Passage 2
In earliest times, men considered lightning to be one of the great mysteries of nature. Some ancient people believed that lightning and thunder were the weapons of the gods.
In reality, lightning is a flow of electricity formed high above the earth. A single flash of lightning 1.6 kilometers long has enough electricity to light one million light bulbs.
The American scientist and statesman, Benjamin Franklin, was the first to show the connection between electricity and lightning in 1752. In the same year he also built the first lightning rod. This device protects buildings from damage by lightning.
Modern science has discovered that one stroke of lighting contains more than 15 million volts. A spark between a cloud and the earth may be as long as 13 kilometers, and travel at a speed of 30 million meters per second.
Scientists estimate that there are about 2000 million flashes of lightning per year. Lightning hits the Empire State Building in New York City 30 to 48 times a year. In the United States along it kills an average of one person every day.
The safest place to be in case of an electrical storm is in a closed car. Outside, one should go to low ground and not get under trees. Also, one should stay out of water and away from metal fences. Inside a house, people should avoid open doorways and windows and not touch wires or metal things.
With lightning, it is better to be safe than sorry!
6. Lightning is really __________.
○A. weapon
○B(yǎng). electricity
○C. light
○D. mystery
7. People once though that lightning came from __________.
○A. scientists
○B(yǎng). ground
○C. lightning rod
○D. gods
8. One flash of lightning can produce enough electricity for ______ bulbs.
○A. 10,000
○B(yǎng). 1,000
○C. 1,000,000
○D. 100
9. Benjamin Franklin ___________.
○A. made the first lightning rod
○B(yǎng). invented electricity
○C. built the Empire State Building
○D. prevented Lightning from hitting cars
10. _________ is the best place to be during an electrical storm.
○A. Swimming pool
○B(yǎng). a high ground
○C. Under a tree
○D. A car
In earliest times, men considered lightning to be one of the great mysteries of nature. Some ancient people believed that lightning and thunder were the weapons of the gods.
In reality, lightning is a flow of electricity formed high above the earth. A single flash of lightning 1.6 kilometers long has enough electricity to light one million light bulbs.
The American scientist and statesman, Benjamin Franklin, was the first to show the connection between electricity and lightning in 1752. In the same year he also built the first lightning rod. This device protects buildings from damage by lightning.
Modern science has discovered that one stroke of lighting contains more than 15 million volts. A spark between a cloud and the earth may be as long as 13 kilometers, and travel at a speed of 30 million meters per second.
Scientists estimate that there are about 2000 million flashes of lightning per year. Lightning hits the Empire State Building in New York City 30 to 48 times a year. In the United States along it kills an average of one person every day.
The safest place to be in case of an electrical storm is in a closed car. Outside, one should go to low ground and not get under trees. Also, one should stay out of water and away from metal fences. Inside a house, people should avoid open doorways and windows and not touch wires or metal things.
With lightning, it is better to be safe than sorry!
6. Lightning is really __________.
○A. weapon
○B(yǎng). electricity
○C. light
○D. mystery
7. People once though that lightning came from __________.
○A. scientists
○B(yǎng). ground
○C. lightning rod
○D. gods
8. One flash of lightning can produce enough electricity for ______ bulbs.
○A. 10,000
○B(yǎng). 1,000
○C. 1,000,000
○D. 100
9. Benjamin Franklin ___________.
○A. made the first lightning rod
○B(yǎng). invented electricity
○C. built the Empire State Building
○D. prevented Lightning from hitting cars
10. _________ is the best place to be during an electrical storm.
○A. Swimming pool
○B(yǎng). a high ground
○C. Under a tree
○D. A car