CELPIP Reading Part 3Reading for Information Practice

A. In regions with windy winters, drifting snow can cover a cleared road again soon after a plow has passed. A living snow fence is a line of closely spaced trees or shrubs that remains in the ground throughout the year. Rather than trapping snow at the road's edge, the vegetation slows the wind and causes much of its load to settle before reaching the pavement. As the moving air loses speed, snow gathers in a long drift on the sheltered side of the planting. When this drift forms at a safe distance, less loose snow is available to blow across the road during the next storm.

B. Effective design begins with identifying the usual direction of winter winds and placing the fence on the upwind side of the area to be protected. Designers leave a broad setback between the planting and the road because the resulting drift needs room to grow without extending onto the travel surface. Several staggered rows usually provide more even protection than one solid wall, while small openings prevent damaging pressure from building around the plants. Suitable species must tolerate the site's soil, moisture, and road salt while maintaining enough low growth to slow wind near the ground. Young plants may also require weed control, watering, and guards against animals until they are large enough to form an effective barrier.

C. Once established, living snow fences can improve driver visibility and reduce how often crews must plow routes after moderate storms. Their roots help hold exposed soil in place, and their branches can intercept wind that might otherwise dry the land. On farms, the sheltered zone may reduce wind stress on crops, while the plants can provide nesting or feeding spaces for wildlife. These benefits are not immediate, since landowners must reserve a strip of ground and wait several growing seasons for full protection. Poorly chosen species can spread beyond their intended rows, and neglected plants may develop gaps that direct wind and snow toward vulnerable spots.

D. A project often begins with road managers and landowners examining maps, slopes, and evidence of previous drifting together. Written agreements can clarify who will control weeds, replace dead plants, and care for the fence after the initial planting. Managers inspect the rows after severe weather because broken branches, buried seedlings, or changes in nearby land use can alter performance. If an opening appears, additional shrubs can fill the weak section before it begins concentrating snow in the wrong place. Although living fences require continuing attention, mature plants can function for many winters without the yearly installation needed for portable fencing.

E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.