3. Type the correct answers in the gaps.

1. ________ many Japanese students in our class. 2. _________ a long way from my house to downtown. 3. _________ cold today. 4. _________ a beautiful flower in the garden. 5. _________ raining today. 6. _________ many people in your family? 7. __________ a test last week? 8. __________ a car outside. __________red. 9. __________ nice yesterday? 10. __________ expensive to shop at Eaton's. 11. ___________ a storm coming. 12. ____________ cloudy today.

4. The Weather.

The weather concerns everyone and has some effect on nearly every human activity. It occurs within the atmosphere, the gaseous fluid that completely envelops the Earth. Weather is defined as the momentary, day-to-day state of the atmosphere over any place on the Earth's surface. Climate, on the other hand, refers to weather averaged over a long period. The basic atmospheric conditions that make up the weather include precipitation, humidity, temperature, pressure, cloudiness, and wind. The science of observing and predicting the weather is known as meteorology.

Wind is the movement of air parallel to the Earth's surface. The direction from which a wind is blowing is very significant in weather prediction. Wind is always named after the direction it is coming from, not blowing in. Its force is indicated by the Beaufort-scale numbers. These numbers, ranging from zero to force 12, refer to the wind-speed measured in nautical miles per hour. For the navigator the wind direction and force are the most important aspects of meteorological conditions that are forecast in weather reports by weather stations.

Information must always include an increase or decrease in force and any change in wind-direction. A change of direction is usually indicated by the terms "veering" and "backing". A veering wind changes in a clockwise direction. A backing wind changes in anti-clockwise direction.

Atmospheric pressure by itself has little significance in weather forecasting. Falling pressure generally indicates that a storm is approaching; rising pressure indicates the approach or continuation of fair weather.

Water vapor in the air is what clouds, fog, rain, and snow are made from. The amount of moisture in the air is known as humidity.

Clouds often signal an imminent weather change. Rising cloud levels indicate clearing weather, while thickening and lowering clouds signify precipitation.

Fog is a cloud that base is on the ground. Dense fog will reduce visibility considerably and is referred to as "thick weather".

The tornado has a narrow, funnel-shaped trunk that reaches down from a dark thundercloud and whirls at speeds up to 300 miles per hour

5. Global problems.

Disasters/tragedies

earthquakes major accidents

(the earth moves/trembles) Explosions (e.g. a plane crash)

(e.g. a bomb)

hurricanes/tornadoes/typhoons floods (too much rain)

(violent winds/storms) drought (no rain)

famine (no food)

pollution(poisonous

substances introduced into

an environment)

volcanoes (hot rock and

gases pour from a mountain) war/civil war epidemics (diseases affecting

large numbers of people)

Verbs connected with these words

A volcano has erupted in Indonesia. Hundreds are feared dead.

The flu epidemic spread rapidly throughout the country.

Millions are starving as a result of the famine.

A big earthquake shook the city at noon today.

The area is suffering its worst drought for many years.

Civil war has broken out in the north of the country.

A tornado swept through the islands yesterday.

Remember: injure (people), damage (things)

6. In these headlines, say whether the situation seems to be getting worse or better, or whether a disaster has happened or has been avoided/prevented. Choose one of the headlines and make up your own article.

1. Poison gas cloud spreads.

2. AIDS time-bomb ticking away.

3. POLICE DEFUSE TERRORIST BOMB.

4. All survive jumbo crash-landing.

5. Oil slick recedes.

6. Flood warnings not heeded in time.