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SECTION C: READING COMPREHENSION (55 pts)
I. Choose the word that best fits each space to complete the text. Write your answers in the box
provided for Answers. (10 pts)
THE RETURN OF EL NINO
Aside from the seasons, El Nino and its twin, La Nina, are the two largest single (1) ______ of variability in the
world's climate from year to year. Both are dictated by (2) ______ in water temperature in the tropical Pacific
basin between Australia and South America. (3) ______ after the Spanish words for "Christ child" and "the
girl" because of their (4) ______ to Christmas, they lead to dramatic shifts in the entire system of oceanic
and atmospheric factors from air pressure to currents.
A significant rise in sea temperature leads to an El Nino event whereas a fall in temperature leads to La Nina.
The cause of the phenomenon is not fully understood but in an El Nino "event" the pool of warm surface water
is forced eastwards by the loss of the westerly trade winds. The sea water evaporates, (5) ______ in drenching
rains over South America, as well as western parts of the United States, such as California. The effects can (6)
______ for anything from a few weeks to eight months, causing extreme weather as far (7) ______ as
India and East Africa. The correlation with global warming is as (8) ______ unclear. Archaeological evidence
shows El Ninos and La Ninas have been (9) ______ for 15,000 years. But scientists are investigating whether
climate change is leading to an increase in their intensity or duration.
The weather pattern is already having early and intense effects and El Nino could bring extreme rainfall to
parts of east Africa, which were last year (10) ______ by a cycle of drought and floods. It's difficult to
predict what will happen to the weather in the British Isles, but it will probably add to the likelihood of record-
breaking temperatures in the UK.
1. A. methods
B. theories
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