It’s interesting that the arrival of snow has effect on people in different countries. For some countries it is an important happening to celebrate each year, while for others a catastrophe(灾害) or even a wonder.

　　But there are countries between these two kinds 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 of them, for which the arrival of snow quite simply causes problems. Within hours of the first snowfalls, however light, roads are blocked, trains and buses have to stop in the middle of the way. Normal communication is affected as well: telephone calls become difficult and the post immediately takes more time than usual. And 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 and store up with food and so on…just for fear that something bad should happen.

　　But why does snow have this effect? After all, the Swiss, the Austrians and the Canadians don‘t have such problems. It is simple 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(扫雪机) and machines to spread salt. The reason why a country like Britain does not buy snow-ploughs is that they are used for a few days in any one year, and the money could be more useful in other things such as hospital, education, helping the old and so on..

　1.According to the writer, Britain is a country ________.

　　2.After a few hours’ snowing there are often some shortages of food because ______.

　　A. shops have closed down B. people buy as much as they can

　　B. farmers cannot produce any more D. people eat more vegetables in winter

　　3.The words "two kinds" in the passage mean the countries ______.

Probably you have seen photos of the Grand Canyon（峡谷）, the great valley in the desert country of Arizona. But you must go there yourself to feel its true size and beauty. The Grand Canyon is one of the greatest natural wonders of the world

The Colorado River formed the Grand Canyon over millions of years. Slowly, the river cut down through hard rock. At the same time, the land was rising. Today the canyon is 1.5 kilometers and 445 kilometers long. The oldest rocks at the bottom of the canyon are more than 1 billion years old. The width varies from about 200 meters to 29 kilometers across. The rim or top of the canyon is about 2,300 meters above sea level on the South Rim, and about 3,000 meters on the other side. As a result, there are different kinds of plants and animals on opposite sides of the canyon. The South Rim is dry desert country. The North Rim has tall forests.

The canyon looks different at different times of day, and in different seasons and weather. At sunrise and sunset the red, gold, brown and orange colors of the rocks are especially clear and bright. In winter, the canyon is partly covered with snow.

The view from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is the best. Most visitors come here and stay in campgrounds or hotels. Every point along the canyon’s edge offers a different view.

The North rim of the Canyon is quieter. It takes all day to drive there from the South Rim because there is only one bridge across the Colorado River. On the way, you go through Navado Indian lands, and a colorful pink desert called “The Painted Desert”.

The best way to feel the true beauty of the Grand Canyon is to________.

A. see its photographs                      B. listen to the report about it

C. watch its introduction on TV             D. go there yourself and visit it

The scene of the canyon is ________.

various depending on different time and places

almost the same    

various depending on different time

various depending on different places

If you want to visit the North Rim from the South Rim, you________.

A．can go there in many direction                B．won’t spend much time on the way

C．can visit The Painted Desert on the way       D．needn’t go across any bridges

If you want to have a visit to the Grand Canyon, you’d better go to _______.

A. the North Rim     B. the South Rim   C. the bottom        D. Navado Indian Lands

Snow falls in the Earth’s extreme North and South throughout the year. However， the heaviest snowfalls have been reported in the mountains of other areas during winter. Snow is even known to fall near the Equator (赤道)，but only on the highest mountains.

Snow contains much less water than rain, but much of the water the world uses comes from snow. Melting snow provides water for rivers, electric power stations and agricultural crops. In the western United States, mountain snow provides up to seventy-five percent of all surface water supplies.

Snowfall helps to protect plants and some wild animals from winter weather. Fresh snow is made largely of air trapped among the snow crystals (晶体). Because the air has trouble moving, the movement of heat is limited. Snow also influences the movement of sound waves. The surface of the snow takes in, or absorbs, sound waves. As snow grows older or if there have been strong winds, it can become hard and flat. Then, the snow，s surface will help to send back sound waves.

Snow may be beautiful, but it can be deadly. It is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people. Many people die in traffic accidents on roads covered with snow and ice or from being seriously stuck in the winter storm. Others die from heart attacks caused by too much physical activity out in the cold.

People may not be able to avoid living in areas where it snows often. However, they can avoid becoming victims of snowstorms. People should stop driving and stay at home until the storm has passed. People living in these areas should carry emergency supplies in their vehicle. These include food，emergency medical supplies，and extra clothing to stay warm and dry.

1.Mountain snowfall _____.

A．is heavier than that in the South and the North Poles

B．has never occurred near the Equator of the earth

C．brings less of the water the world uses than rain does

D．provides up to seventy—five percent of water supplies worldwide

2.Snow protects plants and wild animals from cold weather by _____.

A．supplying much more air                  B．limiting heat movement

C．absorbing strong winds                   D．sending back sound waves

3.Snow can be deadly mainly because it can _____.

A．cause road accidents

B．make people stuck in winter storms

C．lead to heart attacks

D．make people victims of snowstorms

4.What will the text probably tell us following the last paragraph? _.

A．How to drive during snowstorms

B．Where we can get emergency supplies

C．How to prevent heart attacks out in cold

D．Why we should stay warm and dry in winter

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

    增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。

    删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。

    修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

    注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

          2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

    My hometown is a small village. Small as it is, but it’s very beautiful.

　 There are a number of hill around my hometown and they are very beautiful. In spring, we fly kites are made by themselves on the top of the hills. The kites fly very highly. In summer, the trees and grass are green and the flowers are bright on the hills. Beside, the wild apples are nice to eating. In autumn, corns at the foot of the hills were ripe. In winter, when it snows, something is covered with snow. We play with snow and make snowmen.

    In my hometown there are blue sky, fresh air, sweet water and kind people. I love my hometown!

-Did you come to the museum by bike yesterday?

-No. Two inches of snow fell during the night. As a result, several main roads___