Контрольные диктанты. На основе книги Д. Зуева «Времена года» на Сёзнайке.ру

Контрольные диктанты

I
На небе разгорается заря. Я пробираюсь узкой дорожкой через густую рожь. Тяжелые колосья касаются лица и будто собираются удержать меня. Из придорожных зарослей выпорхнула перепелка и скрылась во ржи.
Поднимается солнце, и его лучи освещают далекие поля, прибрежные кусты возле речки. Она ярко блестит на солнце.
Вот и лес. Я предполагал собрать здесь много ягод и отыскать грибы. Мои предположения оправдались. Ягоды буквально устилали лесные поляны. Стоило присесть — видишь, как прячутся в траве головки спелой земляники, подберезовики. 1
Долго бродил по лесу. С трудом дотащил я до дома полную корзину пресладких ягод. За день мое лицо и руки загорели. После такой прогулки хорошо выкупаться и прилечь отдохнуть на свежем сене. (109 слов)

II
Поздней осенью выпадает первый снег. Он преображает все вокруг. Пушистые снежинки осторожно касаются земли, и она одевается в ослепительный наряд. Побелели дорожки и крыши домов. Загораются, блестят разноцветные искорки инея. Свинцовая вода темнеет среди беловатых прибрежных зарослей.
Как прекрасна белоствольная березовая роща! Веточки покрыты хлопьями, но от любого прикосновения снежинки осыпаются. В ельнике снег так засыпал деревца, что ты их не узнаешь. Елочка становится похожей на причудливую снежную бабу. Всюду виднеются следы лесных зверюшек. По шелухе шишек можно отыскать белку.
В предзимние дни дома не сидится. Люди всех возрастов выходят на пешеходные маршруты. Каждый хочет почувствовать свежесть первого морозца, сыграть в снежки.
«Здравствуй, зима!» — радостно говорят люди. (107 слов)

III
С вечера разыгралась метель. Прошумела она, и волшебно преобразился лес.
Слепят глаза блестящие на солнце сугробы. Заколдовала зима молчаливого богатыря в хвойной кольчуге. Грузные ветки елей под тяжестью снега почти касаются земли. Синичка сядет, а ветка не дрогнет.
Под березками приютились крохотные елочки. В причудливый наряд одела метель молодую поросль. От холодных лучей солнца загорается на них снежное покрывало. Как хороши они теперь!
Вьюга посеребрила пышные прически преогромных сосен. На их макушках примостились пышные снежные шапки. Под соснами змеится след лукавой лисицы.
Вечером в чащобе хмурятся хвойные потемки. Таинственный сумрак окутывает даль. Во мраке безлунных ночей только и видишь одни березы в темном лесу. Трудно отыскать здесь тропинку или даже дорогу. (111 слов)
(На основе книги Д. Зуева «Времена года»)

90000 VOCABULARY ON THE TOPIC 90001 90002 90003 Text 1 90004 90005 90002 90003 THE CLIMATE OF ENGLAND 90004 90005 90002 90005 90002 The Gulf Stream, a warm current flowing from the Gulf of Mexico round the North of Europe, affects the climate of the West coast of Europe, the British Isles and Ireland. In these western countries, summers are not so warm and winters are not so cold as in the rest of Europe. 90005 90002 Spring is the season when 90015 nature returns to life 90016.Vegetation grows rapidly, for there are periods of sunshine broken by 90015 occasional showers 90016. Clouds are continually 90015 floating across the sky 90016, and after the rain we see 90015 a magnificent rainbow 90016. 90005 90002 It seldom 90015 gets unbearably hot 90016 in summer, as there is generally 90015 a cooling breeze 90016 from the South-West, but nevertheless the temperature may rise to ninety degrees in the shade (Fahrenheit, of course). The weather 90015 becomes sultry 90016, the heat 90015 grows oppressive 90016, and the air 90015 gets stifling 90016.The sky 90015 is 90016 suddenly 90015 overcast with 90016 low, black clouds and distant 90015 peals of thunder 90016 indicate the approach of a 90015 thunderstorm 90016. Later, 90015 dazzling flashes of lightning 90016 are followed almost immediately by 90015 a clap of thunder 90016 directly overhead, and 90015 it pours with rain 90016. Anyone 90015 caught in the rain 90016 90015 takes shelter 90016, otherwise he may 90015 get wet to the 90016 90015 skin (get wet through 90016).After the thunderstorm the air is 90015 remarkably fresh 90016. The thunder has cleared the air. We are in for 90015 a spell of good weather 90016 again. 90005 90002 In autumn the leaves 90015 turn yellow and reddish 90016, and 90015 fall to the ground 90016. Then most birds migrate to warm countries. Autumn is the season of 90015 mist 90016, of 90015 windy days 90016, of 90015 biting winds 90016, of 90015 beautiful sunsets 90016, and 90015 miserable chilly days 90016 when 90015 it drizzles 90016.90015 A spell of sunny weather 90016 in October is called 90015 an Indian Summer 90016. 