Natural Catastrophes

Exercise 8.3.1 Read and translate the text.

We, humans, now dominate the Earth - and our planet is in grave danger of suffering from our activities. But from time to time the Earth threatens us, warns of the danger of killing the planet and ourselves. We have to be very careful what we do with nature, provoking to some extent natural disasters like drought, sandstorm and famine in Africa, flood in Netherlands, hurricanes in the USA, volcanoes and earthquakes in Turkey, Japan, Mexico, Italy, Armenia, typhoons and tidal wakes, landslide and fire. Natural disasters make big problems and people all over the world come to help regions where the catastrophe has happened. Different countries send to the area of the natural disaster food and medical supplies, as well as doctors, nurses, blankets, tents and clothes.

Thunderstorms. Moisture, instability and lift are the three main ingredients needed: rain, strong, accompanied by bright flashes of lightning and the crack of thunder - a thunderstorm is born. There are more that 40.000 thunderstorms happening around the world everyday. The most severe thunderstorm can produce hail and spawn tornadoes. Thunderstorms may last from 15 minutes to several hours.

Whirling winds. Tornadoes or twisters can occur in almost every part of the world, however, the greatest number and some of the most severe occur in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

This part of the United States is nicknamed: “Tornado Alley”.

Tornadoes usually occur with the most severe of all thunderstorms called super cells. Winds from tornado range from 40 to more than 261 mph and the funnel or vortex, extends from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud to the ground. The intensity of damage from the storm winds to buildings and trees is measured and classified after it has passed.

Tropical storms, known as typhoons in the Pacific and hurricanes in the Atlantic, claim more lives each year than any other storm. Hurricanes are formed from thunderstorms developing over the ocean or sea. Several thunderstorms come together to form a swirl of clouds. As the winds begin to grow, a distinct centre will form in the cloud swirl and this becomes the “eye” of the storm. Massive amounts of rainfall, and even tornadoes are formed as the storm makes landfall. The greatest threat to human life is the “storm surge” that follows the hurricane. After making landfall hurricanes turn into low-pressure systems or “rain depressions” which often bring heavy rains to inland areas and cause widespread flooding.

Precipitation occurs when some of the millions of tiny water droplets or ice crystals than constitute a cloud grow large enough and heavy enough to fall to the earth.

Rain, hail, sleet and snow are all forms of precipitation.

Precipitation that reaches the ground in liquid form is often referred to as rain. The lightest form is drizzle, which occurs as fine drops falling closely together. Mist is even finer and does not fall, so therefore is considered a light form of fog.

Precipitation is also classified as intermittent or steady.

Usually steady rain and snow fall from clouds such as stratus or altostratus. Showers or intermittent precipitation will fall from cumulus clouds.

Changing Weather. Mark Twain once said “The weather is always doing something..... always getting up new designs and trying them on the people to see now they will do”.

Weather is blue skies, and puffy white clouds; torrential rains with gale force winds; twisters; flashes of lighting; or snow gently falling to the ground. The weather is the state of the atmosphere at any given time, it is experienced everywhere on the Earth, it varies considerably from place to place, day to day, and season to season.

The long-term look at the weather in a place or region, the averaging of rainfall, the maximum and minimum temperatures is called climate. Climate in addition to the “averages” in the weather also includes the occurrences and frequencies of “extremes” in the weather.

Volcanic eruptions can also have an effect on world climate. Erupting volcanoes, although not a frequent occurrence, can emit huge quantities of gases and fine debris into the atmosphere causing shorts-term effects on the weather. For instance, the eruption in June 1991 of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines caused average temperatures worldwide to fall by 1°F (0.6°C) over a 12-month period. Another effect is in the orange and red colours of a sunrise or sunset. The colours are intensified by the smoke and ash of an erupting volcano.

Natural catastrophes, being great tragedies, teach us to be merciful to the other people and to our planet - the Earth.

Exercise 8.3.2 Answer the question.

