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[E] Global Problems I

LET'S UNDERSTAND 1 📚

Disaster / Tragedies


CITY


A. earthquake

  • a sudden and violent shaking of the ground, sometimes causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust or volcanic action.

    Example:

  • Government officials visited the earthquake zone on Thursday morning to co-ordinate the relief effort.

B. flood

  • an overflowing of a large amount of water beyond its normal confines, especially over what is normally dry land

    Example:

  • The flood last year was a terrible catastrophe in which many people died."

C. drought

  • a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water

    Example:

  • The drought has made farmers anxious about the harvest.

D. famine

  • extreme scarcity of food

    Example:

  • Many charities sent money to help the victims of the famine.

E. epidemic

  • a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time

    Example:

  • A flu epidemic is raging in/through local schools.

F. landslide

  • the sliding down of a mass of earth or rock from a mountain or cliff

    Example:

  • The village was destroyed by a landslide."

G. hurricane

  • a storm with a violent wind, in particular a tropical cyclone in the Caribbean

    Example:

  • Hurricane Louis is expected to hit at the weekend.

H. typhoon

  • a tropical storm in the region of the Indian or western Pacific oceans.

    Example:

  • Yesterday's typhoon brought a great quantity of rain."

I. war

  • a state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state

    Example:

  • They fought a war over the disputed territory.

J. volcano

  • a mountain with a large, circular hole at the top through which lava (= hot liquid rock) gases, steam, and dust are or have been forced out

    Example:

  • The volcano could erupt at any time.

Verbs connected with these words

1. A volcano has erupted in Indonesia. Hundred are feared dead.

2. The flu epidemic spread rapidly throughout the country.

3. Millions are starving as a result of the famine.

4. A big earthquake shook the city at noon today.

5. The area is suffering its worst drought in many years.

6. Civil war has broken out in the north of the country.

7. A hurricane swept through the islands yesterday.

LET'S TRY IT!
Direction: Complete the sentences using the words in the box.

earthquake drought
flood famine
epidemic landslide
typhoon war
volcano hurricane

  1. The vomited flames and molten rock.

  2. The caused minor structural damage.

  3. We heard the swill of waters.

  4. The prostrated numerous young trees.

  5. is much too important to be left to the military.

  6. The winds agitated the sea.

  7. The railroad was blocked by a .

  8. A convoy of trucks containing supplies was sent to the area.

  9. The did a lot of harm to the crops.

  10. The AIDS is accelerating dramatically.

LET'S UNDERSTAND 2 📚

People involved in disasters / tragedies


DISASTER


A. casualty

  • (noun) a person killed or injured in a war or accident

    Example:

  • Casualties had to be brought to the hospital by air.

B. victim

  • (noun) a person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event or action

    Example:

  • The victim received head injuries from which she died a week later.

C. survivor

  • (noun) a person who survives, especially a person remaining alive after an event in which others have died

    Example:

  • It is just conceivable that a single survivor might be found.

D. refugee

  • (noun) a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster

    Example:

  • Some refugee children were plucked out of the country in a number of mercy missions.

E. migrant

  • (noun) a person who moves from one place to another, especially in order to find work or better living conditions

    Example:

  • They claimed they were political refugees and not economic migrants.

F. dead and wounded

  • (noun) people who are harmed or killed as a result of an unfortunate event or action.

    Example:

  • Hospitals were reported to be overflowing with dead and wounded.

LET'S PRACTICE!
Direction: Complete the sentences below using the words that are used for people who are involved in tragedy or disaster.

  1. Emergency help is needed for of the earthquake.

  2. The families of the are crying for justice.

  3. Official reports said were high.

  4. The hopes to obtain sanctuary in a nearby nation.

  5. Hospitals throughout the city started issuing lists of the as Mumbai began to count the cost of the massacre.

  6. Many are forced to settle in shanty towns and squatter settlements.

LET'S RECAP! 📝

LIU_Let's Recap banner


1. Which three words/phrases were the most challenging to understand or remember?