90005 90002 The climate of the South of England is 90015 milder 90016 than the climate of Scotland. In the North, the winters are harder. When there are eight degrees of frost in England, they say it 90015 is freezing hard 90016, and everyone complains of the cold. This is because their 90015 damp climate 90016 makes them feel the cold more. 90005 90002 90015 On 90016 90015 a frosty morning 90016 the country is covered with 90015 hoar-frost 90016.90015 Icicles 90016 hang from the roofs of house. The rivers and lakes 90015 are frozen over 90016. The snow falls, but sometimes it does not last long. 90015 The thaw sets in 90016, the snow turns to 90015 slush, 90016 and walking is extremely unpleasant owing to the 90015 puddles 90016 of water in the streets, and to the constant fear of being 90015 splashed with mud 90016 by a passing car. 90005 90002 The English often grumble about the weather but you should not pay too much attention to an Englishmans complaints about his own climate.The devil is not so black as he is painted. 90005 90002 90005 90002 90003 Additional Texts 90004 90005 90002 90003 AUTUMN 90004 90005 90002 90005 90002 In September 90015 summer yields to autumn 90016. It is the season of 90015 gradual transition 90016 from the warmth of summer to the cold of winter. When autumn begins it is still warm, when it ends it is cold. First it gets cooler, then colder. Autumn often 90015 opens with 90016 fine weather.September has fewer rainy days than October. The sun sends down the soft light. The sunrays although bright are not so warm as they were in summer. The green leaves 90015 turn yellow 90016. The countryside 90015 is clothed in gold and brown 90016. When the light wind blows the leaves begin to fall from the trees 90015 in a shower of gold and red 90016, covering the ground with a beautiful, soft, coloured carpet. 90005 90140 90140 90002 Warm days of early autumn are called «90015 Indian Summer 90016» or «90015 Golden Autumn 90016».People enjoy being out-of-doors in such weather. They go to the country to admire the 90015 landscape 90016 and go to the forest to pick nuts and berries and gather mushrooms. 90005 90002 But the weather is rather 90015 changeable 90016. It often rains and frequently drizzles. The weather becomes 90015 nasty 90016. In late autumn the landscape becomes grey and dull. A cold wind 90015 drives heavy low clouds across 90016 the sky. The roofs are wet and the streets are 90015 muddy.90016 People are dressed in raincoats and carry umbrellas as they do not want 90015 to get soaked to skin 90016. 90005 90002 Autumn brings with it 90015 the harvest time 90016 when the crops are gathered in and the fruit is picked. Apples, pears, plums are ripe now. The farmers work hard. It is necessary to finish work before the weather gets rainy and cold. 90005 90002 Autumn is the season of beautiful sunsets and bright colours and the season of fogs, biting winds and miserable chilly days.People prefer to stay indoors as it is so unpleasant to go out. 90005 90002 90003 WINTER 90004 90005 90002 90005 90002 The weather depends on the season and the climate of the country. The weather changes with the changing of the season. Really 90015 winter-like weather 90016 90015 sets in 90016 in December. In winter the sky is pale and grey, 90015 low heavy clouds move across 90016 it. The sun does not shine very often. When the sun shines everything 90015 glitters in the rays of the sun 90016.Frost paints all the trees silver, the air is 90015 frosty 90016. Ponds, rivers and lakes are 90015 frozen over 90016 and 90015 covered with deep snow 90016. It often snows very hard, 90015 snowflakes 90016 fall thick and fast, covering the ground with 90015 a vast white sheet 90016. 90005 90002 As usual the roads are 90015 slippery 90016 and one must be careful when crossing the roads. But sometimes there are sunny days. The snow on the roofs begins to 90015 melt 90016 and 90015 icicles 90016 hang from the roofs of the houses.When it gets warmer, it often 90015 sleets 90016. The unpleasant time comes when 90015 the thaw begins 90016. 