Part three: Reading Comprehension (20 items; 40 pts.)
A weather map is an important tool for geographers. A succession of three or four maps presents a continuous picture of weather changes. Weather forecasters are able to determine the speed of air masses and fronts（冷暖空气团接触的锋）to determine whether an individual pressure area is deepening or becoming shallow and whether a front is increasing or decreasing in intensity. They are also able to determine whether an air mass is retaining its original characteristics or taking on those of the surface over which it is moving. Thus, a most significant function of the map is to reveal a synoptic picture of conditions in the atmosphere at a given time.
All students of geography should be able to interpret a weather map accurately. Weather maps contain an enormous amount of information about weather conditions existing at the time of observation over a large geographical area. They reveal in a few minutes what otherwise would take hours to describe. The United States Weather Bureau issues information about approaching storms, floods, frosts, droughts, and all climatic conditions in general. Twice a month it issues a 30-day “outlook” which is a rough guide to weather conditions likely to occur over broad areas of the United States. These 30-day outlooks are based upon an analysis of the upper air levels which often set the stage for the development of air masses, fronts, and storms.
Considerable effort is being exerted today to achieve more accurate weather predictions. With the use of electronic instruments and earth satellites, enormous gains have taken place recently in identifying and tracking storms over regions which have but few meteorological stations (气象站). Extensive experiments are also in progress for weather modification（改变）studies. But the limitations of modification have prevented meteorological results except in the seeding of super-cooled, upslope mountainous winds which have produced additional orographic (山岳形态的) precipitation on the windward side of mountain ranges. Nevertheless, they have provided a clearer understanding of the fundamentals of weather elements.
41.  By reading weather maps, students majoring in geography can         .
A. design a project of weather modification
B. interpret the weather condition before the time of observation 
C. obtain data on atmospheric conditions over a wide area 
D. survey ever-changing fronts in local meteorological stations
42. A thirty-day forecast is determined by examining         .
A. daily weather maps                        B. upper air levels
C. satellite reports                              D. changing fronts
43. The observation of weather conditions by satellites is advantageous because ______.
A. electronic instruments are used
B. it enables man to alter the weather
C. it makes weather prediction more time-consuming
D. information not obtained readily otherwise can be gained
44. At the present time, experiments are being conducted in         .
A. controlling and influencing weather     B. determining density of pressure groups
C. 30-day “outlooks”                   D. predicting storms

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