Australia is no stranger to wildfires. The country's weather patterns create heat and dryness, 【小题1】fuel occasional bushfires in a natural cycle. However, one that started last September continues to burn, and it may not be natural at all. So far, the fire【小题2】(burn) 73,000 square kilometers of land, 【小题3】(kill) at least 28 people and destroying 3,000 homes【小题4】the process, reported the Telegraph. Scientists say that man-made climate change has played a role in the fire's【小题5】(create) and duration (持续时间).

The country's temperatures have risen by over one degree Celsius since 1920. The spring of 2019【小题6】(be) Australia's driest in 120 years. In December, the country saw its【小题7】(hot) day ever, with an average temperature of 41.9℃.

Researchers believe wildfires like this might become “normal conditions" in the future. They looked at 57 research papers【小题8】(publish) since 2013, which examined【小题9】relationship between climate change and the risk of wildfires. They found that the link between the two has already been observed in many parts of the world, 【小题10】(include) the western US, Canada, southern Europe, and even Scandinavia.

In late August, 2005, Hurricane Katrina, one of the most destructive 【小题1】 (hurricane) in American history, hit the south-eastern parts of the country. It began【小题2】 August 23, and caused only slight damage in the beginning. But it soon grew to be a Category 5 hurricane over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, 【小题3】 (cause) severe damage along its path.

New Orleans, a city 【小题4】 was built largely below sea level, was worst hit. In reaction to the coming hurricane, the city government gave 【小题5】 order to clear the city of all residents. 【小题6】, many stayed in the city. Some of them chose 【小题7】 (stay) because they believed that the city’s defense system would keep 【小题8】 (they) safe and sound, but others were unable to leave because they had no access to transport. The defense system finally failed. As a result, 80%of the city flooded for weeks. People were stuck in the city without power, food, or drinking water, 【小题9】 (anxious)waiting for rescue.

A week later, the hurricane died away. In all, Hurricane Katrin a caused nearly 2,000 deaths, and 【小题10】 (leave) millions of people homeless.

Storm Arwen hit much of Britain at the end of last week, causing disastrous【小题1】 (consequence) including loss of life and property. The world-famous Bodnant Garden was among the worst-hit areas. Over 50 trees were uprooted including a 51-metre “Champion” coast redwood —the 【小题2】 (large) of its kind in Wales.

The Wallington Estate in Northumberland reported the most horrible storm in the past 40 years, 【小题3】 (destroy) as large as an area of 13 acres green space. Among 【小题4】   (variety) trees lost to the winds were 250-years-old oak and beech trees planted by Sir Walter Calverley Blackett.

“There have been tears. We 【小题5】 (see) storms and floods here before but this damage is never seen in living memory. The area worst 【小题6】 (affect) is Furnace Wood where we’ve done major repair work over the last decade,” said Adam Salvin, head gardener at Bodnant, 【小题7】 the clear-up is expected to take months.

“Our gardens and landscapes will take months to clear up and years, even decades, to 【小题8】 (full) restore. Some won’t be the same again but I have no doubt that our amazing teams will recreate these much-loved places and reopen them for everyone 【小题9】 (enjoy).

Damage is still being assessed but the National Trust expects the damage to cost it at least E3m. The charity is appealing 【小题10】donations to help.