The Reading / Listening - Level 6

The United Nations humanitarian chief Valerie Amos has said aid is not reaching survivors of Typhoon Haiyan quickly enough. Ms Amos is the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. She spoke to reporters in Manila yesterday and explained how urgent it was to act more quickly. She said: "The situation is dismal. Those who have been able to leave have done so. Many more are trying. People are extremely desperate for help." She added: "We need to get assistance to them now. They are already saying it has taken too long to arrive. Ensuring a faster delivery is our immediate priority." Early efforts at providing assistance were hampered by continuing bad weather.

Typhoon Haiyan is possibly the strongest on record to make landfall. Meteorologists say the violent storm packed winds of up to 315kph. It is believed over 10,000 people perished in the city of Tacloban alone. Hundreds of thousands are now homeless after the typhoon flattened almost everything in its path. The New York Times reported there being "typhoon gridlock" as the destroyed infrastructure is making the logistics of distributing aid a nightmare. People are desperate for water. The Doctors Without Borders charity said: "Access is extremely difficult and is preventing people from receiving help." Christian Aid said: "The devastation here is unimaginable."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://news.sky.com/story/1168357/typhoon-haiyan-aid-must-reach-victims-faster
  • http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/14/world/asia/aid-groups-in-philippines-fear-more-devastation-has-yet-to-be-revealed.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0
  • http://manilatimes.net/we-havent-seen-the-worst-yet/52887/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)



The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. AID: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about aid. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

 

United Nations / humanitarian / emergency / relief / dismal / desperate / priority / on record / landfall / violent storm / 315kph winds / flattened / logistics / devastation

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. RELIEF: What can you and the world do to help the people in the Philippines? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

You

The world

Water

 

 

Clothing

 

 

Food

 

 

Moral support

 

 

Medicine

 

 

Accommodation

 

 

4. EVACUATION: Students A strongly believe governments should evacuate entire cities / islands when a typhoon or hurricane is approaching; Students B strongly believe otherwise.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.



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5. LOGISTICS: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the most important for the Philippines at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • hospitals

  • passable roads

  • working airports

  • electricity

  • water treatment plants

  • distribution of tents

  • shops open for business

  • police in control

6. SURVIVORS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "survivors". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if  a-h  below are true (T) or false (F).

a.

The UN humanitarian chief is not responsible for emergency relief.

T / F

b.

The chief spoke to reporters in the devastated city of Tacloban.

T / F

c.

The chief described the situation in the Philippines as "dismal".

T / F

d.

The chief said delivering aid was the most important matter.

T / F

e.

Winds in Typhoon Haiyan were as strong as 315kph.

T / F

f.

The article says the typhoon flattened many paths.

T / F

g.

Trying to distribute aid is giving people nightmares and bad dreams.

T / F

h.

A charity said people couldn't imagine how much damage there is.

T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.

chief

a.

weather forecasters

2.

urgent

b.

prime concern

3.

dismal

c.

knocked down

4.

priority

d.

destruction

5.

hampered

e.

miserable

6.

meteorologists

f.

head

7.

perished

g.

serious

8.

flattened

h.

organization

9.

logistics

i.

set back

10.

devastation

j.

died

3. PHRASE MATCH:  (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.

The United Nations

a.

record to make landfall

2.

The situation

b.

priority

3.

People are extremely

c.

everything in its path

4.

Ensuring a faster delivery is our immediate

d.

is dismal

5.

Early efforts at providing assistance

e.

thousands

6.

Haiyan is possibly the strongest on

f.

from receiving help

7.

Hundreds of

g.

were hampered

8.

the typhoon flattened almost

h.

desperate for help

9.

making the logistics of distributing aid

i.

humanitarian chief

10.

preventing people

j.

a nightmare

GAP FILL

The United Nations (1) ____________ chief Valerie Amos has said aid is not reaching (2) ____________ of Typhoon Haiyan quickly enough. Ms Amos is the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. She spoke to reporters in Manila yesterday and explained how (3) ____________ it was to act more quickly. She said: "The situation is (4) ____________. Those who have been able to leave have done so. Many more are trying. People are (5) ____________ desperate for help." She added: "We need to get (6) ____________ to them now. They are already saying it has taken too long to arrive. Ensuring a faster delivery is our immediate (7) ____________." Early efforts at providing assistance were (8) ____________ by continuing bad weather.

