The cold HumboldtCurrentof thePacificOcean flows toward theequatoralong the coasts of Ecuador and Peru in South America. When thecurrentapproachestheequator, the westward-flowingtradewinds cause nutrient-rich cold water along thecoastto rise from deeper depths to moreshallowones. This upwelling of water haseconomicrepercussions. Fishing, especially for anchovies, is amajorlocalindustry.

Every year during the months of December and January, a weak, warmcountercurrentreplaces thenormallycold coastal waters. Without the upwelling of nutrients from below to feed the fish, fishing comes to a standstill. Fishers in thisregionhave known thephenomenonfor hundreds of years. In fact, this is the time of year they traditionally set aside totendto their equipment and await the return of cold water. The residents of theregionhave given thisphenomenonthe name of El Niño, which is Spanish for "the child," because it occurs at about the time of the celebration of birth of the Christ child.

While the warm-watercountercurrentusually lasts for two months or less, there are occasions when the disruption to the normal flow lasts for many months. In these situations, water temperatures are raised not just along thecoast, but for thousands of kilometers offshore. Over the last few decades, thetermEl Niño has come to be used todescribethese exceptionally strong episodes and not theannualevent. During the past 60 years, atleastten El Niños have been observed. Not only do El Niñosaffectthetemperatureof theequatorialPacific, but the strongest of themimpactglobal weather.

The processes thatinteractto produce an El Niño involve conditions all across thePacific, not just in the waters off South America. Over 60 years ago, Sir Gilbert Walker, a British scientist, discovered a connection between surfacepressurereadings at weather stations on the eastern and western sides of thePacific. Henotedthat a rise inatmosphericpressurein the easternPacificis usually accompanied by a fall inpressurein the westernPacificand vice versa. He called this seesawpatternthe Southern Oscillation. It was later realized that there is a close link between El Niño and the Southern Oscillation. In fact, the link between the two is so great that they are often referred to jointly as ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation).

During atypicalyear, the easternPacifichas a higherpressurethan the westernPacificdoes. This east-to-westpressuregradientenhances thetradewinds over theequatorialwaters. This results in a warm surfacecurrentthat moves east to west at theequator. The westernPacificdevelops a thick, warmlayerof water while the easternPacifichas the cold HumboldtCurrentenhanced by upwelling. However, in other years the Southern Oscillation, for unknown reasons, swings in theoppositedirection,dramaticallychanging the usual conditions described above, withpressureincreasing in the westernPacificand decreasing in the easternPacific. This change in thepressuregradientcauses thetradewinds to weaken or, in some cases, toreverse. This then causes the warm water in the westernPacificto flow eastward, increasing sea-surface temperatures in the central and easternPacific. The eastwardshiftsignals the beginning of an El Niño.

Scientists try to document as many past El Niño events as possible by piecing together bits of historicalevidence, such as sea-surfacetemperaturerecords, daily observations ofatmosphericpressureandrainfall, fisheries’ records from South America, and the writings of Spanish colonists dating back to the fifteenthcentury. From such historicalevidencewe know that El Niños have occurred as far back as records go. It would seem that they are becoming more frequent. Recordsindicatethat during the sixteenthcentury, an El Niño occurred onaverageevery six years. Evidencegathered over the past few decades indicates that El Niños are now occurring onaveragea little over every two years. Even more alarming is the fact that theyappearto be getting stronger. The 1997-1998 El Niño broughtcopiousand damagingrainfallto the southern United States, from California to Florida. Snowstorms in the northeastportionof the United States were more frequent andintensethan in most years.

