The Reading / Listening - Hurricane Irma - Level 6

A record-breaking hurricane is causing death and destruction as it passes through the Caribbean and heads towards the U.S. state of Florida. On Thursday, Hurricane Irma caused major devastation across the Caribbean islands of Barbuda, St. Martin, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands. The Prime Minister of Barbuda, Gaston Browne, said about 95 per cent of the buildings on the island had suffered some damage. He said: "It's absolute devastation. The island is literally under water….Barbuda is barely habitable." A government official for St Martin said: "There is massive destruction. We'll concentrate our first efforts so that in the next hours people can get access to food and drinking water."

Hurricane Irma is a category 5 storm – the strongest on the 1-5 scale of hurricanes. It is the second strongest hurricane ever to be recorded and the strongest ever recorded east of the Caribbean Sea. Irma has kept a wind speed close to 300kph for more than 24 hours. This is the longest period ever recorded. Meteorologists said Hurricane Irma was over 1,200km wide. It is likely to become a Category 4 hurricane when it makes landfall in Florida on Saturday morning. Florida officials have already ordered a mandatory evacuation of Florida Keys - the southern part of the state of Florida. Residents there are bracing themselves for winds of up to 300kph and massive and damaging storm surges.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Hurricane Irma - Level 4  or  Hurricane Irma - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.wired.com/story/hurricane-irma-a-practically-impossible-storm/
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-41182991
  • https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/world/americas/hurricane-irma-caribbean.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. HURRICANES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about hurricanes. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

       record-breaking / hurricane / state / devastation / islands / damage / under water /
       storm / east / wind speed / meteorologists / landfall / evacuation / storm surges

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. NATURAL DISASTERS: Students A strongly believe hurricanes are the worst natural disasters; Students B strongly believe they aren't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. HELPFUL THINGS: How helpful are these things in a hurricane? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How helpful?

Why?

Mobile phone

 

 

Torch

 

 

Blanket

 

 

Tarpaulin

 

 

Chocolate

 

 

Radio

 

 
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5. WINDS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "winds". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. POSSESSIONS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important possessions to take with you in a hurricane at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • mobile phone
  • photographs
  • clothes
  • jewellery
  • teddy bear
  • food
  • wallet
  • other ______

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The opening sentence says Hurricane Irma was record breaking.     T / F
  2. Irma damaged about 95% of buildings on the island of Barbuda.     T / F
  3. Barbuda's Prime Minister said the island was pretty much under water.    T / F
  4. A St Martin official said the priority was to get the Internet working.     T / F
  5. The article said Irma is the second-strongest hurricane ever recorded.     T / F
  6. Hurricane Irma's strongest wind speeds have been 250kph.     T / F
  7. Hurricane Irma is about 1,200km in diameter.     T / F
  8. Residents in southern Florida have been told to stay at home.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. causing
  2. heads
  3. devastation
  4. absolute
  5. concentrate
  6. scale
  7. recorded
  8. meteorologists
  9. mandatory
  10. massive
  1. destruction
  2. spectrum
  3. focus
  4. weather forecasters
  5. leading to
  6. compulsory
  7. total
  8. moves
  9. enormous
  10. registered

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. A record-breaking hurricane is
  2. Hurricane Irma caused major
  3. 95% of the buildings on the island had
  4. A government
  5. people can get access
  6. It is the second strongest hurricane
  7. a wind speed close
  8. It is likely to become a
  9. officials have already ordered a mandatory
  10. massive and damaging
  1. suffered some damage
  2. to food and drinking water
  3. evacuation of Florida Keys
  4. to 300kph
  5. devastation
  6. Category 4 hurricane
  7. causing death and destruction
  8. storm surges
  9. official
  10. ever to be recorded

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
major
massive
suffered
access
breaking
concentrate
heads
literally

