72.High School English Reading Listening

In earliest times, men considered lightning to be one of the great mysteries (神秘的事物) of nature. Some ancient peoples believed that lightning and thunder were the weapons (武器) of the gods.
In reality, lightning is a flow of electricity formed high above the earth. A single flash of lightning 1.6 kilometres long has enough electricity to light one million light bulbs (灯泡).
The American scientist and statesman, Benjamin Franklin, was the first to show the connection between electricity and lightning in 1752. In the same year he also built the first lightning rod (避雷针). This device (装置物) protects buildings from being damaged by lightning.
Modern science has discovered that one stroke (闪击) of lightning has a voltage (电压) of more than 15 million volts (伏特). A flash of lightning between a cloud and the earth may be as long as 13 kilometers, and travel at a speed of 30 million meters per second.
Scientists judge that there are about 2,000 million flashes of lightning per year. Lightning hits the Empire State Building in New York City 30 to 48 times a year. In the United States alone it kills an average (平均数) of one person every day.
The safest place to be in case of an electrical storm is in a closed car. Outside, one should go to low ground and not get under tress. Also, one should stay out of water and away from metal fences. Inside a house, people should avoid open doorways and windows and not touch wires or metal things.
译文：
在最早的时候，人们认为闪电是自然界伟大的神秘之一。一些古人认为，闪电和雷鸣是神的武器。
实际上，闪电是一种在地球上空形成的电流。一道1.6公里长的闪电有足够的电力来点燃一百万个灯泡。
美国科学家和政治家本杰明-富兰克林（Benjamin Franklin）在1752年首次展示了电与闪电之间的联系。在同一年，他还建造了第一根避雷针。这个装置可以保护建筑物不被雷电破坏。
现代科学发现，一个闪击的电压超过1500万伏。云层和地球之间的闪电可能长达13公里，并以每秒3000万米的速度移动。
科学家判断，每年大约有20亿次闪电。纽约市的帝国大厦每年被闪电击中30至48次。仅在美国，平均每天就有一个人死于雷击。
在发生电力风暴的情况下，最安全的地方是在一个封闭的汽车里。在外面，人们应该去低处，不要躲在树下。此外，人们应该远离水，远离金属围栏。在屋内，人们应避免打开门窗，不要接触电线或金属物品。
重点词汇：
one million 一百万
light bulbs 灯泡 ; light bulb的复数
Benjamin Franklin 本杰明•富兰克林
lightning rod 引火烧身的人
Modern science 现代科学
one stroke 单行程