fficult_to_walk_in_the_street._The_wind_is_blowing_hard,_bringing_a_mass_of_dust_which_is_filled_with_the_air._People_have_to_use_up_all_their_strength_to_cycle_in_the_street,_and_some_people_are_forced_to_walk._Sandstorms_in_China_appear_to_have_increased_in_recent_years_as_a_result_of_"desertification"．This_is_a_long_process,_and_once_it_is_formed,_it_is_hard_to_change_its_present_situation._

　　二、勤练高考题型，多练自能生巧

　　Ⅰ.完形填空

　　The year is 2094. It has been announced that comet (彗星) is heading towards the Earth. Most of it will miss our planet, but two pieces will probably __1__ the southern half of the Earth.

　　On 17 July, a __2__ which is four kilometers wide enters the Earth's __3__ with a massive explosion. About half of the piece is destroyed, but the __4__ part hits the South Atlantic at 200 times the speed of __5__. The sea __6__ and a huge hole is made in the sea bed. Huge waves are created and spread out from the hole. The wall of water, a kilometer high, rushes towards southern Africa at 800 kilometers an hour. Cities on the African coast are totally destroyed and millions of people are __7__.

　　Before the waves reach South America, the second piece of the comet __8__ in Argentina. Earthquakes and Volcanoes are __9__ off in the Andes Mountains. The shock __10__ move north into California and all around the Pacific Ocean. The cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Tokyo are completely __11__ by earthquakes. Millions of people in the __12__ half of the earth are already dead, and the __13__ won't be safe for long. Because of the explosions, the sun is __14__ by clouds of dust, and temperatures around the world fall to almost zero. Crops are ruined. The sun won't be seen again for many years. Wars __15__ as countries fight for __16__. A year later, no more than 10 million people remain __17__.

　　Could it really __18__？ In fact, it has already happened more than once in the history of the Earth. Science shows that dinosaurs (恐龙) __19__ on the Earth for over 160 million years. Then 65 million years ago they suddenly disappeared. Many scientists believe that the Earth was hit by a piece of heavenly object. The dinosaurs couldn't live through the cold __20__ that followed and they died out. Will we meet the same end?

　　语篇解读：彗星撞击地球，会造成什么样的灾难性的后果？

　　1．A.attack　　　　　　　　 B．hit

　　C．beat D．damage

　　解析：选B　彗星应该是"击中"地球，故应该是hit"击中；袭击"。beat意为反复的"打击"；attack"攻击"；damage"毁坏"。

2．A.piece B．comet