1. Why do we have to be careful about nature?

2. Do countries help each other in case of any catastrophe?

3. How do countries help each other in case of any catastrophe?

4. What is a thunderstorm?

5. Are tornadoes very dangerous?

6. What can you tell us about typhoons?

7. What is the greatest threat to human life?

8. Why the phenomenon of “storm surge” is so dangerous?

9. What do you know about precipitations?

10. What forms of precipitation have you ever watched?

11. How do they form?

12. What clouds can showers or intermittent precipitation fall from?

13. How is precipitation classified as?

14. Is mist considered a form of precipitation?

15. Can volcanic eruptions have an effect on world climate?

16. Why is information about weather very important to airmen?

17. Have you ever met any natural calamity?

18. What it was?

Exercise 8.3.3 What do the following abbreviations stand for?

USA, mph, 1°F, 0.6°C

Exercise 8.3.4 Write T if the sentence is true and F if the sentence is false.

1. We, humans, now don’t dominate the Earth.

2. The Earth has to be very careful with nature.

3. Natural disasters make big problems and people all over the world come to help regions where the catastrophe has happened.

4. Different countries send to the area of the natural disaster food and medical supplies, as well as doctors, nurses, blankets, tents and clothes.

5. The thunderstorm isn’t accompanied by bright flashes of lightning and the crack of thunder

6. The most light thunderstorm can produce hail and spawn tornadoes.

7. Thunderstorms may last for some years.

8. Tornadoes or twisters cannot occur in almost every part of the world.

9. Tornadoes usually occur with the most severe turbulence.

10. Hurricanes are formed from thunderstorms developing over the land.

11. Several thunderstorms come together to form a swirl of clouds.

12. The greatest threat to human life is the “storm surge” that follows the snowstorm.

13. After making landfall hurricanes turn into high-pressure systems.

14. Precipitation occurs when some of the millions of huge water droplets or ice crystals than constitute a cloud grow large enough and heavy enough to fall to the earth.

15. Rain, hail, sleet and snow are all forms of precipitation.

16. Precipitation that reaches the ground in liquid form is often referred to as hail.

17. The heaviest form is drizzle.

18. Drizzle occurs as tine drops falling closely together.

19. Mist is even finer and does not fall, so therefore is considered a light form of precipitation.

20. Showers or intermittent precipitation will fall from cumulus clouds.

21. The weather is the state of the atmosphere at any given time, it is experienced everywhere on the Moon, it varies considerably from place to place, day to day, and season to season.

22. Volcanic eruptions can’t have an effect on world climate.

23. Erupting volcanoes is a frequent occurrence.

24. Erupting volcanoes can emit huge quantities of gases and fine debris into the atmosphere causing shorts-term effects on the weather.

25. Another effect is in the orange and red colours of a sunrise or sunset.

26. The colours are intensified by the fog and ash of an erupting volcano.

Exercise 8.3.5 Give the English equivalents for the following.

Доминируем на земле; планета в смертельной опасности; пугает нас; опасность убийства планеты; провоцируя; засуха, песчаные бури; голод; вулканы и землетрясения; тайфуны и приливные волны; сдвиги грунта и пожары; могут вызывать град и плодить торнадо; могут длиться; однако; наибольшее количество; имеет прозвище; с наиболее сильными грозами; воронки или вихри; измеряется; требуют больше жизней; формируются из гроз; формируются над океаном или морем; количество выпадающих осадков; приливная волна; широко распространенные; миллионы маленьких капелек воды; в жидкой форме; морось; дымка еще мельче; кратковременные и продолжительные; пушистые белые облака; вспышки молний; снегом, плавно падающим на землю; многолетние наблюдения; среднегодовое выпадение осадков; влиять на мировой климат; усиливаются дымом и пеплом.

Exercise 8.3.6 Find in the text synonyms for the following words and word combinations.

Tions; disaster; tidal wake; landslide; catastrophe; happen; over the world; produce; severe thunderstorm; occur; funnel; storm wind; hurricane; storm surge; landfall; rain depressions; heavy; cause; precipitation; gale; vary.

Exercise 8.3.7 State what part of speech of following words belong to.

