Listening Comprehension Text “The Climate”

Part A. Pre-listening activities

Task 1. Make sure that you know the following words.

calm – штиль, затишье

sultry – душный, знойный

descend – опускаться

saturate – насыщать, пропитывать

interior – внутренние районы

Task 2. Before listening the lecture discuss these points with a partner.

1. What are the principal categories of climate?

2. Why are there different climates?

3. What category does your country (Belarus) come in?

4. What category does the UK belong to?

5. In what climate do trees not grow?

6. What part of the world has no winter?

7. What climate would you prefer to live in?

Part B. Listening activities

Task 1. Listen to the lecture on different kinds of climate. Note down the main characteristics of the climates described by the lecturer. The lecture is divided into sections. Listen to each section twice.

Section 1 ________________

• Climate ______________

Wet / dry _____________

Rain / precipitation _____

Winds _______________

Temperature __________

Other notes ___________

Section 2 and 3

• Climate _____________

Wet / dry _____________

Rain / precipitation _____

Winds _______________

Temperature __________

Other notes ___________

Section 4 ________________

• Climate ______________

Wet / dry _____________

Rain / precipitation _____

Winds _______________

Temperature __________

Other notes ___________

Section 5 ________________

• Climate ______________

Wet / dry _____________

Rain / precipitation _____

Winds _______________

Temperature __________

Other notes ___________

Task 2. Fill in the gaps.

1. The equatorial belt of calms provides … because of …

2. The climate in the horse latitudes is dry throughout the year, and the reason is …

3. Trade-wind belts run …

4. B-type climates are mainly dry with very little rain. The reason is that the air has no reason to lose …

5. We can say that in general continental interiors, for example in the USA and Europe, show …

6. The low temperatures prevent the accumulation of …

Part C . After listening Activities

Task 1. Discuss in pairs.

1. Tropical rainy climates.

2. Dry climates.

3. Warm temperate rainy climates.

4. Cool snow-frost climates.

5. Polar climates.

Task 2. In groups write a description of

1. your ideal climate

2. the climate of Belarus

3. the climate of any country you’ve visited

Consider the following:

• climate

• humidity

• precipitation

• temperature

• seasonal variations

Tell the rest of the class what your group thinks.

Revision

Ex. 1. Fill the spaces,

1. using ten of the words listed below. No word can be used twice.

The attempt to understand what (1) ___have caused climatic change (2) ___ the last two hundred years requires a knowledge of climate before this time, (3) ___ reliable weather records in Europe do not go back (4) ___ further (5) ___ that length of time. Studying historical documents is one way of building up a picture of (6) ___ the weather was like (7) ___ year to year, but there are several others. Three rings,

(8) ___example, show (9) ___ much the tree grew in a summer. The better the summer, (10) ___more the tree grows.

although as can during for from how may much than the that through what while

2. using any prepositions.

1. Tropical cyclones or hurricanes may be responsible (1) ___enormous changes within regions where they occur.

2. The strength of the breeze depends (2) ___ temperature contrasts between the land and adjacent water.

3. Topographic features may influence (3) ___climates (4) ___very significant ways.

4. Obviously, continuous high barriers have more pronounced influences

(5) ___ climate than discontinuous and lower barriers.

5. The proximity (6) ___ water and its modifying influence reduce the range (7) ___ temperatures (8) ___ season (9) ___season.

6. The general distribution of temperature is based mainly (10) ___ the amount (11) ___ solar energy.

7. Light precipitation may result (12) ___ crop failure, whereas an abundance (13) ___ moisture may result (14) ____ flooding.

8. After a rather long spell (15) ___ warm weather a considerable drop (16) ___ temperature is expected.

9. The climate is influenced (17) ___ ocean currents.

10. Occasional sleet showers are expected (18) ___ places.

11. There have also been some isolated hail storms (19) ___ places.

Ex. 2. Complete the sentences below with the most suitable word in the context. Only one answer is correct.

1. I am going to listen to the weather ... .

1. forecast

2. prediction

3. prevision

4. prospect

2. There will be occasional … of rain in the north.

1. drizzles

2. occurrences

3. outbreaks

4. storms

3. There is evidence that the weather has become more … in recent years.

1. seasonal

2. unequal

3. unsteady

4. unstable

4. In some parts of the country there has been no rain for five years, the longest period of … we have ever known.

1. desert

2. drought

3. drought

4. famine

5. … showers are expected in western districts.

1. Dispersed

2. Scattered

3. Spread

4. Separated

6. It’s an ... situation. I’ve never known anything like it.

1. inexperienced

2. initial

3. unprepared

4. unprecedented

7. It was impossible to work in the ... heat.

1. stifling

2. strangling

3. sweating

4. suppressing

8. We didn’t feel the cold, because we were well ... up.

1. clothed

2. dressed

3. packed

4. wrapped

9. I was out in the pouring rain all evening. When I got home I was ... to the skin.

1. dripped

2. drowned

3. soaked

4. sunk

10. When we had visited all the neighbours, we ... back to the village.

1. aimed

2. directed

3. headed

4. set

Ex. 3. Fill in the text with the appropriate word from the box.

sunshine enjoy annual extremes (2) variation vary

rainfall average precipitation range maritime changeable

averages rain shadow moderate (2) altitude experience Northern Hemisphere

snowfalls temperate occur moist heavy