The idea of rain making is almost as old as man, but it was not until 1946 that man succeeded in making rain. In ancient(古代的) times, rainmakers claimed(声称) to be able to bring rain by many methods; dancing, singing, killing various kinds of living creatures(including humans), and blowing a stream of water into the air from a kind of pipe.

　　More recently, some rainmakers claimed to make rain by shooting guns, causing explosions, or burning chemicals, the smoke of which was supposed to cause rain to fall. These rainmakers asked for as much as 1, 000 dollars to make an inch of rain. One was so effective that he was almost hanged. He was believed to have caused a twenty-inch rain in southern California that flooded that land, killed several people, and did millions of dollars’ worth of damage.

　　Before 1946, rainmakers were either liars or honest people who happened to have good luck. Scientific rain making was started in that year by Vincent J. Schaefer, a scientist at the laboratories of the General Electric Company in New York State. His success was the result of a lucky accident that changed years of failure into victory.

　　1. One rainmaker was almost hanged because ______.

　　A. he did not make rain at all B. he asked for too much money

　　C. people thought he caused too much rain D. he killed several people

　　2. Which of the following methods can make rain?

　　A. Killing pigs and sheep. B. Blowing a stream of water into the air from a kind of pipe.

　　C. Shooting guns or causing explosions. D. None of the above is right.

　　3. Who was the first rainmaker succeeding in making rain?

　　A. The one who caused a twenty-inch rain in southern California.

　　B. Before 1946, a rainmaker who happened to have good luck..

　　C. Vincent J. Schaefer, in 1946. D. The passage doesn’t tell us his or her name.

　　【答案与解析】人工降雨的想法和人类的历史几乎是一样长，历史上曾演绎出许多人工降雨的闹剧。第一次科学人工降雨是在1946年，由美国纽约州的Vincent J. Schaefer 完成。

　　1. C。细节题。根据第2段最后一句He was believed to have caused a twenty-inch rain in southern California that flooded that land, killed several people, and did millions of dollars’ worth of damage 可知答案为C。

　　2. D。判断题。从第2段内容可以明显看出A、B、C三项均不能降雨，所以选D。

　　3. C。细节题。从最后一段第2句话Scientific rain making was started in that year(1946) by Vincent J. Schaefer, a scientist at the laboratories of the General Electric Company in New York State可以确定该题的正确答案。