Questions:
question_stem: The word "approaches" in the passage is closest in meaning to
choices: tag: A
text: nears

tag: B
text: crosses

tag: C
text: travels along

tag: D
text: leaves
answer_key: A
explanation: 【题目翻译】文章中的“approaches”一词最接近于
A：靠近
B：穿过
C：沿着
D：离开

【判定题型】：题目要求选出与高亮单词意思最接近的选项，故判断本题为词汇题。

【关键词定位】：根据关键词“approaches”,定位到原句“When the current approaches the equator, the westward-flowing trade winds cause nutrient-rich cold water along the coast to rise from deeper depths to more shallow ones.”。

【词汇解析】：词汇“approaches”的意思是“接近，靠近”,带入到原句中，原句的意思是“当接近赤道时，西流的信风会导致沿海营养丰富的冷水从深处上升到较浅的地方。冷水上涌会带来经济上的影响。”

【选项分析】
A：靠近。同义替换，正确
B：穿过。不符，错误
C：沿着。不符，错误
D：离开。不符，错误

question_stem: According to paragraph 1, what happens when the Humboldt Current interacts with westward flowing trade winds?
choices: tag: A
text: Anchovies from southern waters are carried northward.

tag: B
text: Cold water from lower depths is brought closer to the surface.

tag: C
text: The Humboldt Current stops flowing toward the equator.

tag: D
text: The Humboldt Current begins to flow closer to the coasts of Ecuador and Peru.
answer_key: B
explanation: 【题目翻译】根据第1段，当洪堡洋流与向西流动的信风相互作用时，会发生什么？
A：从南部水域来的凤尾鱼被向北运送。
B：来自较低深度的冷水靠近地表。
C：洪堡流停止流向赤道。
D：洪堡流开始向厄瓜多尔和秘鲁的海岸流去。

【判定题型】：题目问的是文章中的具体细节信息，故根据题目问法可以判断本题为事实信息题。

【关键词定位】：根据关键词“westward flowing trade winds”,定位到 Passage 1 第2句，原句为“When the current approaches the equator, the westward-flowing trade winds cause nutrient-rich cold water along the coast to rise from deeper depths to more shallow ones. ”，意思是“当接近赤道时，西流的信风会导致沿海营养丰富的冷水从深处上升到较浅的地方。”

【逻辑分析】当气流接近赤道，会使海水从深处上升到浅处。

【选项分析】
A.第一段未提到凤尾鱼，故错误。
B.符合文意，正确。
C.第一段未提及，故错误。
D.第一段未提及，故错误。

question_stem: Which of the following questions about the El Niñophenomenon is NOT answered in paragraph 2 ?
choices: tag: A
text: Why is the El Niño phenomenon called El Niño?

tag: B
text: How do fishers spend their time during the El Niño season?

tag: C
text: How do coastal fish obtain enough nutrients during the El Niño season?

tag: D
text: Is the temperature of coastal waters different during the El Niño season than it is the rest of the year?
answer_key: C
explanation: 解析: 
1、【题目翻译】以下关于厄尔尼诺现象的哪些问题在第2段中没有得到回答？
A：为什么厄尔尼诺现象叫厄尔尼诺？
B：在厄尔尼诺季节，渔民们是怎么打发时间的？
C：在厄尔尼诺季节，沿海鱼类如何获得足够的营养？
D：在厄尔尼诺季节，沿海水域的温度是否与一年中的其他季节不同？

【判定题型】：根据题干中出现的大写“EXCEPT”/"NOT" 等其他明显表示否定的词，可以判定本题为否定事实信息题，需要找出与原文信息不符的那个答案。

【关键词定位】根据题干关键词“El Niño phenomenon”,可以将出题范围锁定在 Passage 2。

【选项分析】
A 选项对应第二段最后一句，排除
B 选项对应第四句，排除
C 选项原文未提及，故错误，选择 C
D 选项对应第一句，排除

question_stem: The word "exceptionally" in the passage is closest in meaning to
choices: tag: A
text: obviously

tag: B
text: unusually

tag: C
text: relatively

tag: D
text: occasionally
answer_key: B
explanation: 【题目翻译】文章中的“exceptionally”一词最接近于
A：明显地
B：不寻常地
C：相关地
D：偶尔地

【判定题型】：题目要求选出与高亮单词意思最接近的选项，故判断本题为词汇题。

【关键词定位】：根据关键词“exceptionally”,定位到原句“Over the last few decades, the term El Niño has come to be used to describe these exceptionally strong episodes and not the annual event. ”。