 

 

extremely
urgent
priority
humanitarian
assistance
survivors
hampered
dismal

Typhoon Haiyan is possibly the strongest on (9) ____________ to make landfall. Meteorologists say the violent storm (10) ____________ winds of up to 315kph. It is believed over 10,000 people (11) ____________ in the city of Tacloban alone. Hundreds of thousands are now homeless after the typhoon (12) ____________ almost everything in its path. The New York Times reported there being "typhoon (13) ____________" as the destroyed infrastructure is making the logistics of distributing aid a (14) ____________. People are (15) ____________ for water. The Doctors Without Borders charity said: "Access is extremely difficult and is preventing people from receiving help." Christian Aid said: "The (16) ____________ here is unimaginable."

 

nightmare
perished
devastation
record
flattened
desperate
gridlock
packed

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

The United Nations humanitarian chief Valerie Amos has said aid is ______

 

a.  not reaching survives
b.  not reaching survivors
c.  not reaching survivals
d.  not reaching survivor

2)

Ms Amos is the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency ______

 

a.  Relief Coordinator
b.  Relief Coordinators
c.  Relief Coordination
d.  Relief Coordinated

3)

She said: "The situation ______".

 

a.  is dismay
b.  is this small
c.  is dismally
d.  is dismal

4)

Ensuring a faster delivery is ______

 

a.  our immediate priorities
b.  our immediate prioritise
c.  our immediate priority
d.  our immediate priory tie

5)

Early efforts at providing assistance ______

 

a.  were hindered
b.  were dampened
c.  were thumped
d.  were hampered

6)

Typhoon Haiyan is possibly the strongest on record ______

 

a.  to make landfall
b.  to take landfall
c.  to bake landfall
d.  to lake landfall

7)

Meteorologists say the violent ______ of up to 315kph

 

a.  storm picked winds
b.  storm packed winds
c.  storm pocked winds
d.  storm pecked winds

8)

Hundreds of thousands are now homeless after the ______ everything in its path

 

a.  typhoon flattened almost
b.  typhoon flatten and almost
c.  typhoon flat ended almost
d.  typhoon threatened almost

9)

the destroyed infrastructure is making the logistics of distributing aid a nightmare

 

a.  the logistics for
b.  the logistics at
c.  the logistics of
d.  the logistics from

10)

Christian Aid said: "The devastation here ______

 

a.  is an imaginable
b.  is not imaginable
c.  is non-imaginable
d.  is unimaginable

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The United Nations humanitarian chief Valerie Amos has said aid is not     (1) ___________________ Typhoon Haiyan quickly enough. Ms Amos is the UN Under-Secretary-General for (2) ___________________ and Emergency Relief Coordinator. She spoke to reporters in Manila yesterday and explained how (3) ___________________ more quickly. She said: "The situation is dismal. Those who have been able to leave have done so. Many more are trying. People are (4) ___________________ help." She added: "We need to get assistance to them now. They are already saying it has taken too long to arrive. Ensuring a faster delivery is (5) ___________________." Early efforts at providing assistance (6) ___________________ continuing bad weather.

Typhoon Haiyan is possibly the (7) ___________________ make landfall. Meteorologists say the violent storm (8) ___________________ 315kph. It is believed over 10,000 people perished in the city of Tacloban alone. Hundreds (9) ___________________ homeless after the typhoon flattened almost everything in its path. The New York Times reported there being "typhoon gridlock" as the (10) ___________________ is making the logistics (11) ___________________ nightmare. People are desperate for water. The Doctors Without Borders charity said: "Access is extremely difficult and (12) ___________________ receiving help." Christian Aid said: "The devastation here is unimaginable."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

Who did Ms Amos speak to in the Philippine capital?

2.

What are many people trying to do?

3.

What are survivors saying?

4.

