After erupting almost continuously for over three decades — from 1983 to 2018 — Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano finally seemed to lose steam , producing no lava (岩浆) for nearly two years. The stillness ended on the night of December 20, 2020, when the active volcano began erupting lava fountains, gas and steam from a crack in the northwest wall of the Halema’uma’u crater (火山口).

By December 31, 2020, the volcano had erupted over 27 million cubic meters of molten rock — enough to fill more than 8000 Olympic-sized swimming pools — and replaced the existing water lake with a nearly 600-foot-deep lava lake. Fortunately, the magma (岩浆) is contained inside the volcano’s crater and does not bring a risk to people or property as it did in 2018, when the molten rock flowed through a residential neighborhood, destroying over 700 homes.

Residents have, however, been asked to limit outdoor activities in areas with high volcanic smog, which is a form of air pollution created when sulfur dioxide and other pollutants sent out from volcanic activity interact chemically with atmospheric steam, oxygen, dust, and sunlight. While not deadly, it can bring unpleasant feelings to skin, eyes, nose and throat, and it can be particularly harmful to individuals with breathing problems.

Now recognized as one of the world’s youngest and most active volcanoes, Kilauea was initially believed to be one offshoot of a bigger volcano. It was only after researchers discovered a magma system extending over 37 miles inside its crater in 1884 that the volcano was finally accepted as a separate unit.

Many locals believe that Kilauea’s eruptions are caused by Pele, a Hawaiian volcano goddess who lives in the mountain. According to a popular folk story, the goddess was forced to leave Tahiti. Upon arriving at Hawaii, she burst with anger, creating destructive fire caves and volcanoes. While Pele was killed during an historic battle with her sister Nāmaka on the island of Maui, her spirit lives on inside the Halema’uma’u crater.

【小题1】What can we infer from Paragraph 2?

A．The volcano is located near a lake.	B．Kilauea was completely dead in 2020.
C．Magma seldom erupts out of craters.	D．The 2018 eruption did some damage.

【小题2】Why were citizens asked to stay indoors as much as possible?

A．The roads were ruined after the eruption.	B．The volcano may erupt at any time.
C．The volcanic smog can be harmful to people.	D．The atmosphere outside was deadly.

【小题3】What does the underlined word “ offshoot ” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Branch.

B．Mixture.

C．Ancestor.

D．Product.

【小题4】What is Paragraph 5 mainly about?

A．How Kilauea got its name.	B．Why Kilauea became active.
C．The origin of Kilauea.	D．A tale about Kilauea.