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Sandy asks new climate change questions (1st November, 2012)

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20 ONLINE QUIZZES & ACTIVITIES
DICTATION

* 26-page lesson
* 2-page MINI lesson

  

LISTEN

* MP3 (faster / male)

* MP3 (slow / female)

* MP3 (20 questions)

 * Text Jumble

 * Missing words

 * No letters

 * Grammar gap-fill

 * Articles gap-fill

 * Prepositions

  * Consonants

  * Vowels

  * Missing letters

  * Initials only

  * Text jumble 15

  * Text jumble 24

  * No spaces

  * Gap-fill
 
 

  * 10 sentences

  * Spelling

  

READING

  * Speed Reading

Hurricane Sandy killed at least 62 people and caused billions of dollars of damage to America's east coast. Water from the superstorm, which hit on Tuesday night, has flooded subways and tunnels in New York City and cut off electricity to millions of homes. Politicians and scientists are now asking whether America and the world are ready for such devastating and deadly weather events. Sandy has firmly put climate change back onto the agenda of the 2012 presidential election. Former U.S. vice president Al Gore told reporters: "Hurricane Sandy is a disturbing sign of things to come. We must [pay attention to] this warning and act quickly to solve the climate crisis." Mr Gore added: "Dirty energy makes dirty weather."

Climate expert Dr Shaye Wolf warned of "a future full of Frankenstorms". He said: "Climate change raises sea levels and super-sizes storms. The threat of killer winds and crushing storm surges will grow by the year unless we get serious about tackling greenhouse gas." Other scientists say a mixture of rare weather systems caused Sandy. They say that warmer temperatures and rising sea levels were probably not the reason for the hurricane. Meteorologist Kevin Trenberth said of Sandy: "A lot of [different] weather conditions that lined up [caused] what we might call a meteorological bomb." Sandy is certain to get politicians once again asking questions about fossil fuels and pollution.

Sources:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/oct/31/sandy-climate-change-us-election
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/31/storm-sandy-climate-idUSL1E8LUCF320121031

WARM-UPS

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1. CLIMATE CHANGE: Walk around the class and talk to other students about climate change. Change partners often. Share your findings with your first partner.

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

 

hurricanes / damage / flooded / devastating weather events / climate / dirty energy / Frankenstorms / greenhouse gas / warmer temperatures / meteorologist / pollution

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

3. WEATHER EVENTS: How are they changing? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again.

 

Real-life examples

Problems and how to fix them

Wind

 

 

Rain

 

 

El Nino / La Nina

 

 

Snow

 

 

Heat

 

 

Cold

 

 

4. GLOBAL WARMING: Students A strongly believe global warming is caused by human activity; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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5. HELP: What can you do to help the Earth? Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • use the stairs, not the elevator
  • turn on lights only when it's dark
  • walk, don't drive
  • recycle everything
  • use MUCH less air-con / heating
  • plant trees (more than one)
  • use less hot water
  • buy energy-efficient products

6. HURRICANE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'hurricane'. 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.

Hurricane Sandy caused billions, not millions of dollars of damage.

T / F

b.

Climate change wasn't such a hot topic for politicians before Sandy.

T / F

c.

An ex-vice president of the USA said there was no need to take action.

T / F

d.

The ex-VP suggested that using coal and gas brings us bad weather.

T / F

e.

A specialist on the climate warned of what he called "Dracula-storms".

T / F

f.

The expert said there would me more deadly weather year by year.

T / F

g.

Many experts said a mix of common weather systems caused Sandy.

T / F

h.

The article said Sandy would soon disappear from politicians' agendas.

T / F

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

1.

at least

a.

questioning

2.

hit

b.

sure

3.

asking

c.

struck

4.

devastating

d.

worrying

5.

disturbing

e.

combination

6.

expert

f.

not less than

7.

threat

g.

uncommon

8.

mixture

h.

danger

9.

rare

i.

damaging

10.

certain

j.

specialist

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

1.

Hurricane Sandy killed at

a.

sea levels

2.

flooded

b.

things to come

3.

Sandy has firmly put climate change back

c.

greenhouse gas

4.

a disturbing sign of

d.

onto the agenda

5.

Dirty energy

e.

least 62 people

6.

warned of a future full

f.

for the hurricane

7.

