Exercise 17

Choose the right word from a couple of similar looking ones. Change word forms if necessary.

1. (slush, sleet)

a) The... under my feet was awful. I had an impression that I was walking through a muddy sea.

b) The rain changed into.... Wet snowflakes were falling on the ground and melted there.

2. (ice drift, snowdrift)

a) The path was hedged by two long.... They were like two mountain ranges.

b) The... started at night. In the morning the children ran to the river to look at the huge blocks of ice drifting across the water.

3. (icing, icicle)

a) There was heavy... on the road and all cars were moving very slowly.

b) After a thaw there appeared... on the edge of the roof; they looked like sparkling needles.

4. (frost, hoarfrost)

a) Tree branches were covered with... and the forest looked enchanting and somewhat mysterious.

b) The... was biting the nose and the cheeks. It was im­possible to stay long in the street.

5. (draught, drought)

a) Severe... killed the crops. Not a drop of rain fell on the ground for a month.

b) When the door opened, the... blew off the papers down on to the floor.

6. (to freeze, to be freezing)

a) In winter all rivers and lakes in these parts always....

b) The temperature was quite low and I felt that I....

7. (blizzard, drizzle)

a) Boring... spoiled the day. It was too wet and dull.

b) The... was blinding us. Snowflakes were swirling in the air.

8. (light, lightning)

a) There is not enough... in the room. The table should be moved closer to the window.

b) The... split the sky into two parts. A deafening thunder crack followed.