(原版)澳大利亞語文第三冊 LESSON 12

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LESSON 12 CLOUDS

CLOUDS

1. "Mother! do come and see these pretty clouds," cried Mary, clapping her hands with delight. "One of them looks like a railway engine, and another like a horse. See what pretty colours they make!"

2. The sun was setting, and its parting rays lit up patches of clouds in colours of gold, and crimson, and purple.

3. While Mary and her mother watched them, the clouds changed in shape, and slowly all the bright colours faded away.

4. "What are clouds, mother?" said the little girl, "and what gives them their bright colours?"

5. "Answer a question for me first," said her mother. "Can you tell me what happens [1] when a kettle boils?"

6. "Steam comes from the lid and the spout," said Mary, "but what has that to do with clouds?"

CUMULUS OR HEAP CLOUD

7. "The steam that comes from the kettle is a very small cloud," replied her mother. "Steam is water made so very thin by heat that it floats away in the air. When it is so thin that we cannot see it at all, it is called water vapour. Cold air, which is always to be found at a great height, turns the water vapour into very tiny drops of water, or water dust."

8. "But how does the water vapour get into the air?" asked Mary.

The heat of the sun causes vapour to rise from the sea, and from lakes and rivers, replied her mother. "The mist that you saw this morning was a cloud close to the ground."

9. "But what makes the clouds change their shapes?" said the little girl.

10. "The shapes of clouds are caused by the winds," her mother answered. "The long narrow clouds, which form where the earth and sky seem to meet, are called stratus clouds. When stratus clouds are in the sky we may look for fine weather."

11. "I hope there will be a number of stratus clouds in the sky the day before our school treat," said Mary, "but what do you call those big soft clouds which look like great heaps of white wool?"

12. "They are called cumulus clouds," replied her mother, "a word which means a heap. When there are a number of those clouds in the sky we may expect a thunderstorm."

13. "Are there any other kinds of clouds which have special names [2] ?" asked Mary.

14. "Yes," said her mother. "Curly white clouds are called cirrus clouds. Some forms of them are called mares'-tails. They foretell [3] wet and windy weather.

15. "The thick black clouds which make the day gloomy [4] and dull are known as nimbus clouds. When these clouds cover the sky we need cloaks and umbrellas, for rain is likely to fall."

16. "Whenever I see clouds in the sky," said Mary, "I shall think of what you have told me, mother."

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[1] happens: Takes place.

[2] special names: Names of their own.

[3] foretell: Are a sign of; tell beforehand.

[4] gloomy: Dark.