The2012LondonOlympicshadenoughproblemstoworryabout.Buto...

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The 2012 London Olympics had enough problems to worry about. But one more has just been added—a communications blackout caused by solar storms.

After a period of calm within the Sun,scientists have detected the signs of a fresh cycle of sunspots that could peak in 2012,just in time for the arrival of the Olympic torch in London.

Now scientists believe that this peak could result in vast solar explosions that could throw billions of tons of charged matter towards the Earth,causing strong solar storms that could jam the telecommunications satellites and internet links sending live Olympic broadcast from London.

“The Sun’s activity has a strong influence on the Earth. The Olympics could be in the middle of the next solar maximum which could affect the functions of communications satellites,“ said Professor Richard Harrison,head of space physics at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire.

At the peak of the cycle,violent outbursts calledcoronal mass ejections(日冕物质抛*) occur in the Sun’s atmosphere,throwing out great quantities of electrically-charged matter. “A coronal mass ejection can carry a billion tons of solar material into space at over a million kilometres per hour. Such events can expose astronauts to a deadly amount,can disable satellites,cause power failures on Earth and disturb communications,” Professor Harrison added. The risk is greatest during a solar maximum when there is the greatest number of sunspots.

Next week in America,NASA is scheduled to launch a satellite for monitoring solar activity called the Solar Dynamics Observatory(SDO),which will take images of the Sun that are 10 times clearer than the most advanced televisions available.

The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory helped to make the high-tech cameras that will capture images of thesolar flares(太阳耀斑) and explosions as they occur.

Professor Richard Holdaway,the lab’s director,said that the SDO should be able to provide early warning of a solar flare or explosion big enough to affect satellite communications on Earth. “If we have advance warning,we’ll be able to reduce the damage. What you don’t want is things switching off for a week with no idea of what’s caused the problem,” he said.

1. The phrase “communications blackout” in Paragraph 1 most probably refers to　　　during the 2012 Olympics.　

A. the extinguishing of the Olympic torch B. the collapse of broadcasting systems

C. the transportation breakdown in London D. the destruction of weather satellites

2. What can be inferred about the solar activity described in the passage?

A. The most fatal matter from the corona falls onto Earth.

B. The solar storm peak occurs in the middle of each cycle.

C. It takes several seconds for the charged matter to reach Earth.

D. The number of sunspots declines after coronal mass ejections.

3. According to the passage,NASA will launch a satellite to　　　.　

A. take images of the solar system B. provide early warning of thunderstorms

C. keep track of solar activities D. improve the communications on Earth

4. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?