What is the immediate priority of Ms Amos' team?

5.

What got in the way of early attempts to provide aid?

6.

What were the fastest wind speeds measured in the typhoon?

7.

What did the typhoon flatten?

8.

How did the New York Times describe the situation?

9.

What did Doctors Without Borders say was difficult?

10.

What did the Christian Aid charity say about the devastation?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

Who did Ms Amos speak to in the Philippine capital?

6.

What were the fastest wind speeds measured in the typhoon?

 

a) aid workers
b) survivors
c) the president of the Philippines
d) reporters

 

a) 351kph
b) 153kph
c) 315kph
d) 531kph

2.

What are many people trying to do?

7.

What did the typhoon flatten?

 

a) find their mobile phones
b) leave
c) repair farms
d) dig for water

 

a) everything in its path
b) wind speed records
c) mountains
d) the rain

3.

What are survivors saying?

8.

How did the New York Times describe the situation?

 

a) there are too many shops closed
b) another typhoon is coming
c) they need electricity
d) help is taking too long

 

a) as "a gridlock nightmare"
b) as " nightmare logistics"
c) as "typhoon gridlock"
d) as "typhoon infrastructure"

4.

What is the immediate priority of Ms Amos' team?

9.

What did Doctors Without Borders say was difficult?

 

a) setting up a UN HQ
b) meeting aid agencies
c) delivering faster aid
d) meeting the people

 

a) looking at the scene
b) access
c) conducting surgery
d) difficulties

5.

What got in the way of early attempts to provide aid?

10.

What did the Christian Aid charity say about the devastation?

 

a) a lack of coordination
b) trees
c) red tape
d) bad weather

 

a) it is "unimaginable"
b) it is "unconscionable"
c) it is "unbelievable"
d) it is "unanswerable"

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Hospitals

You think the typhoon-hit areas need hospitals most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so high on the list of emergency needs. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): passable roads, electricity or law and order.

Role  B – Passable roads

You think the typhoon-hit areas need passable roads most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so high on the list of emergency needs. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): hospitals, electricity or law and order.

Role  C – Electricity

You think the typhoon-hit areas need electricity most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so high on the list of emergency needs. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): passable roads, hospitals or law and order.

Role  D – Law and order

You think the typhoon-hit areas need law and order most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so high on the list of emergency needs. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): passable roads, electricity or hospitals.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'emergency' and 'relief'.

emergency

 

relief

 

 

  • Share your findings with your partners.
  • Make questions using the words you found.
  • Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

  • Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
  • Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

  • chief
  • spoke
  • quickly
  • leave
  • arrive
  • weather
  • record
  • 315
  • path
  • logistics
  • access
  • unimaginable

AID SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about aid in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

  • Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
  • Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

AID DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)

What did you think when you read the headline?

b)

What springs to mind when you hear the word 'typhoon'?

c)

What's the difference between a typhoon and a hurricane?

d)

What do you think of the aid efforts in the Philippines?

e)

Why is aid being delivered so slowly?

f)

Why do you think so many stayed in their homes when the typhoon came?

g)

What can you do to help those affected by the typhoon?

h)

Does the world act fast enough in natural disasters?

i)

Countries get ready for war quicker than for natural disasters. Why?

j)

What do you know about Typhoon Haiyan?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

Should the world have a definite plan to be in disaster areas within 24 hours?

c)

Do you think the city of Tacloban will ever recover?

d)

What's the best way people can prepare for a typhoon?

e)

How do people go about rebuilding their lives and towns?

f)

What should the whole world be doing now to help?

g)

What would you do if you knew a super typhoon was on its way?

h)

What should be done first after a typhoon has passed?

i)

How would you cope in such a catastrophic natural disaster?

j)

What questions would you like to ask a survivor?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

The United Nations humanitarian (1) ____ Valerie Amos has said aid is not reaching survivors of Typhoon Haiyan quickly enough. Ms Amos is the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. She spoke to reporters in Manila yesterday and explained how (2) ____ it was to act more quickly. She said: "The situation is (3) ____. Those who have been (4) ____ to leave have done so. Many more are trying. People are extremely desperate (5) ____ help." She added: "We need to get assistance to them now. They are already saying it has taken too long to arrive. Ensuring a faster delivery is our immediate priority." Early efforts (6) ____ providing assistance were hampered by continuing bad weather.

