A

Jim is on holiday in Australia. There are bush fires in the area where he is staying. He is telling his friend Mark about the fires.
Mark: We saw the news about the bush fires. Are they close to you?
Jim: Yes. They are very close. The weather is hot and windy. The conditions are ideal for bush fires and once they get started they spread quickly. Yesterday the temperatures hit 44°C and there were reports of over 50 fires in the area. It will take days to put them out.
Mark: Have you seen any fires?
Jim: Yes, I have. I'm staying with my uncle Ted. He's a volunteer firefighter. He says the fires have killed a lot of animals, but no people. He says that the safest thing is to stay inside unless your house catches fire!
Mark: Is it safe where you are?
Jim: We're fine. We listen to the radio to keep up to date with the latest news. So we know if a fire is coming our way. One got very close yesterday. Three houses nearby caught fire. Luckily, the families put the fires out before they did too much damage.
Mark: Are you worried? Do you think you will need to move to a safer place?
Jim: Bush fires are normal in Australia. They are a fact of life here. It's a bit scary, but I am sure I'll be fine.
Mark: Well, look after yourself! We don't want you to be the first human victim of the year!
词汇
ideal /aɪ'di:əl/ adj. 完美的,理想的
keep up to date 更进,保持更新
normal /'nɔ:ml/ adj. 典型的,正常的
a fact of life 无法避免的事情
victim /'vɪktɪm/ n. 受害者,罹难者
理解
1. What is the safest way when a bush fire breaks out?
________
2. Could you say something about wildfires in Los Angeles which happened at the end of the year 2024?
________