1. Do you know anything about the events? For example, what causes them?

Homework:

1. Surf the Internet in order to have a better understanding of natural disasters.

2. Preview the passage in Reading and Vocabulary.

Period 2

Step 1 Pre-reading

Read about the Gulf Steam and check the meaning of the words:

1, What is a current ?

(a) A kind of electricity (b) A movement of water

(c) A kind of wind

2, What kind of things flow ?

(a) Water (b) Time (c) Money

3, If two places are on the same latitude ,they are on the same line _____

(a) east/west

　　(b) north/south

Suggested answers:

b. a . a

Step 2. While-reading

a. Skimming

Read the passage quickly and silently. Find the words and expressions in the passages and match them with the definition.

bury disaster feather fur occur tropical

1 you can see this on an animal __________

2 describing the hottest parts of the earth, north and south of the equator

__________

3 a terrible event _________

4 you can see these on a bird _________

5 to place in the ground or tomb ___________

6 to happen __________

Suggested answers:

1. fur 2. tropical 3. disaster 4. feather 5. bury 6. occur

b. Detailed-reading

Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions.

1. How strong are tornado winds?

2. What can happen to furniture when a house is destroyed by a tornado?

3. How many tornadoes are there in the US every year?

4. How many people died in the worst tornado of all time?

5. What happens at sea during a hurricane?

6. When was the worst hurricane of all time?

7. Was the actor Charles Coghland killed in it?

8. What happened to him after the hurricane?

Suggested answers:

1. More than 400 km/h.

2. It stays where it was.

3. About 800.

4. More than 700.