In the United States, hurricanes(飓风) and tornadoes often draw a lot of public attention. However, hailstorms(冰雹风暴) are different. They usually happen without much warning, even though they can be very dangerous.
Hail can break windows, cars, and farms. In 2023, hailstorms cost the US about 46 billion. Although it’s so harmful, scientists knew very little about how hail forms. The last large research project on hail in the US was over 50 years ago, in the late 1970s. Adams-Selin, a scientist, said this field of knowledge is a “big hole” in weather science.
Now, a new project called ICECHIP is changing that. It is the largest international project for studying hail. In May and June of 2025, about 100 researchers went to the Central Plains States to collect information. They hoped this would help them predict hailstorms better.

radar 3D laser scanner
The team used new tools like high-speed cameras, mobile radar, and 3D laser scanners. They also sent up balloons with 3D-printed sensors(3D 打印传感器) into storms to follow how hail moves. Other sensors on the ground measured the energy of falling hail, and 3D laser scanners recorded the form of hail. Then, scientists studied ice layers(冰层) of hail to find out where and how the hailstorms formed.
This project brought hail research into the modern world. Still, some old tools from the 1970s, like foam boards(泡沫板), were used to catch hail and measure its size. Adams-Selin believes that one day, weather centres will be able to give hail warnings just as they do for other natural disasters, and at a low cost.
( ) 6. How are hailstorms different from hurricanes and tornadoes according to Paragraph 1?
A. They usually give little warning before coming.
B. They happen more often in the United States.
C. They are much more dangerous to people’s lives.
( ) 7. What does the underlined “big hole” mean?
A. A hole in the ground hit by hail.
B. Plenty of money used for hailstorm research.
C. An area of weather science that needs more research.
( ) 8. What is the ICECHIP project mainly for?
A. Improving hail research and hailstorm prediction.
B. Inventing new technologies for disaster warnings.
C. Catching hail and measuring its size and energy.
( ) 9. How did researchers learn about the movement of hail?
A. By videoing with high-speed cameras.
B. By using balloons to send 3D-printed sensors.
C. By studying ice layers and the form of hailstorms.
( ) 10. What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. Hailstorms cause serious money losses to the US every year.
B. A new research project is helping scientists know more about hailstorms.
C. Old tools are better than new technologies in researching natural disasters.

6.A 7.C 8.A 9.B 10.B