1. planet

a) preposition b) noun c) adverb d) adjective

2. dominate

a) preposition b) verb c) article d) adjective

3. distinct

a) noun b) verb c) adjective d) article

4. last

a) pronoun b) article c) verb d) adverb

5. suffer

a) verb b) noun c) adverb d) adjective

6. moisture

a) adjective b) noun c) verb d) article

7. threaten

a) noun b) adverb c) verb d) preposition

8. warn

a) noun b) preposition c) pronoun d) verb

9. ourselves

a) preposition b) noun c) pronoun d) verb

10. grow

a)adverb b) verb c) pronoun d) article

Exercise 8.3.8 Match the words and word combinations in column A with those in column B.

a)

A	B
1. dominate the Earth	a. гроза родилась
2. in grave danger of	b. провоцируя
3. the danger of killing	c. посылают в районы стихийных бедствий
4. provoking	d. наибольшее количество
5. make big problems	e. формируются над океаном или морем
6. send to the area of the natural disaster	f. могут возникать почти во всех частях мира
7. thunderstorm is born	g. в смертельной опасности
8. can occur in almost every part of the world	h. доминируем на земле
9. the greatest number	i. создают большие проблемы
10. developing over the ocean or sea	j. опасности убийства планеты

b)

A	B
1. landfall	a. мелкие фракции
2. fine debris	b. кратковременные осадки
3. the greatest threat to human life is	c. миллионы маленьких капелек воды
4. the long-term look at the weather	d. могут выделять большое количество газов
5. can emit huge quantities of gases	e. наибольшая опасность для человеческой жизни
6. bring heavy rains to inland areas	f. продолжительный дождь или снегопад
7. cause widespread flooding	g. достичь берега
8. some of the millions of tiny water droplets	h. многолетнее наблюдение за погодой
9. steady rain and snow fall	i. вызывать широко распространенные наводнения
10. intermittent precipitations	j. приносить сильные дожди в районы островов

Exercise 8.3.9 Fill in the gaps with the words from the text choosing from the ones given in brackets.

1. We, humans, now _______________ the Earth - and our planet is in grave danger of suffering from our activities (overrule, prevail, dominate)

2. But from time to time the Earth _______________ us, warns of the danger of killing the planet and ourselves. (intimidates, threatens, scares)

3. Natural disasters make _______________ problems and people all over the world come to help regions where the catastrophe has happened (big, considerable, great).

4. Moisture, instability and lift are the three main _______________ needed (parts, ingredients, components).

5. The most_______________ thunderstorm can produce hail and spawn tornadoes (heavy, severe, arduous).

6. Thunderstorms may from 15 minutes to several hours. (last, continue, endure, go on)

7. Tornadoes usually _______________ with the most severe of all thunderstorms called super cells. (happen, befall occur)

8. Winds from tornado range from 40 to more than 261 mph and the funnel or vortex, _______________ from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud to the ground.(reach, stretch, extends)

9. The intensity of _______________ from the storm winds to buildings and trees is measured and classified after it has passed. (damage, harm, injury)

10. Hurricanes are _______________ from thunderstorms developing over the ocean or sea. (formed, comprised constituted)

11. Several thunderstorms come together to form a of clouds. (whirlwind, vortex, swirl)

Exercise 8.3.10 Fill in the gaps with the related words.

1. We, humans, now dominate the Earth - and our planet is in grave _______________ (dangerous) of __________ (sufferance) from our _______________ (act).

2. The _______________ (intensify) of damage from the storm winds to buildings and trees is _______________ (measurement) and _______________ (classification) after it has passed.

3. Hurricanes are formed from thunderstorms _______________ (developer) over the ocean or sea.

4. As the winds begin to grow, a _______________ (distinctive) centre will form in the cloud swirl and this becomes the “eye” of the storm.

5. _______________ (Mass) amounts of rainfall and even tornadoes are formed as the storm makes landfall.

6. The greatest _______________ (threatening) to human life is the “storm surge” that follows the hurricane.

7. Precipitation occurs when some of the millions of tiny water …(drop) or ice crystals than _______________ (constitutional) a cloud grow large enough and heavy enough to fall to the earth.

8. _____________ (Precipitate) is also classified as _______________ (intermit) or steady.

