The Earth is home to many places with extraordinary and often extreme climates. In these locations, daily life is shaped by the need to adapt to harsh environmental conditions. From burning deserts to ice-bound settlements, nature never fails to impress with its power and diversity.

Deep in the Sahara Desert lies Araouane, Mali, among the hottest places on the planet. Summers are extremely long and tough — average temperatures can hit 46°C. Strong winds regularly move across the dry land, causing repeated sandstorms. Even with such intense summer heat, the winter season offers much milder weather that is ideal for outdoor activities.

At the other extreme is Oymyakon, Russia, considered one of the coldest inhabited areas in the world. Winter temperatures usually stay around -50°C, and the lowest ever recorded was -71.2°C in 1924. In the depth of winter, daylight lasts for only three hours each day. Because the ground is frozen all year, local people have developed a diet that includes raw fish. Yet in summer, the weather turns surprisingly warm and humid — the summer temperatures can get up to 34°C.

Not far away from Oymyakon lies Verkhoyansk, referred to as the “cold pole”. It holds the record for the largest annual temperature range on Earth — an astonishing 106°C. Winters are bitterly cold and extended — temperatures in January can reach as low as -70°C, while summers, though brief, can reach 38°C. This area also offers the unique experience of polar days and polar nights.

Closer to us, Xining in China is known for its sharp daily temperature changes, particularly in April. A warm afternoon might see temperatures around 24°C, perfect for light clothing, but by nightfall, it can drop to near 0°C, making heavy coats necessary. This quick change allows people to live through two distinct seasons in just one day.

1.1.What natural event is common in Araouane?

A Drought.

B Thick fog.

C Dust storms.

D Earthquakes.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。第二段提到“Strong winds regularly move across the dry land, causing repeated sandstorms.”可知，阿拉万深强风导致沙尘暴，可知阿拉万深沙尘暴频繁。故选C。

2.2.What led to the local diet in Oymyakon including raw fish?

A Limited cooking facilities.

B Cultural preferences.

C Short growing seasons.

D Permanently frozen soil.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。第三段明确说明“Because the ground is frozen all year, local people have developed a diet that includes raw fish.”因为地面全年冻结，当地人形成了包含生食鱼类的饮食习俗。故选D。

3.3.What makes Verkhoyansk’s climate special?

A Extreme temperature changes.

B Long summer seasons.

C High rainfall levels.

D Strong ocean winds.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。第四段提到“It holds the record for the largest annual temperature range on Earth — an astonishing 106°C.”该地有最大年温差，选项A是这一特点的同义表述。故选A。

4.4.What does the underlined word “distinct” mean in the last paragraph?

A Clearly different.

B Very difficult.

C Quite similar.

D Rather long.

解析：选A。A 词义猜测题。在该句语境中，“distinct”用于描述一天内经历的两种季节。根据上文，西宁午后温暖（约24°C），夜晚寒冷（近0°C），这种快速变化使人在一天内体验到差异显著的季节特征，因此“distinct”此处意为“明显不同的”。故选A。