Climate change raises

g.

subways and tunnels

8.

get serious about tackling

h.

fuels and pollution

9.

probably not the reason

i.

of Frankenstorms

10.

asking questions about fossil.

j.

makes dirty weather

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Hurricane Sandy killed at (1) ____________ 62 people and caused billions of dollars of damage to America's east (2) ____________. Water from the superstorm, which hit on Tuesday night, has (3) ____________ subways and tunnels in New York City and (4) ____________ of electricity to millions of homes. Politicians and scientists are now asking whether America and the world are ready for such (5) ____________ and deadly weather events. Sandy has firmly put climate change back onto the (6) ____________ of the 2012 presidential election. Former U.S. vice president Al Gore told reporters: "Hurricane Sandy is a (7) ____________ sign of things to come. We must [pay (8) ____________ to] this warning and act quickly to solve the climate crisis." Mr Gore added: "Dirty energy makes dirty weather."

 

 

 

cut
disturbing
coast
devastating
least
attention
flooded
agenda

Climate expert Dr Shaye Wolf (9) ____________ of "a future full of Frankenstorms". He said: "Climate change (10) ____________ sea levels and super-sizes storms. The (11) ____________ of killer winds and crushing storm surges will grow by the year unless we get serious about (12) ____________ greenhouse gas." Other scientists say a mixture of (13) ____________ weather systems caused Sandy. They say that warmer temperatures and rising sea levels were probably not the (14) ____________ for the hurricane. Meteorologist Kevin Trenberth said of Sandy: "A lot of [different] weather conditions that (15) ____________ up [caused] what we might call a meteorological bomb." Sandy is certain to get politicians once again asking questions about (16) ____________ fuels and pollution.

 

 

rare
threat
warned
lined
fossil
raises
tackling
reason

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Hurricane Sandy killed at …

a.  most 62 people

b.  least 62 people

c.  least 63 people

d.  most 63 people

2)  Politicians and scientists are now asking whether America and the world are ready …

a.  for such debilitating and deathly weather events

b.  for such devastating and deadly weather events

c.  for such deadly and devastating weather events

d.  for such deathly and debilitating weather events

3)  Sandy has firmly put climate change back onto …

a.  the weather

b.  the discussion boards

c.  the map

d.  the agenda

4)  Hurricane Sandy is a disturbing _________ of things to come

a.  sign

b.  pattern

c.  thing

d.  signal

5)  Dirty energy makes dirty weather …

a.  clean weather

b.  weather dirty

c.  dirty weather

d.  weather clean

6)  "a future _______ of Frankenstorms"

a.  full

b.  filled

c.  fail

d.  full up

7)  The threat of killer winds and crushing storm surges will grow …

a.  by the year

b.  year by year

c.  each year

d.  every year

8)  They say that warmer temperatures and rising sea levels were probably …

a.  the reason for the hurricane

b.  the main reason for the hurricane

c.  not the reason for the hurricane

d.  one of the main reasons for the hurricane

9)  what we might call a meteorological …

a.  bomber

b.  bomb shell

c.  time bomb

d.  bomb

10)  Sandy is certain to get politicians once ________ asking questions

a.  more

b.  time

c.  again

d.  only

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Hurricane Sandy killed at least 62 people and (1) _____________________ of damage to America's east coast. Water from the superstorm, which hit on Tuesday night, (2) _____________________ and tunnels in New York City and cut off electricity to millions of homes. Politicians and scientists are now asking whether America and the world (3) _____________________ devastating and deadly weather events. Sandy (4) ____________________ change (5) _____________________ of the 2012 presidential election. Former U.S. vice president Al Gore told reporters: "Hurricane Sandy is a disturbing sign of things to come. We must [pay attention to] this warning and (6) _____________________ the climate crisis." Mr Gore added: "Dirty energy makes dirty weather."

Climate expert Dr Shaye Wolf warned of "a future full of Frankenstorms". He said: "Climate (7) _____________________ and super-sizes storms. The threat of killer winds and crushing (8) _____________________ by the year unless we get (9) _____________________ greenhouse gas." Other scientists say (10) _____________________ weather systems caused Sandy. They say that warmer temperatures and rising sea levels were      (11) _____________________ for the hurricane. Meteorologist Kevin Trenberth said of Sandy: "A lot of [different] weather conditions that lined up [caused] what we might call a meteorological bomb." Sandy is certain to get politicians once again asking questions about (12) _________________.

