Laser Can Control Lightning

Have you ever seen a lightning storm? It's weather that can be very scary.
你看過雷暴嗎？這種天氣感覺很恐怖。

First, you see dark clouds in the sky and lots of rain. Then the clouds make loud noises. This noise is thunder.
你會先看到烏雲密布、然後下起大雨，雲裡面還會有轟隆隆的雷聲。

Before you hear the thunder, you see a very fast white light. It comes down from the sky to the earth. This light is lightning.
在聽到雷聲之前，你會先看到閃電。

Lightning is electricity. In your home, you need electricity. It is safe. As lightning, it's dangerous. It can hit trees, buildings, or even people.
閃電是一種電，就像家裡用的電，不過閃電很危險，可能會打到樹、房屋，或是人。

Is there a way to control lightning? We don't want it to hurt anybody. Scientists in Europe found how to control it. They use lasers!
歐洲的科學家找到了一種可以控制閃電的方法，那就是雷射！

They went to a mountain in Switzerland. When a storm came, the scientists shot a laser into the clouds.
他們跑到瑞士的山上，暴風雨來的時候，他們對著烏雲發射雷射。

The lightning did not hit any buildings or people. It followed the laser.
結果閃電跟著雷射跑，沒有打到任何房屋或是人。

The scientists are happy. Their test went so well! Lasers can control lightning. They hope lasers will make the world safer.

In the future, we won't fear dangerous lightning. When a lightning storm comes, we can use a laser to control lightning!
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Vocabulary
科學家用雷射做實驗，引導閃電避開地面。

1. sky 天空
Where are we going this weekend? 我們這周末去哪裡？
To the beach, to swim under the blue sky. 去海灘，在藍天下游泳。

2. weather 天氣
Are you sure we'll get a blue sky? 你確定會有藍天嗎？
That's what the weatherman said. 氣象員是這麼說的。
Sunny skies and high temperatures. 艷陽天，高溫。

3. cloud 雲層
We're getting nothing but rain and clouds, Jane! 什麼都沒有，只有雨跟雲！
And thunder! 還有打雷！

4. safe 安全的
At least we're safe here in this beachside cafe. 至少我們在海邊咖啡館很安全。
But what about our swim? 那我們的游泳呢？
The storm should pass in no time. 風暴很快就過去的。

下次閃電時你要注意看看喔！
sky 天空
weather 天氣
cloud 雲層
safe 安全的
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Quiz

1. What is the loud noise in a storm?
A: Thor
B: Thunder
C: Thursday

2. What will scientists use to control lightning?
A: A laser
B: A fan
C: A tree

3. Where did scientists try to control lightning?
A: On a mountain
B: In a forest
C: On the ocean

Answers
1. B
2. A
3. A