Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- wildfire /WAHYLD-fahyuhr/
- extinguish /ik-STING-gwish/
- engulf /en-GUHLF/
- intense /in-TENS/
- personnel /pur-suh-NEL/
[noun] – a powerful fire that burns out of control across a large area
The wildfire in the forest spread smoke over 300 miles.
[verb] – to stop a fire or a light burning
How long did it take to extinguish the fire in the building?
[verb] – to surround and cover something or someone completely
The region was engulfed in the flood in less than an hour.
[adjective] – extreme and forceful or (of a feeling) very strong
Shirley passed out due to intense heat.
[noun] – the people who are employed in a company, organization, or one of the armed forces
Only authorized personnel are allowed in the storage room.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Wildfires have continued to spread across western Canada since last week due to lightning strikes in the area. Emergency services have been extinguishing more than 170 fires across British Columbia. Authorities have issued evacuation orders in several regions, and military forces are expected to arrive in the following days. Residents from Lytton have fled the village after the fire destroyed the town. Meanwhile, 250 people were forced to leave without their belongings on Wednesday evening, June 30. Lytton had the highest recorded temperature on Tuesday, June 29 in the entire country, hitting 49.6°C (121.3°F). According to Mayor Jan Polderman, the flames engulfed the whole town in a span of approximately 15 minutes.
British Columbia Wildfire Service’s provincial operations director Cliff Chapman reported 12,000 lightning strikes near Kamloops, northeast of Vancouver. Experts explain that climate change increases the frequency of extreme weather events such as heat waves. In addition, health officials have pointed out that intense heat may have been the cause of 719 sudden fatalities in the previous weeks. Canada’s Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan promises to provide aid such as military helicopters and personnel to the affected areas. The British Columbia Wildfire Service is expecting more wildfires over the weekend.
British Columbia Wildfire Service’s provincial operations director Cliff Chapman reported 12,000 lightning strikes near Kamloops, northeast of Vancouver. Experts explain that climate change increases the frequency of extreme weather events such as heat waves. In addition, health officials have pointed out that intense heat may have been the cause of 719 sudden fatalities in the previous weeks. Canada’s Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan promises to provide aid such as military helicopters and personnel to the affected areas. The British Columbia Wildfire Service is expecting more wildfires over the weekend.
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you witnessed a wildfire or any similar incident? Please tell me more about it.
- What natural calamities in your country force residents to evacuate?
- If given the opportunity, what would you do to aid those affected by the wildfire?
- What preventive measures should the authorities do to avoid or lessen wildfires?
- Is there a way to reduce the likelihood of heat waves? Please share your thoughts.
Summarization
Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.
Describe:
Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.
- region
- flee
- in a span of
- approximately
- heat wave