新视野大学英语视听说教程 3 Unit 7-4

（单词翻译）

Task3: A Mild EI Nino
Script¹
The EI Nino weather condition has returned. However, official at the United States National Weather Service say EI Nino is weaker than usual this year. EI Nino is a change in the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. It happens every four or five years.
Normally², water temperatures in the western Pacific Ocean increase near the end of the year. This cause more rainfall in Indonesia, Australia and other nearby place. At the same time, cold ocean water cause less rainfall in the eastern Pacific Ocean, near South America. The opposite happens during EI Nino. Pacific Ocean temperatures increase near South America, causing unusually high amounts of rainfall there. In contrast, EI Nino causes dry weather in Indonesia and Australia.
A strong EI Nino can severely³ affect the weather all over the world. The last powerful EI Nino was in 1997 and 1998. It caused major floods in many places. EI Nino also led to extremely dry weather in some other areas. Reports say the weather caused the deaths of about 24,000 people.
So experts say having a weaker EI Nino this year is good news. Meteorologists say rainfall has been higher than usual in South America. The experts say the effects of EI Nino will begin to show in November in the United States. The northern states may have a warmer winter. But, scientists say EI Nino will not be strong enough to prevent this year’s powerful storms in the Atlantic Ocean.

1. According to the passage, how often does EI Nino happen?
2. What normally happens in the western Pacific Ocean?
3. What did the EI Nino in 1997 and 1998 cause?
4. What is NOT mentioned as a result of this year’s EI Nino?
5. What is the central idea of the passage?

Kes: 1C 2.A3. D 4.B 5.C

For Reference⁴
Pacific Ocean temperatures increase near South America, causing unusually high level of rainfall there. Dry weather results in Australia.