90005 90002 On the frosty morning we can see 90015 hoar-frosten 90016 branches of the trees. The ground rings like iron under people’s feet. Toward the end of winter the weather 90015 grows milder 90016, the sky becomes blue and the days 90015 grow longer 90016. Gradually winter 90015 is replaced by 90016 spring. 90005 90002 90005 90002 90003 SPRING 90004 90005 90002 90005 90002 The most pleasant season in Europe is spring, which lasts from March till June.The earth 90015 is warmed by 90016 the rays of the sun. It 90015 gets gradually milder 90016. The sky is blue and cloudless. Under the bright sunrays snow and the ice sheet on the rivers and lakes begin to 90015 melt 90016 and soon there is no more snow and ice but plenty of water. Little 90015 streams 90016 are running merrily in the street, woods and fields. The days are growing longer. The sun rises at 5 a.m. and sets at 7 p.m. 90005 90002 90015 Nature awakens from her long winter sleep 90016.The white 90015 snowdrops 90016 appear. The air is fresh, it 90015 smells of damp earth and the young buds 90016 on the trees. The birds have come from warm lands, they are getting their nests for summer and are singing songs among the trees. The trees 90015 are filled with new life 90016 and soon they will 90015 come into leaf 90016. The fields and meadows 90015 are dressed in green 90016. Soft spring showers of late April and early May water the earth and make the grass grow. 90005 90002 But really 90015 spring-like weather 90016 90015 sets in 90016 in May.Different kinds of fruit trees flower at the same time. The orchards 90015 are in blossom 90016. The countryside is 90015 a lacework of half-open leaves 90016. It does not often rain but sometimes first 90015 thunderstorms break out 90016. 90005 90002 Some people call spring the season of hope and happiness. 90005 90002 90005 90002 90005 90002 90003 SUMMER 90004 90005 90002 90005 90002 The warm spring sunrays gradually become hotter and hotter and little by little summer replaces spring.Summer sets in in June. The days are the longest as the sun rises early and sets late in the evening. 90015 The trees are in leaf 90016, flowers begin 90015 to blossom 90016 and 90015 their sweet perfume fills the air 90016. Summer brings us a lot of flowers, berries, fruit, vegetables. It’s the farmer’s busy season as he must work in the fields. 90005 90002 In June summer is in its beauty. On most days the sky is cloudless, the sun shines brightly. Everything looks so beautiful and attractive that one can not admiring its beauty.It’s very pleasant to get out of town on days like these. The river glittering in the sun is calling us to go bathing, boating, fishing. Many of us are fond of lying in the sun. Picking berries and mushrooms is one of the most favourite pastimes of many people. 90005 90002 But if the summer is hot and dry and there are long periods without rain, the 90015 heat becomes oppressive 90016. The 90015 dust covers 90016 the grass and the leaves. But all of a sudden 90015 black clouds overcast the sky 90016 and at the same time we have 90015 a storm with thunder and lightning 90016 and sometimes with 90015 hail 90016.It usually 90015 brings relief 90016. The rain 90015 cools the air 90016 and 90015 lays the dust 90016. 90005 90002 The hot sun 90015 ripens 90016 the corn and fruit. Everything is ready for the harvest. It is the time when the most people have their holidays. Some of them are fond of country landscape, others — seacoast. 90005 90002 90005 90002 90003 WEATHER TALK 90004 90005 90002 90005 90002 — Lovely day today, isnt it? 90005 90002 — It is.90015 Theres hardly a cloud in the sky 90016 in fact. It seems too good to last. 90005 90002 — Well have 90015 a heat wave 90016, I fear. It must be 25 degrees 90015 in the shade 90016. 90005 90002 — It is very 90015 close 90016 today. 90015 Not a leaf is stirring 90016. 90005 90002 — 90015 Theres hardly a breath of air 90016. 90005 90002 — By the way, Ive just read the weather-forecast in my newspaper here. 90005 90002 — What does it say? 90005 90002 — Pressure will remain high to the south-west of the British Isles.There will be 90015 occasional rain 90016 or 90015 drizzle 90016, but bright weather with a few 90015 scattered showers 90016 will spread to England and Wales. 90005 90002 — I fear 90015 a thunderstorm is coming 90016. 90005 90002 — 90015 The sky is overcast 90016 and 90015 the sun is going in 90016. 90005 90002 — 90015 It looks like rain 90016. Actually its beginning to rain. And I have left my umbrella at home. 90015 It never rains but it pours! 