| It's interesting that the arrival of snow has the
effect on people in different countries.(76) For some countries it is an
important happening to celebrate each year, while for oth-ers 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 creates 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 communications are affected as well: tele-phone calls become difficult and the post immediately takes more time than usual. And al-most 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 be-cause 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 Cana-dians 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 (扫雪机) and machines to spread salt.(77) 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, helping the old, and so on. |