If a hazard is described as "soft slabs break under you / your feet", which phrase completes the sentence?

• A. Above
• B. Under you / your feet
• C. Beside you
• D. Around you

Answer: (D)

The idea here is how we describe where the snow instability is located on a slope. When you hear that soft slabs break under you or under your feet, it signals that the weakness is directly beneath you as you step, but the warning isn’t confined to just that exact spot. The phrase that completes the sentence should convey that the risk surrounds you as you move—the hazard isn’t limited to one point but exists in the surrounding snow as you travel.

That’s why finishing with “around you” is the best fit. It communicates that soft slabs can be present on the slope in the area you’re moving through, and loading or disturbance can cause a release not only underfoot but in the nearby snow as well. In practice, this means you assess stability in the surrounding terrain, test likely spots, and plan routes that avoid areas where slabs could fail in any direction you might travel.