90016 90005 90002 — Fortunately enough, Ive got my folding umbrella with me.Let me 90015 put it up 90016. 90015 Its coming on to pour 90016. 90005 90002 — What 90015 a tremendous clap of thunder 90016! 90005 90002 — And what 90015 a dazzling flash of lightning 90016! But the English have a saying about the weather: If you dont like it now, just wait a bit. 90005 90002 — Look! 90015 Its clearing up 90016. 90015 The clouds are lifting 90016. 90005 90002 — It has stopped raining. Look at this 90015 magnificent rainbow 90016! 90005 90002 — Bright sunshine again.Now I know why English weather is sometimes worth talking about. 90005 90002 90005 90002 90003 VOCABULARY ON THE TOPIC 90004 90005 90002 90005 90002 90397 Adjectives that describe weather and its phenomena: 90398 90399 fine, (un) pleasant, lovely, splendid, marvellous, gorgeous, promising, mild, sunny, beastly, nasty, wretched, settled, rainy, wet, damp, stormy, hot , foggy, windy, chilly, dull, gloomy, muddy, cloudy, close, stuffy, stifling, dusty, cold, frosty, severe, slippery, 90400 90005 90002 90005 90002 90397 Nouns that describe weather phenomena: 90398 90399 precipitation, rain, drizzle, snow, fog, mist, slush, lightning, a flash of lightning, thunder, a clap of thunder, a peal of thunder, thunderstorm, frost, hoar-frost , snow-flakes, snowfall, snowstorm, icicle, 90400 90005 90002 90005 90002 90397 Verbs that describe weather phenomena: 90398 90399 to rain, to rain heavily, to fall heavily (about rain), to pour, to drizzle, to snow, to thaw, to sleet, to thunder, to lighten, to freeze, to freeze hard, to freeze over (about lakes, rivers, etc.), To sparkle, to melt, to float, to shine, to blow, to overcast, to lift (about the clouds), to clear up, to keep fine (rainy, etc.), 90400 90005 90002 90397 Asking about the weather: 90398 90399 What is the weather like? What weather are we having today? I wonder what the weather is going to be like? 90400 90005 90002 90005 90426 90002 Date: 2015-12-24; view: 1930 90005 90426.90000 Answers for Snow-makers — IELTS reading practice test 90001 90002 Snow-makers 90003 90004 90005 90006 90007 Skiing is big business nowadays. But what can ski resort owners do if the snow does not come? 90008 90009 90010 90005 90007 A 90008 In the early to mid twentieth century, with the growing popularity of skiing, ski slopes became extremely profitable businesses. But ski resort owners were completely dependent on the weather: if it did not snow, or did not snow enough, they had to close everything down.Fortunately, a device called the snow gun can now provide snow whenever it is needed. These days such machines are standard equipment in the vast majority of ski resorts around the world, making it possible for many resorts to stay open for months or more a year. 90010 90005 90007 B 90008 Snow formed by natural weather systems comes from water vapour in the atmosphere. The water vapour condenses into droplets, forming clouds. If the temperature is sufficiently low, the water droplets freeze into tiny ice crystals.More water particles then condense onto the crystal and join with it to form a snowflake. As the snow flake grows heavier, it falls towards the Earth. 90010 90005 90007 C 90008 The snow gun works very differently from a natural weather system, but it accomplishes exactly the same thing. The device basically works by combining water and air. Two different hoses are attached to the gun. one leading from a water pumping station which pumps water up from a lake or reservoir, and the other leading from an air compressor.When the compressed air passes through the hose into the gun. it atomises the water — that is, it disrupts the stream so that the water splits up into tiny droplets. The droplets are then blown out of the gun and if the outside temperature is below 0 ° C, ice crystals will form, and will then make snowflakes in the same way as natural snow. 90010 90005 90007 D 90008 Snow-makers often talk about dry snow and wet snow. Dry snow has a relatively low amount of water, so it is very light and powdery.This type of snow is excellent for skiing because skis glide over it easily without getting stuck in wet slush. One of the advantages of using a snow-maker is that this powdery snow can be produced to give the ski slopes a level surface. However, on slopes which receive heavy use, resort owners also use denser, wet snow underneath the dry snow. Many resorts build up the snow depth this way once or twice a year, and then regularly coat the trails with a layer of dry snow throughout the winter. 