【正确答案】 Snow is a subject of great interest to weather experts. Experts sometimes have difficulty estimating where, when or how much snow will fall. One reason is that heavy amounts of snow fall in surprisingly small areas. Another reason is that a small change in temperature can mean the difference between snow and rain. Snow falls in extreme northern and southern areas of the world throughout the year. However, the heaviest snowfalls have been reported in the mountains of other areas during winter. These areas include the Alps in Italy and Switzerland, the coastal mountains of western Canada, and the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains in the United States. In warmer climates, snow is known to fall in areas over four thousand nine hundred meters above sea level. Snow can be beautiful to look at, but it can also be dangerous. Snow is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people in the United States every year. Many people die in traffic accidents on roads that are covered with snow or ice. Others die from being out in the cold or from heart attacks caused by extreme physical activity. A few years ago, a major storm caused serious problems in the eastern United States. It struck the Southeast in January 1996, before moving up the East Coast. The storm was blamed for more than one hundred deaths. It forced nine states to declare emergency measures. Virginia and West Virginia were hit hardest. In some areas, snowfall amounts were more than one meter high. Several states limited driving to emergency vehicles. Most major airports were closed for at least a day or two. A week later, two other storms brought additional snow to the East Coast. In the New York City area, the added weight of the snow forced the tops of some buildings to collapse. Many travelers were forced to walk long distances through deep snow to get to train stations. People may not be able to avoid living in areas where it snows often. However, they can avoid becoming victims of winter snowstorms. People should stay in their homes until the storm has passed. While removing large amounts of snow, they should stop and rest often. Difficult physical activity during snow removal can cause a heart attack. It is always a good idea to keep a lot of necessary supplies in the home even before winter begins. These supplies include food, medicine, clean water, and extra power supplies. Some drivers have become trapped in their vehicles during a snowstorm. If this happens, people should remain in or near their car unless they see some kind of help. They should get out and clear space around the vehicle to prevent the possibility of carbon monoxide gas poisoning. People should tie a bright-colored object to the top of their car to increase the chance of rescue. Inside the car, they should open a window a little for fresh air and turn on the engine for ten or fifteen minutes every hour for heat. People living in areas with winter storms should carry emergency supplies in their vehicles. They should include food, emergency medical supplies, and extra clothing to stay warm and dry. People in these areas should always be prepared for winter emergencies.

【答案解析】【文章大意】 雪是天气专家们很感兴趣的一个话题。在世界的最北部和最南部终年都在下雪。而据报导最大的降雪发生在冬季的山区。雪很美丽但是也很危险，每年在美国下雪会导致数百人的死亡。几年前在美国东部一场暴风雪带来了严重的问题。这场雪致使100多人死亡，使得九个州宣布紧急避险。 但人们可以避免成为暴风雪的受害者。在暴风雪中人们应该待在家中，并准备充足的供给；陷在风雪中的司机应尽量待在车里和附近；住在冬季有暴风雪地区的人们应随交通工具携带紧急供应品。 【分析】 一、高分词汇 1．Snow is a subject of great interest to weather expels． 2．Snow falls in extreme northern and southern areas of the world throughout the year． 3．Snow can be beautiful to look at，but it can also be dangerous． 4．Snow is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people in the United States every year． 5．However，they can avoid becoming victims of winter snowstorms． 二、细节词汇 1．Expels sometimes have difficulty estimating where，when or how much snow will fall． 2．The heaviest snowfalls have been reported in the mountains of other areas during winter． 3．Many people die in traffic accidents on roads that are covered with snow or ice．Others die from being out in the cold or from heart attacks caused by extreme physical activity． 4．A few years ago，a major storm caused serious problems in the eastern United States．The storm was blamed for more than one hundred deaths and it forced nine states to declare emergency measures． 5．People should stay in their homes until the storm has passed and keep a lot of necessary supplies in the home．Drivers trapped in their vehicles，should remain in or near their car．People living in areas with winter storms should carry emergency supplies in their vehicles．