It was only four o'clock, but it was cold and getting dark. I 1 my nose up against the window. Snow! It was 2 and settling on top of the already thick white carpet (地毯).
"Dad!" I yelled 3 . "Dad, come here—look at this snow!" He came in from the 4 .
"Yes, look at that," he said. "It's coming down quite 5 , isn't it?" He put his hand on my shoulder and looked down at me with a 6 on his face. "Well, I'm going back to the living room to read my paper," he said and started to turn away. His smile broadened even further.
"Oh, Dad," I said sadly, shaking his arm. "Please... can we go sledging (滑雪橇)? You 7 we would if we ever got snow."
"Just a joke, dear. Of course we can," said Dad. "I know the 8 place. Go and get ready."
"Really? Great! Let's go!"
Outside, the ground was covered with snow. The snow flew up as we walked through it. We were walking to a place where my dad went sledging 9 he was a boy.
"Here we are then. I used to 10 many happy hours here with my sledge," said Dad. I stopped and looked around me.
"This is it?" I asked 11 , looking at the slight incline (缓坡) that lay ahead of us.
"It certainly is," said Dad. "My friends and I 12 some serious speed on here back in the day. Let me tell you."
I couldn't believe him, but I pulled my sledge to the top of the incline anyway and got in. Dad gave me a 13 , and down I went at a snail's pace (步速). It was so slow. All I could 14 behind me was his laughter.
"OK, OK," he said, catching up to me and walking beside my sledge as it went along. "Maybe it isn't as steep (陡峭的) as I 15 ."