【词汇解析】：词汇“exceptionally”的意思是“异常地；特殊地；例外地”,带入到原句中，原句的意思是“在过去的几十年里，El Niño 一词被用来描述这些异常强烈的事件，而不是每年的事件。”

【选项分析】
A：明显地。不符，错误
B：不寻常地。同义替换，正确
C：相关地。不符，错误
D：偶尔地。不符，错误

question_stem: Paragraph 3 supports which of the following statements about El Niños, as that term is now used?
choices: tag: A
text: El Niños can originate in areas other than the Pacific Ocean

tag: B
text: El Niños can arise when warm currents last for two months or less

tag: C
text: El Niños affect water temperatures long distances from the South American coast

tag: D
text: Multiple El Niños can arise within a single calendar year
answer_key: C
explanation: 【题目翻译】第3段支持以下哪个关于 El Niños 的陈述，因为该术语现在被使用？
A：厄尔尼诺现象可起源于太平洋以外的地区。
B：当暖流持续两个月或更少时，就会产生厄尔尼诺现象。
C：El Niños 会影响距离南美海岸很远的水温。
D：一个日历年内可能出现多个厄尔尼诺现象。

【判定题型】：题目问的是文章中的具体细节信息，故根据题目问法可以判断本题为事实信息题。

【关键词定位】：根据关键词“term”,定位到 Passage 3 第3句，原句为“Over the last few decades, the term El Niño has come to be used to describe these exceptionally strong episodes and not the annual event. ”，意思是“在过去的几十年里，厄尔尼诺一词已经被用来描述这些异常强烈的事件，而不是一年一度的普遍现象。”

【逻辑分析】说明厄尔尼诺是用来表示有很强烈影响，有广泛影响的事件。

【选项分析】
【A 选项】不好判断，但是从最后一句话可以看出，最强一次的厄尔尼诺影响了全球，这个和起源貌似没什么关联，所以错。 
【B 选项】乍看之下对，但是题干里明确说了是现代的用法，用 term 定位到第三句，说了现在是用来描述那些尤其长的，所以 B 错。 
【C 选项】定位到最后一句，这句话说了甚至可以影响全球，和 long distance 呼应。正确。
【D 选项】原文无提及。错误。

question_stem: The phrase "is usually accompanied by” in the passage is closest in meaning to
choices: tag: A
text: usually develops before

tag: B
text: usually occurs together with

tag: C
text: is usually indicated by

tag: D
text: is usually caused by
answer_key: B
explanation: 【题目翻译】文章中的“is usually accompanied by”一词最接近于
A：通常是以前发展的

B：通常与……发生联系在一起
C：通常用……表明
D：通常是由……引起

【判定题型】：题目要求选出与高亮单词意思最接近的选项，故判断本题为词汇题。

【关键词定位】：根据关键词“is usually accompanied by”,定位到原句“He noted that a rise in atmospheric pressure in the eastern Pacific is usually accompanied by a fall in pressure in the western Pacific and vice versa. ”。

【词汇解析】：词汇“is usually accompanied by”的意思是“通常伴随着…”,代入到原句中，原句的意思是“他注意到，当东太平洋气压上升时，通常会伴随着西太平洋气压的下降，反之亦然。”

【选项分析】
A：通常是以前发展的。不符，错误
B：通常与……发生联系在一起。同义替换，正确
C：通常用……表明。不符，错误
D：通常是由……引起。不符，错误。

question_stem: The word "jointly" in the passage is closest in meaning to
choices: tag: A
text: together

tag: B
text: therefore

tag: C
text: rightfully

tag: D
text: simply
answer_key: A
explanation: 【题目翻译】文章中的“jointly”一词最接近于
A：一起
B：因此
C：正直地
D：简单地

【判定题型】：题目要求选出与高亮单词意思最接近的选项，故判断本题为词汇题。

3、【关键词定位】：根据关键词“jointly”,定位到原句“In fact, the link between the two is so great that they are often referred to jointly as ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation).”。