A record-(1) ____________ hurricane is causing death and destruction as it passes through the Caribbean and (2) ____________ towards the U.S. state of Florida. On Thursday, Hurricane Irma caused (3) ____________ devastation across the Caribbean islands of Barbuda, St. Martin, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands. The Prime Minister of Barbuda, Gaston Browne, said about 95 per cent of the buildings on the island had (4) ____________ some damage. He said: "It's absolute devastation. The island is (5) ____________ under water….Barbuda is barely habitable." A government official for St Martin said: "There is (6) ____________ destruction. We'll (7) ____________ our first efforts so that in the next hours, people can get (8) ____________ to food and drinking water."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
period
east
bracing
scale
surges
likely
evacuation
close

Hurricane Irma is a category 5 storm – the strongest on the 1-5 (9) ____________ of hurricanes. It is the second strongest hurricane ever to be recorded and the strongest ever recorded (10) ____________ of the Caribbean Sea. Irma has kept a wind speed (11) ____________ to 300kph for more than 24 hours. This is the longest (12) ____________ ever recorded. Meteorologists said Hurricane Irma was over 1,200km wide. It is (13) ____________ to become a Category 4 hurricane when it makes landfall in Florida on Saturday morning. Florida officials have already ordered a mandatory (14) ____________ of Florida Keys - the southern part of the state of Florida. Residents there are (15) ____________ themselves for winds of up to 300kph and massive and damaging storm (16) ____________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  A record-breaking hurricane is causing death and destruction as it passes ______
     a.  threw the Caribbean
     b.  thru the Caribbean
     c.  through the Caribbean
     d.  thorough the Caribbean

2)  On Thursday, Hurricane Irma caused ______
     a.  majorly devastation
     b.  major devastation
     c.  measured devastation
     d.  measure devastation

3)  about 95 per cent of the buildings on the island had suffered ______
     a.  some damage
     b.  same damage
     c.  sum damage
     d.  summit damage

4)  The island is literally under water….Barbuda is ______
     a.  bare habitable
     b.  bared habitable
     c.  barley habitable
     d.  barely habitable

5)  There is massive destruction. We'll concentrate our first efforts so that ______
     a.  in them next hours
     b.  in the next hour
     c.  on the next hours
     d.  in the next hours

6)  a category 5 storm – the strongest on the 1-5 ______
     a.  shale off hurricanes
     b.  scale of hurricanes
     c.  scales of hurricanes
     d.  scale off hurricanes

7)  Irma has kept a wind speed close to 300kph ______ 24 hours
     a.  far more than
     b.  for more than
     c.  fore more than
     d.  four more than

8)  Meteorologists said Hurricane Irma was over ______
     a.  1,200km wider
     b.  1,200km widen
     c.  1,200km wide
     d.  1,200km width

9)  Florida officials have already ordered a ______
     a.  mandatory evacuations
     b.  mandatory evacuating
     c.  mandatory evacuated
     d.  mandatory evacuation

10)  bracing themselves for winds of up to 300kph and massive and damaging ______
     a.  storm purges
     b.  storm surges
     c.  storm urges
     d.  storm verges

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A record-breaking hurricane (1) ___________________ and destruction as it passes through the Caribbean (2) ___________________ the U.S. state of Florida. On Thursday, Hurricane Irma caused major devastation across the Caribbean islands of Barbuda, St. Martin, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands. The Prime Minister of Barbuda, Gaston Browne, (3) ___________________ of the buildings on the island had suffered some damage. He said: "It's absolute devastation. The (4) ___________________ under water….Barbuda is barely habitable." A government official for St Martin said: "There is massive destruction. We'll (5) ___________________ efforts so that in the next hours, people can (6) ___________________ and drinking water."

