The snow, already more than half a foot deep, obliterated the line between earth and sky behind a hazy white curtain. I had been following the path of the future railway for forty kilometres. Although I could hear the roar of machinery further back in the hills, I had seen neither work sites nor workers.
Entering Lingkuan Gorge, my irritation increased. Even in clear weather, in this gorge the sun never shone. It didn't matter where you looked up along the twisting course the most you could see of the sky was a patch no bigger than the palm of your hand. Now it was dusk and the swirling snowflakes and the gale made every step a struggle.
Construction in the gorge was very busy. Everywhere people were at work. Generators, cement-mixers, air compressors shook the ground. Hundreds of light bulbs gleamed dim and yellow. Electric wires, crisscrossing like a giant spider web, were scarcely visible, but I could see the overhead cables and their pulley cars sliding back and forth loaded with materials.
Hungry, cold, I tripped and fell, scraping my hands. Enough! I'd find some place under a cliff, out of the wind, and rest a few hours. If I reached the materials depot tomorrow morning by ten o'clock, that still wouldn't be too late. Stumbling around in the dark like this, I was liable to fall into some deep ravine and that would be the end of this Materials Department chief;I'd have to be put on the "used up" list!
Question 1: How does the author describe the snowy conditions and their effect on visibility?
Answer: The snow, already more than half a foot deep, creates a hazy white curtain that obscures the line between earth and sky, reducing visibility.
Question 2: What does the author observe about the construction activity in Lingkuan Gorge?
Answer: The construction in the gorge is busy, with people working everywhere and various machinery operating, including generators, cement mixers, and air compressors.
Question 3: How does the author describe the weather conditions in Lingkuan Gorge?
Answer: The author describes the weather as dusk with swirling snowflakes and a gale, making every step a struggle.
Question 4: Why does the author decide to find a place to rest despite the urgency of reaching the materials depot?
Answer: The author is hungry, cold, and injured from falling, so they decide to find a place to rest under a cliff to escape the wind and avoid the risk of falling into a ravine in the dark.
Question 5: What risk does the author face if they continue stumbling around in the dark?
Answer: The author fears falling into a deep ravine, which could lead to serious injury or death, potentially resulting in being put on the "used up" list.
Question 6: How does the author convey their frustration and exhaustion in the passage?
Answer: The author's irritation increases, they stumble and fall, and they express a sense of urgency and desperation in finding a place to rest despite the need to reach the materials depot.