Part 2

Part2

For questions 13-27, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only

one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (O).

Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separata answer sheet.

Weather in Antarctica

The most extreme weather conditions experienced in Antarctica are associated (O)……. blizzards. These are simply strong winds with falling snow (13)……. , more commonly,  snow that is picked up and pushed along the ground by the wind. Blizzards may last for days at (14)……. time, and in some cases it can be almost impossible for people to see. lt is not unusual (15)……. objects only

about a metre or (16)…… away to become unrecognisable. Scientists doing research in  the area (17)  ….. then confined to their tents or caravans.  We think of blizzards (18)…….. extremely cold, while in fact temperatures in the  Antarctic  are  usually  higher than  normal (19)……… a blizzard. Major blizzards of several days in length occur more frequently in some locations than in others.

(20) ….. may be eight or ten such blizzards in any particular place (21)……. an annual basis. Theyoften cause considerable damage, so that any scientific buildings or equipment constructed in this region must be speciallymade to give as (22)…………. protection as possible.

lf the weather is fine, visibility in Antarctica is usually excellent because of the clear air and the absence  of  dust and smoke.(23)      this means is that people often greatly underestimate the distance of objects and features of the landscape. Also, very large features (24)……. as mountains may appear to be above the horizon, or even upside (25) ….. . These ‘mirages’, (26)……. are just tricks played by the eyes in certain conditions, have led to explorers in the Antarctic making many errors (27)…..    judgement.