Hurricane Irma (7) ___________________ 5 storm – the strongest on the 1-5 scale of hurricanes. It is the second strongest hurricane ever to be recorded and the strongest ever (8) ___________________ the Caribbean Sea. Irma has (9) ___________________ close to 300kph for more than 24 hours. This is the longest period ever recorded. Meteorologists said Hurricane Irma was over 1,200km wide. It is likely to become a Category 4 hurricane (10) ___________________ landfall in Florida on Saturday morning. Florida officials have already ordered a mandatory evacuation of Florida Keys - the southern (11) ___________________ state of Florida. Residents there are bracing themselves for winds of up to 300kph and massive and (12) ___________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. Where did the article say Hurricane Irma was heading?
  2. How many Caribbean nations did the article mention in paragraph one?
  3. What percentage of buildings on Barbuda was damaged?
  4. What did Barbuda's Prime Minister say the island was under?
  5. What is the focus for providing people with on St Martin?
  6. How many hurricanes have been stronger than Irma?
  7. How wide is Hurricane Irma?
  8. When is Irma predicted to make landfall in Florida?
  9. What have people in Florida Keys been ordered to do?
  10. What kind of surges are people in Florida bracing themselves for?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where did the article say Hurricane Irma was heading?
a) north
b) Florida
c) south
d) Cuba

2)  How many Caribbean nations did the article mention in paragraph one?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4

3) What percentage of buildings on Barbuda was damaged?
a) 95%
b) 85%
c) 75%
d) 100%

4) What did Barbuda's Prime Minister say the island was under?
a) siege
b) the spotlight
c) water
d) pressure

5) What is the focus for providing people with on St Martin?
a) Internet
b) food and water
c) electricity
d) shelter

6) How many hurricanes have been stronger than Irma?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 0

7) How wide is Hurricane Irma?
a) 1,300km
b) 1,400km
c) 1,200km
d) 1,500km

8) When is Irma predicted to make landfall in Florida?
a) Saturday
b) Friday night
c) Sunday morning
d) no one knows for sure

9) What have people in Florida Keys been ordered to do?
a) evacuate
b) stay indoors
c) listen to the radio
d) batten down the hatches

10) What kind of surges are people in Florida bracing themselves for?
a) big surges
b) electricity surges
c) power surges
d) storm surges

Role play

Role  A – Mobile Phone

You think your mobile phone is the most important thing to save in a hurricane. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): your wallet, food or jewellery.

Role  B – Wallet

You think your wallet is the most important thing to save in a hurricane. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): your mobile phone, food or jewellery.

Role  C – Food

You think food is the most important thing to save in a hurricane. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): your wallet, your mobile phone or jewellery.

Role  D – Jewellery

You think jewellery is the most important thing to save in a hurricane. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why):  your wallet, food or your mobile phone.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'hurricane'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'wind'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • scale
    • east
    • 24
    • wide
    • already
    • storm
    • causing
    • major
    • across
    • some
    • under
    • hours

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Hurricane Irma slams into Caribbean

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'hurricane'?
    3. What do you think of hurricanes?
    4. How can people prepare for a hurricane?
    5. What do you think it's like to experience a massive hurricane?
    6. How can people recover from the devastation of a hurricane?
    7. Would you evacuate if you knew a hurricane was coming?
    8. Should there be a world hurricane recovery fund?
    9. What are the differences between hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones?
    10. How do hurricanes form?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'islands'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about the Caribbean?
    5. Why don't governments prepare better for hurricanes?
    6. What would 300kph winds do to a town?
    7. What do meteorologists do every day?
    8. What part does global warming playing play with hurricanes?
    9. What happens during a storm surge?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a meteorologist?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    A record-breaking hurricane is (1) ____ death and destruction as it passes through the Caribbean and (2) ____ towards the U.S. state of Florida. On Thursday, Hurricane Irma caused major (3) ____ across the Caribbean islands of Barbuda, St. Martin, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands. The Prime Minister of Barbuda, Gaston Browne, said about 95 per cent of the buildings on the island had suffered some damage. He said: "It's (4) ____ devastation. The island is (5) ____ under water….Barbuda is barely habitable." A government official for St Martin said: "There is massive destruction. We'll concentrate our first efforts so that in the next hours, people can get (6) ____ to food and drinking water."

