Learn by Listening Level 2

[00:00.51]Snow|[00:02.50] Snow is the white substance|[00:04.18] that falls to the ground during cold weather conditions.|[00:07.60] Each tiny piece of snow, called a snowflake,|[00:10.83] is a very small amount of water|[00:13.01] that has frozen into an unusual shape.|[00:16.12] During the winter months,|[00:18.18] huge numbers of snowflakes fall to the ground,|[00:21.28] covering the land in a white blanket of snow.|[00:24.71] In many parts of the world, people never see any snow.|[00:28.88] Snow only falls when there is moisture in the air,|[00:32.36] and when the temperature|[00:34.29] falls below the freezing point of water,|[00:36.21] which is zero degrees Celsius.|[00:39.01] During the winter, snow falls instead of rain.|[00:42.31] One advantage of snow is|[00:44.12] that it allows many fun outdoor activities.|[00:47.41] Children like to play in the snow.|[00:49.53] For example, they may make a "snowman"|[00:52.57] by rolling snow into a large ball,|[00:55.06] and then placing these balls of snow on top of each other,|[00:58.61] in the shape of a person.|[01:00.29] Another fun activity in the snow is skiing.|[01:04.00] Skis are very long, thin, flat pieces of hard material|[01:08.60] that one wears on one's feet.|[01:11.15] Wearing skis allows a person to slide|[01:14.45] along the surface of the snow.|[01:16.69] People can ski down the side of a hill,|[01:19.62] travelling at great speeds.|[01:21.67] Many people find the sport of downhill skiing|[01:25.21] to be very exciting.|[01:27.08] Some people like to ski along flat ground,|[01:30.07] often travelling great distances.|[01:32.87] This sport, called cross-country skiing,|[01:35.98] is an excellent way to develop physical fitness.|[01:39.40] Of course, snow also causes some problems.|[01:43.25] Snow can make driving dangerous|[01:45.74] because falling snow makes roads slippery,|[01:48.94] and on a windy day,|[01:50.37] blowing snow can make it difficult to see very far.|[01:54.42] It can also be a lot of work|[01:56.34] to remove snow from the roads and sidewalks.|[01:59.45] Snow is a heavy substance, and it must be cleared away|[02:03.37] using a shovel or a large machine.|[02:05.99] Many people love the beauty of the land|[02:08.91] when it is covered by snow.|[02:10.53] The white covering of snow over the fields and trees|[02:14.13] can give a feeling of peace and calm.|[02:17.00] If you have never seen snow before,|[02:19.73] you should someday experience this strange|[02:22.35] and wonderful substance!