9. Mist is even finer and does not fall, so therefore is _______________ (consideration) a light form of fog.

10. Usually _______________ (steadiness) rain and snow fall from clouds such as stratus or altostratus.

11. Showers or _______________ (intermission) precipitation will fall from cumulus clouds.

12. The weather is the _______________ (statement) of the atmosphere at any given time, it is _______________ (experimental) everywhere on the Earth, it _______________ (variable) _______________ (consider) from place to place, day to day, and season to season.

13. Climate in _______________ (add) to the “averages” in the weather also includes the _______________ (occur) and ____________ (frequent) of “extremes” in the weather.

14. Volcanic _______________ (erupt) can also have an effect on world climate.

15. Erupting volcanoes, although not a frequent occurrence, can _______ (emission) huge quantities of gases and fine debris into the atmosphere causing shorts-term effects on the weather

Exercise 8.3.11 Fill in the prepositions if necessary.

1. We, humans, now dominate _______________ the Earth.

2. Our planet is _______________ grave danger _______________ suffering _______________ our activities.

3. We have to be very careful what we do _______________ nature.

4. Different countries send _______________ the area _______________ the natural disaster food and medical supplies.

5. Tornadoes or twisters can occur _______________ almost every part of the world.

6. The intensity _______________ damage from the storm winds _______________ buildings and trees is measured and classified _______________ it has passed.

7. Hurricanes are formed _______________ thunderstorms developing _______________ the ocean or sea.

8. Precipitation that reaches _______________ the ground _______________ liquid form is often referred _______________ as rain.

9. The weather is the state of the atmosphere _______________ any given time, it is experienced everywhere _______________ the Earth, it varies considerably _______________ place _______________ place, day _______________ day, and season _______________ season.

10. The long-term look _______________ the weather _______________ a place or region, the averaging _______________ rainfall, the maximum and minimum temperatures is called climate.

11. Climate _______________ addition _______________ the “averages” _______________ the weather also includes the occurrences and frequencies _______________ “extremes” _______________ the weather.

12. Volcanic eruptions can also have an effect _______________ world climate.

13. Erupting volcanoes, although not a frequent occurrence, can emit huge quantities _______________ gases and fine debris _______________ the atmosphere causing shorts-term effects _______________ the weather.

14. For instance, the eruption _______________ June 1991 _______________ Mount Pinatubo _______________ the Philippines caused average temperatures worldwide to fall by 1°F (0.6°C) over a 12-month period.

15. Another effect is _______________ the orange and red colours _______________ a sunrise or sunset.

16. The colours are intensified _______________ the smoke and ash _______________ an erupting volcano.

17. Natural catastrophes, being great tragedies, teach us to be merciful _______________ the other people and _______________ our planet - the Earth.

Exercise 8.3.12 Put the given words in the correct order.

1 finer/ mist/ does/ even/ fall/ and/ not / is.

2. also/ steady/ precipitation/ intermittent/ classified/ is/ or/ as.

3. and/ the/ are/ by/ the/ ash/ smoke/ intensified / colours.

4. fine debris/ emit/ volcanoes/ huge/ gases/ quantities/ of/ can /and /erupting.

5. us / teach/ natural catastrophes/ merciful/ to/ to/ the/ people/ be/ other.

6. atmosphere/ weather/ state/ the/ is/ the/ of/ the.

7. varies/ / day to day considerably/ the weather /from /place to place.

8. “storm surge”/ is/ greatest/ to/ life/ human/ threat/ the/ the.

9. over / or/ from/ are/ sea/ developing/ thunderstorms/ hurricanes /the/ formed/ ocean.

10. spawn/ produce/ thunderstorm/ severe/ hail/ tornadoes/ the/ most/ can/ and.

Exercise 8.3.13 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Люди сейчас доминируют на земле.

2. Наша планета страдает от нашей деятельности.

3. Но время от времени Земля пугает нас, предупреждает от опасности убийства планеты и нас самих.

4. Мы должны быть очень осторожны с тем, что мы делаем с нашей планетой.