    Hurricane Irma is a category 5 storm – the strongest on the 1-5 (7) ____ of hurricanes. It is the second strongest hurricane ever to be recorded and the strongest ever recorded east (8) ____ the Caribbean Sea. Irma has kept a wind speed close to 300kph (9) ____ more than 24 hours. This is the longest period ever recorded. Meteorologists said Hurricane Irma was over 1,200km wide. It is (10) ____ to become a Category 4 hurricane when it makes landfall in Florida on Saturday morning. Florida officials have already ordered a (11) ____ evacuation of Florida Keys - the southern part of the state of Florida. Residents there are bracing themselves for winds of up to 300kph and massive and damaging storm (12) ____.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     caused     (b)     causes     (c)     causation     (d)     causing    
    2. (a)     headings     (b)     headed     (c)     heads     (d)     headers    
    3. (a)     devastates     (b)     devastation     (c)     devastating     (d)     devastate    
    4. (a)     resolved     (b)     absolved     (c)     resolute     (d)     absolute    
    5. (a)     literally     (b)     literal     (c)     literary     (d)     literature    
    6. (a)     progress     (b)     excess     (c)     recess     (d)     access    
    7. (a)     level     (b)     scale     (c)     ratio     (d)     rank    
    8. (a)     by     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     of    
    9. (a)     far     (b)     from     (c)     for     (d)     of    
    10. (a)     likeable     (b)     likely     (c)     liked     (d)     liking    
    11. (a)     mandates     (b)     mandate     (c)     mandated     (d)     mandatory    
    12. (a)     purges     (b)     urges     (c)     surges     (d)     verges

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. causing death and otdsricutne
    2. caused major nsoaveitdat
    3. The island is yalrlliet under water
    4. Barbuda is barely hiaebblta
    5. We'll erctenotcna our first efforts
    6. get asscce to food

     

    Paragraph 2

    1. a ecoyatrg 5 storm
    2. stotoreeisgolm said Hurricane Irma was…
    3. when it makes ldaafnll in Florida
    4. a mandatory taeuovniac of Florida Keys
    5. Residents there are iargnbc themselves
    6. damaging storm uesrgs

    Put the text back together

    (    )     in Florida on Saturday morning. Florida officials have already ordered a mandatory

    (    )     destruction. We'll concentrate our first efforts so that in the next hours, people can get access to food and drinking water."

    (    )     speed close to 300kph for more than 24 hours. This is the longest period ever recorded. Meteorologists

    (    )     devastation across the Caribbean islands of Barbuda, St. Martin, Anguilla and the

    (    )     evacuation of Florida Keys - the southern part of the state of Florida. Residents there are bracing

    (    )     the Caribbean and heads towards the U.S. state of Florida. On Thursday, Hurricane Irma caused major

    (    )     British Virgin Islands. The Prime Minister of Barbuda, Gaston Browne, said about 95 per cent of the buildings on the island had

    (  1  )     A record-breaking hurricane is causing death and destruction as it passes through

    (    )     said Hurricane Irma was over 1,200km wide. It is likely to become a Category 4 hurricane when it makes landfall

    (    )     Hurricane Irma is a category 5 storm – the strongest on the 1-5 scale of hurricanes. It is the second strongest hurricane

    (    )     themselves for winds of up to 300kph and massive and damaging storm surges.

