The sun is losing its spots, and it’s certainly something that we shouldn’t take lightly. According to news from a famous Australian website, our fireball has gone blank for the second time this month, leading Meteorologist Paul Dorian to believe that the next solar minimum is approaching and there will be an increasing number of spotless days over the next few years. This matters because the amount of sunspots reportedly affects our climate.What is solar minimum exactly? NASA explains it to be when the sun’s natural solar cycle shows the lowest amount of sunspots and the sun is at its worst. When at its best, the sun’s surface is covered in visible dark stains, or sunspots. The sun goes through a natural solar cycle approximately every 11 years, and each cycle is marked by the increase and decrease of sunspots—with the highest number of sunspots in any given solar cycle being the “solar maximum” and the lowest number being “solar minimum.” Cycles span from one maximum to the next.“In the years around 2000-2001, the Solar Max once took place. During Solar Max, huge sunspots and intense solar flares (太阳耀斑) are a daily occurrence. It’s a good time for sky watchers who enjoy auroras (极光), but not so good for astronauts who have to be cautious of radiation storms. Power outages, telecommunication disruptions, and GPS receiver failure are just a few of the things that can happen during a solar maximum”, NASA said Wednesday, and went on to explain that “during solar minimum, the opposite occurs. Solar flares are almost non-existent while whole weeks go by without a single, tiny sunspot to break the sameness of the blank sun. This is what we are experiencing now.”Dorian breaks down all of the sun-related information in his report, published just a few days ago. “The blankness will stretch for just a few days at a time, then it’ll continue for weeks at a time, and finally it should last for months at a time,” says Dorian, leading a lot of us to believe that the next mini ice age is on its way.1. Why should people be aware that the sun is losing its spots?A) Because numerous spotless days are coming.B) Because the next solar minimum is approaching.C) Because the sunspots influence the earth’s climate. D) Because the sun has become a fireball twice this month.2. What do we know about the solar cycle?A) It refers to the lowest amount of sunspots.B) It is marked with the highest number of sunspots.C) It is the periodic 11-year change of the sun’s activity. D) It refers to the quantitative change of sunspots in certain years’ time.3. What do we know about the solar maximum?A) It has no impact on astronauts inspecting radiation storms.B) During a solar maximum, huge sunspots occur every day. C) It is a good time for sky watchers to watch the sky and stars.D) Telecommunication and GPS can work well during a solar maximum.4. What would happen during the solar minimum according to the NASA?A) Solar flares would occur every week.B) The sun would become blank for years.C) No sunspot would occur during the whole weeks. D) Power plant and GPS would fail to work properly.5. According to Dorian’s report, what might happen in the near future?A) Solar flares will be almost non-existent.B) The sun will become smaller and smaller.C) The world will be getting colder and colder. D) The number of sunspots will keep increasing.

The sun is losing its spots, and it’s certainly something that we shouldn’t take lightly. According to news from a famous Australian website, our fireball has gone blank for the second time this month, leading Meteorologist Paul Dorian to believe that the next solar minimum is approaching and there will be an increasing number of spotless days over the next few years. This matters because the amount of sunspots reportedly affects our climate. What is solar minimum exactly? NASA explains it to be when the sun’s natural solar cycle shows the lowest amount of sunspots and the sun is at its worst. When at its best, the sun’s surface is covered in visible dark stains, or sunspots. The sun goes through a natural solar cycle approximately every 11 years, and each cycle is marked by the increase and decrease of sunspots—with the highest number of sunspots in any given solar cycle being the “solar maximum” and the lowest number being “solar minimum.” Cycles span from one maximum to the next. “In the years around 2000-2001, the Solar Max once took place. During Solar Max, huge sunspots and intense solar flares (太阳耀斑) are a daily occurrence. It’s a good time for sky watchers who enjoy auroras (极光), but not so good for astronauts who have to be cautious of radiation storms. Power outages, telecommunication disruptions, and GPS receiver failure are just a few of the things that can happen during a solar maximum”, NASA said Wednesday, and went on to explain that “during solar minimum, the opposite occurs. Solar flares are almost non-existent while whole weeks go by without a single, tiny sunspot to break the sameness of the blank sun. This is what we are experiencing now.” Dorian breaks down all of the sun-related information in his report, published just a few days ago. “The blankness will stretch for just a few days at a time, then it’ll continue for weeks at a time, and finally it should last for months at a time,” says Dorian, leading a lot of us to believe that the next mini ice age is on its way.1. Why should people be aware that the sun is losing its spots?A)  Because numerous spotless days are coming.B)  Because the next solar minimum is approaching.C)  Because the sunspots influence the earth’s climate. D)  Because the sun has become a fireball twice this month.2. What do we know about the solar cycle?A)  It refers to the lowest amount of sunspots.B)  It is marked with the highest number of sunspots.C)  It is the periodic 11-year change of the sun’s activity. D)  It refers to the quantitative change of sunspots in certain years’ time.3. What do we know about the solar maximum?A)  It has no impact on astronauts inspecting radiation storms.B)  During a solar maximum, huge sunspots occur every day. C)  It is a good time for sky watchers to watch the sky and stars.D)  Telecommunication and GPS can work well during a solar maximum.4. What would happen during the solar minimum according to the NASA?A)  Solar flares would occur every week.B)  The sun would become blank for years.C)  No sunspot would occur during the whole weeks. D)  Power plant and GPS would fail to work properly.5. According to Dorian’s report, what might happen in the near future?A)  Solar flares will be almost non-existent.B)  The sun will become smaller and smaller.C)  The world will be getting colder and colder. D)  The number of sunspots will keep increasing.