Match these words for different types of disaster with the pictures

Flood drought fire hurricane nuclear explosion

volcanic eruption tornado plane crash

A) B) C)

D) E) F)

G) H)

Are these disasters usually natural or man-made? Can they be predicted or prevented? What needs to be done after one has happened? Have any of these disasters been in the news recently? When was it to be more exact?

TASK I.

Here is some information about an earthquake in Armenia. Match the first part of each sentence (a-g) with the second part (1-7).

a) The earthquake struck at 11.41 am

b) Snow first fell during the next few days,

c) At first it was thought that 55,000 people had died,

d) As soon as the news of the tragedy had been broadcast,

e) A plane carrying relief supplies crashed

f) Restoration of the affected area began

g) A senior government official promised the town would be completely rebuilt

1. when trying to land

2. as the people of Spitak, Armenia, were busy with their morning work.

3. by the end of the following year.

4. two weeks after the earthquake.

5. but later the figure came to 25,000.

6. which made rescue operations difficult.

7. aid worth millions of dollars was expected to pour in.

TASK II.

Fill the gaps in the following news story with one of these time expressions. Use each expression once:

After while until soon meanwhile afterwards before initially

Chernobyl’s Nuclear Reactor No.4 blew up at 1.24 am on April 26, 1986. (1) …………that night none of the local villagers had dreamt there was any danger from the power plant, and even(2) ………….the explosion they did not realize how serious the situation was. ‘We decided to carry on as normal,’ says Pete Remezenko.(3) …………we regretted that decision.’ (4)……… a cloud of radioactive dust was spreading over Scandinavia and central and eastern Europe, the Remezenko family were digging potatoes in their garden, almost in the shadow of the blazing reactor. The authorities (5)…… started to evacuate the entire area within a radius of 30 km of the plant. Families were asked to take in evacuees (6) ………permanent accommodation could be found for them. (7) …………, urgent plans were made to build replacement homes. The number of people who died as a result of the accident was (8) ………….. very small, but who knows what the long-term effects on present and future generations will be?

ROLE-PLAY.

In groups of 4 to 5, student A is a newspaper reporter, who was at the place of the earthquake (Task I). He arrived in your city to tell you about the disaster. The other students in the groups ask him/her questions about what happened. (Before you start, take the time to think of what you are going to say.)

PART IV. WRITING

TASK I. In not more than 100 words describe how the items brought to the surface enabled the captain of the ‘Elkor’ to identify the lost ship. Use your own words and your imagination around the following items:

the personal belongings of a seaman, Alan Fielding, books, clothing, photographs, letters, nothing of value, a heavy gun, a cruiser, another sea-chest, a ship’s officer, an unfinished letter, March 14, 1943, the ship’s log-book, the Karen, to piece together, to come to light.

TASK II. COMPOSITION

In not more than 200 words write the page of the Karen’s log book which was dated March 14, 1943. Use the ideas given below. Do not write more than three paragraphs.

Title: The Last Day.

Introduction: Journey has gone well so far – convoy successfully fought off an air attack – early morning – no ships lost.

Development: 10 am First attack by U-boat – ship ahead – the Dauntless sunk – men in sea – the Karen picked up survivors – 720 men – 50 lives lost – crowded on board – attack – puts it out of action with depth charges – 3.15 pm (last entry) – second U-boat attack…