    (    )     water….Barbuda is barely habitable." A government official for St Martin said: "There is massive

    (    )     ever to be recorded and the strongest ever recorded east of the Caribbean Sea. Irma has kept a wind

    (    )     suffered some damage. He said: "It's absolute devastation. The island is literally under

    Put the words in the right order

    1. is   and  record  hurricane  death  A  breaking  causing  destruction  -   .
    2. caused   Irma   islands  Caribbean   the   across   devastation   major   .
    3. the  on  buildings  the  of  per  cent   95  About  suffered   had  island  .
    4. water   island   under   is   The   literally   .
    5. to   People   food   can   and   get   drinking   access   water   .
    6. scale   The   the   1-5   hurricanes   on   of   strongest   .
    7. ever   recorded   the   hurricane   be   is   strongest   to   It   second   .
    8. wind   Irma   speed   has   close   kept   to   a   300kph   .
    9. mandatory   Officials   already   a   evacuation   have   ordered   .
    10. of   bracing   300kph  themselves  Residents   for  there   winds   are   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A record-breaking hurricane is causing death and destructive / destruction as it passes through the Caribbean and heads / headings towards the U.S. state of Florida. On Thursday, Hurricane Irma caused majority / major devastation across / crosses the Caribbean islands of Barbuda, St. Martin, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands. The Prime Minister of Barbuda, Gaston Browne, said about 95 per cent on / of the buildings on the island had suffered sum / some damage. He said: "It's absolute / absolutely devastation. The island is literally / literal under water….Barbuda is barely habitable / habitation." A government official for St Martin said: "There is massive destruction. We'll concentrate our first efforts so that in the next hours, people can get excess / access to food and drinking water."

    Hurricane Irma is a category 5 storm – the strangest / strongest on the 1-5 scale of hurricane / hurricanes. It is the second strongest hurricane even / ever to be recorded and the strongest ever recording / recorded east of the Caribbean Sea. Irma has kept a wind speed close / closed to 300kph for more than 24 hours. This is the longest period ever recorded. Meteorologists said Hurricane Irma was over 1,200km width / wide. It is likely to become a Category 4 hurricane when it makes / takes landfall in Florida on Saturday morning. Florida officials have already ordered a mandatory evacuate / evacuation of Florida Keys - the southern part / partner of the state of Florida. Residents there are bracing themselves for winds of up to 300kph and massive and damaging storm purges / surges.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _ r_c_rd-br__k_ng h_rr_c_n_ _s c__s_ng d__th _nd d_str_ct__n _s _t p_ss_s thr__gh th_ C_r_bb__n _nd h__ds t_w_rds th_ _.S. st_t_ _f Fl_r_d_. _n Th_rsd_y, H_rr_c_n_ _rm_ c__s_d m_j_r d_v_st_t__n _cr_ss th_ C_r_bb__n _sl_nds _f B_rb_d_, St. M_rt_n, _ng__ll_ _nd th_ Br_t_sh V_rg_n _sl_nds. Th_ Pr_m_ M_n_st_r _f B_rb_d_, G_st_n Br_wn_, s__d _b__t 95 p_r c_nt _f th_ b__ld_ngs _n th_ _sl_nd h_d s_ff_r_d s_m_ d_m_g_. H_ s__d: "_t's _bs_l_t_ d_v_st_t__n. Th_ _sl_nd _s l_t_r_lly _nd_r w_t_r….B_rb_d_ _s b_r_ly h_b_t_bl_." _ g_v_rnm_nt _ff_c__l f_r St M_rt_n s__d: "Th_r_ _s m_ss_v_ d_str_ct__n. W_'ll c_nc_ntr_t_ __r f_rst _ff_rts s_ th_t _n th_ n_xt h__rs, p__pl_ c_n g_t _cc_ss t_ f__d _nd dr_nk_ng w_t_r."