90010 90005 90007 E 90008 The wetness of snow is dependent on the temperature and humidity outside, as well as the size of the water droplets launched by the gun.Snow-makers have to adjust the proportions of water and air in their snow guns to get the perfect snow consistency for the outdoor weather conditions. Many ski slopes now do this with a central computer system that is connected to weather-reading stations all over the slope. 90010 90005 90007 F 90008 But man-made snow makes heavy demands on the environment. It takes about 275,000 litres of water to create a blanket of snow covering a 60×60 metre area. Most resorts pump water from one or more reservoirs located in low-lying areas.The run-off water from the slopes feeds back into these reservoirs, so the resort can actually use the same water over and over again. However, considerable amounts of energy are needed to run the large air-compressing pumps, and the diesel engines which run them also cause air pollution. 90010 90005 90007 G 90008 Because of the expense of making snow, ski resorts have to balance the cost of running the machines with the benefits of extending the ski season, making sure they only make snow when it is really needed and when it will bring the maximum amount of profit in return for the investment.But man-made snow has a number of other uses as well. A layer of snow keeps a lot of the Earth’s heat from escaping into the atmosphere, so farmers often use man-made snow to provide insulation for winter crops. Snow-making machines have played a big part in many movie productions. Movie producers often take several months to shoot scenes that cover just a few days. If the movie takes place in a snowy setting, the set decorators have to get the right amount of snow for each day of shooting either by adding man-made snow or melting natural snow.And another important application of man-made snow is its use in the tests that aircraft must undergo in order to ensure that they can function safely in extreme conditions. 90010 90002 Questions 1-5 90003 90005 90006 Reading Passage 1 has seven paragraphs 90007 A-G. 90008 90009 90010 90005 90006 Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.90009 90010 90005 90006 Write the correct number 90007 (i-x) 90008 in boxes 90007 1-5 90008 on your answer sheet. 90009 90010 90059 90060 90061 90062 90063 90062 90005 90007 Example 90008 90010 90063 90062 90005 90007 Answer 90008 90010 90063 90076 90061 90062 90063 90062 90005 Paragraph A 90010 90063 90062 90005 v 90010 90063 90076 90061 90062 90063 90062 90005 Paragraph B 90010 90063 90062 90005 x 90010 90063 90076 90061 90062 90005 90104 1 90105 iiiiiiivvviviiviiiixx 90106 Answer: ix 90107 Locate 90010 90063 90062 90005 Paragraph C 90010 90063 90062 90063 90076 90061 90062 90005 90104 2 90105 iiiiiiivvviviiviiiixx 90106 Answer: iii 90107 Locate 90010 90063 90062 90005 Paragraph D 90010 90063 90062 90063 90076 90061 90062 90005 90104 3 90105 iiiiiiivvvi 90010 90063 90076 90141 90142.90000 Autumn: The Cooling-Off Season | Live Science 90001 90002 Sandwiched between blazing summer and chilly winter, autumn is the «cooling off» season. Nighttime arrives earlier, temperatures begin to drop and most vegetative growth decreases. Animals begin to prepare for the dearth of food that generally comes during the winter, gathering supplies or traveling to warmer climates. 90003 90002 In 2015 року, autumn in the Northern Hemisphere begins at 4:21 a.m. EDT (8:21 a.m. UTC) on Sept. 23, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.It ends at 11:48 p.m. EST on Dec. 21 (4:45 a.m. UTC on Dec. 22). 90003 90006 Seasons explained 90007 90002 The cycle of seasons is caused by Earth’s tilt on its axis and the planet’s orbit around the sun. When the axis points toward the sun, that hemisphere experiences summer. The hemisphere tilted away from the sun experiences winter. After Earth travels a quarter of the way around the sun, the axis is pointed along the planet’s path, parallel to the star. 90003 90002 From our perspective here on Earth, the sun travels along an imaginary line called the ecliptic, which marks the plane in which the planets orbit the sun.Another imaginary line is the celestial equator, which a projection of Earth’s equator into space. For half the year, during summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun appears to move along the ecliptic north of the celestial equator. During the other half of the year, it appears to be south of the celestial equator. 