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Intermediate 3 TN 3 A Unit 5

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Activity 1Natural disasters

1. What is a natural disaster?

2. What natural disasters have you heard of?

3. What factors may cause a natural disaster?

4. Do you believe these disasters can be

prevented? If so? How?

5. Do you think our country is prepared to face any

natural disasters? If not, discuss how the government

can protect people?

Activity 2Do you know what they are?

Match the word with the corresponding picture

1. A famine 2. A flood3. An epidemic4. A blizzard

A B

C D

Activity 3true or False?

1. People had to go up to the roofs of their houses.

T F

2. A low percentage of houses are under water. T F

3. There was an important flood in New Orleans many years

ago. T F

4. It flooded about 50% of the city. T F

5. CNN usually includes news about disasters. T F

1. The two people are talking abouta cell phonea phone calla disaster that happened recentlya weather problem about to comebeing late for worktaking the car to the garage

2. Listen again. What expression does the man use to say he is late?

What’s your guess? Activity 4

Activity 5Let’s focus on the Language

Indirect Speech

Decide if the following statements are true or false.

1. Reported Speech and Indirect Speech are two names for describing the same concept.

2. If you use Indirect Speech, you don’t need to use the exact words you or someone else has said.

3. To report an imperative sentence you don’t use TO INFINITIVE4. If you report a negative imperative sentence, you use NOT TO.5. You have to change the pronouns in reported speech when

necessary.

What are they saying? Activity 6

In case of a natural disaster …

1. Reporters said, “Be careful with the heavy rains today.”

2. Peter told me, “Prepare your house for the coming blizzard.”

3. Breaking news says, “Don’t leave your house under any circumstances.”

4. Everybody is saying, “Buy enough bottled water.”

5. The main channel is warning people, “Don’t go out if the wind starts

blowing hard.”

6. The last weather forecast said, “Get ready because floods are expected

for the next two days.”

Activity 7Get ready for the worst!

A B

Activity 7Get ready for the worst!

A Scared friendYou were listening to the news this morning and heard that there is a strong

storm coming . Call your friend B and tell him / her what you know. Offer

him /her your help.

Useful language:

Hi, … How are you?

I heard … is coming …

Reporters are saying to …

The weather forecast says to / not to …

Please tell your family not …

If you need anything,…

Would you like…?

Activity 7Get ready for the worst!

B Newsless friendYou know there may be a storm coming but haven’t been listening to the

news. Your friend A calls you and seems to be really updated. Listen to

what he / she has to tell you and get information to be on the safe side

and avoid getting into trouble.

Useful language

I haven’t heard …

Did the news say …?

Should I tell my children to …?

My husband said …

You are …, … you?

Maybe I should get …

Famous quotes Activity 8

“Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself.” Dame Edna Everage

”Don’t ever wrestle with a pig.” CaleYarborough

“Never ascribe to malice, that which can be explained by incompetence.” Aphorism

“Try a thing you haven’t done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time, to figure out whether you like it or not.” Virgil Garnett Thomson

“Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.” André Gide

“Sing like no one’s listening, love like you’ve never been hurt, dance like nobody’s watching, and live like it’s heaven on earth.” Mark Twain

“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.” Oscar Wilde

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future. Concentrate the mind on the present moment” Buddha

“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Activity 9Demanding parents

1. “Eat with your mouth close.”

2.“Don’t answer back when I talk to you.”

3.“Don’t lie to me!”

4.“Pick up your clothes.”

5. “Be home by 10 o’clock.”

6. “Don’t forget your lunch bag.”

7. “Have a shower before you go to bed.”

8.“Don’t leave your books around.”

What do they always tell their children?

Activity 10My parents …

A B

They always have me … They are always telling me

to … They say not to … but then

…

Do you know what they …? You remember …, …? Do you remember when I

told you that …?

Activity 10My parents …

A Teenager fed up with parentsYou are really fed up with your parents. They are always tellingyou what to do and what not to do, giving orders and complaining. Take it off your chest and tell a friend about the situation.

Suggested language

Activity 10My parents …

B Understanding friendA friend of yours from school is having some problems at home and feels really lousy about the whole situation. Listen to whathe / she has to say and try to comfort him / her.

Suggested language

Oh, no! Sorry to … That must be … You must feel … Had they ever … before they

… ? Don’t worry. Take it easy.

My parents also get me to … Last week they had me … I didn’t know that … Do you remember when …? My parents also tell me (not)

to …

What’s the word? Activity 10

A tornadoA hurricaneA floodA landslideA drought

1. A long period of dry weather2. A great flowing or overflowing of water3. A violently destructive windstorm over

land, having a funnel shape4. A violent tropical storm5. The falling of soil or rock from a steep

slope

Activity 11What do you think? A) Can you guess? Listen and check

1. The people are talking about _________________

2. The natural disaster took place in _____________

3. There have been many / There haven’t been any /

There have been only a few deaths.

