◎供稿：高 洁

The only difference between a hurricane and a typhoon is the ____1____where the storm occurs.

Hurricanes and typhoons are the same weather phenomenon:tropical1)cyclones.A tropical cyclone is a generic term used by meteorologists to describe a rotating,organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that2)originatesover tropical or subtropical waters and has closed,________2________ circulation.

The weakest tropical cyclones are called tropical depressions.If a depression intensifies such that its maximum sustained winds reach 39 mile______3______,the tropical cyclone becomes a tropical storm.Once a tropical cyclone reaches maximum sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or higher,it is then classified as a hurricane,typhoon,or tropical cyclone,depending upon____4____ the storm originates in the world.In the North Atlantic,central North Pacific,and eastern North Pacific,the term hurricane is used.The same type of disturbance in the Northwest Pacific is called a typhoon.________5________,in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean,the ɡeneric term tropical cyclone is used,regardless of the strength of the wind associated with the weather system.

The ingredients for tropical cyclones ________6________ a pre-existing weather disturbance,warm tropical oceans,moisture,and relatively light winds.If the right conditions3)persistlong enough,they can combine to produce the violent winds,____ 7____,torrential rains,and floods we associate with this phenomenon.At times,when a weather system does not meet all of these conditions,but is forecast to bring tropical storm or hurricane force winds to land in the next day or two,it is called a potential tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin and the central and eastern North Pacific basins.

In the Atlantic,hurricane season officially runs from ________8________ to November 30.Ninety-seven percent of tropical cyclone activity occurs during this time period.However,there is nothing magical about these dates.Hurricanes can and do occur outside of this six month period.

1) cyclone [ˈsaɪkloʊn] n.气旋;旋风

2) oriɡinate [əˈrɪdʒɪneɪt] v.起源;发源;发端于

3) persist [pərˈsɪst] v.坚持;持续存在

词组加油站

1.regardless of 不管;不顾;不理会

例句：All should be treated equally regardless of social status.人不分贵贱。

2.associate with 与……交往，联系；交接

例句：They prefer to associate with young people.他们更喜欢与年轻人交往。