Unit 4 Reports on Disasters & Accidents
Part Ⅰ Getting ready
Every year disasters and accidents kill thousands of people, injure millions more, and destroy buildings, land, and valuables. Some natural disasters and a few accidents are strange and unusual and little can be done to guard against them and they are nobody's fault; while other disasters, especially many accidents, can easily be prevented by following some simple rules.
A The following words will appear in this unit. Listen carefully and study the definitions.
1. tornado: violent and destructive whirlwind
2. mudslide: a slow, sticky mudflow down a gradual slope
3. hijack: seize control forcibly of (an aircraft, bus, ship, etc.), in order to achieve certain aims or to go to a desired destination
4. toll: the number lost, taken, etc.
5. evacuate: remove (inhabitants, etc.) from (a place or area), as for protective purposes
6. relief: any aid given in times of need, danger, or disaster
7. calamity: disaster; any extreme misfortune bringing great loss and sorrow
8. casualty: person killed or seriously injured in an accident
9. debris: wreckage; rough, broken bits and pieces of stone, wood, glass, etc., as after destruction
10. rubble: debris from buildings, etc., resulting from earthquake, bombing, etc.
B You are going to hear some brief news items. Supply the missing words.
● A ___________ went off in a busy _________ area in east Belfast last night killing one policeman and injuring _________ bystanders.
● Florida authorities say more than _________ homes were destroyed by the _________, which ripped through the central part of the state.
● A dramatic development in the explosive situation on Green Isle: a _________________ from Northbridge to Greenport has been _____________ by a group of extremists calling themselves the "________________________".
● Relief workers in ________ have finally gotten a break from the severe weather that has hampered efforts to _______ from flooding. The flooding and mudslides last month have killed more than _________ people and left________homeless.
● A bank in Manchester was __________ at gunpoint yesterday as _______ men burst in at ____________ wearing masks and carrying shotguns. The robbers escaped with over ____________ pounds.
● Florida was hit yesterday afternoon by a ___________ of up to ________ miles an hour. _________ people are believed to be dead and over ____________ injured.
● The Greek airliner that was _________ and flown to Algeria on ___________ is now on its way back to Athens.
Part Ⅱ Hurricanes & tornadoes
Hurricanes and tornadoes are the two most violent and destructive storms on earth. They can cause great damage to property and loss of life. Anyone who has been through a hurricane or a tornado is likely to remember the experience the rest of his life.
A You are going to hear a news item. While listening for the first time, write down some key words in the notes column. After the second listening, answer the following questions.
Questions:
1. What is the news item mainly about?
The news item is about ___________ in India.
2. How many people could have died?
____________________________________________
3. How strong were the winds?
____________________________________________
4. Who came to help?
____________________________________________
5. What consequences were brought about apart from casualties?
Homes were flattened, crops were ____________, transport __________ were cut, and houses _____________.
6. How many people are thought to have died when a ferry sank?
____________________________________________
7. How many people have been evacuated?
____________________________________________
B Listen to the following news item. While listening for the first time, take down some key words in the left-hand column. After the second listening, answer the following questions.
Questions
1. What?
The worst of the __________ and __________ appears to be __________.
2. Where?
___________________________________________
3. When?
___________________________________________
4. How was air traffic?
It was ____________________
5. How many people died?
___________________________________________
6. Why are the casualty figures low?
Because _____________________ were issued beforehand.
C Now try this: listen to a more authentic version of the news item. Do the multiple choice.
1. Most flights are going to be normalized ____________.
a. in a week
b. by next Tuesday
c. tomorrow
d. tonight
2. There will be serious delays on the _______ motorways on the coming weekend.
a. French and Italian
b. German and Italian
c. Swiss and German
d. French and Swiss
3. The damage to homes and property in France is expected to be at least ____________.
a. 40 000 000 francs
b. 400 000 000 francs
c. 4 000 000 francs
d. 4 000 000 000 francs
4. Motorists and rail travelers in ____________ are not expected to travel during the next few days.
a. Germany
b. Switzerland
c. Northern Italy
d. France
part Ⅲ Earthquakes
Earthquakes do not occur in all parts of the world. They are confined to certain definite areas, or belts. The most important belt is the rim of the Pacific Ocean. Since earthquakes are highly destructive and may cost many people's lives, it is quite necessary that the seismologist be able to predict when and where there is going to be an earthquake.
A You are going to hear a news item about an earthquake. Write down every word as a dictation. It will be read three times. First reading, read from beginning to end. Second reading, read with pauses. Third reading, read without pauses again.