 

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

How many people were killed by the hurricane?

2.

What two things did the water flood?

3.

Who is asking whether America is ready for deadly weather?

4.

What has Sandy done to the 21012 presidential agenda?

5.

What did Al Gore say makes "dirty weather"?

6.

What did climate expert Dr Shaye Wolf warn of?

7.

How often will the threat of threat of killer winds grow?

8.

What must we get serious about tackling?

9.

What did meteorologist Kevin Trenberth call Sandy?

10.

What is Sandy sure to do to politicians?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.  A climate expert warned of a future of…

6.  A climate expert warned of a future of…

a)

b)

c)

d)

61

62

63

64

a)

b)

c)

d)

Frankenstorms

Monster storms

"Dracula-storms"

"Zombicanes"

2.  What must we get serious about?

7.  What must we get serious about?

a)

b)

c)

d)

hundreds of thousands

millions

tens of millions

billions

a)

b)

c)

d)

destroying fossil fuels

crushing storm surges

 tackling greenhouse gas

getting politicians to use less fuel

3.  Sandy has put climate change …

8.  Some scientists said Sandy was

a)

b)

c)

d)

back onto the agenda

back onto the back burner

back 10,000 years

back to the ice age

a)

b)

c)

d)

a mixture of rare weather systems

a mixture of common weather patterns

the devil's work

a warning of more rain to come

4.  Al Gore said Sandy is a sign of ….

9.  A meteorologist called Sandy …

a)

b)

c)

d)

things that go bump in the night

the times

things to come

the end of the world

a)

b)

c)

d)

a meteorological bomb a meteorological time bomb

a meteorological bomber

a meteorological bombing

5.  Al Gore said…

10  Sandy will get politicians asking about

a)

b)

c)

d)

"Dirty weather makes dirty energy."

"Dirty energy makes dirty weather."

"Dirty energy makes dirty energy."

"Dirty weather makes dirty weather."

a)

b)

c)

d)

their salaries

the melting Arctic ice caps

the cost of living

fossil fuels and pollution

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Scientist A

You don't think human activity causes global warming. The Earth is too big for a few billion people to do this. You think it's just the normal weather. It happens every thousand years. You believe the others have no idea what they are talking about. Tell them that every time they speak.

Role  B – Scientist B

You strongly believe that humans cause global warming. There are thousands of reports that say this. The Earth's weather is going crazy. People who say humans do not create climate change get lots of money from oil companies. You think scientist A should quit his/her job for his/her opinions.

Role  C – Average Jo

You are an average person. You are sure there is a link between the way humans live their lives and the changing weather. Ask the scientists lots of questions. Ask them what we can do to save the penguins. Tell them to change their lifestyles to save energy.

Role  D – A penguin

You are a penguin living in Antarctica. You are fed up with humans. You know how to live a life that does not pollute the air, rivers and oceans. Order the others to go back to nature and live lives that create zero pollution. If they do not do this, all penguins will die one day.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

climate

change

 

 

 

  • 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:

  • 62
  • coast
  • ready
  • agenda
  • sign
  • dirty
  • future
  • grow
  • rare
  • reason
  • bomb
  • fossil

CLIMATE CHANGE SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about climate change 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.

CLIMATE CHANGE 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 'hurricane'?

c)

What do you know about Hurricane Sandy?

d)

How can we help the people affected by Sandy?

e)

Why did politicians in the USA stop talking about climate change?

f)

How important is climate change?

g)

What do you do every day to save energy?

h)

What pictures of Sandy do you remember looking at / watching?

i)

What does "Dirty energy makes dirty weather" mean?

j)

What can people do to prepare for deadly weather events?

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

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

a)

Did you like reading this article?

b)

Do you think we will ever get serious about storms like Sandy and take action?

c)

What do you think of the word "Frankenstorm"?

d)

How has the climate changed in your country recently?

e)

Why can't scientists agree on climate change?

f)

What should we do every day to save energy?

g)

Why do countries do so little about climate change?

h)

How much influence do oil companies have with politicians?

i)

What questions would you like to ask climate expert Dr Shaye Wolf?

j)

What is a "meteorological bomb"? What do you think of this term?

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.

