ELIZA: There is a tornado warning on. My mother just told me she heard it on the radio.
LEE: What is a tornado warning?
ELIZA: It means that a tornado has been seen somewhere in the area.
LEE: Really? In New Berlin?
ELIZA: No. Not necessarily in town. But in southern Wisconsin somewhere.A tornado has been spotted. They have two stages here.This is what is called a "tornado watch." That means that the weather conditions are perfect for a tornado.
LEE: I understand. They think a tornado might come.
ELIZA: Yes. People should look out, because maybe there will be tornadoes coming.So it's called a "watch."
LEE: And the second stage is called a "tornado warning".
ELIZA: Yes. If a tornado has been spotted, they announce a "tornado warning".So if there's a tornado warning on, it means a tornado is out there somewhere.
LEE: It's scary.
ELIZA: Well. Tornadoes can be dangerous, it's true.If we hear something like a loud train coming, then we have to go in the basement.
LEE: What do you mean "a loud train"?
ELIZA: That is what tornadoes sound like. They sound like trains. They're very loud.
LEE: But if you hear them coming, isn't it already too late?
ELIZA: Maybe. It depends on the tornado.Some can move across the ground at 200 miles an hour.That is very fast. Others aren't so fast.
LEE: Have you seen a lot of them?
ELIZA: I've only seen one in my life. I was looking out the window. It was around two miles away. It was very interesting to watch.But it was heading toward my friend's house. So I quickly called them on the phone.
LEE: Did it hit their house?
ELIZA: No, it didn't. But they are glad I called them.
LEE: What were they doing when you called?
ELIZA: They were all sitting in the living room watching TV.They had no idea a tornado was coming toward their house.If it had hit them, they could have all been killed.
LEE: That's terrible. Do many people die in tornadoes?
ELIZA: Not so many really. But a lot of houses are destroyed sometimes.
艾丽沙：有一个龙卷风的警报，我妈刚刚告诉我她从收音机听到的。
李：什么是龙卷风警报？
艾丽沙：就是有一个龙卷风已经在这个区域出没。
李：真的？在新柏林？
艾丽沙：不，并不一定在城里，但在南威斯康辛州某处。有一个龙卷风已经被监控。他们分为两个等级，现阶段称做“龙卷风警戒”，表示天气状况是形成龙卷风的最佳状态。
李：我懂了，他们认为龙卷风可能会来袭。
艾丽沙：是的，大家要当心，因为也许龙卷风就要来袭，所以称做警戒。
李：而第二等级称做“龙卷风警报”。
艾丽沙：是的，如果龙卷风已经被监测到，他们就会宣布“龙卷风警报”。因此，若已提出龙卷风警报，那表示一个龙卷风已在某处。
李：真可怕。
艾丽沙：嗯，龙卷风可以很危险的，是真的。如果我们听到什么像轰隆的火车接近声的，我们必须进入地下室。
李：什么是“轰隆的火车”？
艾丽沙：那就是龙卷风听起来的声音，他们听起来像火车声，非常大声。
李：但是如果你听到它们来临了，不是已经太晚了吗？
艾丽沙：很可能，要视龙卷风而定。有些一小时可以在地面横越两百里。那是非常快的，其他的没这么快。
李：你看过很多龙卷风吗？
艾丽沙：我这生只看过一次，从窗户望出去的，大概在二里外的地方，观看是很有趣的。但是它直扫向我朋友的房屋，所以我赶紧打电话给他们。
李：它有打中他们的房屋吗？
艾丽沙：没有，但是我朋友很高兴我打电话给他们。
李：你电话时，他们在做什么？
艾丽沙：他们全都坐在客厅看电视，一点也不知道龙卷风正向他们的房子接近。如果当时真打中他们，他们可能全都一命呜呼。
李：真是太可怕了。有很多人丧生于龙卷风吗？
艾丽沙：是不太多啦，但是有时候很多房屋被摧毁 |