90003 90002 The exact moment when the sun appears to arrive at the intersection of the ecliptic and the celestial equator is when autumn begins. At Earth’s equator, the sun is directly overhead at noon.These moments in time are called equinoxes, and the length of daylight and nighttime are approximately the same, according to the National Maritime Museum. The word «equinox is derived from two Latin words: 90013 aequus 90014 (equal) and 90013 nox 90014 (night). 90003 90002 Day and night are not exactly 12 hours each. Because of the way the sun’s light refracts in Earth’s atmosphere, we can actually see the sun for a few minutes before its disk rises and for a few minutes after it has truly set.Thus, daylight on any given day lasts roughly six or seven minutes longer than it seemingly should. [Earth’s Equinoxes & Solstices (Infographic)] 90003 90006 Different definitions of autumn 90007 90002 The autumnal equinox is the beginning of «astronomical autumn,» which ends with the start of winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, that is from around September 22 to about December 22, though it varies from year to year, according to the NOAA. In the Southern Hemisphere, the season runs from about March 20 to June 21.90003 90002 Weather forecasters and some countries define the season as «meteorological autumn» by the three months in which the weather changes. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is September, October, and November. In the Southern Hemisphere, meteorological autumn occurs in March, April, and May. 90003 90006 Falling temperatures 90007 90002 Autumn brings a nip in the air. How much of a change is felt depends on the location of the area on Earth. Regions near the equator experience fairly constant temperatures throughout the year, while those farther north or south experience greater variations.This is because the equator gets a consistent amount of sun. Far northern and southern regions get less sun due to the curvature of the sun, according to the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program. 90003 90002 For the continental United States, temperatures during autumn (September through November) average 53.5 degrees Fahrenheit (11.9 Celsius), according to the NOAA — an 18-degree (10 degrees C) drop from average summer temperatures. Average autumn temperatures range from a high of 72.7 F (22.6 C) in Florida to a low of 26.7 F (minus 2.9 C) in Alaska. 90003 90006 What’s in a name? 90007 90002 Autumn, of course, is also known as fall, primarily in the United States. Ambivalence over the name of the third season of the year reflects its status as a relatively new concept, according to Natalie Wolchover in a 2012 article for Live Science. Many cultures only recognized two seasons, such winter and summer or winter and spring. 90003 90002 The period of transition between summer and winter came to be known as «harvest.»» Autumn, «a Latin word, first appeared in English in the late 14th century, and gradually gained on» harvest. «In the 17th century,» fall «came into use, almost certainly as a poetic complement to» spring, » according to «Folk Taxonomies in Early English» (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2003) by Earl R. Anderson. [For more, see «Why Does Fall / Autumn Have Two Names?»] 90003 90002 90003 Fall leaves. (Image credit: stock.xchng) 90006 Why do leaves change color? 90007 90002 In response to chilly temperatures and the changes in daylight, leaves stop producing green-tinted chlorophyll, which allows them to capture sunlight and make energy.Because chlorophyll is sensitive to the cold, certain weather conditions like early frosts will turn off production more quickly. 90003 90002 Meanwhile, orange and yellow pigments called carotenoids — also found in orange carrots — shine through the leaves ‘washed out green. The red color in some leaves comes from anthocyanins, which unlike carotenoids, are only produced in the fall, according to the State University of New York College of Environment. They also give color to strawberries, red apples, and plums.90003 90002 But red leaves are also signal of distress. If you see leaves of a tree turning red early, in late August, the tree is most likely suffering from a fungus or perhaps a ding from a reckless driver. 