Typhoons are large tropical storms made up ofrain and high-velocitywinds. They originate in the Northwest Pacific and often travel westwardtowards Asia. Taiwan is sometimes hit by typhoons, which can causelandslides on mountain slopes and damage tohomes. But how exactly do they form?
The first requirement for a typhoon to form is that anarea of water on the ocean’s surface needs to be above 26°C. This water will originate in the tropicsor subtropics. The warm water evaporates, creating warm and moist air above it. The moisture is light and moves upward. It then makes contact withcold air and forms clouds.
When the warm air rises, air from surrounding areas rushes in to take its place. The warm water makes the “new” air become warm and humid. The air then moves upward in a spiralingmotion and forms more clouds. More air pushes into the area to fill a “deficit” of air near the surface. This process continues, and the storm gets bigger and stronger.
A space of clear weather forms in the center as the storm rotates faster and faster. This is known as the eye of the storm. The weather within the eye is peaceful, while the eyewalldirectly surrounding it is the fiercest. Thisprocess of air being “fed” intothe tropical storm by warm ocean water continues while wind speeds increase. When wind speeds reach 119 kilometers per hour, the storm is classified as a typhoon. Typhoons weaken as they hit land since they can no longer draw energy from the ocean.
Typhoons are called by different names, depending onwhere they originate. For example, in the Northeast Pacific and the northern half of the Atlantic Ocean, they are known as hurricanes, while in the Southern Hemisphere, they are called tropical cyclones.
1. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
(A) Warm, humid air rises because it is light.
(B) A typhoon has wind speeds of about 33 meters per second or higher.
(C) The surface of a sea has to be at least 26°C to form a typhoon.
(D) Typhoons are called tropical cyclones in the Northeast Pacific.
2. According to the passage, which part of the typhoon is the most dangerous?
(A) A (B) B (C) C (D) D
3. What happens when a typhoon reaches land?
(A) It has more water.
(B) It slowly loses power.
(C) It immediately vanishes.
(D) It gradually gets stronger.
答案: 1.D 2.C 3.B
單字片語整理
Words in Use
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tropical
[ˋtrɑpɪk!]
a. 熱帶的
I have a liking for tropical fruits such as bananas and pineapples.
我很喜歡香蕉和鳳梨這類的熱帶水果。
高中 Level 3
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originate
[əˋrɪdʒə͵net]
vt. 源自
=
derive
Automobiles originated in the 19th century.
汽車源自於 19 世紀。
My dance teacher told me that the tango originated in both Argentina and Uruguay.
我的舞蹈老師跟我說探戈起源於阿根廷與烏拉圭
Many Christmas traditions are thought to have originated in Germany.
聖誕節的許多傳統被認為是起源於德國。
Chinese herbal medicinesoriginate from plants and other natural substances.
中藥源自植物以及其他天然物質。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 6
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moist
[mɔɪst]
a. 潮溼的，溼潤的
=
damp
=
humid
The warm and moist climate here makes it a perfect place for tropical fruits.
該地溫暖且溼潤的氣候很適合種熱帶水果。
Frogs live near wet places to keep their skin moist.
青蛙靠近溼地居住以保持表皮溼潤。
高中 Level 3
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moisture
[ˋmɔɪstʃɚ]
n. 溼氣，水分
Moisture is taken out of the air by this machine, after which it turns into water. 溼氣被這臺機器從空氣裡抽出，之後便轉變成水。
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
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deficit
[ˋdɛfɪsɪt]
n. 赤字
The US trade balance has been in deficit for the past few years.
過去幾年來，美國的貿易收支都呈現赤字的狀態。
The United States is currently running a trade deficit with China.
美國目前對中國呈現貿易逆差。
The country suffering from a drought has a food deficit.
那個受旱災折磨的國家糧食不足。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 5
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evaporate
[ɪˋvæpə͵ret]
vi. 蒸發
Most of the water evaporated because of the hot sun.
大部分的水都因為炙熱的太陽而蒸發了。
英檢中高
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surrounding
[səˋraʊndɪŋ]
a. 周圍的
The shop attracts customers not only from surrounding areas but also from other countries.
那間店不只吸引周圍地區的顧客，也吸引了外國客。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
fierce
[fɪrs]
a. 激烈的
=
intense
The price war sparked off fierce competition between the two companies.
價格戰引發了這兩家公司間的激烈競爭。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
classify
[ˋklæsə͵faɪ]
.vt. 分類；歸類
=
categorize
Non-fiction books in the library are classified according to subject matter.
圖書館內非小說類的書籍是依主題內容來分類。
Some classify this music as jazz while others call it pop.
