The Exploding Lakes of Cameroon

　　What comes to mind when you think of a lake? You probably imagine a pretty scene with

　　blue water，birds，and fish.For the people in the northwestern Cameroon，however, the image is

　　very different. For them，lakes may mean terrible disasters. In 1984，poisonous gases exploded

　　out of Lake Monoun and came down into the nearby villages，killing thirty―seven people.Two

　　years later,Lake Nyos erupted A cloud of gases rolled down the hills and into the valleys and

　　killed 1,700 people.

　　Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun are crater(火山口)lakes They were formed when water

　　collected in the craters of old volcanoes The volcanoes under Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun are

　　not active anymore. However, poisonous gases from the center of the earth continue to flow up

　　through cracks in the bottom of the lake. This is normal in a crater lake. In most crater lakes，these

　　gases are released often because the water‘turns over’regularly.That is，the water from the

　　bottom of the lake rises and mixes with the water at the top，allowing the gases to escape slowly.

　　However，in Lakes Nyos and Monoun，there is no regular turning over.No one knows the

　　reason for this fact，but as a result，these lakes have more gases tapped at the bottom than other

　　crater lakes. In fact，scientists who have studied Lakes Nyos and Monoun have found 16,000

　　times more gases.When a strong wind，cool weather a storm，or a landslide(滑坡)causes the

　　water to turn over suddenly，the gases escape in a violent explosion.

　　In the past，no one knew when the gases might explode，so there was no way for the villagers

　　to escape disaster. Now scientists from the United States，F(xiàn)rance，and Cameroon have found a

　　way to reduce the gas pressure at the bottom of Lake Nyos.They stood a 672-foot plastic pipe in

　　the middle of the lake，with one end of the pipe near the bottom and the other end in the air.Near

　　the top of the pipe，the team put several holes that could be opened or closed by a computer.Now，

　　when the gas pressure gets too high，the holes are opened and some of the gas-filled water shoots

　　up through the pipe into the air like a fountain.With less pressure，a disastrous explosion is much

　　less likely.However, the scientists are not sure that one pipe will be enough to prevent explosions.They hope to put in others soon and they plan to install a similar pipe and a computer system at Lake Monoun as well.

　　To protect people nearby until all of the pipes are in place.the scientists have installed early

　　warning systems at both lakes. If the gas pressure rises to a dangerous level，computers will set

　　off loud sirens(警報(bào))and bright lights to warn the people in the villages.That way, they will

　　have time to escape from the dangerous gases.

　　41 What will happen when Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun explode?

　　A Water will flow down the hills

　　B Poisonous gases will be released suddenly.

　　C A strong wind will rise from the lakes

　　D The volcanoes will come to life.

　　42 Which of the following statements about Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun is true?

　　A They were formed in 1984.

　　B They are at the top of two active volcanoes.

　　C They are not like most other crater lakes.

　　D Water in them turns over regularly.

　　43 Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun explode because

　　A the gases rise to the top and mix with air.

　　B people from the villages turn over the water.

　　C scientists have put in a computer system.

　　D they have more gases trapped at the bottom than other crater lakes

　　44 A team of scientists has

　　A erected a pressure-releasing pipe in the lake

　　B identified the gases at the bottom of the lake

　　C built a beautiful fountain near the lakes

　　D removed all dangerous gases from the lakes

　　45 What do we learn from the last paragraph?

　　A Scientists are planning to install pipes in all crater lakes.

　　B Scientists still do not know how to prevent gas explosions

　　C Explosion disasters could be avoided in the future

　　D Warning systems have been set up in the villages nearby.

　　參考答案：

　　41 B 該題問(wèn)的是Nyos和Monoun兩湖噴發(fā)時(shí)會(huì)出現(xiàn)什么情況?第一段第五句提到，Monoun噴發(fā)時(shí)有毒氣體隨之而出。兩年后，Nyos湖噴發(fā)時(shí)也出現(xiàn)類似情況。故B為答案。

　　42 c 本題為細(xì)節(jié)題。問(wèn)的是關(guān)于Nyos和Monoun兩湖哪句陳述是正確的?選項(xiàng)A說(shuō)的是兩湖于1984年形成的，不符合原文意思。選項(xiàng)B的意思是：他們坐落在兩座活活火山上，也與原文意思不符。選項(xiàng)D說(shuō)的是湖中的水定期翻滾，均與原文不符。只有選項(xiàng)c正確。

　　43 D 題句的意思是：Nyos和Monoun兩湖發(fā)生噴發(fā)的原因是什么?前三個(gè)選項(xiàng)均 與原文意思不符，答案見(jiàn)第三段第二句。

　　44 A 本題問(wèn)的是一隊(duì)科學(xué)家干了什么工作?第四段第三句提到他們?cè)诤锪⒘艘?根釋放湖底氣壓的管子。故A為答案。

　　45 c 本題問(wèn)的是在文章最后一段我們了解到了什么?文章最后一段主要講的是在所有的湖里豎起緩解湖底氣壓的管子后，就不會(huì)有危險(xiǎn)。故選項(xiàng)c為正確答案。