Speed Reading — Europe's Floods - Level 6 — 500 wpm

Now do this put-the-text-back-together activity.


This is the text (if you need help).

Germany's leader has expressed her fears about climate change after visiting the devastation caused by the severe flooding in Europe. Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was horrified by the destruction across swathes of her country. She visited some of the hardest-hit areas in Germany and listened to accounts of the disaster from local residents. She told reporters: "It's shocking. I can pretty much say that the German language does not have words to describe the destruction that has been wreaked." Ms Merkel said the world had to escalate its efforts to tackle the climate crisis. She said: "We must hurry. We have to be faster in the fight against climate change."

Torrential rains caused many of Europe's major rivers to swell and overflow last week. Many burst their banks and caused flash floods in adjacent towns and villages. The floodwaters washed away houses, roads and bridges across Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The death toll stands at 190, with many more people missing. Towns are now covered in debris. The floods reshaped many parts of towns beyond recognition, which Ms Merkel described as being "surreal". Armin Laschet, the premier of the flood-stricken state of North-Rhine Westphalia, said the clean-up operation would take "years". He questioned Germany's preparedness for floods and the effectiveness of flood defences.

Comprehension questions
  1. How did Angela Merkel feel about the flooding in Europe?
  2. Whose accounts of the disaster did Ms Merkel listen to?
  3. What did Ms Merkel say lacked words to describe the destruction?
  4. What did Ms Merkel say the world had to escalate?
  5. What did Ms Merkel say the world had to do in the climate change fight?
  6. What does the article say caused rivers to swell and overflow?
  7. What does the article say washed away roads and bridges?
  8. What are many towns now covered in?
  9. How did Ms Merkel describe reshaped towns as being?
  10. How long did a state premier say it would take to clean up the damage?

Back to the Europe's floods lesson.

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