90003 90006 Autumn in different cultures 90007 90002 Autumn is generally regarded as the end of the growing season. Also known as the harvest season, autumn ushers in a time of celebration for many farming cultures when they gathered in their crops. 90003 90002 «Autumn, or fall, is rich with different festivals which mainly celebrate the return of light, harvest, and, like spring, rebirth through death,» Cristina De Rossi, an anthropologist at Barnet and Southgate College in London, told Live Science .For example, the harvest festival in the United Kingdom is a time when people give thanks for the fruits of the land and collect food to donate to those in need. 90003 90002 «Harvest celebrations tend to combine giving thanks with prayers for future abundance, to propitiate the god (s) and ensure successful crops,» said De Rossi. Another example of this would be Thanksgiving, which is celebrated in the United States. It is a historical commemoration, but it has a spiritual dimension strongly associated with homecoming and giving praise for what has been bestowed upon us, explained De Rossi.90003 90002 De Rossi also points out these celebrations as further examples of fall’s ties with giving thanks and rebirth: 90003 90002 90003 The foliage of Hocking Hills is so breathtaking the fall time that it’s known as Southeastern Ohio’s Scenic Wonderland. (Image credit: George Bailey Dreamstime) 90060 90061 The Jewish festival of Sukkot, which commemorates the time spent in exile by giving thanks. 90062 90061 Halloween (All Hallows Eve) celebrations on Oct. 31 remind people of the connection with death, the spirits of those who have left this earth, and thus rebirth.90062 90061 On the following day, Christians, especially Catholics, celebrate All Hallows Day, or All Saints ‘Day, when people visit their departed and bring flower to their graves. 90062 90061 In Mexico, the living celebrate their ancestors during the Day of the Dead on Nov. 2. 90062 90069 90006 Autumn quotes 90007 90002 The season is often regarded as a melancholy time and has inspired many writers and poets. Here are some quotes about autumn: 90003 90002 «Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.»90075 — Albert Camus 90076 90003 90002» Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking successive autumns. «90075 — George Eliot 90076 90003 90002» Autumn … the year’s last, loveliest smile. «90075 — William Cullen Bryant 90076 90003 90002 «Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.» 90075 — Emily Bronte 90076 90003 90002 «Now Autumn’s fire burns slowly along the woods and day by day the dead leaves fall and melt.»90075 — William Allingham 90076 90003 90002» Autumn in New York, why does it seem so inviting? «90075 — Vernon Duke 90076 90003 90002» Summer ends, and autumn comes, and he who would have it otherwise would have high tide always and a full moon every night. «90075 — Hal Borland 90076 90003 90002» I saw old Autumn in the misty morn stand shadowless like silence, listening to silence. «90075 — Thomas Hood 90076 90003 90002″ Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits.»90075 — Samuel Butler 90076 90003 90002» Autumn is as joyful and sweet as an untimely end. «90075 — Remy de Gourmont 90076 90003 90002 90013 Additional reporting by Alina Bradford, Live Science Contributor, and Tim Sharp, Reference Editor. 90014 90003 90002 90075 Additional resources 90076 90003 .90000 Facts about the Seasons — Science for Kids 90001 90002 A season is a period of time in which things happen that do NOT happen at other times (or seasons). 90003 90002 When we talk about a season, we usually think of the four main weather or growing seasons, which are Spring, Summer, Fall (Autumn) & Winter. 90003 90002 90003 90008 90009 Seasons Facts for Kids 90010 90011 90012 90013 The four seasons are spring, summer, autumn, and winter 90014 90013 Summer is usually warm and mild 90014 90013 We see more thunderstorms during the summer 90014 90013 Thanksgiving and Halloween are celebrated during Fall 90014 90013 Trees prepare for winter during Autumn 90014 90013 The days get shorter during Autumn 90014 90013 Winter can be associated with snow and freezing temperatures.90014 90013 Animals like bears and squirrels hibernate in wintertime 90014 90013 Snowflakes can fall at about 9 mph 90014 90013 The different seasons mean different kinds of precipitation in many parts of the world; rain in the summer and snow in the winter. 