________________________________________________________

MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE

Hurricane Sandy killed at (1) ____ 62 people and caused billions of dollars of damage to America's east coast. Water from the superstorm, which hit on Tuesday night, has (2) ____ subways and tunnels in New York City and cut off electricity to millions of homes. Politicians and scientists are now asking whether America and the world are ready for such (3) ____ and deadly weather events. Sandy has      (4) ____ put climate change back onto the agenda of the 2012 presidential election. Former U.S. vice president Al Gore told reporters: "Hurricane Sandy is a disturbing sign of things to come. We must [(5) ____ attention to] this warning and act quickly to (6) ____ the climate crisis." Mr Gore added: "Dirty energy makes dirty weather."

Climate expert Dr Shaye Wolf warned of "a future full of Frankenstorms". He said: "Climate change raises sea levels and super-sizes storms. The (7) ____ of killer winds and crushing storm (8) ____ will grow by the year unless we get serious about (9) ____ greenhouse gas." Other scientists say a mixture of rare weather systems caused Sandy. They say that warmer temperatures and (10) ____ sea levels were probably not the reason for the hurricane. Meteorologist Kevin Trenberth said of Sandy: "A lot of [different] weather conditions that (11) ____ up [caused] what we might call a meteorological bomb." Sandy is certain to get politicians once again asking questions about (12) ____ fuels and pollution.

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

1.

(a)

most

(b)

mainly

(c)

least

(d)

lesson

2.

(a)

flooded

(b)

flood

(c)

floods

(d)

flooding

3.

(a)

devastating

(b)

rambling

(c)

brewing

(d)

shuttering

4.

(a)

firmly

(b)

firm

(c)

firm up

(d)

firms

5.

(a)

cost

(b)

pay

(c)

sell

(d)

budget

6.

(a)

soluble

(b)

solution

(c)

solvent

(d)

solve

7.

(a)

treat

(b)

treaty

(c)

threat

(d)

threaten

8.

(a)

purses

(b)

purges

(c)

urges

(d)

surges

9.

(a)

tackling

(b)

tackles

(c)

tackled

(d)

tackle

10.

(a)

arisen

(b)

rising

(c)

raises

(d)

raising

11.

(a)

weathered

(b)

lined

(c)

pointed

(d)

waited

12.

(a)

cheap

(b)

rare

(c)

fossil

(d)

dangerous

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

doledfo subways and tunnels

2.

tiadgnetvas and deadly

3.

back onto the daaneg of the 2012 presidential election

4.

a ubntriisdg sign of things to come

5.

We must pay eanotntti

6.

Dirty energy makes dirty haeertw

Paragraph 2

7.

climate perxet

8.

the etarth of killer winds

9.

crushing storm uessrg

10.

warmer ttarspmreeeu

11.

a oalgleeotimrco bomb

12.

sofsli fuels

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

attention to] this warning and act quickly to solve the climate crisis." Mr Gore added: "Dirty energy makes dirty weather."

(    )

U.S. vice president Al Gore told reporters: "Hurricane Sandy is a disturbing sign of things to come. We must [pay

1  )

Hurricane Sandy killed at least 62 people and caused billions of dollars of damage to America's east

(    )

levels and super-sizes storms. The threat of killer winds and crushing storm surges will grow by the year

(    )

caused Sandy. They say that warmer temperatures and rising sea levels were probably not the reason

(    )

coast. Water from the superstorm, which hit on Tuesday night, has flooded subways and

(    )

whether America and the world are ready for such devastating and deadly weather

(    )

for the hurricane. Meteorologist Kevin Trenberth said of Sandy: "A lot of [different] weather

(    )

bomb." Sandy is certain to get politicians once again asking questions about fossil fuels and pollution.

(    )

tunnels in New York City and cut off electricity to millions of homes. Politicians and scientists are now asking

(    )

events. Sandy has firmly put climate change back onto the agenda of the 2012 presidential election. Former

(    )

conditions that lined up [caused] what we might call a meteorological

(    )

Climate expert Dr Shaye Wolf warned of "a future full of Frankenstorms". He said: "Climate change raises sea

(    )

unless we get serious about tackling greenhouse gas." Other scientists say a mixture of rare weather systems

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

of   of   America's   damage   dollars   east   to   Billions   coast.  

2.

millions   to   electricity   off   Cut   homes   of.  

