Mexico storms death toll rises

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-2417043420 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlONmcoO7F4 (September 2013) Warm up activities 1. Rank the natural disasters below beginning from the most frightening one. Discuss the results with the class.

Drought Hurricane Landslide Earthquake Volcano eruption Flood

2. Which two things would you get with you in case you left your house during a natural disaster. Justify your answer.

Passport/ ID Money MOBILE PHONE CANNED FOOD FIRST AID KIT SLEEPING BAG
3. What are some effects of a storm on an area and its people? 4. What can you do to prepare in advance for a tropical storm? 5. How should a state support the affected areas? VIDEO Exercise 1: Watch the video and decide whether the following statements are True or False. 1. Two storms have hit Mexico. 2. The village of La Pintada was totally destroyed by mudslides. 3. The disaster struck on Mexican Independence Day. 4. Sixty eight people have been found dead after a mudslide covered their homes. 5. The death toll from the storms is about to rise 6. Storm Manuel is moving up to the north. 7. Authorities are not prepared yet in the northern parts of the country for the storm hit.

8. The Mexican Red Cross has gathered a billion dollars for the relief of stricken areas. 9. The reporter is not certain that problems will end soon.

Exercise 2: Watch the video again and fill in the gaps The village of La Pintada has almost been 1) off the map by tropical storm Manuel. Sixty-eight people 2) and feared dead after a mudslide tore through their homes. It happened on Mexican Independence Day earlier this week but so cut off was the community by the floodwaters it took two days before survivors could 3) the authorities. Fifteen 4) have already been pulled from the mud many more are still believed to be buried. I heard a loud noise and I just stood there I saw how the dirt and the dust start began to billow up. It was like black smoke and it turned like a 5) ... Meanwhile the storm is continuing on its destructive path north. Having seen the devastation Manuel brought further in the south the 6) and states such as Sinaloa and Baja California are preparing for the worst. Weve prepared in the states. There are already temporary 7) centers in the south, the capital and in the north. Here in the capital we have eighteen 8). centers and we are preparing six more. In Los Cabos there are ten and another ten in Cabo San Lucas. The majority of the deaths by storm Manuel took place in Guerrero now seen in utter devastation. The floodwaters destroyed roads and bridges and left many residents 9) ... This is the first time there has been such a combination of two powerful storms Manuel to the west and hurricane Ingrid in the east since the late 1950s. The government has made almost a billion dollars available in emergency and for the 10) regions and the military and Mexican Red Cross are trying to coordinate relief efforts on both fronts. But their work has been complicated by the continuing 11) .. weather. Many Mexicans are trying to 12) . for themselves as best they can under the circumstances. The coming weeks look bleak for many parts of the country.

Exercise 3 Do the crosswords with words from the text. ACROSS

3

1.

4. 5. 6.

7.

to warn someone of a possibly dangerous situation (verb) here is little or no hope for the future to remove something from something (verb) unable to leave somewhere because of a problem such as not having any transport or money (adjective) to take care of and provide for yourself without depending on anyone else (verb)

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DOWN
2. 3. a relaxed happy feeling that you get because something bad situation has ended stricken (adjective)

TEACHERS NOTES AND KEY

Exercise 1 1) T ,2) F,3) T,4) F, 5)T, 6)T, 7)F, 8)F,9) F Exercise 2

TRANSCRIPT
The village of La Pintada has almost been wiped off the map by tropical storm Manuel. Sixty-eight people missing and feared dead after a mudslide tore through their homes. It happened on Mexican Independence Day earlier this week but so cut off was the community by the floodwaters it took two days before survivors could alert the authorities. Fifteen bodies have already been pulled from the mud many more are still believed to be buried. I heard a loud noise and I just stood there I saw how the dirt and the dust start began to billow up. It was like black smoke and it turned like a windmill. Meanwhile the storm is continuing on its destructive path north. Having seen the devastation Manuel brought further in the south the authorities and states such as Sinaloa and Baja California are preparing for the worst. Weve prepared in the states. There are already temporary refuge centers in the south, the capital and in the north. Here in the capital we have eighteen refuge centers and we are preparing six more. In Los Cabos there are ten and another ten in Cabo San Lucas. The majority of the deaths by storm Manuel took place in Guerrero now seen in utter devastation. The floodwaters destroyed roads and bridges and left many residents stranded. This is the first time there has been such a combination of two powerful storms Manuel to the west and hurricane Ingrid in the east since the late 1950s. The government has made almost a billion dollars available in emergency and for the affected regions and the military and Mexican Red Cross are trying to coordinate relief efforts on both fronts. But their work has been complicated by the continuing severe weather. Many Mexicans are trying to fend for themselves as best they can under the circumstances. The coming weeks look bleak for many parts of the country.
1 2

A
Exercise 3 RESOURCES
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/ http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/briti sh/ http://www.eclipsecrossword.com/
5 3

L E R T E
4

A F F W I
6

B L E A K I E O F F

P E C

Eleni Tsagari
7

S T R A N D E D E F E N D
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