Snow Makers Reading Answer

Dec 28, 2022

Snow Makers Reading Answer contains a write up about the snow makers and skiing. Snow Makers Reading Answer comprising 13 different types of questions. Candidates in this IELTS Section will be shown various question types with clear instructions. Snow Makers Reading Answer comprises three types of questions: Matching heading, sentence completion, and Choose the correct option. For Matching heading in IELTS Reading passage, candidates need to thoroughly go through each passage. For sentence completion, candidates need to skim the passage for keywords and understand the concept. To choose the correct option, candidates must read the IELTS Reading passage and understand the statement provided. To gain proficiency, candidates can practice from IELTS reading practice papers.

Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Snow Makers Reading Answer

Skiing is big business nowadays. But what can ski resort owners do if the snow doesn’t come?

In the early to mid-twentieth century, with the growing popularity of skiing, ski slopes became extremely profitable businesses. But ski resort owners were completely dependent on the weather: if it didn’t snow, or didn’t snow enough, they had to close everything down. Fortunately, a device called the snow gun can now provide snow whenever it is needed. These days such machines are standard equipment in the vast majority of ski resorts around the world, making it possible for many resorts to stay open for months or more a year.
Snow formed by natural weather systems comes from water vapour in the atmosphere. The water vapour condenses into droplets, forming clouds. If the temperature is sufficiently low, the water droplets freeze into tiny ice crystals. More water particles then condense onto the crystal and join with it to form a snowflake. As the snowflake grows heavier, it falls towards the Earth.
The snow gun works very differently from a natural weather system, but it accomplishes exactly the same thing. The device basically works by combining water and air. Two different hoses are attached to the gun. one leading from a water pumping station which pumps water up from a lake or reservoir, and the other leading from an air compressor. When the compressed air passes through the hose into the gun. it atomises the water – that is, it disrupts the stream so that the water splits up into tiny droplets. The droplets are then blown out of the gun and if the outside temperature is below 0°C, ice crystals will form, and will then make snowflakes in the same way as natural snow.
Snow-makers often talk about dry snow and wet snow. Dry snow has a relatively low amount of water, so it is very light and powdery. This type of snow is excellent for skiing because skis glide over it easily without getting stuck in wet slush. One of the advantages of using a snow-maker is that this powdery snow can be produced to give the ski slopes a level surface. However, on slopes which receive heavy use, resort owners also use denser, wet snow underneath the dry snow. Many resorts build up the snow depth this way once or twice a year, and then regularly coat the trails with a layer of dry snow throughout the winter.
The wetness of snow is dependent on the temperature and humidity outside, as well as the size of the water droplets launched by the gun. Snow-makers have to adjust the proportions of water and air in their snow guns to get the perfect snow consistency for the outdoor weather conditions. Many ski slopes now do this with a central computer system that is connected to weather-reading stations all over the slope.
But man-made snow makes heavy demands on the environment. It takes about 275,000 liters of water to create a blanket of snow covering a 60×60 metre area. Most resorts pump water from one or more reservoirs located in low-lying areas. The run-off water from the slopes feeds back into these reservoirs, so the resort can actually use the same water over and over again. However, considerable amounts of energy are needed to run the large air-compressing pumps, and the diesel engines which run them also cause air pollution.
Because of the expense of making snow, ski resorts have to balance the cost of running the machines with the benefits of extending the ski season, making sure they only make snow when it is really needed and when it will bring the maximum amount of profit in return for the investment. But man-made snow has a number of other uses as well. A layer of snow keeps a lot of the Earth’s heat from escaping into the atmosphere, so farmers often use man-made snow to provide insulation for winter crops. Snow-making machines have played a big part in many movie productions. Movie producers often take several months to shoot scenes that cover just a few days. If the movie takes place in a snowy setting, the set decorators have to get the right amount of snow for each day of shooting either by adding man-made snow or melting natural snow. And another important application of man-made snow is its use in the tests that aircraft must undergo in order to ensure that they can function safely in extreme conditions.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Question 1 – 5

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number (i-x) in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.

Example Answer

Paragraph A v

Paragraph B x

Paragraph C
Paragraph D
Paragraph E
Paragraph F
Paragraph G

List of headings

Considering ecological costs
Modifications to the design of the snow gun
The need for different varieties of snow
Local concern over environmental issues
A problem and a solution
Applications beyond the ski slopes
Converting wet snow to dry snow
New method for calculating modifications
Artificial process, natural product
Snow formation in nature

Question 1.

Answer: ix - Artificial process, natural product
Supporting Sentence: The device which works produces artificial snow from a mechanical system and gives the same output as nature.
Keywords: Pumping, Compressor, Gun
Keywords Location: Paragraph C, lines 4 and 5
Explanation: Water and air are combined to power the device. The cannon of the apparatus is connected to two hoses. one leading to the air compressor, the other to the water station. The droplets are blown out like snow when pressurized air travels through the hose and into the gun. So, the answer according to the above explanation is xi:artificial process,natural product.

Question 2.

Answer: iii - The need for different varieties of snow
Supporting Sentence: Wet snow, Dry snow, or other varieties of snow that can be made from the machine.
Keywords: Snow Makers, Whether Condition, Skiing
Keywords Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: In paragraph D, it is stated how many types of snow can be created. In comparison to wet snow, dry snow has a relatively low water content, making it very light and powdery. Because there are fewer chances of getting stuck, dry snow is better for skiing. So, the answer according to the above explanation is iii:the need for different varieties of snow

Question 3.

