The Sun Makes the Weather

The next time you are caught in a sudden rainstorm without your umbrella，blame the sun. That's right. The sun not only makes sunny days，it also makes lots of rainy ones. Windy days and snowy days can also be gifts from the sun. This can be explained by the water cycle. The water cycle is the movement of water from the ocean into the air and back to the ocean again.

The water cycle starts when the sun shines down directly on the ocean. This heat causes some of the ocean water to change into water vapor. Fog and steam are kinds of water vapor. Some of the sun's energy gets trapped in the water vapor. This causes the heated vapor to rise up above the ocean. Sometimes clouds are formed from the vapor. The vapor can also become a fast，moist（潮湿的） wind that moves across the earth. As the wind moves，it may drop its moisture as rain，sleet（冻雨，雨夹雪），or snow. The water cycle is complete when water in the form of rain or snow falls back to the earth. Some of this water returns to the ocean.

The winds get most of their energy from the sun. Sometimes the sun will give off more energy than usual. As this energy nears Earth，it can throw the winds off course. Then，unusual weather may occur. Rain heading for Maryland，for example，may fall in New York.

Questions:

1. A cloud is one form of water vapor.

A.True. B.False. C.The story does not say.

2. Earth's main weather maker is the ________.

A.wind B.rain C.sun

3. The wind loses most of its water vapor when the moisture ________.

A.falls as rain or snow B.dries up in the air C.moves higher into space

参考答案：1. A 2. C 3.A