Mirages (海市蜃楼) are produced by refraction (折射) of light within a layer of air. This layer of air resists (1) up, even in a fairly strong wind.
Probably the most popular mirage picture is one of a lake in a (2) desert. There may even be the appearance of (3) breaking on the shore. The easiest form of mirage to study, however, is one that has been seen by millions of people-those seeming strips of water on asphalt-suced (柏油路面的) roads that disappear suddenly when one (4) them.
The scientist considers the long distance mirage as the most (5) of mirage forms, since it is against a basic law of physics. The law states that the apparent size of an (6) seems smaller as we move away from it; however, this kind of mirage will carry a (7) of a ship, a town, or an island a thousand miles and set it up in the sky as big as life.
Mirages may have had an (8) on history: A World War I story deals with a battle between the Turks and the British. (9) the stronger Turkish army was gaining the advantage when one of the soldiers reported that British troops were advancing. After a hurried meeting, the Turkish forces withdrew (撤退). In reality there were no (10) British troops—what had been reported was a mirage showing men who were a hundred miles away.
A. similarly B. supposedly C. puzzling D. waves
E. negotiates F. advancing G. effect H. hostile
I. breaking J. waterless K. liberty L. picture
M. object N. approaches O. humble