The company has seven offices in the United States and five part—time employees who ,like the Peiris family ,work from their London homes .  
Keith Peiris admitted some potential clients change their minds when they learn his age ,but the well—informed not—yet—teenager tries to ignore them .
“Suddenly ,I’ve been called a whiz kid or geek ,which I am not too happy about .A few people have asked if they should call me ‘mister’, but I stay casual , I am still a kid

1. 1.

   That Keith Peiris insisted that he is “just like any other kid” shows he is______.

   1. A.
      proud
   2. B.
      modest
   3. C.
      honest
   4. D.
      excited
2. 2.

   Who makes the final decision on operations at Cyberteks Design?

   1. A.
      Keith Peiris
   2. B.
      Deepal Peiris
   3. C.
      Jean Chretien
   4. D.
      Both A and B
3. 3.

   According to the information in the passage ,which is the best and fastest way to know more about the Web giant ?

   1. A.
      We can go to Canada to pay him a visit
   2. B.
      We can make an international telephone call to him
   3. C.
      We’d better visit his web site—www.cyberteks.com
   4. D.
      We can write to his father for the kid’s information
4. 4.

   Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?

   1. A.
      Keith Peiris is a Canadian boy
   2. B.
      All the employees of the child’s company work at home
   3. C.
      The Canadian Prime Minister means to show off Keith’s success during his stay in China
   4. D.
      Keith always tries his best to be the best in the field of web site designing