Unit 12 News (III)

Disasters

Part I Warming up A. Definitions of Some Disaster Names I. Vocabulary strain: the force causing the condition of b

eing tightly pulled or stretched crust: a hard outer covering, as of earth or

snow

knot: a measure of the speed of a ship, about 1,853 meters (=6,080 feet) per hour

whirl: to cause to move round and round very fast

breadth: width; the distance from one side of sth. to the other

prolong: to make longer, lengthen

II. Key 1.       ice, snow, earth, rock/ the side of a

mountain 2.       a slow-moving mudflow 3.       the sudden release / waves of shaking 4.       system of winds / about 30 to 50 kilometers

an hour 5.       64 knots or 74 miles per hour / in the

western Atlantic Ocean

6.       a violent destructive whirling wind / of short duration

7.       74 mph / in the Pacific Ocean 8.       a period of dryness / prevents their

successful growth 9.       a body of water / normally dry land 10.   a wildfire or an uncontrolled fire

B. News Leads I. Vocabulary submarine: a ship esp. a warship, which can stay

under water flare-up: a sudden outbreak of flame or light Bahrain : Sheikdom and archipelago in the Persia

n Gulf between Qater and Saudi Arabia 巴林群岛 （西亚国家）

the Gulf Airlines: Air France: 法国航空公司

II. Key 1.       A bomb explosion in Algiers / in a market

area 2.       ocean storm / the Pacific coast of Mexico 3.       the cause of a crash of a passenger plane /

All 143 people / Wednesday 4.       Austrians / the 38 people / at ski areas 5.       The hijacker / released his remaining

hostages and surrendered to police.

6.       Japanese / the nuclear reaction / has stopped

7.       victims of a train accident / 189 / Thursday / 250

8.       Russian and Norwegian divers / the sunken Russian nuclear submarine

9.       12 / heavy rains / homes and bridges / some roads became rivers of flood waters

10.   deadly storm / Europe / transportation delays / airports to close / more than 115 people

11.   Sunday’s earthquake / Turkey / more than 1,200 / 50 villages

12.   fires / Sydney / under control / new flare-ups

Part II News Items A.      News Summary pipeline: a line of connected pipes, often

underground, esp. for carrying liquids or gas a long distance

leak: to let a liquid, gas etc. in or out of a hole or crack

blast: the very powerful rush of air caused by an explosion, esp. by a nuclear explosion

rip: to tear or be torn quickly and violently

depot: a storehouse for goods litter: to cover untidily with scattered waste material or

something similar char: to cause to become black by burning blaze: the sudden sharp shooting up of bright flame vandal: a person who intentionally damages or

destroys public property or things belonging to other people

e.g. The phone boxes are damaged by vandals from time to time

Lagos: capital city of Nigeria

B.      Key Event: a fire from an oil pipeline explosion Time: Thursday Casualties: more than 50 people dead Area: near Lagos Location: near a fuel-loading area owned by

Nigeria’s National Petroleum Corporation Cause: stealing fuel from leaking pipes / vandal

B.

I. Vocabulary cable car: a vehicle which is supported in the air and

pulled by a continuous cable, used esp. for carrying people to the tops of mountains or other steep slopes

plunge: to cause to move or be thrown suddenly forwards and or downwards

dangle: to hang or swing loosely commander: the officer of any rank who is in charge of

a group of soldiers suspend: to stop or cause to be inactive or ineffective for

a period of time

II. Key 1.       The news item is about a cable car ac

cident at a ski resort in northern Italy. 2.      a. American military plane / cut the w

ires / low-level flight b. 20 c. 60 kilometers away d.started investigation / suspended lo

w-level missions

C. I. Vocabulary landslide: a sudden fall of earth or rocks down a hill,

cliff, etc shelter: a building or roofed enclosure that gives cover

or protection survivor: a person who has continued to live, esp. in

spite of coming close to death urge: to try very hard to persuade generous: showing readiness to give money, help,

kindness, etc; unselfish resolution: a formal decision or statement made by the

vote of a group

assembly: a meeting together of people e.g. UN general assembly priority: something that needs attention, co

nsideration, service, etc., before others barracks: a building or group of buildings t

hat soldiers live in Venezuela: 委内瑞拉

II. Key: 1.       Event: floods and landslides Country: Venezuela Damage: homes of 140,000—150,000 people

destroyed Casualties: 30,000 people killed Major Cause of the damage: poor city planning Estimated cost of relief and reconstruction

efforts: 15 billion dollars

2.       a. To give quick and generous aid to Venezuela

b. To build new housing for those homeless people

c. In stadiums, car parks, airports and military barracks

d. In plain areas away from the cost

Part III Torrential storms in Kenya I. Vocabulary 1.       horticulture: the practice or science of

growing fruit, flowers, and vegetables 2.       shiver: to shake slightly, esp. because of

cold or fear; tremble 3.       pea: a large round green seed which is

cooked and eaten as a vegetable 4.       bean: a seed of any of various upright

climbing plants, esp. one that can be used as food

5.       associate: to connect in thought, memory, or imagination

6.       maize: corn 7.       nightmare: terrible experience or event 8.       Rift Valley Fever: a disease caused by a mosquit

o-borne virus found on domestic animals or on African wild game, characterized by fever, headache, sensitivity to light, muscle pain, loss of appetite, and reduction of leukocytes ( 白细胞 ) in the blood

9.       torrential: like torrent torrential rain 暴雨

II. Key: A. 1.       The topic dealt with for the last two weeks

is how heavy rains have contributed to the spread of Rift Valley Fever in Kenya.

2.       The topic this week is how the continuing torrential storms in Kenya are washing away people’s hopes of a good season.

3.       January should be one of the best months for growers of fruit, vegetables and flowers in Kenya.