lingua house
TM
Innovation in Learning
A A BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH
After Irma
Lesson code: 5RM9-566E-2AGG UPPER-INTERMEDIATE+
1 Warm-up
What causes hurricanes? Have you ever experienced a hurricane?
2 Key vocabulary
Match the words on the left to the definitions on the right.
1. batter a. a break in the supply of electricity
2. scenic b. a coastal flood with large waves
3. a storm surge c. broken pieces of something larger
4. a power outage d. having beautiful natural scenery
5. the aftermath e. required by law
6. debris f. the period of time and the effects that follow an unpleasant
event
7. brace g. to hit something in a way that causes a lot of damage
8. mandatory h. to prepare for something difficult
3 Find the information
You are going to read an article about Hurricane Irma. Before you read, choose the correct answer for
each of the questions below, then scan the text on the next page to find the answers.
1. How fast was Hurricane Irma travelling when it reached Florida?
a. 85 m.p.h b. 130 m.p.h c. 185 m.p.h
2. How many residents of Florida were told to evacuate?
a. over 100,000 b. over one million c. over six million
3. How many people were in shelters in Florida after Irma?
a. over 90,000 b. over 270,000 c. over one million
4. What percentage of homes were destroyed in the Florida Keys?
a. over 15% b. over 25% c. over 50%
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lingua house
TM
After Irma
Innovation in Learning
A A A A BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH
Hurricane Irma batters Caribbean and
Florida, leaving millions without power
September 13th, 2017
1 Strong winds and high waves in scenic Key West states. Over 45 deaths were reported due to
were only the beginning as Hurricane Irma made hurricane Irma, and the number is likely to grow.
its way toward the U.S. mainland on Sunday
8 As clean up began, clean water was not easy to
afternoon. It arrived on land as a Category 4
find. Fallen trees and debris were scattered
hurricane, slamming into the Florida Keys with
around the entire state, making things even more
life-threatening waves and winds of 130 m.p.h.
difficult. Heat, very high humidity, ongoing
2 Before heading for Florida, Irma moved slowly flooding and power outages on a large scale
along Cuba's coast, hitting the island with 36ft posed great challenges for locals and volunteers
waves as a Category 5 - the strongest kind of struggling with the aftermath of the hurricane.
hurricane on Earth. Over 90,000 people still remain in Florida shelters
after Hurricane Irma.
3 Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Barbuda and Anguilla
were just a few of the islands battered by what is 9 While almost 4.4 million Florida homes and
now known as one of the five strongest businesses were affected by widespread power
hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. outages and damage, on Tuesday night,
With winds reaching 185 m.p.h sweeping away according to state officials, as many as 50,000
everything in her path, Hurricane Irma caused utility workers headed toward South Florida to
extraordinary damage. help bring back power as quickly as possible.
4 Nearly all Key West residents were evacuated 10 About 25% of homes were destroyed in the
from the area, together with over six million Florida Keys alone, and residents are now starting
Floridians who were told to leave across the state, to drive back to see the damage. We lost
making it one of the biggest evacuations in U.S. everything, said a Florida Keys resident on her
history. President Trump quickly approved a way back to the Keys, but this is home . There's
major disaster declaration and emergency federal no power, no running water and power lines have
aid for the region. been ripped out and are lying mainly on roads.
The recovery process will most likely take months.
5 The hurricane ripped through the peninsula,
knocking down trees, shattering houses, snapping 11 Of the 10,000 locals who decided not to obey the
construction cranes and brought along mandatory evacuation order and stayed on the
immeasurable amounts of water. Although the islands, some were luckier than others. The Nobel
storm surge was much less than predicted, most prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway's former
locations in central and northeastern Florida were Key West residence, as well as 54 descendants of
hit with heavy damage. Hurricane Irma pounded his six-toed cat, survived the storm. The staff at
heavily populated areas as it swept through the the house claim that it was built to withstand
state with high winds and torrential rain, these extreme weather conditions. It hasn't
destroying everything in its path. suffered hurricane damage since it was built over
150 years ago.
6 Tampa Bay, Sarasota, and Naples didn't get the
projected storm surge, but were still flooded, 12 Mr. Gonzales, the curator of the house said that
though not as badly as they were bracing for. In he hopes that things will get back to normal in
the city of Miami, waist-deep water rushed Key West and we'll enjoy our life in paradise.
through streets at least three blocks from the
shore. Sources: NY Times, Miami Herald, CBS Miami, LA
Times, Chicago Tribune, CNN, Reuters, ABC
7 Even though Hurricane Irma then weakened to a News, USA Today, accuweather, WBP News,
speed of just 25 m.p.h., it still continued on Yahoo
inland, causing destruction across five U.S.
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lingua house
TM
After Irma
Innovation in Learning
A A A A BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH
4 Checking understanding
Put 'T' (True) or `F' (False) next to each statement below. Explain why the false statements are not
true.
1. About 10,000 residents decided to stay in the Florida Keys during the hurricane.
2. The hurricane became stronger when it moved further inland.
3. The recovery process after the hurricane will take a few years.
4. The evacuation before Irma was one of the biggest in U.S. history.
5. Hemingway's former home was completely flooded when Irma hit the Keys.
6. Hemingway had a cat with an unusual foot problem.
5 Find the words
Find a word or phrase in the article which means ...
1. moving against (something) with great force (verb - ing form + preposition P.1):
2. completely destroying (phrasal verb - ing, P.3):
3. estimated (adj., P.6):
4. falling fast in large amounts (adj, P.5):
5. happening in many places (adj., P.9):
6. of a large number (phrase, P.8):
7. relatives that live after a living creature (noun - plural, P.11):
8. strong enough not be destroyed (by something) ( verb, P.11):
6 Destruction verbs
Choose the correct verb or phrasal verb to complete each of the sentences below.
knock down pound rip through scatter shatter snap
1. The rebels are going to the city to the ground. We need to leave.
2. Please don't leave that glass there. It will if you knock it on the floor.
3. They saw the hurricane debris across a wide area.
4. That ruler will if you try to bend it.
5. The forecast says the hurricane is going to the town, destroying everything in its path.
6. I am afraid the storm will all the the power lines which will block the road.
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Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
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lingua house
TM
After Irma
Innovation in Learning
A A A A BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH
7 Talking point
Answer the questions below in pairs or small groups.
1. Were you surprised that a storm of this size hit Florida? Why/why not?
2. What do you think that people can do to prepare for or avoid these types of disasters?
3. Do you think that hurricanes and floods are a result of global warming?
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Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
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lingua house
TM
After Irma - Key
Innovation in Learning
A A A A BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH
1- Warm-up
Encourage a short discussion. If any students have experienced a hurricane, make sure that they are comfortable
talking about this, as it might be a sensitive subject.
2- Key vocabulary
1. g 2. d 3. b 4. a 5. f 6. c 7. h 8. e
3- Find the information
Students can work alone and check in pairs.
1. b 2. c 3. a 4. b
4- Checking understanding
1. T
2. F - It weakened to speeds of 25 m.p.h
3. F - The recovery process will take months rather than years.
4. T
5. F - The house well above sea level and didn't get flooded.
6. T - His cat had six toes.
5- Find the words
Students can work in pairs and check with the teacher.
1. slamming into 2. sweeping away
3. projected 4. torrential
5. widespread 6. on a large scale
7. descendants 8. withstand
6- Destruction verbs
Students can work in pairs and then check with the teacher.
1. pound 2. shatter 3. scatter 4. snap 5. rip through 6. knock down
7- Talking point
Monitor the activity. Make a note of any typical errors and write useful language on the board.
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You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex
Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
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