B) Listen again

What expressions do the people use to react to the

news? How would you paraphrase them?

Activity 12

This news appeared in different newspapers some weeks ago.

“There has been a big storm.” “There aren’t any casualties.”

“Firefighters went to rescue some people in nearby areas yesterday.”

“People can’t watch the news because there is no electricity.”

“Some people may need to move out of their houses.”

“Residents in neighboring towns will contribute with food for those affected by

the storm.”

what did the reporters say?

Activity 12what did the reporters say? The reporter said there had been a storm. She told readers there weren’t any casualties. She said firefighters had gone to rescue some people in nearby areas the previous day. She said people couldn’t watch the news because there was no electricity. She said that some people might need to move out of their houses. She said that residents in neighboring towns would contribute with food for those affected

by the storm.

Figure it out: How is the news reported?

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Simple presentSimple PastPresent PerfectSimple FutureCan / May And Might / Could / Should?

Activity 13Can you match them?

1. The reporter said 2. The headmaster told

students3. The dentist told his

patient 4. The little boy told his

mother 5. The ballerina told her

doctor 6. The politician said 7. The survivor told the

press 8. The explorer said

a. she shouldn’t eat for a couple of hours.b. he had found an unexplored cave near his

campsite.c. they would have to pass a law to implement the

new project.d. there had been a landslide near the town.e. he had been able to walk the distance to the

town only because he had found water all along the way.

f. they would need to have permission from their parents to go on the field trip to the museum.

g. she had twisted her ankle while dancing on her toes.

h. he was feeling really hungry.

Activity 14Can you think of some examples?

If the reporting verbs SAY and TELL are in the Simple Past, tense changes are not always needed. There are three cases where they are optional.

1. When the statement refers to something just said:

______________________________________________________________________

2. When the statement refers to something that is still true. _____________________________________________________________________

3. When the statement refers to a scientific or general truth._____________________________________________________________________

When the reporting verb is in the Simple Present, there is no tense change in indirect speech.

Activity 15Let’s report themChange the following statements into indirect speech.

1. My mother used to tell me, “You have to do what you love in life.”2. Fiona always says, “You need to drink two liters of water every day.”3. The teacher told her students, “Thanksgiving Day is on the fourth

Thursday of November.”4. Her husband said, “The weather will get worse tomorrow.”5. The father always tells his children, “You can go to play outside when

you finish your homework.”6. Tina said, “I have just finished the report.”7. My neighbors told me, “We are moving to Peru next month.”8. Hughes is on the phone and he says, “You are invited to the party

next Saturday if you want to come.”

Activity 16Getting updated

A B

Activity 16

A

Getting updated

Back from vacation

You have just come back from your vacation. Since you really wanted to disconnect

from the world, you didn’t watch or read any news. You’re talking to a friend now

and want him / her to give you some information about what’s been going on in

your town.

Useful language

Have you heard anything about …?

Do you know what …?

What did they say about …?

Did reporters tell people to …?

Do you think they will make people …?

Activity 16Getting updated

Your friend has just come back from vacation and has no idea about what has been

going on in your town. He / She is really curious, so provide as much information as

possible. You will find some news below.

Useful language

Updated with the news

Have you heard what …?

He / She said that …

Authorities are telling people (not)

to …

The weather forecast said that …

People from the government said …

The Washington Post said …

There were heavy storms in a nearby

city a few weeks ago.

Authorities had to evacuate some

people.

Doctors told people, “Be careful with

the water you drink.”

We may have a very big storm in our

city in a few days.

We will have to protect the low areas

of the city.

B

Activity 17Two News StoriesStory 1

1. Where does the original recording come from?2. What’s the main issue presented in the news?3. According to some scientists, what probably happens with the

people that hear the word “yanny”?4. What happens with the people who hear the word ”laurel”?

Story 2

1. What’s California’s important step? What’s the purpose?2. When is the project supposed to start?3. Who will pay for the panels?

Activity 18

A. Can you rank them in order of severity? catastrophic / mild / deadly / severe / moderate

B. What do the words mean?

1. Mild2. Moderate3. Severe4. Deadly5. Catastrophic

a. Extremely badb. Causing deathc. Of medium extentd. Not severe or extremee. Of an extreme or violent

nature

Activity 19Emergencies1 2

3

4

56 7

A flashlight

An emergency

A power outage

A shelter

A first-aid kit

Non-perishable food

To evacuate