Snow is ice crystals. It forms when the air temperature is at or below 0℃. In order for it to snow, there must also be some water in the air. Scientists showed that no two snowflakes are the same. They come in all sizes and shapes. When it is between -2.8℃ and 0℃, snowflakes are six-sided. If it is colder, snowflakes will be shaped like needles and stars.
Countries including Russia, Canada and some parts of the US have heavy snow in winter. The most snow in one year in record fell in Mount Baker, US. Its total snowfall was 29 meters for the 1998 to 1999 season, according to USA Today. However, in some places, people have never seen snow, such as Singapore, some parts of India and most countries around the equator (赤道).
In China, there is more snow in the north than in the south. The Nanling Mountains, on the border of Guangdong and Hunan provinces, may be the southernmost point in China to have snow. People in provinces such as Hainan don’t get snow.
Other than snowstorms, snowfall is good for human being. Snow helps clean the environment. It cleans up the dust in the air and keeps the environment wet and comfortable.
Snow is also important to farmers. As the Chinese saying goes, “A fall of seasonable snow gives promise of a fruitful year.” Snow can keep the ground warm and protect crops from freezing. Melted (融化了的) snow gives enough water to crops. It also lowers the temperature of the ground, killing bad insects in the earth, which helps for a good harvest in the next year.
Snow is usually white. But sometimes you may see snow that is pink, brown, orange or red if the air is filled with dust, pollutants or sand. It was reported that orange snow fell in Siberia in 2007 and some parts of Russia were covered by pink snow in 2010.
【小题1】When the air temperature is between -2.8 ℃ and 0℃, the snowflakes will be ________.| A．rounded | B．six sides | C．like stars | D．like needles |
| A．Russia | B．the US | C．Mount Baker | D．Singapore |
| A．keep the ground warm | B．help kill bad insects |
| C．give water for crops | D．make the environment wet and comfortable |
| A．Snowstorms are good for human being. | B．Not all snow is white. |
| C．Snow can protect crops from freezing. | D．Most countries around the equator are warmer than others. |
