Αγγλικά - Βιβλίο Μαθητή
Lesson 1 Such things happen all the time! Lesson 3 Catastrophes Επιστροφή στην αρχική σελίδα του μαθήματος
Lesson 2

AIMS

  • To read for detail
  • To make hypotheses about the past
  • To use general knowledge about a
    local event to discuss in English

Task 1

In pairs, read the three texts on natural disasters below and complete the table

with the signs of disaster.

DISASTER earthquake hurricane tsunami
SIGNS
 		      
Warning signs are often there!
Learn to recognise them and be prepared.
A. Hurricanes
When the skies turn gloomy and begin to change colours or
become very dark with hints of yellows or greens, it is time to
seek shelter. The rise in ocean temperatures causes strong upper
tropospheric winds to blow, as happened with hurricane Katrina in
August 2007. As barometric pressure falls, and temperatures rise
and stillness settles over the sea. These are all signs that a
hurricane is on its way.
B. Tsunamis
Tsunamis are perhaps the most difficult to prepare for. An
earthquake near water may be an indication that a tsunami will
shortly follow. In a coastal area where the sea suddenly draws back
many survivors report a sucking sound. During the Indian Ocean
tsunami of 26th December 2004, the sea withdrew and many
people then went onto the exposed sea bed to investigate just
before the fatal tsunami struck.
C. Earthquakes
Before the occurrence of an earthquake the subsurface
temperature of the earth rises between 5 and 9 degrees
Celsius. This causes negative effects on electromagnetic waves of
the radio, television and telephone. Before the earthquake, mobile
telephones start malfunctioning. 10 to 20 hours before the
occurrence of an earthquake, animals become highly disturbed
and restless. Domestic animals like cows, dogs, cats struggle
against being tied up, and even turn on the owner.
Source: http://www.unesco.org/csi/pub/papers/glimpse6.htm
Tragedies!

Speaking

Look at the picture. How do you suppose the

boy must have felt after the earthquake?

How could people have helped him to feel

better?

Read the bullet points to check your ideas

and then decide on a heading from A-C

for the points.

  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Difficulty maintaining balance in life
  • Limited attention span
  • Disorientation or confusion
  • Depression, sadness
  • Guilt

Task 1

In pairs, read the points and think about the different problems that might have

caused the stress. Then think about the different signs of stress and ways to

overcome stress to help you complete the table.

SIGNS OF STRESS CAUSES OF STRESS WAYS TO OVERCOME STRESS
Difficulty sleeping    
Difficulty maintaining balance in life    
Limited attention span    
Disorientation or confusion    
Depression, sadness    
Guilt    

Task 2

A.

Look at the completed box and in pairs discuss your ideas about each point. Do

you think they would have been useful for people who suffered in the fires in the

Peloponnese in the summer of 2007? Why? Why not?
B. Word Formation
Make new words from the words in CAPITALS to complete the statements.
DESTROY Fires cause ……………… of villages in Peloponnese
ERUPT New ……………… of Mt St. Helen’s.
EXPLODE Causes discovered for the ……………… on Challenger in 1986.
EVACUATE Floods result in the ……………… of village.
PROTECT Locals need greater ……………… against hurricanes.
ATTEND Children are urged to pay ……………… to safety measures.
ASSUME The latest ……………… is that earthquake will strike soon.
Lesson 2

Listening 1 - Pre-listening

With your partner write down the names of any ships you

might have heard of that sunk. Compare your answers.

NAME   YEAR   SEA
         
         
         

Look at the picture of this ship. What do you think has

happened? Do you know the name of this ship? What

else do you know about this disaster? Discuss in pairs.

Task 1

A. How might the passengers have been feeling?
B.

What might the passengers have been doing when the ship started to sink?

How might they have been feeling?

Task 2

Listen to the seven comments from rescue workers and survivors on that

night. In pairs, use the phrases a-g to match a comment for each situation 1-

7 to how they felt when the accident happened.

  1. you must have been scared to death
  2. you should have stayed with your group
  3. you could have drowned
  4. they should have been helping everyone
  
  1. they shouldn't have been watching TV
  2. he might have been looking at the wrong chart
  3. he can't have been sleeping

Listening 2

Listen to the radio report on the accident and write a number in the box

beside each picture as you hear it on the tape.

image

Task

Listen to the radio report again

and complete the spidergram with

the missing information:
Tragedies!

Writing

Use the information in Listening 2 and the information from the Greek

newspaper below to make a report about what happened. Include what

you think might have happened to cause the accident and what the

captain and crew should have done or could have done to save the ship.

Με εργασίες απορρύπανσης γιόρτασαν, χθες, στη Θήρα

την Ημέρα Περιβάλλοντος. Στις νότιες περιοχές της

Καλντέρας εντοπίζεται η ρύπανση. «Αν και συμπληρώ-

νονται δύο μήνες, δεν έχει παρουσιαστεί ακόμα κανένα

σχέδιο άντλησης», λέει ο δήμαρχος του νησιού.

Role-play

The sinking of the Titanic was one of the greatest disasters ever. One of the

survivors gave an interview to a journalist after the disaster. Look at the situations

he describes below and the comments made by the Interviewer. In pairs, take turns

and use the information below to make short dialogues and play the roles of the

survivor and the interviewer. Look at the example.

img
Survivor   Interviewer
Situation
  1. We were on the bottom deck and water
    was coming in fast.
  2. The sea was icy cold.
  3. The captain knew about the icebergs.
  4. He didn't read the weather report.
  5. Everyone was going about their daily life
    as normal.
  6. We knew there were few lifeboats.
  7. In the end I found my mother alive.
  8. Researchers found children sitting at a
    kitchen table.
  9. The crew knew the weather was going to
    be bad soon.
  10. A boy was stuck up on a ladder for hours.

image

 Comment
  1. He shouldn't have been climbing
    alone.
  2. You can't have felt very safe.
  3. He might have forgotten.
  4. You must have been freezing.
  5. They must have been having lunch.
  6. You must have felt pleased.
  7. That must have been very
    frightening.
  8. They should have left days earlier.
  9. They can't have known it would
    happen so suddenly.
  10. He could have slowed down.

Task

Take turns with your partner. Use must have, can't have, should have, might have,

could have with your own ideas to suggest a reason for the following situations.

  1. We couldn't find our dog.
  2. I lost my bag.
  3. I can't find my pen.
  1. Everyone was crying.
  2. He didn't know what to do.
  3. There were lifeboats for only 700 passengers.