Listen to News with Tara Benwell - Instructions:
1. Preview the vocabulary and read the gapfill text.
2. Play the news report and try to fill in the blanks.
3. Answer the comprehension questions by writing full sentences.
4. Use the discussion question to write an essay or discuss the story with other students.
5. Click "show Answers" to see the full text.
6. Pretend to be a news anchor by reading each story out loud.
dateline: 06 March 2012
NB! For WEEKLY audio stories check out LISTEN & LEARN 🔈
US Midwest Devastated by Tornadoes
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- tornado: rotating air that moves at a dangerously high speed
- restore:Â to make something function again
- twister:Â another word for “tornado”
- hunker down:Â to take shelter
- sibling:Â brother or sister
Comprehension Questions
- Which area of the US was affected?
- Who is Angel?
- How did hundreds of people in Henryville survive the tornados?
Discussion Question: The media uses the term “Tornado Alley” to refer to areas in the US that are most frequently hit by tornadoes. Should tornado cellars be mandatory in areas such as these?
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US Midwest Devastated by Tornadoes
Approximately 100 tornadoes swept across the US Midwest this week, destroying homes, schools and businesses. Dozens of people were killed, hundreds were injured, and thousands were left homeless. The snow that followed the twisters made it difficult for crews to restore power and begin cleanup efforts. In Henryville, Indiana, hundreds of people survived by hunkering down in a church basement. A baby named Angel who was miraculously found alive in a field near her dead parents and siblings, has been pronounced dead. March is typically the beginning of tornado season in the US, which extends through to May.
- States across the American Midwest were affected.
- Angel is a baby who was miraculously found alive near her dead family members. She later died in hospital.
- Hundreds of people in Henryville survived by hunkering down in a church basement.
Written and recorded by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub
Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials and articles for the ELT industry.
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