5. Мы провоцируем, до некоторой степени, такие стихийные бедствия, как засуха, песчаные бури, голод в Африке, наводнения в Нидерландах, ураганы в США, вулканы и землетрясения в Турции, Японии, Мексике, Италии, Армении, тайфуны и приливные волны (цунами), сдвиги грунта и пожары.

6 Влажность, нестабильность и подъем воздуха являются тремя основными составляющими, которые требуются для того, чтобы родилась гроза.

7. Более чем 40 000 гроз случаются в мире каждый день.

8. Наиболее сильные грозы могут вызывать град и порождать торнадо.

9. Грозы могут длиться от 15 минут до нескольких часов.

10. Торнадо или вихри могут возникать почти во всех частях мира.

11. Тропические штормы требуют больше жизней, чем любые другие штормы.

12. Ураганы формируются над океаном или морем.

13. Торнадо, сформированные как штормы, обрушиваются на землю.

14. Наибольшую опасность для человеческой жизни представляет "приливная волна", которая следует за ураганами.

15. После того, как торнадо обрушиваются на землю, ураганы превращаются в систему низкого давления или "выпадения дождя".

16. Дождь, град, дождь со снегом и снег являются формами осадков

17. Осадки, которые достигают земли в жидкой форме, часто считаются дождем.

18. Наименьшей формой является морось, которая возникает, когда мельчайшие капельки падают вместе.

19. Дымка еще мельче, но не падает, поэтому она считается легкой формой тумана.

20. Осадки так же классифицируются, как кратковременные и продолжительные.

21. Погода – это голубые небеса, пушистые белые облака, проливные дожди со штормовыми ветрами; вихрями; вспышками молний; или снегом, плавно падающим на землю.

22. Погода это состояние атмосферы в любое данное время, она существует везде на Земле.

23. Погода значительно отличается в разных местах, в разное время, в разные сезоны.

24. Многолетнее наблюдение за погодой в одном месте или регионе, среднегодовое выпадение осадков, максимальная и минимальная температуры называются климатом.

25. Климат, вдобавок к средним данным по погоде, так же включает наличие и частоту "экстримов" в погоде.

26. Извержения вулканов могут также влиять на мировой климат.

27. Извержения вулканов могут извергать большое количество газов и обломков в атмосферу, вызывая кратковременное влияние на погоду.

28. Другой эффект - это оранжевые и красный цвет во время восхода и захода солнца.

29. Цвета усиливаются дымом и пеплом извергающегося вулкана.

30. Стихийные бедствия, будучи великими трагедиями, учат нас быть милосердными к другим людям и к нашей планете Земля.

Exercise 8.3.14 Make up your own sentences using the words and word combinations.

Humans; dominate; in grave danger of; from time to time threaten; warn; of the danger of killing the planet; extent natural disasters; drought; sandstorm; famine; flood; hurricanes; volcanoes; earthquakes; typhoons; tidal wakes; landslide; fire; make big problems; come to help; send to the area of the natural disaster; food and medical supplies; as well as; doctors, nurses, blankets, tents and clothes; the three main ingredients needed; accompanied by bright flashes of lightning and the crack of thunder; happening around the world everyday; can produce hail and spawn tornadoes; may last from; can occur; in almost every part of the world; the greatest number; some of the most severe occur in; is nicknamed; funnel or vortex, extends from the base of a cumulonimbus; the intensity of damage from; claim more lives each year; developing over the ocean or sea; the winds begin to grow; massive amounts of rainfall; after making landfall hurricanes turn into; precipitation occurs; some of the millions of tiny water droplets; constitute a cloud; heavy enough to fall to the earth; reaches the ground in liquid form; the lightest form is drizzle; is even finer and does not fall; is considered a light form of fog; is also classified as; blue skies;, puffy white clouds; torrential rains with gale force winds; twisters; flashes of lighting; snow gently falling to the ground; the state of the atmosphere; is experienced; varies considerably; the averaging of rainfall; can also have an effect on world climate; erupting volcanoes; although not a frequent occurrence; can emit huge quantities of gases; fine debris; causing shorts-term effects on the weather caused average temperatures worldwide to fall by; a sunrise or sunset; are intensified by; teach us to be merciful to the other people.

Exercise 8.3.15 Retell the text.