Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. an evacuation
    • ex. The storm was very violent, so the government ordered an evacuation of the town.
  2. bear down on (something)
    • ex. The strong wind began to bear down on the small boat as the storm got closer.
  3. a blaze
    • ex. We saw a big blaze nearby and called the fire department.
  4. contain
    • ex. The firefighters quickly arrived to contain the fire before it could affect other houses.
  5. appeal
    • ex. The charity group appealed for donations to help families in need.

Article

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In July, a fast-moving wildfire affected the Greek island of Crete, a popular tourist spot. Local officials ordered an evacuation as the fire began to bear down on areas near the sea. The fire started near Ierapetra, a town on the south side of the island. Strong winds made the blaze grow quickly. Many houses and trees were damaged and burned.

An official said the fire was very hard to contain. Over 1,500 people were ordered to leave their homes and hotels, while some tourists were moved to places in safer parts of the island. The fire department sent mobile phone alerts for evacuations and appealed for people not to go back to their homes to save things. 

The blaze lit up the sky and sent thick clouds of smoke over some areas on the island. Some people had trouble breathing because of the smoke, but no one was badly hurt. More than 150 firefighters worked in the area. Special teams also made paths on the hills that helped slow down the fire. But the risk of wildfires remains high across Crete and southern Greece.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Wildfires

  • A fast-moving wildfire affected the Greek island of Crete, a popular tourist spot. In your country, do you think popular tourist spots are prepared for dangerous situations like wildfires? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • According to the article, the risk of wildfires is still high in some parts of Greece. In the future, do you think wildfires will happen more often in many places? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, how can people stay safe during a wildfire? Discuss.

Evacuation

  • People on the island of Crete were ordered to leave their homes and things because of the fire. How would you feel if you had to leave your home because of a fire? Discuss.
  • What kind of information should be given to people during an evacuation (ex. where to go, what to bring)? Discuss.
  • How can people prepare in case of an evacuation in the future? Discuss.