B
跨学科地理 Climate change is speeding up the frequency and seriousness of extreme(极端的)
weather events in places like the Horn of
Africa, where deadly floods and the worst drought hit in decades.Besides, traditional weather forecast(预报)models in sub-Saharan
Africa often aren't dependable enough to forecast extreme weather events accurately(准确地)ahead of time,leaving the areas at risk.
Based on the facts,accurate and timely forecasts are important to safeguard lives and livelihoods.
Climate scientists are building artificial intelligence(AI)into the traditional weather forecasting method in East Africa to improve the accuracy of extreme weather forecasts.By using both physical atmospheric processes in traditional forecasting and AI, researchers develop a first-of-its-kind new modeling approach to give more accurate rainfall forecasts.
“ We start from the traditional forecasts and add the AI model to it to make up for what the traditional forecasts have missed,so that the final forecast results can more accurately match the data that has actually been observed,"explains S hr uti Nath,a climate scientist and researcher at the University of Oxford
Department of Physics.
According to S hr uti Nath, this model,which only requires a notebook computer to run, without the need for expensive supercomputers,gives local meteorological(气象学的)organizations an affordable way of making more accurate forecasts in an area where there is a shortage of accurate observational
data.The researchers say the project could
change early warning systems in East Africa,
making the area get better prepared for the
extreme weather caused by climate change.
Traditionally,many forecasting organizations
in Africa didn't have good computational resources.
The project is supported by an IT company,which
provides funding and computational resources.This
approach gives them the ability to use AI to make
forecasting at the least computational expense.
The model is currently being rolled out in
Kenya and Ethiopia. If successful in East
Africa,researchers hope to use it in other parts
of the world facing similar challenges.More
countries are trying to spread the technology as
well as build local ownership and trust.
5.What does the author want to stress in the
first paragraph?
A.The necessity of using the new weather
forecast model.
B.The great climate changes caused by
human activities.
C.The seriousness of the flood and drought
in Africa.
D.Little progress has been made in weather
forecasts.
6.How does the new weather forecast model
work?
A.It needs much less observational data.
B.It uses supercomputers to process data.
C.It combines AI with the traditional
method.
D.It depends on AI instead of the former way.
7.What can we say about the new weather
forecast model?
A.It runs easily.
B.It is low-cost.
C.It doesn't work as wished.
D.It is geographically limited.
8.What can be the most suitable title for the text?
A.Climate Change and Its Effects on Africa
B.Uncertainty of Weather Forecast with AI
C.AI Helping Improve Weather Forecast in Sub-Saharan Africa
D.The Challenges Faced by Traditional Weather Forecast Model
跨学科地理 Climate change is speeding up the frequency and seriousness of extreme(极端的)
weather events in places like the Horn of
Africa, where deadly floods and the worst drought hit in decades.Besides, traditional weather forecast(预报)models in sub-Saharan
Africa often aren't dependable enough to forecast extreme weather events accurately(准确地)ahead of time,leaving the areas at risk.
Based on the facts,accurate and timely forecasts are important to safeguard lives and livelihoods.
Climate scientists are building artificial intelligence(AI)into the traditional weather forecasting method in East Africa to improve the accuracy of extreme weather forecasts.By using both physical atmospheric processes in traditional forecasting and AI, researchers develop a first-of-its-kind new modeling approach to give more accurate rainfall forecasts.
“ We start from the traditional forecasts and add the AI model to it to make up for what the traditional forecasts have missed,so that the final forecast results can more accurately match the data that has actually been observed,"explains S hr uti Nath,a climate scientist and researcher at the University of Oxford
Department of Physics.
According to S hr uti Nath, this model,which only requires a notebook computer to run, without the need for expensive supercomputers,gives local meteorological(气象学的)organizations an affordable way of making more accurate forecasts in an area where there is a shortage of accurate observational
data.The researchers say the project could
change early warning systems in East Africa,
making the area get better prepared for the
extreme weather caused by climate change.
Traditionally,many forecasting organizations
in Africa didn't have good computational resources.
The project is supported by an IT company,which
provides funding and computational resources.This
approach gives them the ability to use AI to make
forecasting at the least computational expense.
The model is currently being rolled out in
Kenya and Ethiopia. If successful in East
Africa,researchers hope to use it in other parts
of the world facing similar challenges.More
countries are trying to spread the technology as
well as build local ownership and trust.
5.What does the author want to stress in the
first paragraph?
A.The necessity of using the new weather
forecast model.
B.The great climate changes caused by
human activities.
C.The seriousness of the flood and drought
in Africa.
D.Little progress has been made in weather
forecasts.
6.How does the new weather forecast model
work?
A.It needs much less observational data.
B.It uses supercomputers to process data.
C.It combines AI with the traditional
method.
D.It depends on AI instead of the former way.
7.What can we say about the new weather
forecast model?
A.It runs easily.
B.It is low-cost.
C.It doesn't work as wished.
D.It is geographically limited.
8.What can be the most suitable title for the text?
A.Climate Change and Its Effects on Africa
B.Uncertainty of Weather Forecast with AI
C.AI Helping Improve Weather Forecast in Sub-Saharan Africa
D.The Challenges Faced by Traditional Weather Forecast Model
答案
5. A 推理判断题。作者在第一段列举了气候变化使极端天气加剧,而传统天气预报模型往往不够可靠,无法提前准确预测极端天气事件。因此作者得出了这样的结论“accurate and timely forecasts are important to safeguard lives and livelihoods”准确及时的预报对于保护生命和生计至关重要。因此作者认为新的、有效的天气预报模型非常必要。故选 A。
解题技巧 题目问作者想要在第一段强调的内容,就是在问作者写第一段的目的,其必然是围绕着文章的主题——融入了人工智能的新天气预报模型,第一段应当引入这个主题。
6. C 细节理解题。根据第二段中“By using both physical atmospheric processes in traditional forecasting and AI, researchers develop a first-of-its-kind new modeling approach to give more accurate rainfall forecasts.”可知,新的天气预报模型将人工智能与传统方法相结合。故选 C。
7. B 细节理解题。根据第三段中“this model, which only requires a notebook computer to run, without the need for expensive supercomputers...”可知,新的天气预报模型成本低。故选 B。
8. C 标题归纳题。文章第一段引入了使用新型、有效的天气预报模型的必要性,从第二段开始介绍融合了人工智能的天气预报模型,其作用与优点,因此 C 项“人工智能帮助改善撒哈拉沙漠以南非洲地区的天气预报”最能概括全文。故选 C。
解题技巧 题目问作者想要在第一段强调的内容,就是在问作者写第一段的目的,其必然是围绕着文章的主题——融入了人工智能的新天气预报模型,第一段应当引入这个主题。
6. C 细节理解题。根据第二段中“By using both physical atmospheric processes in traditional forecasting and AI, researchers develop a first-of-its-kind new modeling approach to give more accurate rainfall forecasts.”可知,新的天气预报模型将人工智能与传统方法相结合。故选 C。
7. B 细节理解题。根据第三段中“this model, which only requires a notebook computer to run, without the need for expensive supercomputers...”可知,新的天气预报模型成本低。故选 B。
8. C 标题归纳题。文章第一段引入了使用新型、有效的天气预报模型的必要性,从第二段开始介绍融合了人工智能的天气预报模型,其作用与优点,因此 C 项“人工智能帮助改善撒哈拉沙漠以南非洲地区的天气预报”最能概括全文。故选 C。
