# The origins of weather forecasting - 科目：雅思阅读真题（Part 1） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2026.2.7 - 题目数：13 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/94829891-3f9f-4d51-b1d3-06ad521a64f8（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 The world's first public weather forecast appeared in The Times newspaper over 150 years ago: the beginning of a service that gives everyone something to comment on A The pioneering forecast on August 1, 1861, was introduced with a deceptively simple heading: 'General weather probable during next two days. But those few words started an ongoing controversy that still continues today after all, everyone remembers the forecasts that go wrong, but rarely the ones that are right. B The first forecast was the idea of Admiral Robert FitzRoy, head of the newly founded Meteorological Department, and one of Britain's greatest but least-known heroes. It was a brave undertaking, because in those days predicting the weather had gained a reputation similar to astrology or fortune-telling. The few people who attempted it had become a national joke when their forecasts inevitably went wrong. C FitzRoy was different, though. His background was faultless, most famously his captaining of the ship HMS Beagle on Charles Darwin's voyage around the world, which eventually led to the publication of Darwin's well-known book On the Origin of Species. When FitzRoy retired from active service as an admiral in Britain's navy, he was looking for a new direction. He subsequently secured a job as chief statistician at the Meteorological Department, part of the Board of Trade. Parliament had voted to set up and fund the Meteorological Department on June 30, 1854, to chart the safest sailing routes across the Atlantic Ocean. However, the British Government was not impressed with the idea of collecting weather reports and establishing a weather forecast, and the suggestion by one Member of Parliament for this was met with laughter from the other MPs. D FitzRoy was given a staff of three clerks in a small office in London, but he soon grew bored with the tedium of transcribing thousands of ships' reports. Instead, he focused on a much more pressing issue the huge loss of life at sea from storms. This problem came to a head in 1859, when gale-force winds sank the ship named Royal Charter, with the loss of 430 lives, within sight of the shore. Even in those days when ships regularly sank in storms, the loss of the Royal Charter was considered a national tragedy. FitzRoy stirred up feelings even further when he wrote a letter to The Times newspaper explaining that the storm had been entirely predictable. E That same year, a total of 1,645 lives were lost off the British coast, and FitzRoy wrote repeatedly to The Times pushing for a storm-warning service for shipping. This was just the right moment for a national forecasting service. Knowledge of the weather was improving. barometer readings gave warning of approaching storms, and the invention of the electric telegraph and Morse code in 1844 gave instant communication for the first time. F Using information from weather stations equipped with accurate barometers, telegraph messages were sent to all stations along the coast. Coastal staff would then raise flags to warn ships of approaching storms. This system was regarded as the most important technical advance since the introduction of the telegraph. FitzRoy’s forecasts soon became popular with the general public, too. Queen Victoria often consulted him before visiting a place where she liked to stay. While fishermen welcomed the warnings, boat owners disliked them because they sometimes caused delays to their sailing schedules. Today, FitzRoy’s name has been given to an area of ocean, and a book he wrote became a standard work for scientists. ## 题目与答案 ### 1. 1 In Robert FitzRoy's time, weather forecasting was a respected skill. 1 In Robert FitzRoy's time, weather forecasting was a respected skill. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：because in those days predicting the weather had gained a reputation similar to astrology or fortune;telling. The few people who attempted it had become a national joke when their forecasts inevitably went wrong 同义替换：「Robert FitzRoy's time」↔「in those days」；「forecasting」↔「predicting」；「respected skill」↔「become a national joke」 ### 10. – FitzRoy’s work even influenced private lives; for example, Queen Victoria often consulted him before travelling to a particular 10_____ she enjoyed visiting. – FitzRoy’s work even influenced private lives; for example, Queen Victoria often consulted him before travelling to a particular 10_____ she enjoyed visiting. **答案**：place 原文定位：Queen Victoria often consulted him before visiting a place where she liked to stay 同义替换：「travelling」↔「visiting」；「enjoyed visiting」↔「liked to stay」 ### 11. – Although these forecasts were popular with fishermen, fishing boat 11_____ were dissatisfied because the warnings sometimes led to delays in their schedules. – Although these forecasts were popular with fishermen, fishing boat 11_____ were dissatisfied because the warnings sometimes led to delays in their schedules. **答案**：owners 原文定位：While fishermen welcomed the warnings, boat owners disliked them because they sometimes caused delays to their sailing schedules 同义替换：「popular」↔「welcomed」；「fishing boat」↔「boat owners」；「dissatisfied」↔「disliked」；「led to」↔「caused」 ### 12. – To commemorate FitzRoy’s contribution, his 12_____ was used to name a specific area of water. – To commemorate FitzRoy’s contribution, his 12_____ was used to name a specific area of water. **答案**：name 原文定位：Today, FitzRoy’s name has been given to an area of ocean 同义替换：「name a specific area of water」↔「given to an area of ocean」 ### 13. – Additionally, a 13_____ he authored was highly regarded by the scientific community. – Additionally, a 13_____ he authored was highly regarded by the scientific community. **答案**：book 原文定位：a book he wrote became a standard work for scientists 同义替换：「authored」↔「wrote」；「highly regarded by the scientific community」↔「became a standard work for scientists」 ### 2. 2 When FitzRoy retired from the navy, he had already had a successful career at sea. 2 When FitzRoy retired from the navy, he had already had a successful career at sea. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：His background was faultless, most famously his captaining of the ship HMS Beagle on Charles Darwin's voyage around the world;When FitzRoy retired from active service as an admiral in Britain's navy 同义替换：「successful career at sea」↔「background was faultless」 ### 3. 3 FitzRoy faced competition from other applicants for the chief statistician's job. 3 FitzRoy faced competition from other applicants for the chief statistician's job. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NOT GIVEN 原文定位：He subsequently secured a job as chief statistician at the Meteorological Department ### 4. 4 The British Parliament supported the idea of regular weather forecasts in 1854. 4 The British Parliament supported the idea of regular weather forecasts in 1854. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：FALSE 原文定位：However, the British Government was not impressed with the idea of collecting weather reports and establishing a weather forecast, and the suggestion by one Member of Parliament for this was met with laughter from the other MPs 同义替换：「Parliament」↔「Government」；「supported」↔「not impressed」 ### 5. 5 Progress in technology made it a good time for publicly available weather forecasting to begin. 5 Progress in technology made it a good time for publicly available weather forecasting to begin. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：This was just the right moment for a national forecasting service. Knowledge of the weather was improving. barometer readings gave warning of approaching storms, and the invention of the electric telegraph and Morse code in 1844 gave instant communication for the first time 同义替换：「made it a good time」↔「just the right moment」 ### 6. The Development and Impact of FitzRoy’s Work – Information for the 1861 forecasts was gathered from stations provided with reliable 6_____ . The Development and Impact of FitzRoy’s Work – Information for the 1861 forecasts was gathered from stations provided with reliable 6_____ . **答案**：barometer 原文定位：barometer readings gave warning of approaching storms ### 7. – Forecast data was then transmitted to all 7._____ along the coastline. – Forecast data was then transmitted to all 7._____ along the coastline. **答案**：stations 原文定位：telegraph messages were sent to all stations along the coast ### 8. – Coastal areas would raise 8_____ to ensure passing ships received the warnings. – Coastal areas would raise 8_____ to ensure passing ships received the warnings. **答案**：flags 原文定位：Coastal staff would then raise flags to warn ships of approaching storms 同义替换：「passing」↔「approaching」 ### 9. – This was considered the most significant technical advance since the introduction of the 9_____ . – This was considered the most significant technical advance since the introduction of the 9_____ . **答案**：telegraph 原文定位：This system was regarded as the most important technical advance since the introduction of the telegraph 同义替换：「considered」↔「regarded as」；「significant」↔「important」 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。