有些人把這種音樂歸類為爵士樂，然而也有些人稱之為流行樂。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
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hemisphere
[ˋhɛməs͵fɪr]
n. （地球）半球
Most penguins, such as the emperor penguin, live in the southern hemisphere.
大部分的企鵝，如皇帝企鵝，是住在南半球。
高中 Level 6
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cause
[kɔz]
n. 原因；理由
vt. 引起；導致
=
reason
Ron’s carelessness caused the accident.
榮恩的粗心大意釀成了這起意外。
The sad movie caused me to cry.
那部傷感的電影讓我哭了出來。
The sad movie made me cry.
那部傷感的電影讓我哭了出來。
What was the cause of the explosion?
那起爆炸的原因是什麼？
The concert was terrific―I had no cause for complaint.
音樂會精彩極了 — 我沒有理由可以抱怨。
The flood caused damage to dozens of homes, and many people were left homeless.
那場洪水造成數十間房屋損毀，許多人落得無家可歸。
多益藍色
英檢初級
高中 Level 2
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make contact with
接觸⋯⋯；與⋯⋯聯繫
The outer edges of a tire make contact with the road's surface.
輪胎外側邊緣與道路表面接觸。
The father was worried because he couldn't make contact with his daughter.
那位父親很擔心，因為他聯繫不上他的女兒。
●
feed A into B
餵 A 給 B；將 A 送到 B 中
Helen fed some documents into the shredder.
海倫將一些文件送入碎紙機。
●
velocity
[vəˋlɑsətɪ]
n. 速度
英檢中高
●
westward
[ˋwɛstwɚd]
adv. 向西方
●
upward
[ˋʌpwɚd]
a. 往上的
Theupward movement in vegetable prices was
caused mainly by the recent cold fronts.
蔬菜價格上漲主要是因為最近冷鋒來襲。
英檢中級
高中 Level 6
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landslide
[ˋlænd͵slaɪd]
n. （指泥土與石頭滑動而造成的）坍方（可數）
The typhoon caused several landslides in mountain
villages.
這次颱風造成山區村落多處坍方。
高中 Level 5
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slope
[slop]
n. 斜坡；山坡
It is difficult to ride a small motorcycle up a steep slope.
沿著陡坡騎摩托車是很困難的一件事。
高中 Level 3
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spiral
[ˋspaɪrəl]
n. . 螺旋
Since John retired, his health has been in a downward spiral.
自從約翰退休後，他的健康情況就持續惡化。
In art class, Heather learned how to make
complicated spiral shapes and created such a
beautiful painting.
在美術課上，希瑟學會了如何畫複雜的螺旋形狀，並創作出
了這樣一幅美麗的畫。
The large staircase spiraled to the top floor, with so
many steps that people became tired and dizzy.
大樓梯盤旋到樓頂，而臺階太多了，多到令人頭昏眼花。
高中 Level 6
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damage
[ˋdæmɪdʒ]
n. & vt. 破壞，損壞（名詞為不可數）
Taking drugs does damage to one’s body and mind.
吸毒有害身心。
Taking drugs does harm to one’s body and mind.
吸毒有害身心。
The car was totally damaged in a traffic accident.
這輛車在一起交通事故中全毀了。
高中 Level 2
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feed
[fid]
vi. 以……為食
n. 飼料（不可數）
vt. 餵食
三態
feed / fed [fɛd] / fed [fɛd]
Don’t forget to feed the baby.
別忘了要餵小寶寶。
Cattle feed on grass.
牛以草為食。
We need to get some feed for the horse.
我們得去買一些飼料給馬吃。
高中 Level 1
Practical Phrases
●
A be made up of B
A 由 B 組成
This class ismade up of twenty boys and five girls.
這個班級是由 20 位男孩和 5 位女孩組成的。
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take one’s place
取代某人／某物的⋯⋯（位置、職務等）
Jennie quit, and the supervisor had to hire someone to take her place.
珍妮辭職了，主管得僱用人來取代珍妮的位置。
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depending on...
視⋯⋯而定（作片語介詞用）
House prices can vary, depending on where the house is located.
房價會視房屋地點有所變動。
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the tropics
熱帶（地區） （恆用複數）
The scientist has spent a couple of years researching
in the tropics.
這位科學家已花了幾年的時間在熱帶地區做研究。
●
the subtropics
亞熱帶地區
●
do / cause damage to sb/sth
對某人 / 事物造成損害
Taking drugs does damage to one's body and mind.
吸毒有害身心。
The flood caused damage to dozens of homes, and many people were left homeless.
那場洪水造成數十間房屋損毀，許多人落得無家可歸。