Typhoon Haiyan is possibly the strongest (7) ____ record to make landfall. Meteorologists say the violent storm (8) ____ winds of up to 315kph. It is believed over 10,000 people perished in the city of Tacloban alone. Hundreds of thousands are now homeless after the typhoon (9) ____ almost everything in its path. The New York Times reported there being "typhoon gridlock" as the destroyed infrastructure is making the (10) ____ of distributing aid a nightmare. People are desperate for water. The Doctors Without Borders charity said: "Access is extremely difficult and is (11) ____ people from receiving help." Christian Aid said: "The devastation here is (12) ____."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.

(a)

chief

(b)

honcho

(c)

bigwig

(d)

big cheese

2.

(a)

urgently

(b)

urgency

(c)

urgent

(d)

urged

3.

(a)

dismay

(b)

dismantle

(c)

dismal

(d)

dismiss

4.

(a)

enabling

(b)

ability

(c)

capable

(d)

able

5.

(a)

for

(b)

by

(c)

as

(d)

at

6.

(a)

to

(b)

at

(c)

on

(d)

as

7.

(a)

in

(b)

to

(c)

at

(d)

on

8.

(a)

stored

(b)

packed

(c)

iced

(d)

foraged

9.

(a)

harnessed

(b)

lassoed

(c)

flattened

(d)

smoothened

10.

(a)

logs

(b)

logistical

(c)

logics

(d)

logistics

11.

(a)

counteracting

(b)

prohibiting

(c)

forbidding

(d)

preventing

12.

(a)

envisaging

(b)

unimaginable

(c)

conjuring up

(d)

unassuming

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

The United Nations tamrauinianh chief

2.

not reaching rsvrvusio

3.

People are extremely pareedets for help

4.

nisnuger a faster delivery

5.

our immediate tpiroyir

6.

demeaphr by continuing bad weather

Paragraph 2

7.

the strongest on record to make ldaflnal

8.

tgstiosolrMoee say the violent storm…

9.

over 10,000 people edsehrip

10.

the typhoon ttaenefld almost everything in its path

11.

the destroyed riusnerruatcft

12.

The titadaoenvs here is unimaginable

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

winds of up to 315kph. It is believed over 10,000 people perished in the city of Tacloban alone. Hundreds of

(    )

Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. She spoke to reporters in Manila yesterday and explained how

(    )

have done so. Many more are trying. People are extremely desperate for help." She added: "We need to get

(    )

thousands are now homeless after the typhoon flattened almost everything in its path. The New York Times

(    )

from receiving help." Christian Aid said: "The devastation here is unimaginable."

(    )

Typhoon Haiyan is possibly the strongest on record to make landfall. Meteorologists say the violent storm packed

(    )

logistics of distributing aid a nightmare. People are desperate for water. The

(    )

Doctors Without Borders charity said: "Access is extremely difficult and is preventing people

(    )

urgent it was to act more quickly. She said: "The situation is dismal. Those who have been able to leave

(    )

reported there being "typhoon gridlock" as the destroyed infrastructure is making the

1  )

The United Nations humanitarian chief Valerie Amos has said aid is not reaching survivors

(    )

of Typhoon Haiyan quickly enough. Ms Amos is the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian

(    )

priority." Early efforts at providing assistance were hampered by continuing bad weather.

(    )

assistance to them now. They are already saying it has taken too long to arrive. Ensuring a faster delivery is our immediate

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

quickly    is   survivors   Haiyan    Aid   reaching    Typhoon    not    of.

2.

was     more     Explained     it     act     urgent     to     quickly     how.    

3.

who     able     have     Those     been     leave    so    have    to    done.    

4.

a     our     Ensuring     is     delivery     priority     faster     immediate.    

5.

efforts     hampered     assistance     at     Early     were     providing.    

