Unit 4 Reports on Disasters and Accidents

Part I Getting ready

B. You are going to hear some brief news items. Supply the missing words.

Tapescript:

※     A firebomb went off in a busy shopping area in east Belfast last night killing one policeman and injuring several bystanders.

※     Florida authorities say more than 1,000 homes were destroyed by the tornadoes, which ripped through the central part of the state.

※     A dramatic development in the explosive situation on Green Isle: a car ferry from Northbridge to Greenport has been taken over by a group of extremists calling themselves the “Green Action Front”.

※     Relief workers in South Korea have finally gotten a break from the severe weather that has hampered efforts to recover from flooding. The flooding and mudslides last month have killed more than 270 people and left thousands homeless.

※     A bank in Manchester was robbed at gunpoint yesterday as 5 men burst in at lunchtime wearing masks and carrying shotguns. The robbers escaped with over 10,000 pounds.

※     Florida was hit yesterday afternoon by a hurricane of up to 100 miles an hour Twenty people are believed to be dead and over 100 unjured.

※     The Greek airliner that was hijacked and flown to Algeria on Tuesday is now on its way bak to Athens.

Part II Hurricanes & tornadoes

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 a storm in India.

 2. How many people could have died?

   About 2, 000.

 3. How strong were the winds?

   The winds were up to 75 miles an hour.

 4. Who came to help?

   The Indian army.

 5. What consequences were brought about apart from casualties?

   Homes were flattened, crops were destroyed, transport links were cut, and houses collapsed.

 6. How many people are thought to have died when a ferry sank?

   More than 40 people.

 7. How many people have been evacuated?

   Over 100,000 people.

Tapescript:

Large numbers of villages have been completely cut off. The official said the death toll could reach 2,000. The Indian army has been called in to help the relief effort. From Deli. Here is David Willis.

The storm with winds of up to 75 miles an hour struck India’s southeast coast, flattening homes, destroying crops and cutting transport links. Eyewitnesses reported tidal waves more than 12 feet high. The storm was followed by torrential rains, which swept away roads and railway lines, and flooded low lying areas. More than 40 people are thought to have died when a ferry sank. But most of the deaths have been due to flooding, houses collapsing or electrocutions. More than 100,000 people have been evacuated from their homes and are taking shelter in relief camps. After surveying the flooded area by helicopter, the chief minister said it resembled a burial ground. He’s appealed to the federal government to treat the incident as a national calamity. David Willis.

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 heavy rains and thunderstorms appears to be over.

 2. Where?

   In parts of Europe.

 3. When?

   During the past week.

 4. How was air traffic?

   It was affected.

 5. How many people died?

   At least five.

 6. Why are the casualty figures low?

   Because emergency warnings 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

Tapescript:

    Nine hours Greenwich Mean Time. The news read by Wendy Gordon. The worst of the heavy rains and thunderstorms that have been sweeping parts of Europe during the past week appears to be over. Exceptionally heavy rainfall brought flooding to many parts of Germany, Switzerland, Northern Italy and France and chaos to rail and road transport. Air traffic too has been affected with flight delays at airports. Although most flight are expected to be back to normal by this time tomorrow, there are expected to be serous delays on the German and Italian motorways over the forthcoming holiday weekend and train services are unlikely to be normalized for several days. A government spokeswoman in France announced that the damage to homes and proerty is expected to be at least four thousand million francs. It is reported that at least five people have lost their lives. Experts agree that casualty figures are low because emergency warnings were issued on the day before the storms began. The federal government in Switzerland has urged motorists and rail travelers not to travel during the next few days and no international traffic will be allowed on the main north-south motorway routes across the cdountry until next Tuesday.