It’s interesting that the arrival of snow has a different effect on people in different countries.For some countries it is an important happening to celebrate (慶祝) each year，while for others it is a catastrophe (災(zāi)害) or even a wonder.
There are countries between these two extremes (極端) 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 such country，for which the arrival of snow quite simply causes problems.Within hours of the first snowfall，however light，roads are locked，trains and buses stop in the middle of traffic.Normal communications are affected as well，telephone calls become difficult and the post immediately takes more time than usual.Almost within hours，there are also certain shortages (短缺)—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 to store up these commodities (goods)，“Just for fear that something bad should happen”．
Why then does snow have this effect？After all the Swiss，Austrians and Canadians 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 snowploughs and machines to spread salt.The reason why a country like Britain does not buy snowploughs 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 or helping the old.
51．According to the writer，Britain is a country________.
A．which has regular snow
B．which is not well prepared for snow
C．for which snow is a catastrophe
D．for which snow is a wonder
52．After a few hours’snowing there are often shortages of food because________.
A．shops have closed down
B．people buy as much as they can
C．farmers cannot produce any more
D．people eat more vegetables in winter
53．The main reason that the British do not buy snowploughs is that________.
A．spreading salt is good enough
B．old people need more money
C．snowploughs are not used often
D．the hospital is more important
54．The words “two extremes” in the second paragraph refer to the countries________.
A．which have lots of snow most of the year and those which hardly ever have any snow
B．which either have heavy snow or light snow
C．to which snow either causes problems or no problems
D．which either have snowploughs or no snowploughs
55．It is a wonder to see snow in________.
A．Australia B．Canada
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