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
B Listen to a news item carefully. While listening to it, write down some key words in the notes column.
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
C Now try this: listen to a more authentic version of the news item and fill in the missing information.
Main Ideas Supporting Details
Ⅰ. Event: an earthquake A. time: on ______ night, Nov. ______
B. place: in ________________________
Ⅱ. Estimated deaths A. present number: __________________
B. possible toll: ___________________
Ⅲ. Destruction A. the worst damage: in _____________
___________________ outside Naples
1. hit a village _________________
2. hit a local ___________________
3. hit many ______________________
B. in Naples: _______________________
1. many buildings of _____________
stories collapsing
2. many people spending the night
_______________________________
3. with smaller tremors, townspeople
rushing for __________________,
resulting in _______ roads and
_______________
4. _______________________ broken
5. _____________ supplies failing
Ⅳ. Difficulties in A. bad weather conditions:
rescue work 1. _____________
2. _____________
B. ______ conditions in some areas
not very good
Part Ⅳ More about the topic: Earthquake Tips
Now seismologists are even able to record an earthquake that is occurring thousands of miles away from us. However, about 10% of each year's earthquakes present them with a puzzle. These quakes could not be located in any geographical position. Therefore, one has to learn something about what to do in case an earthquake occurs without any notice.
Now listen to a passage about earthquake tips. The following phrases describe what you should do and should not do when an earthquake hits. Put these phrases into the correct column.
◆ Protect your head with your arms.
◆ Listen to the radio or watch TV for emergency bulletins.
◆ Stay near the window.
◆ Telephone your friends to see if they're OK.
◆ Stay inside.
◆ Leave right away.
◆ Watch out for falling objects.
◆ Go on driving.
◆ Give first aid, if necessary.
◆ Use the elevators.
◆ Duck under a desk or sturdy table.
◆ Use flashlights when gas is leaking.
◆ Hold onto your cover.
◆ Rush for exits.
◆ Check for fire.
Do's Don'ts
General tips during _______________ _________________
an earthquake
In a high-rise building _______________ _________________
While driving _______________ _________________
In a crowded store _______________ _________________
In a theater _______________ _________________
After the earthquake _______________ _________________
Part Ⅴ Do you know ...?
Mushrooms are fleshy plants that are most likely to be found in pastures, meadows, and woodlands. Some mushrooms are delicious as food. A few kinds of mushrooms, which many people call toadstools, are poisonous. There is no completely safe way for anyone but an expert to distinguish wild edible mushrooms from very similar poisonous varieties. So it is much wiser to buy the mushrooms you eat than to collect wild ones.
You are going to hear a passage about mushrooms. Listen carefully and do the multiple choice with the help of the notes you have taken in the notes column.
1. You cannot get mushrooms by _______________.
a. searching for them in the water
b. searching for them in the wild
c. buying them in stores
d. growing them
2. Which of the following is not an American way of cooking mushrooms?
a. They make mushroom bread.
b. They make mushroom salad.
c. They stew mushrooms with onions in butter.
d. They fry mushrooms in oil.
3. Which of the following statements is true?
a. People can grow mushrooms on trees alive.
b. Most of the mushrooms are poisonous.
c. There are no green mushrooms.
d. Edible mushrooms are very nutritious.
4. Some years ago in Russia, _______________ people died of eating poisonous mushrooms.
a. 30
b. 20
c. 300
d. 200
5. Farmers in France sometimes use ______________ to find mushrooms hidden under the ground.
a. satellites
b. chickens
c. laser lights
d. pigs
6. Which of the following statements is not true?
a. Next week, we will know how to grow mushrooms.
b. The attempt to oust the then Russian President Gorbachev in 1990 was not successful.
c. Mushrooms can only be found in certain parts of the world.
d. Many people in Russia love hunting mushrooms.
Part Ⅵ Reminder of key points in this unit
Verb & Verb Phrase Noun & Noun Phrase Other
Part Ⅰ rip firebomb
take over bystander
hamper tornado
extremist
mudslide
mask
hurricane
hijack
Part Ⅱ cut off death toll tidal
collapse relief forthcoming
evacuate eyewitness
normalize ferry
urge calamity
chaos
casualty
Part Ⅲ disrupt makeshift in the open
ensue rubble
rescue
tremor
Part Ⅳ duck cabinet sturdy
dislodge tile orderly
pull over high-rise
anchor sprinkler
take cover debris
reassure overpass
leak latch
tune to precaution
bulletin
Part Ⅴ lack chlorophyll in the wild
oust garlic
mate fungi
potassium
niacin
