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 (庆祝) each year，while for others it is a catastrophe (灾害) 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 every year.Britain is one such country，for which the arrival of snow quite simply causes problems.Within hours of the first snowfall，however light，roads are locked，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 certain shortages (短缺)—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 (goods)，“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 snow­ploughs and machines to spread salt.The reason why a country like Britain does not buy snowploughs 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.

51．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 a catastrophe

D．for which snow is a wonder

52．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 cannot produce any more

D．people eat more vegetables in winter

53．The main reason that the British do not buy snow­ploughs is that________.

A．spreading salt is good enough

B．old people need more money

C．snowploughs are not used often

D．the hospital is more important

54．The words “two extremes” in the second paragraph refer to the countries________.

A．which have lots of snow most of the year and those which hardly ever have any snow

B．which either have heavy snow or light snow

C．to which snow either causes problems or no problems

D．which either have snowploughs or no snowploughs

55．It is a wonder to see snow in________.

A．Australia                                        B．Canada

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).
There are countries between these two extremes that normally expect snow some time over the winter months, but never receive snow regularly or in the same quantities 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(缺乏) –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, “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 plan 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 hospital education or helping the old.
【小题1】According to the writer, Britain is a country____.

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).

There are countries between these two extremes that normally expect snow some time over the winter months, but never receive snow regularly or in the same quantities 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(缺乏) –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, “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 plan 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 hospital education or helping the old.

1.According to the writer, Britain is a country____.

2.The arrival of snow in Britain affects all of the following except____

3.After a few hours’ snowing there are often shortages of food because______

4.The first reason why the British don’t buy snow ploughs is that______

There are countries between these two extremes that normally expect snow some time over the winter months, but never receive snow regularly or in the same quantities 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 the 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 certain shortages—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,“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 snowploughs and machines to spread salt. The reason why a country like Britain does not buy snow 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.

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 catastrophe

D. for which snow is a wonder

2. The arrival of snow in Britain affects all of the following except______.

A. traffic　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. communications

C. food supplies　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   D. service quality

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 cannot produce any more

D. people eat more vegetables in winter

4. The first reason that the British do not 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

5.The words“two extremes”in the second paragraph mean the countries______.

A. which have snow either as yearly happening to celebrate or as rare weather

B. which either have heavy snow or light snow

C. to which snow either causes problems or no problems

D. which either have snow-ploughs or no snow-ploughs

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 that normally expect snow some time over the winter months, but never receive snow regularly or in the same quantities 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 the 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 certain shortages—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,“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 snowploughs and machines to spread salt. The reason why a country like Britain does not buy snow 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.

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 catastrophe

D. for which snow is a wonder

2. The arrival of snow in Britain affects all of the following except______.

A. traffic　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. communications

C. food supplies　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   D. service quality

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 cannot produce any more

D. people eat more vegetables in winter

4. The first reason that the British do not 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

5.The words“two extremes”in the second paragraph mean the countries______.

A. which have snow either as yearly happening to celebrate or as rare weather

B. which either have heavy snow or light snow

C. to which snow either causes problems or no problems

D. which either have snow-ploughs or no snow-ploughs