3.

agenda   the   onto   back   change   climate   Put.  

4.

pay   this   act   must   to   and   We   attention   warning.  

5.

weather   dirty   Mr   energy   Gore   ."   makes   added   :   "   Dirty

6.

threat   winds   storm   The   killer   crushing   of   and   surges.  

7.

serious   about   Unless   tackling   we   greenhouse   get   gas.  

8.

caused   of   Sandy   rare   weather   A   systems   mixture.  

9.

bomb   meteorological   a   call   might   we   What.  

10.

fuels   fossil   about   questions   Asking   pollution   and.  

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Hurricane Sandy killed at most / least 62 people and caused billions of dollars of damage to America's east / easterly coast. Water from the superstorm, which hit on Tuesday night, has flooding / flooded subways and tunnels in New York City and cut off / in electricity to millions of homes. Politicians and scientists are now asking weather / whether America and the world are ready for such devastating and death / deadly weather events. Sandy has firmly / hardly put climate change back onto the agenda of the 2012 presidential election. Former U.S. vice president Al Gore told reporters: "Hurricane Sandy is a disturbing sign from / of things to come. We must [pay attention to] this warning and action / act quickly to solve the climate crisis." Mr Gore added: "Dirty energy makes pure / dirty weather."

Climate expert Dr Shaye Wolf warned of "a future full / filled of Frankenstorms". He said: "Climate change raises / rises sea levels and super-sizes storms. The treat / threat of killer winds and crushing storm surges will grow / growth by the year unless we get serious about heckling / tackling greenhouse gas." Other scientists say a mixture of common / rare weather systems caused Sandy. They say that warmer temperatures and rising sea levels were probably / likely not the reason for the hurricane. Meteorologist Kevin Trenberth said of Sandy: "A lot of [different] weather conditions that lined on / up [caused] what we might call a meteorological bomb / grenade." Sandy is certain to get politicians once again asking questions about hybrid / fossil fuels and pollution.

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics.

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

H_rr_c_n_ S_ndy k_ll_d _t l__st 62 p__pl_ _nd c__s_d b_ll__ns _f d_ll_rs _f d_m_g_ t_ _m_r_c_'s __st c__st. W_t_r fr_m th_ s_p_rst_rm, wh_ch h_t _n T__sd_y n_ght, h_s fl__d_d s_bw_ys _nd t_nn_ls _n N_w Y_rk C_ty _nd c_t _ff _l_ctr_c_ty t_ m_ll__ns _f h_m_s. P_l_t_c__ns _nd sc__nt_sts _r_ n_w _sk_ng wh_th_r _m_r_c_ _nd th_ w_rld _r_ r__dy f_r s_ch d_v_st_t_ng _nd d__dly w__th_r _v_nts. S_ndy h_s f_rmly p_t cl_m_t_ ch_ng_ b_ck _nt_ th_ _g_nd_ _f th_ 2012 pr_s_d_nt__l _l_ct__n. F_rm_r _.S. v_c_ pr_s_d_nt _l G_r_ t_ld r_p_rt_rs: "H_rr_c_n_ S_ndy _s _ d_st_rb_ng s_gn _f th_ngs t_ c_m_. W_ m_st [p_y _tt_nt__n t_] th_s w_rn_ng _nd _ct q__ckly t_ s_lv_ th_ cl_m_t_ cr_s_s." Mr G_r_ _dd_d: "D_rty _n_rgy m_k_s d_rty w__th_r."

Cl_m_t_ _xp_rt Dr Sh_y_ W_lf w_rn_d _f "_ f_t_r_ f_ll _f Fr_nk_nst_rms". H_ s__d: "Cl_m_t_ ch_ng_ r__s_s s__ l_v_ls _nd s_p_r-s_z_s st_rms. Th_ thr__t _f k_ll_r w_nds _nd cr_sh_ng st_rm s_rg_s w_ll gr_w by th_ y__r _nl_ss w_ g_t s_r___s _b__t t_ckl_ng gr__nh__s_ g_s." _th_r sc__nt_sts s_y _ m_xt_r_ _f r_r_ w__th_r syst_ms c__s_d S_ndy. Th_y s_y th_t w_rm_r t_mp_r_t_r_s _nd r_s_ng s__ l_v_ls w_r_ pr_b_bly n_t th_ r__s_n f_r th_ h_rr_c_n_. M_t__r_l_g_st K_v_n Tr_nb_rth s__d _f S_ndy: "_ l_t _f [d_ff_r_nt] w__th_r c_nd_t__ns th_t l_n_d _p [c__s_d] wh_t w_ m_ght c_ll _ m_t__r_l_g_c_l b_mb." S_ndy _s c_rt__n t_ g_t p_l_t_c__ns _nc_ _g__n _sk_ng q__st__ns _b__t f_ss_l f__ls _nd p_ll_t__n.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

