16．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．（36）C 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 （晶體）．Because the air has trouble moving，the movement of heat is limited．（37）B 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．
（38）GIt 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．（39）F．
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（車輛）．（40）A
A．These include food，emergency medical supplies，and extra clothing to stay warm and dry．
B．Snow also influences the movement of sound waves．
C．Melting（融化了的） snow provides water for rivers，electric power stations and agricultural crops．
D．Mountain snowfall is always heavier than that in the South and the North Poles．
E．In many places，streets were blocked； houses fell down and supplies ere short．
F．Others die from heart attacks caused by too much physical activity out in the cold．
G．Snow may be beautiful，but it can be deadly（致命的）．
分析 文章講述了雪的作用，能幫助動植物過冬，是主要的水的來源，及講到了如何來避免在暴風雪中成為受害者．
解答 36-40 CBGFA
36．C 上下文語境．根據(jù)mountain snow provides up to seventy-five percent of all surface water supplies可知，雪提供75%的水供應，所以前句也用應該提及snow provides water for rivers…，故答案為C．
37．B 上下文語境．從下一句The surface of the snow takes in，or absorbs，sound waves．得知雪表明吸收光波，所以雪對光波的移動也有 影響，故答案為B．
38．G 細節(jié)理解題．下一句It is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people說雪要為上百人的死亡負責人，故推出雪也有時是致命的，故答案為G．
39．F 上下文理解．根據(jù)前句Many people die in traffic accidents，有些人死于交通事故，所以下文應該提到其他人的情況，故答案為F．
40．A 細節(jié)理解題．根據(jù)People living in these areas should carry emergency supplies in their vehicle這句話得知，生活在這些地方的人應該準備緊急補給品，所以下句應該告訴這些補給品是哪些，故答案為A．
點評 本文是一篇選句填空閱讀，題目主要考查上下文內(nèi)容聯(lián)系以及文章內(nèi)容理解．做題時學生應仔細閱讀原文，把握文章主要內(nèi)容，聯(lián)系文章上下文內(nèi)容并結(jié)合所給選項含義，從中選出正確答案，一定要做到有理有據(jù)，切忌胡亂猜測．
