© Consulate of the Kingdom of Tonga
Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- How often do tsunamis hit your country?
- What do you think causes a tsunami?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- volcanic ash /vol-KAN-ik ash/
- isolate /AHY-suh-leyt/
- degree /dih-GREE/
- wheelbarrow /WEEL-bar-oh/
- flood /fluhd/
[noun] – loose fragmented solid material ejected from a volcano in the form of powder
The town is filled with volcanic ash after the eruption.
[verb] – to separate something from other things, or to keep something separate
The country is currently isolated due to its high radiation.
[noun] – (an) amount or level of something
What was the degree of the recent earthquake’s damage?
[noun] – a movable container with a wheel at the front and two handles at the back used especially for moving building materials and in gardening
Can I borrow your wheelbarrow? Mine’s broken and I haven’t bought a new one yet.
[verb] – to cause to fill or become covered with water, especially in a way that causes problems
The river has flooded the fields.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Tonga’s consulate in the European Union (EU) has released photographs of the damage caused by the tsunami waves formed from the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai undersea volcano eruption on Saturday, January 15. Cars, roads, and buildings in the capital Nuku’alofa are all covered in volcanic ash. Meanwhile, aerial images taken by the New Zealand Air Force show that some villages on islands that have yet to be reached have been wiped out entirely. Reports say international phone lines have been restored, but repairs of a damaged underwater cable might take weeks. Tonga is currently isolated from the rest of the world, and little is known about the degree of the destruction.
A news report agency claimed that rescue workers and hundreds of volunteers worked tirelessly to sweep dust off Tonga’s major airport runway using wheelbarrows and shovels on Wednesday, January 19. The tsunami around Nuku’alofa City had recorded waves of 1.2 meters (about 4 feet), flooding coastal roads and properties. According to experts, the eruption of the underwater volcano near Tonga was most likely the world’s largest in more than 30 years.
A news report agency claimed that rescue workers and hundreds of volunteers worked tirelessly to sweep dust off Tonga’s major airport runway using wheelbarrows and shovels on Wednesday, January 19. The tsunami around Nuku’alofa City had recorded waves of 1.2 meters (about 4 feet), flooding coastal roads and properties. According to experts, the eruption of the underwater volcano near Tonga was most likely the world’s largest in more than 30 years.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What caused the tsunami attack in Tonga?
- Who captured aerial images of some villages of Tonga?
- What did reports say about the country’s international lines?
- What did the rescue workers and volunteers use to sweep dust off Tonga’s major airport runway?
- How high were the recorded tsunami waves?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Which place in your country is prone to tsunami attacks? Please tell me more about it.
- How do you know that a tsunami is going to hit soon? Does the area you live in have an early warning system?
- If you were a resident of Tonga affected by the tsunami, what would you do?
- Do you agree that the destroyed underwater cable will take weeks to be repaired?
- How do you think rescue teams should contact Tonga?