Mount St Helens

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 467.

G Listen to the first part of Joseph's story of an unusual experience and decide if the following statements are true or false.

1. They wanted to try out their new canoe.

2. There were three people in the party.

3. As soon as the weather started to worsen, they felt afraid.

4. They pulled the canoe out of the water when they couldn't see far ahead.

5. They thought that there had been a terrible accident at the Handford Nuclear reservation.

6. Although very frightened, they knew that they were not in serious danger.

7. While standing under the trees they could see and hear nothing.

8. They stayed on the river bank until a car came along.

9. Four cars went by without stopping.

10. When they were told about the volcano, they thought it was good news.

H Now listen to the second part of Joseph's story and choose the best answer to the following questions.

1. Which of the following statements about Mount St Helens is not true?

A It had been inactive for a long time.

B It is covered in snow.

C Some steam and ash had come out of the top.

D There was a big bulge in the side.

2. How did Joseph finally get to his car?

A The driver of a pick-up truck took him to it.

B The driver of a sports car took him to it.

C He walked to his car.

D He saw it when lightning lit up the area.

3. Why didn't they want to stay in Ellensburg?

A It was too near the volcano to be safe.

B It was not the sort of town they liked.

C The cowboys were rough and hostile.

D Nobody in the town understood what had happened.

4. What did they find most surprising when they reached Seattle?

A The baseball game had not been interrupted.

B Life was perfectly normal.

C People didn't know about the eruption.

D The weather had improved dramatically in a short time.

5. Which of the following phrases best describes them when they arrived home?

A still very frightened.

B annoyed that no one was interested in their story.

C confused about time and rather dirty.

D completely exhausted.

Talking Points

A Which sports are the people in the following photographs doing? (For more information see Additional Resources, p. 165).

Work in pairs:

Student A: Using the information provided in Additional Resources, play down the dangers and emphasise the pleasure and excitement of X-sports.

Student B: Dissuade your partner from taking up one of the sports shown, pointing out the dangers.

B What are the dangers associated with the following activities and events? What precautions should you take? Work in pairs and advise your partner how to carry out these activities safely:

changing a light bulb opening champagne bottles letting off fireworks using household and garden chemicals moving furniture

deep-fat frying mowing the lawn using glue flying on scheduled flights travelling on trains going to football matches

breaking down on the motorway blind dates barbeque parties working on a construction site

Writing

Letter

A During a storm, a tree fell on your car and damaged it. You now have to write to the company that insures your car. Give full details of exactly:

how and when the accident happened

what the extent of the damage is

what action you have taken so far

what further action will be required.

Establish with the company exactly what the procedure is for the payment of claims. Your letter should be about 200 words long.