单选题 In the late summer of 2005, the remarkable flooding brought by Hurricane Katrina, which caused more than ＄ 200 billion in losses, was the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. However, even in typical years, flooding causes billions of dollars in damage and threatens lives and property in every State.
Natural processes, such as hurricanes and weather systems can cause floods. Failure of levees and dams and inadequate drainage in urban areas can also result in flooding. On average, floods kill about 140 people each year and cause ＄ 6 billion in property damage. Although loss of life to floods during the past half-century has declined, mostly because of improved warning systems, economic losses have continued to rise due to increased urbanization and coastal development.
Flooding happens during heavy rains, when rivers overflow, when ocean waves come onshore, when snow melts too fast or when dams or levees break. Flooding may be only a few inches of water or it may cover a house to the rooftop. Floods that happen very quickly are called flashfloods. Flooding is the most common of all natural hazards. It can happen in every U. S. state and territory.
And here is something else for you:
·Flood Watch or Flashflood Watch--Flooding may happen soon. Stay tuned to the radio or television news for more information. If you hear a flashflood warning, talk to an adult immediately!
·Flood Warning--You may be asked to leave the area. A flood may be happening or will be very soon. Tell an adult if you hear a flood warning. If you have to leave the area, remember to bring your Disaster Supply Kit and make arrangements for your pets.
·Flashflood Warning--A flashflood is happening. Get to high ground right away. Tell an adult!

单选题 What can be inferred about the flooding problem in U. S. from the passage?

A、 The tragedy happening in 2005 is an exception from a country that barely witness floods so frequently.
B、 Flood is not such a serious problem as hurricanes and other forms of natural disasters in U. S..
C、 That is an extreme example to represent the serious problem of flood U. S. has been faced with for many years.
D、 The example in 2005 is typical, just like any other year in U. S..

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】考查文章中具体例子所论证的观点。文章在开篇的地方举了2005年夏天发生在美国的洪水，然后说“(it)was the worst natural disaster in U. S. history”，接着说“尽管这次的灾难是最严重的，但即使是在平常的年份洪水造成的损失也是巨大的”，结合这样的分析，我们可以看到C项正确的分析到了这是一个极端的例子来引出美国的洪水这样一个问题的，为正确选项。

单选题 Which one of the following is NOT true according to paragraph 2?

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】考查细节。A，B和C项都是从文中信息进行改写设计的答案，都是正确的陈述，所以和题目中要求我们选出不正确的选项这一要求是不符合的，而D项认为“技术的改进大大了减少了洪水造成的经济损失”，这一问题在原文中也有相关论述，但原文是这么说的“Economic losses have continued to rise due to increased urbanization and coastal development.”，也就是说，因为城市化进程的加快导致城市人口增长，再加上沿海地区城市的发展，使得洪水造成的经济损失不仅没有减小，反而增大了。D选项的分析貌似合理，和这里的意思恰恰是相反的，是不正确的论述，是我们应该选择的答案。

单选题 What can be inferred from paragraph 3 about the happening of floods?

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】考查细节。题目明确告诉我们考查第三段，A项和原文中“maybe only a few inches of water or”也就是洪水可以只有几英寸高或者掩盖屋顶这样的论述是冲突的，为干扰选项；B项说美国的有些州是可以不受洪水的影响的(be spared)，这和原文中“It can happen in every U. S. state and territory”这样的论述是冲突的，也是干扰选项；C项认为海潮是造成洪水的唯一原因，在原文中，我们可以看到，和“when ocean waves come onshore”处于同一位置的还有另外三个结构相同的时间状语，分别是“when rivers overflow”“when snow melts too fast”和“when dams or levees break”，这就说明海潮肯定不是造成洪水的唯一原因；D项说洪水的发生频率超过了其他自然灾害，这一点和原文中“Flooding is the most common of all natural hazards．”这样的陈述是吻合的，为正确答案。

单选题 What does paragraph 4 deal with?

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】考查段落主旨；从第四段采取的列举(listing)的行文方式来看，四个选项都是有正确的可能性的，结合原文来看，这里给出了几个基本的概念，并且并不存在如C项所说的去证伪一些普遍存在的误解这样的问题，综合考虑之后，B项是最为恰当的表达，这里是在向读者列举一些基本的和洪水有关的术语。

单选题 What kind of audience is paragraph 4 trying to communicate to?

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】查段落阐述的目标对象。在一定程度上，这种题目的要求和主旨题类似，都是要求考生对于整个段落的意思有了整体的宏观把握之后才能作出正确的解答；从口气上，我们感觉更像是在和少年儿童读者来讲这些概念的，最终确定A为正确答案的依据在于原文在解释“Flashflood Warning”这一概念的时候出现了这样一句话，“Tell an adult!”，这句话明确的表明了B，C和D项都是不适合作为正确答案的，最终选择A项。