Vocabulary Idioms & Phrases

1. Vocabulary Idioms & Phrases Reading~ Paragraphs 4-6 Post-reading

2. Listen to paragraphs 4-6. Skip

3. Now, answer the following questions.

4. Match the above items with those below. ______ 1. 695 people _____ 2. 2,000 people ______ 3. 11,000 people _____ 4. March 18, 1925 ______ 5. over 50 million dollars ______ 6. 40-65 kilometers per hour (A) the number of people the Tri-State Tornado injured (B) the speed at which a tornado moves (C) the number of people the Tri-State Tornado killed (D) the date on which the Tri-State Tornado hit the USA. (E) the cost of the damage caused by the Tri-State Tornado (F) the number of people left homeless by the Tri-State Tornado C A F D E B

5. Reading

6. Each year, the USA is hit by about a thousand tornados, mainly in the early spring. Each year, the USA is hit by about a thousand tornadoes, mainly in the early spring. → Each year, nearly a thousand tornados strike the USA, most of which occur in the early spring.

7. The most devastating one took place on March 18, 1925. The most devastating one took place on March 18, 1925. → The most destructive/worst tornado in American history was the one which occurred on March 18, 1925.

8. Traveling at 100 km per hour, it lasted for three and a half hours and left an enormous path of destruction. Traveling at 100 km per hour, it lasted for three and a half hours and left an enormous path of destruction. → During its 3.5-hour lifespan, the tornado moved at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour and caused enormous destruction along its path.

9. When the tornado finally scattered, it had covered a distance of 219 miles across three states, so it became notoriously known as the Tri-State Tornado. cover：travel a particular distance We covered over 200 miles in the car. We covered a lot of ground during those two weeks in Spain. The introduction of Tri-State Tornado Next

10. The introduction of Tri-State Tornado The enormity of the Tri-State Tornado and its ranking as the greatest tornado in American history can be summarized by the following statistics: (1) longest continuous contact on the ground, (2) third fastest traveling speed, (3) continuous exertion of force resulting in damage throughout most of its lifespan, (4) a record 3.5-hour duration.

11. When the tornado finally scattered, it had covered a distance of 219 miles across three states, so it became notoriously known as the Tri-State Tornado. 原句＝ → Before it eventually dissipated/dispelled, the tornado had swept through the states of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana in its 219-mile-long path. Therefore, the notorious tornado was called the “Tri-State Tornado.”

12. People who witnessed the tornado said it looked like a giant cone with lightning flying through it. with + O + O C表示「附帶狀態」，其補語可用現在分詞、形容詞、副詞、介詞片語。 People who witnessed the tornado said it looked like a giant cone with lightning flying through it. → Those who saw the tornado in person described it as a huge cone (that was) accompanied with lightning.

13. It touched down with a thunderous roaring noise, just like an enormous freight train speeding through. Four towns were completely destroyed and six more were damaged. Four towns were completely destroyed and six more were damaged. → The tornado left four towns entirely ruined and other six towns damaged.

14. 695 people were killed, 2,000 were injured, 11,000 were made homeless and the damage was over 50 million dollars, in today’s terms. in...terms = in terms of...; on the basis of 以…的觀點 We don’t like Ted because he tends to think of everything in money’s terms/ in terms of money. Next

15. 695 people were killed, 2,000 were injured, 11,000 were made homeless and the damage was over 50 million dollars, in today’s terms. 695 people were killed, 2,000 were injured, 11,000 were made homeless and the damage was over 50 million dollars, in today’s terms. → The tornado left 695 people dead, 2,000 people injured, 11,000 people homeless and the damage it caused was up to more than 50 million dollars, by the standards of today.

16. During another deadly tornado, a power line was blown down onto a fence, electrocuting fifteen cows. During another deadly tornado, a power line was blown down onto a fence, electrocuting fifteen cows. → When another deadly tornado struck, a power line was blown down onto a fence, and fifteen cows were killed when they touched the electrified fence.

17. According to a witness, the fence “became illuminated like the heating element in a toaster.” According to a witness, the fence “became illuminated like the heating element in a toaster.” → A witness described the illuminated fence as the heating part in a toaster.