Answer: vii - a new method for calculating modifications
Supporting Sentence: Snowmakers have to calculate modifications for the perfect snow consistency.
Keywords: Proportions, whether, water- droplets
Keywords Location: Paragraph E
Explanation: The wetness of the snow is a function of the ambient temperature and humidity, as described in paragraph E. To achieve the ideal snow consistency for the outdoor weather conditions, snowmakers must change the ratios of water and air in the guns. So, the answer according to the above explanation is vii;a new method for calculating modifications.

Question 4.

Answer: i - Considering ecological costs
Supporting Sentence: The Natural ingredients costs in making snow from such as- air, water, and area to be covered from snow.
Keywords: Covering, Reservoirs, pump, water, air
Keywords Location: Paragraph F
Explanation: It is noted that man-made snow places significant demands on the ecosystem. The majority of resort water and pumps are situated in low-lying locations. The amount of energy required to run the enormous air-compressing pumps and diesel engines, as well as the amount of air that is used, all contribute to air pollution. So, the answer according to the above explanation is i:considering ecological costs.

Question 5.

Answer: vi - Applications beyond the ski slopes
Supporting Sentence: Advantages of human-made snow in various fields such as skiing, agriculture, and so on.
Keywords: Maximum, Ski, Earth, Heat
Keywords Location: Paragraph G
Explanation: Creating the snow may have cost money, but by doing so and starting a ski resort, the ski resorts make the most money. Their money was well spent. In order to prevent the heat from the soil from being lost into the atmosphere during the winter, farmers also utilize snow to insulate their crops. So, the answer according to the above explanation is vi: applications beyond the ski slopes.

Questions 6-8

Label the diagram below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 6-8 on your answer sheet.

Question 6.

Answer: Compressed Air
Supporting Sentence: The role of the second hose of the machine gun in producing the snow is being referred to.
Keywords: Compressed air, stream, reservoirs
Keywords Location: Paragraph C, line 4-6
Explanation:when compressed air from an air compressor travels through the hose and into the leading. Water is atomized, and the stream is then disturbed, causing the water to fragment into small droplets. Ice crystals occur when these droplets are blown out of the gun at a temperature of zero degrees. So, the answer according to the above explanation is compressed air.

Question 7.

Answer: Tiny (Droplets)
Supporting Sentence: How the mechanical system makes the tiny droplets of snow after making the water atomize.
Keywords: Atomize, Snowflakes, temperature
Keywords Location: Paragraph C, line 4 - 6
Explanation: The water is said to be atomized by the system before the stream is broken and the water separates into small droplets. So, the answer according to the above explanation is ting (droplets).

Question 8.

Answer: Ice Crystals
Supporting Sentence: After the atomization of water, at 0degree ice crystals can be formed.
Keywords: Droplets, Temperature, Snowflakes
Keywords Location: Paragraph C, line 6 - 7
Explanation: It is stated that once the water has been atomized and the droplets have been blown out of the gun, ice crystals will form if the outside temperature is zero degrees. These crystals will then form into snowflakes in a manner similar to that of natural snow. So, the answer according to the above explanation is ice crystals.

Questions 9-13

Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet.

Dry snow is used to give slopes a level surface, while wet snow is used to increase the …………….. on busy slopes.
To calculate the required snow consistency, the …………….. of the atmosphere must first be measured.
The machinery used in the process of making the snow consumes a lot of …………….. which is damaging to the environment.
Artificial snow is used in agriculture as a type of …………….. for plants in cold conditions.
Artificial snow may also be used in carrying out safety checks on ……………..

Question 9.

Answer: depth
Supporting Sentence: Dry snow is used to give slopes a level surface, while wet snow is used to increase the ……Depth… on busy slopes.
Keywords: Dry Snow, Level Surface
Keywords Location: Paragraph D, line 4
Explanation: Dry snow is ideal for skiing since it resembles a powdery material that is used to create a flat surface for the ski slopes. So, the answer according to the above explanation is depth.

Question 10.

Answer: Temperature and Humidity
Supporting Sentence: To calculate the required snow consistency, the …… Temperature and Humidity …. of the atmosphere must first be measured.
Keywords: Temperature, Humidity, Consistency
Keywords Location: Paragraph E, line 2
Explanation: It is claimed that temperature and humidity have an impact on how wet snow is. Snowmakers must alter the ratio of the components and determine if the weather outdoors is favorable or not. So, the answer according to the above explanation is temperature and humidity.

Question 11.

Answer: Energy
Supporting Sentence: The machinery used in the process of making the snow consumes a lot of …… Energy ……… which is damaging to the environment.
Keywords: Energy, Environment, Snow
Keywords Location: Paragraph F
Explanation:The artificial snow maker uses a lot of energy to create snow. The massive air-compressed pumps require a significant amount of energy, such as fuel, and they also contribute to air pollution. So, the answer according to the above explanation is energy.

Question 12.

Answer: Insulation
Supporting Sentence: Artificial snow is used in agriculture as a type of ………Insulation……. for plants in cold conditions.
Keywords: Artificial Snow, Agriculture, Insulation
Keywords Location: Paragraph G, Line 4
Explanation: Farmers frequently employ snow to act as insulation for winter crops because it prevents a significant amount of Earth's heat from escaping into the atmosphere. So, the answer according to the above explanation is insulation.

Question 13.

Answer: Aircraft
Supporting Sentence: Artificial snow may also be used in carrying out safety checks on …Aircrafts……
Keywords: Aircraft, Application, Conditions
Keywords Location: Paragraph G, Line 9 - 10
Explanation: Artificial snow is used in tests of airplanes to make sure they can operate safely in harsh weather, which is a significant use. So, the answer according to the above explanation is aircraft.

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