The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a serious warning: there is an 80% chance that El Niño will develop between June and August. By November, the chance could rise to over 90%, and it is likely to be moderate or even strong. This means we may face more extreme weather, such as heatwaves, heavy rain and droughts.

El Niño is a natural climate pattern that warms the surface waters of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. This warming changes wind and rainfall patterns around the world. It happens every two to seven years and usually lasts nine to twelve months. Afterwards, conditions may switch to La Niña (cooler waters) or return to a neutral state.

Although El Niño is natural, global warming can make its effects much worse. A warmer ocean and atmosphere provide more energy for storms, heatwaves and heavy rainfall. The last El Niño helped push 2023 to the second hottest year on record, and 2024 became the hottest ever. WMO chief Celeste Saulo warned that the coming El Niño could bring more serious drought, flooding and heatwaves, both on land and in the ocean. Even a moderate El Niño raises the risk of extreme weather.

The impacts will be felt in many places. From June to August, above-normal temperatures are expected in nearly all parts of the world. This raises the risk of drought in parts of Africa, South Asia and Central America. Many of these regions already face food and water challenges, so El Niño could make things worse. In the Pacific, El Niño may fuel more hurricanes, while reducing them in the Atlantic. Such changes, Saulo said, can have a chain reaction on the global economy and people’s security.

1.1. The underlined phrase “This warming” refers to ______.

A rising air temperatures globally

B warmer Pacific surface waters

C heat from powerful storms

D general warming of Earth

解析：选B。B词意指代题。根据第二段第一句“El Niño is a natural climate pattern that warms the surface waters of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean”可知，厄尔尼诺使太平洋表层海水变暖。紧接着下句说“This warming changes wind and rainfall patterns…” 显然，“this warming”指代的就是前面提到的太平洋表层海水变暖。故选B。

2.2. The author mentions 2023 and 2024 to ______.

A prove its natural cause

B predict future temperatures

C show worsening effects

D note affected years

解析：选C。C推理判断题。第三段开头先点明“Although El Niño is natural, global warming can make its effects much worse.”然后紧接着举例说明“The last El Niño helped push 2023 to the second hottest year on record, and 2024 became the hottest ever.”这表明作者提到这两个年份，是为了用具体数据展示全球变暖背景下厄尔尼诺带来更加严重的后果。故选C。

3.3. What is the author’s attitude toward the coming El Niño?

A Alarmed but resigned.

B Confident in technology.

C Completely indifferent.

D Concerned yet hopeful.

解析：选D。D观点态度题.文章前四段用了“serious warning”、“more extreme weather”、“raises the risk”等表达，流露出对厄尔尼诺影响的担忧；但最后一段又指出“The good news is that we can prepare”，并提到128个国家已建立预警系统，表明作者看到了积极应对的可能。综合判断，作者的态度是担忧中抱有谨慎的乐观。故选D。

4.4. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A The Scientific Causes of El Niño

B WMO’s Warning on a Coming El Niño

C How to Prepare for Extreme Weather

D La Niña and Global Climate Patterns

解析：选B。B主旨大意题。文章开篇第一句即为全文主旨：“The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a serious warning: there is an 80% chance that El Niño will develop…”随后各段都围绕这一警告展开，解释厄尔尼诺、分析其影响并提及应对措施。故选B。