A
(2022·深圳市模拟)The start of the US Atlantic hurricane season is just over two weeks away and forecasters are expecting particularly high activity this year. With warmer than usual conditions expected in the North Atlantic this summer, meteorologists have predicted that the season could produce eight or more hurricanes.
While forecasters cannot predict how many hurricanes — if any — will make landfall, the potential for dangerous storms to strike the southern and eastern coasts brings an additional problem for authorities already struggling with the COVID19.
Experts say that the COVID19 is affecting the capabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other organisations involved in responding to natural disasters.
Retired US Army Lieutenant General Jeffrey Talley, who now leads global efforts on disaster management at IBM's Centre for the Business of Government, said that with FEMA and other authorities engaged with responding to the COVID19, resources will be limited if a hurricane strikes.
“When we look at a disaster ...I think of it in terms of how we prepare for, respond to and recover from those types of events，” Talley said. “Right now we're in the middle of the response of COVID19. None of us are really sure how long it's going to last and how the response to disasters is going to be different, say, two months from now, six months from now, so on and so forth，” he said.
According to Talley, the COVID19 could complicate the response to a hurricane by interrupting the flow of emergency supplies to areas where they are urgently needed at crucial moments.
Social distancing and stayathome orders will also force authorities along the south and east coast to rethink how they manage people who must leave their homes in the event of a disaster. While many states are already lifting some lockdown restrictions, social distancing will still be important for many months to come.
语篇解读：本文是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了美国气象预报员预计今年的飓风活动会特别频繁，然而COVID19正在影响美国联邦紧急事务管理局和其他参与应对自然灾害的组织能力。
1．When will the first hurricane possibly arrive in US this summer?
A．In about eight days.
B．In about six months.
C．In about two months.
D．In more than two weeks.
解析：选D 细节理解题。根据第一段第一句可知，距离美国大西洋飓风季节的开始还有两个多星期，气象预报员预计今年的飓风活动会特别频繁。
2．According to Talley, how could COVID19 influence the response to a hurricane?
A．More people will leave home to fight against a hurricane.
B．Rescue materials might not reach disaster areas sometimes.
C．Lockdown can greatly reduce damage and injury.
D．The pandemic makes it harder to predict hurricanes.
解析：选B 细节理解题。根据倒数第二段可知，据Talley说，新冠肺炎可能会中断向在关键时刻急需物资的地区运送紧急物资，从而使应对飓风的工作复杂化。
3．What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A．People throughout the country no longer need to stay at home.
B．The state governments are confident about tackling hurricanes.
C．Authorities along the coasts will stick to the former orders.
D．It is necessary to keep social distance in the coming months.
解析：选D 推理判断题。根据最后一段可知，保持社交距离和留在家里的命令也将迫使南部和东部沿海地区的政府重新考虑如何管理那些在灾难发生时必须离开家园的人们。虽然许多州已经解除了一些封锁限制，但在未来几个月里，社交距离仍然很重要。
4．What is the best title for the text?
A．More Destructive Hurricanes to Be Expected
B．More Difficult to Forecast Hurricanes Coming
C．COVID19 to Worsen Hurricane Response
D．Social Distancing Needed in Coming Months
解析：选C 标题归纳题。通读全文，尤其是根据第三段可知，专家表示COVID19正在影响美国联邦紧急事务管理局和其他参与应对自然灾害的组织能力。由此可知，C选项最符合文章标题。
