【正确答案】Key points: Two features of the earth's surface that influence climate are ocean currents and landforms. There are two large, circular ocean currents, one in each hemisphere. These currents move warm water f'om the equator to the north and south. Warm and cold ocean currents affect the climates of nearby coastal areas; for example, the Gulf Stream warms the climate of northwestern Europe. Landforms affect climate. Mountains are cooler, windier, and wetter than valleys; one example is Mount K~limanjaro, which is near the equator but always covered wi~h snow. Mountains interrupt the flow of winds and storms. When moist winds blow toward mountains, the air on the slope facing the wind is cool and moist, causing rain and snow to fall there. The air on the other side of the mountain is warmer and drier.

【答案解析】[解析] Several features on the earth's surface influence climate. Two of these features are ocean currents and landforms. Ocean currents are formed when the earth's rotation and prevailing winds work together. The prevailing winds push the ocean waters westward in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans until these waters bounce off the nearest continent. This causes two large, circular ocean currents, one in each hemisphere. The current in the Northern Hemisphere turns clockwise, and the one in the Southern Hemisphere turns counterclockwise. These currents move warm water from the equator to the north and south. Warm and cold currents in the world's oceans affect the climates of nearby coastal areas. For example, the warm Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean warms the coast of northwestern Europe. Without the Gulf Stream, the climate of northwestern Europe would be more like that of the cold sub--Arctic. Landforrns such as mountains also affect climate. Because of their higher elevation, mountains tend to be cooler, windier, and wetter than valleys. For example, even though Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, stands near the equator, its summit is always covered with snow. Another thing mountains do is interrupt the flow of winds and storms. When moist winds blow from the ocean toward land, then hit a mountain range, the moist air becomes cooler as it's forced to rise. This causes the air to lose its moisture as rain and snow on mountain slopes that face the wind. The air on the other side of the mountain will be warmer and drier. Using points and examples from the lecture, explain how two features of the earth's surface influence climate.