第二节 阅读短文，从方框内所给的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，其中有一个多余的选项。
Nature's warnings
When the sky suddenly turns dark and the wind is strong, watch out! 17. Storms are scary. Watch for flashes of lightning. Listen for thunder. If nature sends these warnings, don't wait for rain. Act right away to keep safe.
Safety steps
At the first flash of lightning, quickly get inside a building or a car. Do not go into a shed ( 棚 ) for protection. It is not closed like a building, so it is not safe.
Even after you are indoors, be careful. It is not smart to go near doors and windows. They can blow in or break. 18.
Do not wash your hands during a storm. Do not use anything that runs on electricity either. Water and electrical lines are like roads for lightning. Even if you really want to play computer games, don't do it! It is better to be bored than to risk getting hurt. Try reading a book instead. Reading is more fun than playing computer games.
19. You may feel safe under a tree, but that is not a good place to be. Lightning is pulling toward tall poles and trees. Stay down in an open space and cover your ears to protect them. Loud thunder can seriously hurt your hearing.
Lightning strikes ( 雷击 )
Lightning does not strike people very often. 20. If you do, call 120. Only trained emergency workers should care for a person who has been hit by lightning.
If you follow these rules, you should stay safe during a storm.

17. E 18. C 19. A 20. B

二、完形填空(共 10 小题，每小题 1 分；满分 10 分)
阅读短文，理解其大意，从 A、B、C、D 四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
It was a terrible day! The news on TV 21 that a heavy rainstorm was on the way to the north of California, the US. Hearing the news, people 22 to prepare necessary things for the rainstorm, 23 candles, matches and flashlights. They also made sure to close all the windows. In the evening, the rainstorm finally came with strong 24. Soon it started to rain heavily. This has been the heaviest rainstorm in California since 1995.
The heavy rainstorm 25 the power failure ( 停电 ). Without power, thousands of people had to use candles or flashlights to give 26. What was worse, the heavy rain made it 27 for people to fall asleep.
The rain didn't die down until the next morning. It caused the water levels in the rivers to rise 28. As a result, many areas were under water. The heavy rainstorm also caused mudslides ( 泥石流 ). Rubbish and 29 trees were everywhere. After the heavy rainstorm, people in the north of California had to work hard to make their life 30 to normal.
() 21. A. imagined
B. changed
C. offered
D. reported
() 22. A. began
B. swept
C. bought
D. raised
() 23. A. such as
B. look like
C. except for
D. thanks to
() 24. A. cough
B. break
C. wind
D. interest
() 25. A. realized
B. caused
C. carried
D. borrowed
() 26. A. rest
B. light
C. death
D. food
() 27. A. possible
B. normal
C. surprising
D. difficult
() 28. A. slowly
B. quietly
C. quickly
D. simply
() 29. A. fallen
B. worried
C. risen
D. disabled
() 30. A. lie
B. return
C. hide
D. throw

21. D 22. A 23. A 24. C 25. B 26. B 27. D 28. C 29. A 30. B