90014 90013 The first day of winter is not until December 21st-long after it has turned cold in many places. 90014 90013 The seasons do not come at the same time of the year for everyone. For example … When it is winter in the United States, Australia is having summer.That means Christmas in Australia is warm and sunny! 90014 90037 90002 90003 90040 90009 SPRING 90010 90043 90002 Spring starts when the day and night at the same length. The weather is warmer and sunnier, and trees and plants begin to grow. 90003 90002 Many animals have their babies in spring. 90003 90002 90003 90050 90040 90009 SUMMER 90010 90043 90002 Summer generally starts on the longest day of the year. Depending on where you live, this is typically around 21 June.Summer is the warmest and sunniest time of the year. 90003 90002 We start to see fruit grows on trees, and plants begin to flourish. Young animals become bigger and stronger. 90003 90002 90003 90002 90003 90040 90009 AUTUMN (FALL) 90010 90043 90002 Autumn (is also known as the 90068 fall 90069,) begins when the day and night are the same lengths again. During autumn, leaves change color and fall from the trees. 90003 90002 Some animals collect food for winter comes. 90003 90002 90003 90050 90040 90009 WINTER 90010 90043 90002 Winter starts on the shortest day of the year.Depending on where you live, this is generally around this 21 December. The weather is usually colder in some places there is lots of snow. 90003 90002 Plants and trees stop growing. Some animals, like bats and bears one places to hide and sleep. We call this hibernation. 90003 90002 90003 90050 90040 90009 Why we have seasons 90010 90043 90002 We have different seasons because of the earth’s constant movement around the sun. 90003 90002 The closer a place on earth is to the sun, the warmer it will be.90003 90002 The farther away it is, the colder it will be. 90003 90002 90009 Here is how it works … 90010 90003 90002 The earth orbits the sun and because it rotates on its axis (an imaginary pole running through the middle of the earth). 90003 90002 To orbit means to move around something. It takes the earth 365 days (a year) to orbit or move completely around the sun. 90003 90002 To rotate means to turn around in a circle. It takes the earth 24 hours (1 day) to rotate on its axis. 90003 90002 Whichever side of the earth is closest to the sun as it is rotating is having its day time and the other side is having night time.90003 90002 Whichever side of the earth is closest to the sun as it orbits is having summer, while the other side is having winter. 90003 90002 90003 90040 90009 So why do some places on earth never get cold 90010 90043 90002 The earth is not standing up straight. It tilts or leans-the top half of the earth leans back away from the sun. 90003 90002 This means that the bottom half of the sun is always closer to the sun than the top half of the earth. 90003 90002 So … the bottom half of the earth is always warmer than the top half of the earth.90003 90002 Even the bottom half of the earth that is turned away from the sun is warmer than the top half of the earth facing the sun is. 90003 90002 Are you confused ??? 90003 90002 90009 Let’s see if we can make it a bit easier …. 90010 90003 90002 The reason the people in South America and other tropical places never have cold weather is because these places are on the lower half of the earth (Southern Hemisphere) — 90003 90002 which is always closer to the sun than the top half (Northern Hemisphere).90003 90040 90009 To see how this works, look at the picture below: 90010 90043 90002 Do you see that no matter what stage of orbit the Southern Hemisphere is in, it will be closer to the sun? 90003 90002 THAT is why these places never get cold. 90003 90002 90003 90002 90003 90002 90003 90040 90009 Why do we need different seasons 90010 90043 90002 In places where the different seasons bring different temperatures, the seasons give plants and trees a rest period. 90003 90002 You might even say they hibernate.90003 90002 This rest period also gives the ground time to rest so that it can be ready to grow flowers, fruits, vegetables and grasses when it is warm. 90003 90002 Not everyone has four different seasons where they live, but if you do, you know that each one has something special to look forward to and enjoy. 90003 90002 90003 .