6.

the     Typhoon     strongest     Haiyan     on     is     record     possibly.    

7.

to     The     packed     up     storm     of     315kph     violent     winds.     

8.

typhoon     its     flattened     path     almost     everything     The     in.    

9.

distributing     Making     aid     the     a     logistics     nightmare     of.    

10.

"  The   devastation   here   is   unimaginable   ."   Christian   Aid   said:

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The United Nations humanitarian / humane chief Valerie Amos has said aid is not reaching survivors of Typhoon Haiyan quickly / speedy enough. Ms Amos is the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. She spoke to reporters in Manila yesterday and explained how urgency / urgent it was to act more quickly. She said: "The situation is dismal / dismay. Those who have been able to leave have done such / so. Many more are trying. People are extremely desperation / desperate for help." She added: "We need to make / get assistance to them now. They are already saying it has taken / being too long to arrive. Ensuring a faster delivery is our immediate prioritise / priority." Early efforts at providing assistance were hampered by / at continuing bad weather.

Typhoon Haiyan is possibly / possible the strongest on record to make landfall. Meteorologists say the violence / violent storm packed  / packaged winds of up to 315kph. It is believed / belief over 10,000 people perished in the city of Tacloban alone. Hundreds of thousands are now homelessness / homeless after the typhoon flattened / smoothened almost everything in its path. The New York Times reported there being / been "typhoon gridlock" as the destroyed infrastructure is making the logical / logistics of distributing aid a nightmare. People are desperate for / of water. The Doctors Without Borders charity said: "Access is extremely difficult and is preventing people from / by receiving help." Christian Aid said: "The devastation here is unimaginable."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_ _n_t_d N_t__ns h_m_n_t_r__n ch__f V_l_r__ _m_s h_s s__d __d _s n_t r__ch_ng s_rv_v_rs _f Typh__n H__y_n q__ckly _n__gh. Ms _m_s _s th_ _N _nd_r-S_cr_t_ry-G_n_r_l f_r H_m_n_t_r__n _ff__rs _nd _m_rg_ncy R_l__f C__rd_n_t_r. Sh_ sp_k_ t_ r_p_rt_rs _n M_n_l_ y_st_rd_y _nd _xpl__n_d h_w _rg_nt _t w_s t_ _ct m_r_ q__ckly. Sh_ s__d: "Th_ s_t__t__n _s d_sm_l. Th_s_ wh_ h_v_ b__n _bl_ t_ l__v_ h_v_ d_n_ s_. M_ny m_r_ _r_ try_ng. P__pl_ _r_ _xtr_m_ly d_sp_r_t_ f_r h_lp." Sh_ _dd_d: "W_ n__d t_ g_t _ss_st_nc_ t_ th_m n_w. Th_y _r_ _lr__dy s_y_ng _t h_s t_k_n t__ l_ng t_ _rr_v_. _ns_r_ng _ f_st_r d_l_v_ry _s __r _mm_d__t_ pr__r_ty." __rly _ff_rts _t pr_v_d_ng _ss_st_nc_ w_r_ h_mp_r_d by c_nt_n__ng b_d w__th_r.

Typh__n H__y_n _s p_ss_bly th_ str_ng_st _n r_c_rd t_ m_k_ l_ndf_ll. M_t__r_l_g_sts s_y th_ v__l_nt st_rm p_ck_d w_nds _f _p t_ 315kph. _t _s b_l__v_d _v_r 10,000 p__pl_ p_r_sh_d _n th_ c_ty _f T_cl_b_n _l_n_. H_ndr_ds _f th__s_nds _r_ n_w h_m_l_ss _ft_r th_ typh__n fl_tt_n_d _lm_st _v_ryth_ng _n _ts p_th. Th_ N_w Y_rk T_m_s r_p_rt_d th_r_ b__ng "typh__n gr_dl_ck" _s th_ d_str_y_d _nfr_str_ct_r_ _s m_k_ng th_ l_g_st_cs _f d_str_b_t_ng __d _ n_ghtm_r_. P__pl_ _r_ d_sp_r_t_ f_r w_t_r. Th_ D_ct_rs W_th__t B_rd_rs ch_r_ty s__d: "_cc_ss _s _xtr_m_ly d_ff_c_lt _nd _s pr_v_nt_ng p__pl_ fr_m r_c__v_ng h_lp." Chr_st__n __d s__d: "Th_ d_v_st_t__n h_r_ _s _n_m_g_n_bl_."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the united nations humanitarian chief valerie amos has said aid is not reaching survivors of typhoon haiyan quickly enough ms amos is the un under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator she spoke to reporters in manila yesterday and explained how urgent it was to act more quickly she said "the situation is dismal those who have been able to leave have done so many more are trying people are extremely desperate for help" she added "we need to get assistance to them now they are already saying it has taken too long to arrive ensuring a faster delivery is our immediate priority" early efforts at providing assistance were hampered by continuing bad weather

