Climate change may be making us lonelier. When heat waves, floods and storms hit, they often interrupt transportation and communication for days. People stay indoors, and outdoor gatherings, visits and traditions are put off. A severe storm, for instance, may cause flooding and power outages during a heat wave, disrupting transport when temperatures are dangerously high. Over time, frequent and consecutive weather hazards (灾害) can weaken relationships by limiting how much people move around and meet each other.

The harm falls hardest on those already socially isolated. Older adults, people in rural areas, and residents without reliable transportation or internet access are often the most vulnerable. Many of them also live alone or far from neighbours. An extreme heat wave in July 2026, for example, shut down the Washington Monument and temporarily closed the American State Fair over public health concerns. Fewer chances to meet mean fewer chances to support one another.

Social connection is crucial, both for responding to extreme weather and for helping a community adapt to a changing climate. That is why Fiona Doherty, a professor who studies climate and community, urges cities to invest in community hubs such as public libraries. These spaces can bolster social connection year-round by hosting inclusive lifelong learning activities while also serving as cooling shelters and disaster-ready centres, providing phone-charging stations and internet access when power goes out elsewhere. A library can even become a cooling centre on the hottest days, keeping the most at-risk residents safe.

In an era of accelerating climate disruption, social connection may be a community’s greatest asset (资产) — and yet one of its most fragile resources to protect. When disasters strike, those who feel connected are more likely to receive help and to offer it. Keeping people connected is not a luxury. In a warming world, it is a form of both care and survival.

1.1. What does Paragraph One mainly talk about?

A Bad weather breaks social ties.

B The rise of weather disasters.

C Why people stay at home more.

D How towns rebuild after floods.

解析：选A。A段落大意题。第一段先讲极端天气中断交通通信、人们困在室内、聚会和传统活动被推迟，再总结“frequent and consecutive weather hazards can weaken relationships”——整段都在说明极端天气如何削弱人与人的联系。B项只提及灾害增多，未触及“社交关系”这一核心；C项“人们为何更多待在家”仅为细节，并非段落主旨；D项“城镇如何在洪水后重建”在该段中完全没有涉及。故选A。

2.2. Why are older adults and rural residents most affected by extreme weather?

A They enjoy staying home all day.

B They refuse to use new technology.

C They have fewer means to keep in touch.

D They live far from public libraries.

解析：选C。C细节理解题。根据第二段的“Older adults, people in rural areas, and residents without reliable transportation or internet access are often the most vulnerable”可知老年人、农村居民以及缺少可靠交通或网络接入的人往往最脆弱；他们中许多人还独居或住得离邻居很远，这意味着他们保持联系、获得支持的手段更少。极端天气进一步限制了出行和见面机会，因此这些人受极端天气影响最大。A项“喜欢整天待在家”属于无中生有，文中并未提及主观偏好，而是客观条件受限；B项“拒绝使用新技术”与原文“without reliable transportation or internet access”不符，原文强调的是客观条件的缺失，而非主观拒绝；D项“住得离公共图书馆远”属于过度推断，第二段并未提及图书馆与这些群体的空间关系。故选C。

3.3. The underlined word “bolster” in Paragraph 3 probably means ______.

A break down or weaken

B strengthen or support

C protect or shelter

D measure or check

解析：选B。B词义猜测题。根据第三段的“These spaces can bolster social connection year-round by hosting inclusive lifelong learning activities while also serving as cooling shelters”可知，通过举办学习活动、充当避暑场所，这些空间增强了人们一年四季的联系；bolster意为“加强，支持”。A项“break down or weaken”为反义干扰；C项“protect or shelter”侧重物理层面的庇护，而“social connection”需要的是抽象层面的巩固；D项“measure or check”与语境无关。故选B。

4.4. What does the author imply in the last paragraph?

A Libraries should be closed in summer.

B Loneliness is a personal problem only.

C Technology can fully replace community.

D Connection is a key resource in climate crises.

解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据第四段的“social connection may be a community’s greatest asset”及“When disasters strike, those who feel connected are more likely to receive help and to offer it. Keeping people connected... is a form of both care and survival”可知，作者认为在气候危机中人与人的连接既是关爱也是生存手段，可推断“连接是气候危机中的关键资源”。A项“图书馆应在夏季关闭”与原文建议将图书馆作为“cooling shelters”的立场完全相反；B项“孤独仅是个人问题”与全文将孤独视为社区公共议题的基调相悖；C项“技术能完全取代社区”在文中毫无依据，且与作者强调面对面社交联系的主旨相矛盾。故选D。