have sunk another 24cm by 2050. A century ago, St. Mark's Square, the lowest point in the city, flooded about nine times a year. Nowadays, it happens more than 100 times. While Venice is slowly sinking where it stands, Tuvalu's rising sea level is caused by global warming.

　　The average global temperature has increased by almost 0. 5 centigrade degrees over the past century, and scientists expect it to rise by extra 1.3 degrees over the next 100 years.

　　Warmer weather makes glaciers(冰川) melt, adding more water to the ocean. The warmer temperatures also make water expand, so it takes up more space, causing the sea level to rise. The sea level has risen 10.25 cm in the last 100 years. Many scientists believe that if the warming is not stopped, there will be huge climate changes. The sea level could rise by one meter this century.

　　Should this come true, the sea will swallow up millions of homes and the world will be flooded with "climate refugees" looking for somewhere to live.

24. What can we infer from the second paragraph?

　　A. drinking water in Tuvalu has been destroyed

　　B. all Tuvalu's islands are about five meters above the sea level

　　C. Tuvalu is in danger of being swallowed up by the sea

　　D. Tuvalu is often flooded by storms and waves

25. Why are Tuvalu and Venice used as examples?

　　A. because they are facing the trouble caused by global warming

　　B. because they are both sinking into the mud on which they stand

　　C. because they are the first places sinking into the sea

　　D. because they will disappear in the future

26. What does "climate refugees" mean?

　　A. Climate effect. B. Climate changes.

　　C. Rare animals. D. People who are forced away from their homeland by climate.

27. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

　　A. Tuvalu's nine little islands are less than five meters above the sea level.

　　B. The average global temperature has risen by 13 centigrade degrees over the past 100 years.

　　C. The warmer temperature causes the sea level to rise.

　　D. There will be huge climate changes unless the warming is stopped.

　　Cities are likely to be affected by overheating, thanks to something called the urban heat island effect. Cities tend to be short of trees, which provide shade, and they are covered with black pavement, which absorbs heat from the sun. Think of how it feels to wear a dark shirt versus a white shirt on a sunny day. A black shirt absorbs light, heating you up. But a white shirt reflects light, keeping you cool.

　　The average temperature in a city of a million or more people can be more than 5 degrees F hotter than surrounding areas. That extra 5 degrees can turn a hot day from uncomfortable to deadly. As temperatures rise, cities will be an especially dangerous place to be during a heat wave. To protect public health, city officials are going to make the city cooler.

As part of that effort, Los Angeles is coating its roads in CoolSeal, a gray paint that keeps streets and parking lots 10 degrees cooler than black asphalt（沥青）. It will help Angelinos save money during the summer, when air conditioning sends power bills soaring. And it will save lives