typhoon haiyan is possibly the strongest on record to make landfall meteorologists say the violent storm packed winds of up to 315kph it is believed over 10000 people perished in the city of tacloban alone hundreds of thousands are now homeless after the typhoon flattened almost everything in its path the new york times reported there being "typhoon gridlock" as the destroyed infrastructure is making the logistics of distributing aid a nightmare people are desperate for water the doctors without borders charity said "access is extremely difficult and is preventing people from receiving help" christian aid said "the devastation here is unimaginable"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheUnitedNationshumanitarianchiefValerieAmoshassaidaidisnotreachingsur
vivorsofTyphoonHaiyanquicklyenough.MsAmosistheUNUnder-Secretary-
GeneralforHumanitarianAffairsandEmergencyReliefCoordinator.Shespoketo
reportersinManilayesterdayandexplainedhowurgentitwastoactmorequickly.
Shesaid:"Thesituationisdismal.Thosewhohavebeenabletoleavehavedoneso.
Manymorearetrying.Peopleareextremelydesperateforhelp."Sheadded:"Wen
eedtogetassistancetothemnow.Theyarealreadysayingithastakentoolongtoar
rive.Ensuringafasterdeliveryisourimmediatepriority."Earlyeffortsatproviding
assistancewerehamperedbycontinuingbadweather.TyphoonHaiyanispossibl
ythestrongestonrecordtomakelandfall.Meteorologistssaytheviolentstormpac
kedwindsofupto315kph.Itisbelievedover10,000peopleperishedinthecityofTa
clobanalone.Hundredsofthousandsarenowhomelessafterthetyphoonflattene
dalmosteverythinginitspath.TheNewYorkTimesreportedtherebeing"typhoon
gridlock"asthedestroyedinfrastructureismakingthelogisticsofdistributingaid
anightmare.Peoplearedesperateforwater.TheDoctorsWithoutBorderscharity
said:"Accessisextremelydifficultandispreventingpeoplefromreceivinghelp."C
hristianAidsaid:"Thedevastationhereisunimaginable."

FREE WRITING

Write about aid for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Governments should forcibly evacuate entire cities / islands when a typhoon or hurricane is approaching.   Discuss.

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HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about Typhoon Haiyan. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. AID: Make a poster about aid. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. TYPHOON HAIYAN: Write a magazine article about the difficulty of getting aid to those who need it in the Philippines. Include imaginary interviews with aid workers and survivors.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an aid expert. Ask him/her three questions about Typhoon Haiyan. Give him/her three ideas on how to get aid moving quicker. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

T

f

F

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

chief

a.

head

2.

urgent

b.

serious

3.

dismal

c.

miserable

4.

priority

d.

prime concern

5.

hampered

e.

set back

6.

meteorologists

f.

weather forecasters

7.

perished

g.

died

8.

flattened

h.

knocked down

9.

logistics

i.

organization

10.

devastation

j.

destruction

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

Reporters

2.

Survive

3.

Help is taking too long to arrive

4.

Delivering aid faster

5.

Bad weather

6.

315kph

7.

Everything in its path

8.

As "typhoon gridlock"

9.

Access

10.

It is unimaginable

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

d

4.

c

5.

d

6.

c

7.

a

8.

c

9.

b

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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