Hot as it is in much of America just now, many atmospheric experts predict that the weather will get worse．Global warming will jack up temperatures and change precipitation patterns, while baskers in beach-front properties will feel the lash of higher seas and possibly even fiercer hurricanes．
　　Most scientists agree that the subtropical areas, such as south-western America, will get hotter and drier．The governments 2000 National Assessment (much criticised by conservatives) projected that temperatures in America would rise by up to 5Celsius (9Fahrenheit) by 2100, with a sharp increase in the minimum winter temperature along the north-east coast．Fresh data will come next January, when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports on the regional implications of global warming．Precipitation is harder to predict than temperature, and no one quite knows what will happen to the periodic E1 Nifio phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean．But scientists certainly expect more droughts and flooding in America．In sum, Extremes of the hydrologic cycle will become more extreme, according to Jim Hansen, a NASA scientist．That means more severe storms, as well as forest fires brought on by dry conditions．
　　Already such patterns are evident．Massachusetts was drenched in May (and Washington, D．C．, got soaked in June)．Seattle had 27 straight days of rain this winter．The first half of this year was the hottest ever recorded in America．It is, of course, impossible to attribute any specific event to global warming, but scientists say the weird weather is consistent with what the models predict．
　　If all these weather forecasts come true, where will be the best place to live? Probably not fast- growing south-western cities such as Phoenix or Las Vegas．With few trees and plants to cool things down through evaporation, and with heat pumping out of buildings and cars (what is called the urban heat island effect), these cities may roast．Up in the mountains, skiers too will have a tough time of it, as snowpacks melt．
　　For those who like rain, Canada may do nicely．Most models show Mexico getting drier and Canada wetter in the future, according to Isaac Held, a researcher with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration．By extension, northern parts of the United States will generally get wetter, and southern parts generally drier．The Pacific north-west may not be too bad．Summer temperatures west of the Cascades will rise by up to 1.7C, as against up to 2.2C for areas east of the mountains, predicts Clifford Mass of the University of Washington．Seattle may get cloudier in the spring and early summer．That is a bright spot of sorts, on an otherwise unhappy canvas．[442 words]
　　1．Many experts believe that______
　　A．America will become hotter
　　B．precipitation patterns will change
　　C．seas will become higher
　　D．hurricanes will become even fiercer
　　2．According to scientists, the periodic E1 Nifio phenomenon______
　　A．is beyond prediction
　　B．is to become more frequent
　　C．usually leads to more forest fires
　　D．may bring more severe storms
　　3．Which of the following can be attributed to global warming?
　　A．The hot climate in the first of this year．
　　B．The change of precipitation patterns．
　　C．Many consecutive days of rain in Seattle．
　　D．The wet weather of Massachusetts in May．
　　4．Both Phoenix and Las Vegas are characterized by______
　　A．extremely high temperatures
　　B．the fast-growing economy
　　C．not so fast growing economy
　　D．the scarcity of trees and plants
　　5．It can be inferred from the text that______
　　A．Canada is the best place to live
　　B．the unbearable heat isn’t a coincidence
　　C．the rise of temperatures is to become faster
　　D．northern parts of the U.S．are more suitable to live in