hurricane sandy killed at least 62 people and caused billions of dollars of damage to america's east coast water from the superstorm which hit on tuesday night has flooded subways and tunnels in new york city and cut off electricity to millions of homes politicians and scientists are now asking whether america and the world are ready for such devastating and deadly weather events sandy has firmly put climate change back onto the agenda of the 2012 presidential election former us vice president al gore told reporters "hurricane sandy is a disturbing sign of things to come we must [pay attention to] this warning and act quickly to solve the climate crisis" mr gore added "dirty energy makes dirty weather"

climate expert dr shaye wolf warned of "a future full of frankenstorms" he said "climate change raises sea levels and super-sizes storms the threat of killer winds and crushing storm surges will grow by the year unless we get serious about tackling greenhouse gas" other scientists say a mixture of rare weather systems caused sandy they say that warmer temperatures and rising sea levels were probably not the reason for the hurricane meteorologist kevin trenberth said of sandy "a lot of [different] weather conditions that lined up [caused] what we might call a meteorological bomb" sandy is certain to get politicians once again asking questions about fossil fuels and pollution

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

HurricaneSandykilledatleast62peopleandcausedbillionsofdollarsofdamagetoAmerica'seastcoast.
Waterfromthesuperstorm,whichhitonTuesdaynight,hasfloodedsubwaysandtunnelsinNewYorkCity
andcutoffelectricitytomillionsofhomes.PoliticiansandscientistsarenowaskingwhetherAmericaand
theworldarereadyforsuchdevastatinganddeadlyweatherevents.Sandyhasfirmlyputclimatechange
backontotheagendaofthe2012presidentialelection.FormerU.S.vicepresidentAlGoretoldreporters:
"HurricaneSandyisadisturbingsignofthingstocome.Wemust[payattentionto]thiswarningandact
quicklytosolvetheclimatecrisis."MrGoreadded:"Dirtyenergymakesdirtyweather."

ClimateexpertDrShayeWolfwarnedof"afuturefullofFrankenstorms".Hesaid:"Climatechangeraises
sealevelsandsuper-sizesstorms.Thethreatofkillerwindsandcrushingstormsurgeswillgrowby
theyearunlesswegetseriousabouttacklinggreenhousegas."Otherscientistssayamixtureofrare
weathersystemscausedSandy.Theysaythatwarmertemperaturesandrisingsealevelswereprobably
notthereasonforthehurricane.MeteorologistKevinTrenberthsaidofSandy:"Alotof[different]weather
conditionsthatlinedup[caused]whatwemightcallameteorologicalbomb."Sandyiscertaintoget
politiciansonceagainaskingquestionsaboutfossilfuelsandpollution.

FREE WRITING

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

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Writing to politicians about the need to act over climate change is our duty, but also a waste of time. 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 climate change. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. CLIMATE CHANGE: Make a poster about climate change. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. SANDY: Write a magazine article about Hurricane Sandy. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

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 the US President. Ask him three questions about climate change and what his government is doing about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to save the Earth. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a.

T

b.

T

c.

F

d.

T

e.

F

f.

T

g.

F

h.

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

at least

a.

not less than

2.

hit

b.

struck

3.

asking

c.

questioning

4.

devastating

d.

damaging

5.

disturbing

e.

worrying

6.

expert

f.

specialist

7.

threat

g.

danger

8.

mixture

h.

combination

9.

rare

i.

uncommon

10.

certain

j.

sure

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

62

2.

subways and tunnels

3.

politicians and scientists

4.

put climate change back on the agenda

5.

dirty energy

6.

a future full of Frankenstorms / Frankenstorms

7.

by the year

8.

greenhouse gas

9.

a meteorological bomb

10.

get them asking questions about fossil fuels and pollution

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

a

10.

d

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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