Bellringer 1 & 2

What is your favorite season of the year? If you said winter, you are one of the few people who feel that way. Only seven percent of people say they like winter best, making it the least popular season of all. Winter is often cold, and many people dislike dealing with snow and ice. While a gentle snowfall might be rather nice to see, some winter storms are wretched. The worst of these, by far, is the blizzard. The combination of snow, driving wind and dangerous cold disrupts life and puts people at risk. If you live in an area that sees a lot of cold winter weather, it is essential to know about blizzards. While many people enjoy some winter weather, blizzards can create deadly situations.

What does wretched mean?

• pleasant

• miserable

• calm

What does essential mean?

• important

• basic

• optional

What is a blizzard?

• A gentle snowfall that occurs during the winter.

• Any type of precipitation that falls during winter.

• A dangerous storm that involves strong wind and very cold temperatures.

Many people think that a blizzard is any winter storm that brings deep snow and lots of ice. A blizzard is actually a winter storm with sustained winds of at least 35 miles per hour. Those sustained winds can create a whiteout. A whiteout is induced by snow blowing around in the air which limits visibility. Even if there is no snow with the storm, strong winds can lift snow from previous storms, making it very hard to see. This is known as a ground blizzard. The inability to see the surrounding area is one of the biggest perils people face in a blizzard. People have even gotten lost in their own yards during blizzards because they couldn't see their front door.

What does induced mean?

• caused

• prevented

• maintained

What does perils mean?

• joys

• common

• Serious and immediate dangers or risks

What inference can be made about today’s passage?

• Driving during a blizzard can be incredibly dangerous.

• Driving during a blizzard is easy if the driver is careful.

• People travel as usual during most blizzards.

In order for a storm to be considered a blizzard, the winds must be sustained for three

hours. Many storms bring fast winds, snow, and cold temperatures. However, if they last less

than three hours, they don't qualify as a blizzard. Three hours or more of sustained blizzard

conditions is dangerous. Anyone caught outside in such a storm runs the risk of frostbite or

worse. For a long time, it wasn’t clear how blizzards form. Due to current weather

monitoring stations and satellites, experts can track the development of storms. This allows

experts to predict blizzards with greater accuracy. When it is clear where the trajectory of

the storm will take it, people can be warned so they can prepare by shopping for supplies.

What does sustained mean?

• brief

• trickle

• continuous

What does trajectory mean?

• path

• weather

• power

In order for a storm to be considered a blizzard, the winds must be sustained for three

hours. Many storms bring fast winds, snow, and cold temperatures. However, if they last less

than three hours, they don't qualify as a blizzard. Three hours or more of sustained blizzard

conditions is dangerous. Anyone caught outside in such a storm runs the risk of frostbite or

worse. For a long time, it wasn’t clear how blizzards form. Due to current weather

monitoring stations and satellites, experts can track the development of storms. This allows

experts to predict blizzards with greater accuracy. When it is clear where the trajectory of

the storm will take it, people can be warned so they can prepare by shopping for supplies.

What is the main idea of today’s

passage?

• Not all winter storms qualify as blizzards,

  which are very dangerous storms.

• People should be very serious about

  preparing for blizzards.

• For many years, it was unclear how

  blizzards develop.