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7 questions on snow 7 questions on snow
(10 minutes later)
7 questions on snow7 questions on snow
For some it's deep and crisp and even. For others, thin and slushy and dirty. Whichever type of snow, there's been a lot of it at home and abroad this winter. But how much do you know about the white stuff?For some it's deep and crisp and even. For others, thin and slushy and dirty. Whichever type of snow, there's been a lot of it at home and abroad this winter. But how much do you know about the white stuff?
1.) Multiple Choice Question1.) Multiple Choice Question
The UK is in the grip of its longest cold snap for almost 30 years, but - as yet - it hasn't beaten the great white winter of 1962/63 when it snowed consecutively for how many days?The UK is in the grip of its longest cold snap for almost 30 years, but - as yet - it hasn't beaten the great white winter of 1962/63 when it snowed consecutively for how many days?
  1. 52
  2. 71
  3. 101
  1. 52
  2. 71
  3. 101
2.) Multiple Choice Question2.) Multiple Choice Question
How many sides do most snowflakes have?How many sides do most snowflakes have?
  1. Four
  2. Five
  3. Six
  4. Eight
  1. Four
  2. Five
  3. Six
  4. Eight
3.) Multiple Choice Question3.) Multiple Choice Question
Which snowflake forms a pleasing blanket of powder snow, the best type for skiing?Which snowflake forms a pleasing blanket of powder snow, the best type for skiing?
  1. Fern-like
  2. Simple prism
  3. Twelve-sided
  4. Plate-like
  1. Fern-like
  2. Simple prism
  3. Twelve-sided
  4. Plate-like
4.) Multiple Choice Question4.) Multiple Choice Question
When driving on snow-covered or icy roads, which is the best way to avoid skidding?When driving on snow-covered or icy roads, which is the best way to avoid skidding?
  1. Drive in a higher gear
  2. Drive in a lower gear
  1. Drive in a higher gear
  2. Drive in a lower gear
5.) Multiple Choice Question5.) Multiple Choice Question
Sales of which product traditionally increase by 70% during snowy weather? Sales of which product traditionally increases by 70% during snowy weather?
  1. Hot chocolate
  2. Cat litter
  3. Carrots
  1. Hot chocolate
  2. Cat litter
  3. Carrots
6.) Multiple Choice Question6.) Multiple Choice Question
If the atmosphere gets colder, what happens to snowflakes?If the atmosphere gets colder, what happens to snowflakes?
  1. Get smaller
  2. Get bigger
  3. Stay the same
  1. Get smaller
  2. Get bigger
  3. Stay the same
7.) Multiple Choice Question7.) Multiple Choice Question
Which of the following is not a type of snow recognised by the Met Office?Which of the following is not a type of snow recognised by the Met Office?
  1. Snow pellet
  2. Diamond dust
  3. White shot
  1. Snow pellet
  2. Diamond dust
  3. White shot
AnswersAnswers
  1. It's 71 days, says the Met Office. It snowed somewhere in the UK every day from Boxing Day, 1962, until 6 March 1963.
  2. It's six, as most snowflakes are hexagonal. Three or 12-sided snowflakes can also fall, says leading snow-crystal scientist, Kenneth Libbrecht. Snow can also fall as simple prisms, columns, bullet shapes and needles.
  3. It's picture 1 - flakes known as stellar dendrites form the powder snow popular with skiers. The most detailed snowflake classification sytem was published by meteorologists C Magono and CW Lee in 1966, and included 80 types of snow.
  4. Higher gears aid the tyres gripping when moving off on packed ice and snow, says the driving school BSM. It's a myth that staying in a lower gear is safer.
  5. It's cat litter, used to grit paths and pavements. Sales of carrots rose by 60% and hot chocolate by 27% during last February's cold snap, says home-delivery service Ocado.
  6. Snowflakes get smaller as the temperature drops, because they remain in a dry, powdery form. At higher temperatures, closer to 0C, they clump together to become larger and wetter - and make better snowballs.
  7. It's "white shot", which doesn't exist. The other two are legitimate types of snow and recognised by the Met Office.
  1. It's 71 days, says the Met Office. It snowed somewhere in the UK every day from Boxing Day, 1962, until 6 March, 1963.
  2. It's six, as most snowflakes are hexagonal. Three or 12-sided snowflakes can also fall, says leading snow-crystal scientist, Kenneth Libbrecht. Snow can also fall as simple prisms, columns, bullet shapes and needles.
  3. It's picture 1 - flakes known as stellar dendrites form the powder snow popular with skiers. The most detailed snowflake classification sytem was published by meteorologists C Magono and CW Lee in 1966, and included 80 types of snow.
  4. Higher gears aid the tyres gripping when moving off on packed ice and snow, says the driving school BSM. It's a myth that staying in a lower gear is safer.
  5. It's cat litter, used to grit paths and pavements. Sales of carrots rose by 60% and hot chocolate by 27% during last February's cold snap, says home-delivery service Ocado.
  6. Snowflakes get smaller as the temperature drops, because they remain in a dry, powdery form. At higher temperatures, closer to 0C, they clump together to become larger and wetter - and make better snowballs.
  7. It's "white shot", which doesn't exist. The other two are legitimate types of snow and recognised by the Met Office.
Your ScoreYour Score
0 - 3 : Snow bad0 - 3 : Snow bad
4 - 6 : A light dusting4 - 6 : A light dusting
7 - 7 : Snow good7 - 7 : Snow good
For a complete archive of past quizzes, including our weekly news quiz 7 days 7 questions, visit the Magazine index and scroll down the page.For a complete archive of past quizzes, including our weekly news quiz 7 days 7 questions, visit the Magazine index and scroll down the page.