Save yourself from natural disasters

广东 涂丽平

在遇到自然灾害时，人们应该怎么自救呢？

主题语境：自然灾害 篇幅：319词 建议用时：6分钟

1Nobody expects a natural disaster to strike.Neither does anyone know the impact it can have on life.The following measures can save your life in an emergency.

2Typhoons occur frequently in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, particularly in exposed regions like the Caroline Islands, the Philippines, and Japan.The best place to hide during a typhoon is a secure basement or a bathroom with no windows.A must-have device is a battery-powered weather radio, through which you will hear evacuation (撤离) orders or in other cases, instructions on how to survive in your shelter and learn about the weather situation.

3Floods occur more often than any other natural disaster and change the landscape dramatically.They are usually caused by intense rainfalls lasting for days.Don't try to be the bravest person around.Once you hear the evacuation warning, leave for safer and higher grounds with your important papers in a waterproof container.

4An avalanche (雪崩) can hit when you are enjoying Alpine skiing in a dreamlike location.It is very fast and disastrous, burying everything in its way under tons of snow.When an avalanche starts, try to move to the side of the slope as fast as you can.If you get buried in the snow, dig an air pocket to be able to keep breathing.Wait for the rescue team to find you and don't waste your energy shouting or digging crazily.Call out when you hear the team approaching.

5Wildfires spread at an amazing speed and destroy everything in their way.If you are caught in a wildfire, use a wet cloth to cover your nose and mouth to ensure that you can breathe.Try to stay upwind of the fire at all times and get close to a pond or river.Stay low and cover yourself with wet clothing, a blanket, or soil until the fire passes.

Reading Check

1.Which natural disasters require people to hide indoors?

A.Typhoons.B.Floods.C.Avalanches.D.Wildfires.

2.What should people trapped in floods do when they hear the evacuation orders?

A.Get to a basement or a windowless bathroom.

B.Find something solid to hide under.

C.Leave for safer and higher grounds.

D.Get a torch in case of a blackout.

3.What do we know about the four natural disasters from the text?

A.Typhoons happen only in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

B.Floods cause the most frequent damage among the disasters mentioned.

C.People should call out the minute they're trapped in avalanches.

D.Stay downwind when you meet with wildfires.

Language Study

Ⅰ.日积月累

impactn.影响

measuren.措施

emergencyn.紧急情况

particularlyadv.尤其

exposedadj.无遮蔽的；不遮挡风雨的

survivev.存活

disastrousadj.灾难性的

approachv.接近；靠近

natural disaster 自然灾害

last for days 持续数天

Ⅱ.单句填空

1.The program will concentrate on reducing environmental ________ (损 坏；破 坏) and pollution.

2.He left behind instructions saying that if he did not return, no ________ (救援) parties should be sent as it was clearly too dangerous.

3.At the moment, enough supplies have been sent and people there have ________ (遮蔽处), food and water.

4.Some experts say that there may be a rise of several meters in the sea level, or predict severe storms, ________ (洪水), droughts, famines, the spread of diseases and the disappearance of species.

5.The war, although successful in military terms, left the country in ________ (废墟).

6.Sixty ________ (百 分 之) of voters said that they would willingly pay higher taxes for better health care.

7.Lou lifted the box easily, without using much ________ (力气).

8.To appreciate what these changes will mean, it is necessary to look at them in________(上下文；背景).