Precipitation falls as snow when the air temperature is below 2°C. It is a myth that it needs to be below zero to snow. In fact the heaviest snow falls tend to occur when the air temperature is between zero and 2°C. The falling snow does begin to melt as soon as the temperature rises above freezing, but as the melting process begins, the air around the snowflake is cooled.
If the temperature is warmer than 2°C then the snowflake will melt and fall as sleet rather than snow, and if it's warmer still, it will be rain.
The size and make up of a snowflake depends on how many ice crystals group together, and this will be determined by air temperatures. Snowflakes that fall through dry, cool air will be small, powdery snowflakes that don't stick together. This 'dry' snow is ideal for snow sports but is more likely to drift in windy weather.
When the temperature is slightly warmer than 0°C, the snowflakes will melt around the edges and stick together to become big, heavy flakes. This creates 'wet' snow, which sticks together easily and is good for making snowmen.
Which of the following statements about snow match the information in the passage?
Result:
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Option 1: "Snow is formed from ice."
Explanation: The text states that snow is formed from tiny ice crystals in the atmosphere. This directly supports the idea that snow is made from ice, as it describes the process of ice crystals colliding and sticking together to form snowflakes.
Option 2: "Falling snow melts because of warm air around it."
Explanation: While the text mentions that falling snow begins to melt when the temperature rises above freezing, it does not state that it melts specifically because of warm air around it. Instead, it indicates that the melting process starts when temperatures exceed 0°C, which is a more general statement.
Option 3: "Subzero temperatures are required for snow to fall."
Explanation: The passage explicitly states that it is a myth that temperatures must be below zero for snow to fall. It clarifies that snow can fall at temperatures between 0°C and 2°C, thus contradicting the claim that subzero temperatures are necessary.
Option 4: "Sleet develops at less than two degrees centigrade."
Explanation: The text explains that sleet occurs when the temperature is warmer than 2°C, not less than. Therefore, this statement is incorrect as it misrepresents the temperature condition for sleet formation.
Option 5: "Dry snow falls in colder temperatures than wet snow."
Explanation: The text indicates that dry snow falls through dry, cool air, while wet snow forms when temperatures are slightly warmer than 0°C. This supports the idea that dry snow occurs at colder temperatures compared to wet snow.
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