【词汇解析】：词汇“jointly”的意思是“通常伴随着…”,带入到原句中，原句的意思是“事实上，两者之间的联系是如此之大，他们往往将两者统称 ENSO（厄尔尼诺-南方涛动）。”

【选项分析】
A：一起。同义替换，正确
B：因此。不符，错误
C：正直地。不符，错误
D：简单地。不符，错误

question_stem: According to paragraph 4, what did Sir Gilbert Walker discover?
choices: tag: A
text: There is a close link between  El Niño and the Southern Oscillation

tag: B
text: Surface pressure readings all across the Pacific first rise and then fall before an El Niño occurs

tag: C
text: Surface pressure on one side of the Pacific tends to fall when pressure rises on the opposite side

tag: D
text: The formation of an El Niño depends on conditions all across the Pacific, not just in the waters off of South America
answer_key: C
explanation: 【题目翻译】根据第4段，吉尔伯特•沃克爵士发现了什么？
A：厄尔尼诺现象与南部振荡有密切联系。
B：整个太平洋的表面压力读数在厄尔尼诺现象发生之前先上升后下降。
C：当太平洋一侧的压力上升时，太平洋一侧的地面压力趋于下降。
D：厄尔尼诺现象的形成取决于整个太平洋的情况，而不仅仅是南美洲以外的水域。

【判定题型】：题目问的是文章中的具体细节信息，故根据题目问法可以判断本题为事实信息题。

3、【关键词定位】根据关键词“Sir Gilbert Walker ”,定位到 Passage 4 第2句，原句为“Over 60 years ago, Sir Gilbert Walker, a British scientist, discovered a connection between surface pressure readings at weather stations on the eastern and western sides of the Pacific. “，意思是“60多年前，英国科学家吉尔伯特•沃克爵士发现了太平洋东西两侧气象站的地面压力读数之间的联系。”。

【逻辑分析】该段落表明了地面压力之间的关系。

【选项分析】
A.这是大多数人们之后认识到的，不是吉尔伯特•沃克爵士发现的。故错误。
B.这只是一个发现，和厄尔尼诺有无联系文章未提及。故错误。
C.下文提到他将此关系成为 Southern Oscillation，对应选项 C。正确。
D.文章未提及，故错误。

question_stem: According to paragraph 5, what is the end result of the east-to-west pressure gradient in the eastern Pacific during a typical year?
choices: tag: A
text: The formation of a thick, warm layer of water in the western Pacific

tag: B
text: The reversal of the pressure gradient to west-to-east by the end of the year

tag: C
text: A change in the direction of the Southern Oscillation

tag: D
text: The eastward flow of warm water from the western Pacific
answer_key: A
explanation: 【题目翻译】根据第5段，典型年份东太平洋东西向压力梯度的最终结果是什么？
A：在西太平洋形成一层厚而温暖的水。
B：年底压力梯度由西向东逆转
C：南部振荡方向的变化
D：西太平洋暖水向东流动

【判定题型】：题目问的是文章中的具体细节信息，故根据题目问法可以判断本题为事实信息题。

【关键词定位】：根据关键词“east-to-west pressure”,定位到 Passage 5 第4句，原句为“The western Pacific develops a thick, warm layer of water while the eastern Pacific has the cold Humboldt Current enhanced by upwelling. ”，意思是“西太平洋形成了一个厚而温暖的水层，而东太平洋则有上升流增强的冷洪堡流。”

【逻辑分析】西太平洋形成了厚且温暖的水层，而东太平洋的上升流使洪堡寒流增强。描述了太平洋水流间的关系。

【选项分析】
A.与原文相符，正确。
B.未有直接联系，错误。
C.文章未提及，故错误。
D.这不是直接结果。直接结果是在西太平洋形成一层厚而温暖的水。

question_stem: According to paragraph 5, all of the following changes occur in the Pacific before an ElNiñobegins EXCEPT
choices: tag: A
text: Pressure increases in the western Pacific and decreases in the eastern Pacific

tag: B
text: The trade winds decrease in intensity or reverse in the direction

tag: C
text: Surface temperatures increase in the central and eastern Pacific

tag: D
text: Ocean currents speed up as they move eastward
answer_key: D
explanation: 【题目翻译】根据第5段，以下所有变化都发生在厄尔尼诺现象开始之前的太平洋地区，除了
A：西太平洋压力增加，东太平洋压力减少
B：信风强度减弱或风向逆转
C：太平洋中部和东部的地表温度上升
D：洋流向东移动时速度加快。

