The experience of seeing a volcano erupt

陕西 李红娟

题材：自然 体裁：说明文 文章词数：317 建议用时：6分钟

Seeing a volcano erupt (喷发) is a wonderful experience, and you can really feel the heat by climbing to the summit (山顶) of Pacaya for a close⁃up view. There are guided tours every day up this highly active volcano from Antigua,giving travelers a chance to see Mother Nature at her most powerful.

Pacaya is an easy drive from Antigua, a beautiful city with many colorful houses along its old streets that are turned into artworks during its Holy Week festival.No matter when you come to Antigua, you won't miss the Pacaya⁃tour companies.

But climbing Pacaya is no easy job: it is 2,560 me⁃tres high, and reaching the summit takes two to three hours of seemingly one⁃step⁃forward and two⁃step⁃back movements. As you climb, you hear the dull sounds of eruptions high above. Steaming, hot remains from recent eruptions begin to line the path as you near the active summit:the McKenney Cone.Just as though you were going to walk over to the edge of the cone, the road turns to the left and up to the relative safety of the old, inactive sum⁃mit.

Many tours are timed so that you arrive at the cone of the volcano in plenty of time for sunset and the full contrast between the erupting red lava (熔岩) and the darkening sky.On a good day, the view from the summit is extremely exciting. The active mouth boils,sending red lava over its sides, and once in a while shoots hot streams up to 100 metres into the air.There is a strong bad smell in the air even if you take care to be upwind of the cone.As evening turns deeper into the night, the burning lava quietly falls down the side of the volcano.For you,too,it is time to get down.

Reading Check

1.What is the aim of the text?

A.To attract tourists to Pacaya.

B.To describe the beauty of Pacaya.

C.To introduce guided tours to Pacaya.

D.To explain the power of nature at Pacaya.

2.What can we know about Antigua?

A.It is a city where people can enjoy cultural festivals.

B.It is a city where the daring Pacaya tour starts.

C.It gives tourists a close view of Pacaya.

D.It is famous for its tour companies.

3.Which word can be used to describe the climbing to the McKenney Cone?

A.Smooth. B.Meaningless.

C.Difficult. D.Risky.

4.Why are many tours timed for people?

A.To get down the mountain in time when night falls.

B.To avoid the smell from the upwind direction of the cone.

C.To appreciate the scenery of the 2,560⁃metre⁃high mountain.D.To enjoy the fantastic eruption against the darkening sky.

Language Study

Difficult sentence

As evening turns deeper into the night,the burning lava quietly falls down the side of the volcano.当夜幕降临的时候，燃烧的熔岩悄悄地从火山的一侧落下。

【点石成金】该句中As 引导的是一个时间状语从句，the burning lava quietly falls down the side of the volcano 是主句。