    H_rr_c_n_ _rm_ _s _ c_t_g_ry 5 st_rm – th_ str_ng_st _n th_ 1-5 sc_l_ _f h_rr_c_n_s. _t _s th_ s_c_nd str_ng_st h_rr_c_n_ _v_r t_ b_ r_c_rd_d _nd th_ str_ng_st _v_r r_c_rd_d __st _f th_ C_r_bb__n S__. _rm_ h_s k_pt _ w_nd sp__d cl_s_ t_ 300kph f_r m_r_ th_n 24 h__rs. Th_s _s th_ l_ng_st p_r__d _v_r r_c_rd_d. M_t__r_l_g_sts s__d H_rr_c_n_ _rm_ w_s _v_r 1,200km w_d_. _t _s l_k_ly t_ b_c_m_ _ C_t_g_ry 4 h_rr_c_n_ wh_n _t m_k_s l_ndf_ll _n Fl_r_d_ _n S_t_rd_y m_rn_ng. Fl_r_d_ _ff_c__ls h_v_ _lr__dy _rd_r_d _ m_nd_t_ry _v_c__t__n _f Fl_r_d_ K_ys - th_ s__th_rn p_rt _f th_ st_t_ _f Fl_r_d_. R_s_d_nts th_r_ _r_ br_c_ng th_ms_lv_s f_r w_nds _f _p t_ 300kph _nd m_ss_v_ _nd d_m_g_ng st_rm s_rg_s.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a record-breaking hurricane is causing death and destruction as it passes through the caribbean and heads towards the us state of florida on thursday hurricane irma caused major devastation across the caribbean islands of barbuda st martin anguilla and the british virgin islands the prime minister of barbuda gaston browne said about 95 per cent of the buildings on the island had suffered some damage he said "it's absolute devastation the island is literally under water…barbuda is barely habitable" a government official for st martin said "there is massive destruction we'll concentrate our first efforts so that in the next hours people can get access to food and drinking water"

    hurricane irma is a category 5 storm – the strongest on the 1-5 scale of hurricanes it is the second strongest hurricane ever to be recorded and the strongest ever recorded east of the caribbean sea irma has kept a wind speed close to 300kph for more than 24 hours this is the longest period ever recorded meteorologists said hurricane irma was over 1200km wide it is likely to become a category 4 hurricane when it makes landfall in florida on saturday morning florida officials have already ordered a mandatory evacuation of florida keys - the southern part of the state of florida residents there are bracing themselves for winds of up to 300kph and massive and damaging storm surges

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Arecord-breakinghurricaneiscausingdeathanddestructionasitpasse
    sthroughtheCaribbeanandheadstowardstheU.S.stateofFlorida.OnT
    hursday,HurricaneIrmacausedmajordevastationacrosstheCaribbea
    nislandsofBarbuda,St.Martin,AnguillaandtheBritishVirginIslands.Th
    ePrimeMinisterofBarbuda,GastonBrowne,saidabout95percentofthe
    buildingsontheislandhadsufferedsomedamage.Hesaid:"It'sabsolut
    edevastation.Theislandisliterallyunderwater….Barbudaisbarelyhabi
    table."AgovernmentofficialforStMartinsaid:"Thereismassivedestruc
    tion.We'llconcentrateourfirsteffortssothatinthenexthourspeoplecan
    getaccesstofoodanddrinkingwater."HurricaneIrmaisacategory5stor
    m–thestrongestonthe1-5scaleofhurricanes.Itisthesecondstrongest
    hurricaneevertoberecordedandthestrongesteverrecordedeastofthe
    CaribbeanSea.Irmahaskeptawindspeedcloseto300kphformorethan
    24hours.Thisisthelongestperiodeverrecorded.MeteorologistssaidHu
    rricaneIrmawasover1,200kmwide.ItislikelytobecomeaCategory4hu
    rricanewhenitmakeslandfallinFloridaonSaturdaymorning.Floridaoffi
    cialshavealreadyorderedamandatoryevacuationofFloridaKeys-thes
    outhernpartofthestateofFlorida.Residentstherearebracingthemselv
    esforwindsofupto300kphandmassiveanddamagingstormsurges.

    Free writing

    Write about Hurricane Irma for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    A hurricane is the scariest of all natural disasters. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. HURRICANES: Make a poster about hurricanes. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. HURRICANE-PROOF: Write a magazine article about all buildings in hurricane-prone areas being built to survive in any hurricane. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on hurricanes. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to better prepare for a hurricane. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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