(III) For most of us, summer is a season to enjoy outdoor activities. But for people who live in tropical regions, summer can bring huge storms capable of damaging buildings with wind and floods. This is because hurricanes occur when the water temperatures in the ocean rise above normal levels. What may start out as a minor storm can quickly be whipped up in to a devastating hurricane after gathering strength from warm water.A hurricane is an enormous circular vortex of clouds and wind. In order to develop, a hurricane requireswater temperatures of at least twenty-six degrees Celsius. When a tropical storm occurs, the energy of the warm water and the moisture in the air can turn the storm into a hurricane. The location and size ofhurricanes are observed by meteorologists using satellite equipment and radar. The media get the informationand are able to warn the public about when and where the hurricane will strike. Hurricanes are given namesby meteorologists to help people identify them. Although hurricanes are easily located by using sophisticatedequipment, they are difficult to be judged because of their unpredictable movement and speed. Mosthurricanes last for about ten days. When they cross onto land, they frictional drag from the ground causestheir winds to slow and weaken. The most dangerous hurricanes, therefore, are the ones that move along acoastline and inflict damage on land while keeping their energy source of warm water.Every year the south-eastern coast of the United States becomes exposed to hurricanes that formthousands of kilometers away in the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricanes are most likely to occur in August andSeptember because at this time the water temperature is high due to several months’ direct sunlight andhumidity. In September 1999, a tropical storm gathered strength in the Atlantic. It was named Hurricane Floydafter four days of growth. American meteorologists used satellite equipment to track Hurricane Floyd andissued severe weather warnings for the states of Georgia and South Carolina. As Hurricane Floyd approachedthe coast, more than two million people were forced to evacuate the coast under government instructions.Fortunately, only a small number of people were killed by the hurricane and once it crossed the coast, itsstrength died down.Another area prone to hurricanes is the Bay of Bengal, between India and Bangladesh. In November 1970, the worst damage in modern times occurred when approximately three hundred thousand people died in Bangladesh as a result of the tidal waves and flooding caused by a slow-moving hurricane. East Asia is also frequently affected by hurricanes. Countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines and China are threatened everyyear by an average of five hurricanes that occur between August and October. In recent years, Hurricane Nicole traveled along the coastline of China and caused flooding which broke the banks of the Yangtze River. Asa result, two million Chinese people were left homeless and the flooding was the worst seen in this region forfifty years. Damage will always occur if a hurricane passes over land. People exposed to a hurricane must thereforetake the following precautions. All objects outside the house must be securely fastened so they won’t beblown away. Shutters must be placed over house windows to prevent them being smashed. People mustremain inside during a hurricane as flying debris and lightning can be deadly. It is also important to havecandles and flashlights handy in case of electricity failure. Every year about fifty hurricanes occur around the world. All we can do is to try to restrict the damage bymaking sure people are well prepared in regions where hurricanes most often occur. Experts, however, arepredicting that in the future we will experience more hurricanes per year than we currently do. Because of thegreenhouse effect and global warming, the warmer water temperatures are expected. With warmer water onour planet, hurricanes will occur more often and with greater force than they do today.
46. Hurricanes are usually more dangerous __________.
(A) when they remain over the ocean than when they cross over land
(B) for larger countries than smaller countries
(C) when they cross onto land
(D) than any other natural disaster because they cause frictional drag