【判定题型】：根据题干中出现的大写“EXCEPT”/"NOT" 等其他明显表示否定的词，可以判定本题为否定事实信息题，需要找出与原文信息不符的那个答案。

【关键词定位】根据题干关键词“before an El Niño begins”,将出题范围锁定在 Passage 5。

【选项分析】
A 对应原文中的…with pressure increasing in the western. Pacific and decreasing in the eastern Pacific.正确
B 对应…in some cases, to reverse.正确
C 对应最后一句的 increasing sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific.正确
D 与原文不符，错误。

question_stem: What can be inferred about El Niños from the historical evidence mentioned in paragraph 6?
choices: tag: A
text: They have often brought damaging weather to parts of the United States

tag: B
text: They have been occurring since at least the fifteenth century

tag: C
text: They occurred less frequently in the sixteenth century than in the fifteenth

tag: D
text: They have had stronger weather effects on the United States in recent decades than on other locations
answer_key: B
explanation: 【题目翻译】从第6段提到的历史证据可以推断出厄尔尼诺现象是什么？
A：他们经常给美国部分地区带来破坏性的天气。
B：至少从十五世纪开始就有了
C：他们在16世纪比15世纪发生的次数少
D：近几十年来，它们对美国的天气影响比其他地区更大。

【判定题型】：根据题干中出现的关键词“imply”/“infer”/“suggest”等其他表示推断的词，判定本题为推理题。

【关键词定位】定位至第六段第一句此处无关键信息，因此用排除法。

【逻辑分析】第六段说的是科学家们试图尽可能多地记录发生的厄尔尼诺现象，和各种微小的历史证据。

【选项分析】
A 选项的 often brought damaging weather … of the United States 无法推出，错误
B 选项的 at least the fifteenth century 对应原文的 dating back to the fifteenth century，因此正确答案为 B。正确
C 的 less frequently …than in the fifteenth 无法推出，错误
D 的 stronger weather effects…than on other locations 无法推出。错误

question_stem: Why does the author include the information that in 1997-1998 "Snowstorms in the northeast portion of the United States were more frequent and intense than in most years"?
choices: tag: A
text: To provide evidence supporting the claim that El Niños are getting stronger

tag: B
text: To explain why the southern United States experienced copious and damaging rainfall in 1997-1998

tag: C
text: To show that traditional methods are not adequate for documenting the effects of El Niños

tag: D
text: To identify a consequence of the fact that El Niños are now occurring a little over once every two years
answer_key: A
explanation: 【题目翻译】为什么作者包括1997-1998年“美国东北部的暴风雪比大多数年份更加频繁和强烈”的信息？
A：提供证据支持厄尔尼诺现象日益严重的说法。
B：为了解释为什么1997-1998年美国南部经历了大量的破坏性降雨。
C：证明传统方法不足以记录厄尔尼诺现象的影响。
D：为了确定厄尔尼诺现象每两年发生一次以上的后果。

【判定题型】：根据题干问法“why ……include”，题目询问“xxxxxx”(文章引用内容)的修辞目的，可以判断本题为修辞目的题。

【关键词定位】定位到 Passage 6倒数第二句，原句为“The 1997-1998 El Niño brought copious and damaging rainfall to the southern United States, from California to Florida.”。

【引用内容分析】1997 - 1998年的厄尔尼诺给美国南部带来了大量且破坏性的降雨，从加利福尼亚到佛罗里达。

【选项分析】
A 符合原文，正确
B 的原因并没有进行解释，错误
C 的 not adequate for documenting 未提及，错误
D 的 identify a consequence 未提及。错误