Question

It’s interesting that the arrival of snow has a different effect on people in different countries. For some countries it is an important happening to celebrate each year, while for others it is a catastrophe (灾难) or even a wonder.
There are countries between these two extremes (极端) that normally expect snow some time over the winter months, but never receive snow regularly or in the same quantities(数量) every year. Britain is one such country, for which the arrival of snow quite simply creates problems. Within hours of the first snowfall, however light, roads are blocked, trains and buses stop in the middle of traffic. Normal communications are affected as well, telephone calls become difficult and the post immediately takes more time than usual. Almost within hours, there are also shortages(不足) -- bread, vegetables and other things -- not because all these things can no longer be produced or sent to shops, but mainly because people are frightened, and go out to store up these commodities (日用品), “just for fear that something bad should happen.”
Why then does snow have this effect? After all, the Swiss, Austrians and Canadians don’t have such problems. It is simply because there is not enough planning and preparation. We need money to buy equipment to deal with snow and ice. To keep the roads clear, for example, requires snow ploughs and machines to spread salt. The reason why a country like Britain does not buy some ploughs is that they are only used for a few days in any one year, and the money could be more useful in other things such as hospitals, education or helping the old.
【小题1】According to the writer, Britain is a country____.

A．which has regular snow	B．which is not well prepared for snow
C．for which snow is not a problem	D．for which snow is a wonder

【小题2】The arrival of snow in Britain affects all of the following except____

A．traffic

B．communication

C．food supplies

D．service quality

【小题3】After a few hours’ snowing there are often shortages of food because______

A．shops have closed down	B．people buy as much as they can
C．farmers can’t produce any more	D．people eat more vegetables in winter

【小题4】The first reason that the British don’t buy snow ploughs is that______

A．spreading salt is good enough	B．old people need more money
C．snow ploughs are not used often	D．the hospital is more important

Answer 1

【小题1】B
【小题2】D
【小题3】B
【小题4】C

解析试题分析：本文讲述了雪对不同国家的影响，主要讲述了为什么英国受到的伤害最大。
【小题1】根据. It is simply because there is not enough planning and preparation.可知，应该是一个对雪是没有准备的国家。所以本题选B。
【小题2】通过阅读第二段可知，当大雪来的时候，会影响到交通、通讯和食物的供应。所以本题选D。
【小题3】根据not because all these things can no longer be produced or sent to shops, but mainly because people are frightened, and go out to store up these commodities (日用品),可知，本题选B。
【小题4】根据 The reason why a country like Britain does not buy some ploughs is that they are only used for a few days in any one year可知，之所以英国人不买雪犁，是因为不常用。所以本题选C。
考点：本题考查社会现象类文章
点评：本文相对来说较难，出现的生词比较多，且有许多长句，所以需要反复阅读，方能理解文章的意思。本题中的题目的难度也相对较大，需要根据上下文以及相应的句型进行推测，方能得出正确答案。