Module3SectionⅠⅠntroduction＆Reading—pre--reading.ppt

Module 3Section Step 1Step 2Step 3Step 4Step 51There are many reasons for natural disasters. How much do you know about them?2There has been an increase in natural disasters in recent years. Is man to blame? Following the ongoing breaking news on natural disasters occurring around the world, I found myself wondering if there has been an increase in natural disasters in recent years and if man is to blame. What I found is that there indeed seems to be a great increase in the past decade. Comments (评论评论) from various government departments and scientists all paint the same gloomy (黯淡的黯淡的) picture. According to a report, during the 20002009 period there had been 385 disasters, an increase of 233% since 1980 to 1989, and a 67% increase since 1990 to 1999. Though earthquakes made up 60% of natural disasters from 2000 to 2009, climaterelated events, such as droughts, storms and floods, had made up the majority of disasters overall, increasing ten times since data was first collected in 1950. Sounds scary? Definitely! The large increase in disasters raises several questions. Is the increase due to a significant improvement in access to information? What part does population growth and infrastructure (基础设施基础设施) development play? And finally, is climate change behind the increasing frequency of natural disasters? And is man to blame? Well, with the growing population and infrastructures, the worlds exposure (遭受遭受) to natural disasters is largely increased. For example, the strongest population growth is located in coastal areas (with greater exposure to floods and tidal waves). And to make matters worse, any land remaining available for urban growth is generally riskprone (可能有危险的可能有危险的), for instance, flood plains or steep slopes (陡峭的斜坡陡峭的斜坡) subject to landslides. So the increase in population does notperhaps change the number of disasters taking place but it certainly changes the effect they have on lives, infrastructure and economic loss. The increased media coverage on disasters has had an influence on the increase in recorded disasters but it has been a good thing in terms of getting global help to areas in need. Before increased media coverage, disasters may not be recorded.Look at the following pictures. Do you know what happened in each picture?答案：答案：1.earthquake2.drought3.tsunami4.flood5tornado6.hurricaneChoose the best answer according to the passage.1Which statement is NOT true?AThe worst tornado of all time occurred in the US in 1925.BHurricanes usually occur in the southern Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.CHurricanes usually affect the west coast of the US.DThe Irish actor, Charles Coghlan, died one year before the 1900 Galveston hurricane struck.2In 1925 the worst tornado of all time affected the following US states EXCEPT_.ATexasBMissouriCIllinois DIndiana3On average, tornadoes cause about _ deaths and _ injuries in the US each year.A6,000; 3,600 B6,000; 37,000C700; 2,700 D80; 1,5004Which of the following happened most recently?AThe worst tornado which affected three US states.BThe worst hurricane which happened in Galveston.CThe destruction of Charles Coghlans cemetery.DThe discovery of Charles Coghlans coffin.5Where did Charles Coghlan become famous?AIn Galveston. BIn New York.CIn Canada. DIn Ireland.答案：答案：1.C2.A3.D4.A5.BFill in the blanks according to the passage.TornadoHurricaneDefinitionA rotating column of 1. from a thunderstorm to the groundStrong tropical 5. PlacesAlmost all occur in 2. ,from in the southeast to in the northIn the southern 6. ,the Caribbean Sea and theMexico airthe USstormsAtlantic OceanTornadoHurricaneSpeed of violent windsMore than 3. kilometers per hour7. kilometers per hour or moreThe worst exampleThe one in 1925, affecting 4. and causing more than 700 deaths and 2,700 injuries.The one on the 8th September , resulted in 8. deaths and 3,600 destroyed buildings.4001203 US states 6,000Fill in the blanks according to the passage. A tornado, which is a rotating 1. of air from a thunderstorm to the ground usually 2. in the US, 3. several US states greatly. Hurricanes, which are strong 4. storms, usually 5. the east coast of the US from Texas to Maine, the 6. one of which caused 6,000 7. ,and destruction of 3,600 buildings.columnoccursaffectingtropicalhit/strike/affectworstdeaths Here is a story about the worst hurricane. Charles Coghlan, a famous Irish actor, moved to Canada, then New York, and finally Galveston, where he died in 1899, a year before the hurricane came. In the hurricane, his 8. was destroyed and his coffin 9. up in the sea, which was 10. by the Gulf Stream to his home on Prince Edward Island in the east of Canada eight years later.cemeteryendedcarriedThe violence of nature is very terrible, especially earthquakes. Can you tell us the effects of earthquakes?_参考答案：参考答案：(1) Earthquakes may make many people lose their home and relatives suddenly.(2)Sometimes, earthquakes can cause severe tsunami, and each of us cannot forget the tsunami in Japan.(3)As far as I know, most people in the earthquakestricken areas need a long time to get rid of the bad effects caused by earthquakes, especially those who lost their relatives.