We were about to climb up to the top of the mountain ________ it began to rain heavily.

We were about to climb up to the top of the mountain ________ it began to rain heavily.

1. A.
   as
2. B.
   while
3. C.
   when
4. D.
   since

33. We were about to climb up to the top of the mountain ________ it began to rain heavily.

A. as                            B. while                C. when                D. Since

We were about to climb up to the top of the mountain ________ it began to rain heavily.

A. as                                     B. while                      C. when                      D. since

We were about to climb up to the top of the mountain ________ it began to rain heavily.

A. as                            B. while                C. when                D. since

We were about to climb up to the top of the mountain ________ it began to rain heavily.

A. as　　　　　　 B. while　　　　 C. when　　　　　 D. since

We were about to climb up to the top of the mountain ________ it began to rain heavily.

I had looked forward to this day for a long time. Finally, I, Kirsty Sturart, would stand on the top of Mount Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe. Although I climbed often in my native Scotland, this was my first trip to the Alps. My companions — Jean Pierre Barton, Maurice Gautier, and Mary Sargent — and I left our camp early and planned to reach the top by late morning.

As we neared the top, large clouds gathered and it began to snow. We found shelter and decided to wait for the snow to stop. After three hours, however, we decided to go back and try again the next day. We started down the mountain in the thick snow. Jean Pierre forgot his sunglasses and went back to look for them. As he was returning to us, he started to fall.

His fall started an avalanche (雪崩) and it was falling towards us! I was swept away by the heavy snow. Jean Pierre hurried down to me. “Are you OK?” he asked.

“I think I broke my leg,” I answered.

“I’d better radio for help!” he said. “Where are the others?” We couldn’t see Maurice or Mary anywhere.

Jean Pierre called the emergency radio number, and the police said they would send help right away. It seemed like hours, but only minutes later we heard the welcome sound of a helicopter (直升飛機(jī)). The helicopter couldn’t land on the mountainside, so they lowered two men, two dogs and a stretcher (擔(dān)架). One man ran to me, but I told him to search for the others. The dogs were trained for rescue and soon began to dig crazily in the snow.

Bernardo, the lead dog, found Mary’s scarf and led the rescuers to her. Maurice was nearby. The men gave us hot drinks and warm blankets and then prepared to lift us into the helicopter. Two men inside the helicopter pulled us up with the ropes. I went first on the stretcher.

Once we were safely inside, the helicopter flew to the hospital in Chamonix. Our poor rescuers and their dogs had to climb all the way back down the mountain. Later we would find these brave men and thank them for saving our lives.

36. What prevented the climbers from reaching the top?

A. The terrible weather.

B. The loss of the sunglasses.

C. The injury of the team members.

D. The unexpected height of the mountain.

37. How did the writer break his leg?

A. The road was covered with snow.

B. His companion knocked into him.

C. The avalanche caused a fall for him.

D. The heavy clouds blocked his view.

38. How did the writer feel while waiting for help?

A. Anxious.           B. Crazy.               C. Sorry.               D. Angry.

39. What do we learn from the passage?

A. Mary was the leader of the team.

B. The team was upset about their failure.

C. It was several hours before the rescue team arrived.

D. The writer was excited thinking of climbing Mount Blanc.