At the Student Centre,Annie watches an educational program on television. Fill in the gaps in the summary of the news item with the correct word or phrase,according to what you hear. Write your answers to Questions 15 to 23 in the column on the right of the page. The first one has been done for you as an example. You now have some time to look at the summary. Now listen to the program aboutBritain's climate,and answer Questions 15 to 23.

Host of program:Northern Irelandgenerally has a sparse and scattered population, and is a largely rural country with good agricultural land. The relative smallness of the country and the widespread influences of a warm sea and westerly winds mean that there are no extreme contrasts in temperature throughoutBritain. The climate is mainly temperate, with variations between coolness and mildness. Altitude modifies temperatures, so that higher ground is colder than low-lying land. Much of Scotland and the upland areas of Wales and England are therefore cool in summer and cold in winter compared with most of England The main factors affecting the amount of British rainfall are (I) the depressions,or low-pressure areas, which travel eastward across the Atlantic Ocean; (2) the prevailing south-westerly winds throughout much of the year; (3) the exposure of the western coasts to the Atlantic 0cean;and (4) the fact that most of the highest ground lies in the west. As a result,the heaviest annual rainfall is in the west and north, over 1,600 mm,with an autumn or winter maximum. The high ground in the west protects the lowlands of the south and east, so that annual rainfall here is quite moderate at about 800 mm, with a slight summer maximum. The total national rainfall average is over 1,100 mm annually. March to June tend to be the driest months, while September to January are the wettest. Although drought conditions are infrequent, they do occur and can cause problems for farmers,the water companies and consumers. Low-pressure systems may produce very variable weather. They normally pass over the northern British Isles, and south-westerly winds have a strong influence for much of the year. The result can be windy,wet and unstable conditions. But high-pressure systems,which also happen throughout the year, are relatively stable and move more slowly, producing light winds and generally settled weather. This pattern can result in fine and dry effects,both in winter and summer. The amount of sunshine inBritainvaries between regions. It decreases from south to north,inland from the coastal belts,and with altitude, In summer,the daily average sunshine varies from five hours in northernScotlandto eight hours on the Isle of Wight. In winter,sunlight averages one hour in northernScotlandand two hours on the English south coast. These average statistics indicate thatBritainis not a particularly sunny country, although there are periods of relief from the general guernseys. The frequent cloud-cover over the BritishIsles is a complicating factor,so that even on a hot summer'sday there may be little sunshine breaking through the clouds. This can give humid,sticky conditions. The unpredictability ofBritain's weather is virtually a national institution a topic of daily conversation, and for some a conditioning factor in the national character. The British tend to think that they live in a more temperate climate than is actually the case. But many escape abroad in both winter and summer.