Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.
Natural disasters include all types of severe (25)__________ ,which have the potential to pose a significant (26)__________ to human health and safety, property, critical infrastructure, and homeland security. Natural disasters occur both seasonally and without warning, subjecting the nations to frequent periods of insecurity, disruption, and economic (27)__________ .
Winter storms occur when a significant amount of snow or (28)__________ accumulates over a short period of time, (29)__________ roads, disrupting communications systems, causing power outages, and threatening life safety.
Ninety percent of natural disasters within the United States involve flooding. Consequently, (30)__________ lead to more economic damage and loss of life and property than any other natural hazard.
More than one thousand tornadoes (31)__________ the United States every year, causing significant disruption to transportation, power, gas, water, and communication services.
Each year, the United States experiences dozens of severe earthquakes, any of which can bring (32)__________ the collapse of hundreds of buildings.
25. A. pollution B. weather C. diseases D. floods
26. A. threat B. impact C. effect D. influence
27. A. development B. improvement C. fail D. loss
28. A. ice B. soil C. rains D. gas
29. A. crossing B. preventing C. blocking D. building
30. A. volcanoes B. droughts C. floods D. mudslide
31. A. hit B. strikes C. buried D. raged
32. A. about B. in C. with D. on