18. Further along its path, it popped open the doors of a car, pulled the driver and the three passengers out and then tore the vehicle into little pieces, which were scattered several miles along the road. ...it popped open the doors of a car.... → ...it opened the doors of a car with a short sharp sound.... 原為pop + O + OC的用法，但因受詞較長， 所以挪至補語後面。

19. A less disastrous incident involved a little girl who was sucked up by a tornado while she was riding her pony. A less disastrous incident involved a little girl who was sucked up by a tornado while she was riding her pony. → In a less damaging case, a little girl was drawn up into a tornado while riding her pony.

20. Miraculously, the girl suffered only minor bruises while the pony was left unharmed. Miraculously, the girl suffered only minor bruises while the pony was left unharmed. → It was miraculous that the girl only got slight bruises and the pony came to no harm at all.

21. It is almost impossible to eliminate the damage that tornados cause. However, new technology and scientific research might help reduce their intensity. It is almost impossible to eliminate the damage that tornados cause. → To avoid the damage that tornados do seems nearly impossible. → There is nearly nothing that we can do to avoid tornado damage. Back

22. Post-reading

23. Reading for Main Ideas The article mainly talks about _____. □ 1. how powerful and unpredictable tornados are □ 2. the ways to predict when and where a tornado is likely to occur □ 3. how a tornado moves and how it destroys things in its way □ 4. how many people have been killed by tornados in the US □ 5. how to survive a tornado and how to reduce tornado damage

24. Topics for Discussion

25. Discussion 1: Have you ever seen or heard of a tornado before? Share what you have seen or heard of with your classmates.

26. Reference answer : Yes, I have heard of reports of tornados that have occurred in the U.S., mainland China, Hong Kong or even in Taiwan. To my surprise, we have tornados here too, although most of us have never seen one. Take the tornado that hit Tainan County on June 2, 1993 for example. The tornado sucked up the roofs of several houses and pigsties. Three days later, another tornado hit the county again.

27. Reference answer : Itcaused damage to 52 houses and some factories. The strangest news I have ever heard of was a tornado that hit Yunling County in July, 2002. According to some reports, the tornado not only uprooted many fruit trees but frightened hundreds of chicken to death. It caused a farmer a great deal of loss. Unlike the above-mentioned tornados, some tornados occur on the seas around Taiwan.

28. Reference answer : Theysuck up a great deal of sea water and appear to be a water-like dragon flying between the sea and the sky. In May, 1998, more than 5 tornados occurred on the sea near Dongsha Isle. During the years, from 1951 to 1982, 47 tornados were recorded in Taiwan. Although none of them was as strong as those occurring in the U.S. or mainland China, they nevertheless caused considerable damage.

29. Discussion 2 : Share with your classmates what you know about any other natural disasters and the damage they may cause.

30. Reference answer : Landslides brought by heavy rain or typhoons have caused a great deal of damage to Taiwan. In the past few years, many houses, even entire villages, were engulfed by fast-moving landslides, and numerous people were buried under currents of mud and rock. They move so rapidly that they can destroy property and take lives suddenly and unexpectedly.

31. Reference answer : To me, it seems that landslides are as dangerous as earthquakes. Landslides have been a serious geologic hazard common to every part of Taiwan. This reality is pushing us to the point where we should do something to prevent landslides before they happen.

32. Reference answer : We should support the government in efforts to develop and enforce land-use and building ordinances that regulate construction in areas susceptible to landslides. Volcanic eruptions are another natural disaster that threatens human lives. In some eruptions, huge fierce clouds rise over the mountain, and glowing rivers of lava flow down its sides.

33. Reference answer : Hot ash falling from the clouds covers everything below the mountain, sizzling rocks hit objects on the ground, and burning lava melts and devours everything in its way. An eruption may destroy an entire city. Take Pompeii for instance. Once Pompeii was a busy city of 22,000 people. It lay at the foot of Mount Vesuvius.

34. Reference answer : In August of the year 79, Vesuvius erupted. The entire top of the mountain exploded, and a huge black cloud rose into the air. Then a poisonous gas came. When the eruption ended two days later, Pompeii was buried under 20 feet of rock and ash. The city was completely destroyed and then forgotten until the year 1861.

35. Reference answer : Since nothing can be done to prevent such disasters, predicting volcanic eruptions is the chief way to prevent property damage and to save lives. Back