2．We had been living our valley for sixteen months when we first realized the dangers that could exist．It was the year when the storms came early，before the calendar even hinted at winter，even before November was out．（71）GSoon snow began to fall．Within a day it lay some 15 centimeters deep．It almost completely blocked our lane and made the streamside path slippery and dangerous．But on the neighboring heights the snow was much deeper and stayed for longer．Up there the wind blasted fiercely．Deeply in our valley we felt only sudden gusts of wind：trees swayed but the branches held firm．
And yet we knew that there was reason for us to worry．The snow and wind were certainly inconvenient but they did not really trouble us greatly（72）B．It reminded us of what could have occurred if circumstances had been different，if the flow of water from the hills had not，many years before，been controlled，held back by a series of dams．（73）C
Day after day，we watched furious clouds pile up high over the hills to the west．Sinister grey clouds extended over the valleys．They twisted and turned，rising eastwards and upwards，warning of what was to come．We had seen enough of the sky； now we began to watch the river，which every day was becoming fuller and wilder．
The river seemed maddened as the waters poured almost horizontally down to its lower stretches．（74）DIt was far deeper than we'd ever seen it so near our home，lunging furiously at its banks．For three days we prayed that it would stay below its wall（75）E．
A．It was the river，the Ryburn，which normally flowed so gently，that threatened us most．
B．The great power of all this water prevents us from believing ourselves to be completely safe in our home．
C．In a short time the snow started to melt．
D．Just a couple of meters from our cottage，the stream seemed wild beneath the bridge．
E．Our prayer were answered as the dam held and the waters began to subside．
F．They grew so strong that we couldn't control it．
G．Until then，we had felt safe and sheltered in our valley．
分析 本文属于说明文类的短文阅读．主要介绍了我们居住了16个月的山区受到了洪水的袭击，洪水，冰雪等异常严重，让我们感受到了前所未有的危险．
解答 71-75 GBCDE
71．G．考查上下文的理解能力．通过开头一句We had been living our valley for sixteen months when we first realized the dangers that could exist．可知，16个月以来我们没有感到过危险的存在，G项Until then，we had felt safe and sheltered in our valley．直到那时（even before November was out）我们还是感到安全和居住无忧的，故选G．
72．B．考查上下文的理解能力．后面一句the flow of water from the hills had not，many years before，been controlled，held back by a series of dams说明了洪水的严重危害，故选B，这次洪水的强大破坏性使我们不再相信我们的居住地是安全的．
73．C．考查上下文的理解能力．根据后面的now we began to watch the river，which every day was becoming fuller and wilder可知，这些部分原因是由冰雪融化导致的，故选C．
74．D．考查上下文的理解能力．前面提到The river seemed maddened河水好像发狂了，那么D项中Just a couple of meters from our cottage，the stream seemed wild beneath the bridge桥下的溪流也是变得异常的狂野符合文意．
75．E．考查上下文的理解能力．前面一句was far deeper than we'd ever seen it so near our home，lunging furiously at its banks说明洪水是不受控制的，故选E．
点评 对于选句填空这种题型要搞明白上下文之间的逻辑关系，要根据对话者所说的语气及语义关系来做出判断；只要符合文章的结构、通顺合理即可．
