Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 43 to 50.
Many of the most damaging and life-threating types of weather-torrential rains, severe thunderstorms, and tornadoes-begin quickly, strike suddenly, and dissipate rapidly, devastating small regions while leaving neighboring areas untouched. One such event, a tornado, struck the northeastern section of Edmonton, Alberta, in July 1987. Total damages from the tornado exceeded $250 million, the highest ever for any Canadian storm. Conventional computer models of the atmosphere have limited value in predicting short-live local storms like the Edmonton tornado, because the available weather data are generally not detailed enough to allow computers to discern the subtle atmospheric changes that precede these storms. In most nations, for example, weather balloon observations are taken just once every twelve hours at locations typically separated by hundreds of miles. With such limited data, conventional forecasting models do a much better job predicting general weather conditions over large regions than they do forecasting specific local events.
Until recently, the observation-intensive approach needed for accurate, very short range forecasts, or “Nowcasts”, was not feasible. The cost of equipping and operating many thousands of conventional weather stations was prohibitively high, and the difficulties involved in rapidly collecting and processing the raw weather data from such a network were insurmountable. Fortunately, scientific and technological advances have overcome most of these problems. Radar systems, automated weather instruments, and satellites are all capable of making detailed, nearly continuous observation over large regions at a relatively low cost. Communications satellites can transmit data around the world cheaply and instantaneously, and modern computers can quickly compile and analyzing this large volume of weather information. Meteorologists and computer scientists now work together to design computer programs and video equipment capable of transforming raw weather data into words, symbols, and vivid graphic displays that forecasters can interpret easily and quickly. As meteorologists have begun using these new technologies in weather forecasting offices, Nowcasting is becoming a reality.
Question 49:With which of the following statements is the author most likely to agree?
A. Communications satellites can predict severe weather.
B. Meteorologists should standardize computer programs.
C. The observation-intensive approach is no longer useful.
D. Weather predictions are becoming more accurate.
Đáp án D
Dịch nghĩa: Với khẳng định nào trong số sau tác giả có thể đồng ý nhất?
A. Vệ tinh giao tiếp có thể dự báo thời tiết khắc nghiệt
B. Những nhà thiên văn học nên chuẩn hóa những chương trình máy tính
C. Cách quan sát thường xuyên không còn có tác dụng
D. Dự báo thời tiết đang trở nên chính xác hơn
Giải thích: Đọc câu cuối của đoạn văn: “As meteorologists have begun using these new technologies in weather forecasting offices, Nowcasting is becoming reality” - “Khi những nhà thiên văn học bắt đầu sử dụng những công nghệ mới này trong những cơ quan dự báo thời tiết, Nowcasting đang trở thành hiện thực.”
=> Như vậy có thể thấy tác giả có cái nhìn lạc quan về độ chính xác của dự báo thời tiết trong tương lai.