Original article

“Researchers improve weather forecasts looking two to six weeks out” — Zach Winn, MIT News, October 14, 2026.

Original article: https://news.mit.edu/2026/researchers-improve-weather-forecasts-looking-two-six-weeks-out-1014

Access checked: October 25, 2026 (UTC+8). The complete English article is free to read without payment or login. This is a selected article from October 14, not news published today. Read the full text at the source; the exercises below are original.

Reading plan

Suggested level: B2–C1 (editorial estimate, not an official IELTS rating). Time: 12–15 minutes to read, plus 8 minutes for the questions.

阅读范围为原文正文，到研究资助说明为止；无需阅读后面的 Press Mentions。

Introduction

天气预报能提前多久帮助人们做准备？今天练习区分预测时段、模型作用与实际使用状态。先画出文章论证结构，再回原文核对答案；不要把改善准确率理解成消除所有不确定性。

Vocabulary

  • forecast — 预测；预报。
  • mitigate — 减轻不利影响。
  • subseasonal — 季节内的，介于短期与季节尺度之间的。
  • probabilistic — 概率性的，以可能性而非确定结果表达。
  • bias correction — 偏差订正。
  • postprocessing — 后处理，对已有输出进一步加工。
  • climatologic average — 气候平均值。
  • yield — 产量。

Reading comprehension

Answer questions 1, 2, and 5 briefly in English. For questions 3–4, choose TRUE, FALSE, or NOT GIVEN. These are original practice questions, not official IELTS questions.

1. What lead-time range does the research target?

Reference answer
Two to six weeks.

2. What does the added machine-learning layer learn to do?

Reference answer
Identify and correct errors in existing forecasts using historical data.

3. Running the resulting correction model requires a supercomputer.

Reference answer
FALSE. Supercomputing was used to build it, but is unnecessary for running it.

4. The article gives the exact number of Kenyan farmers already using the system.

Reference answer
NOT GIVEN. It mentions interest from Kenya’s meteorological office, not a farmer count.

5. Why could an earlier warning of an ice storm help energy officials?

Reference answer
It gives them more time to prepare.

Reading strategy

给数字标注对象与时间尺度。第 3 题分别定位“开发”和“运行”；第 4 题区分接洽、计划与完成部署。遇到精确数量，要确认原文是否真的给出。

Expression practice

以下例句均为自拟，并非原文引文。

in advance — 提前。

Example: Review the vocabulary in advance so you can focus on the argument.

on par with — 与……相当。

Example: Her latest practice score is on par with her target.

Review

用两句英文复盘：一句解释方法，一句说明它不等于什么。尝试使用 however，保留结论中的范围和不确定性。