Global Problems — Unit 21, Beginner English
Natural disasters, pollution and traffic, people in difficult situations, too many/too much, war and strikes.
Reading: A Natural Disaster
Last year, a terrible hurricane hit the coast of my country. The wind was very strong. It blew at 200 kilometres per hour. Many houses were destroyed. Trees fell down on the roads. There were floods everywhere. The water was very high. Many people lost their homes. They became homeless. Some people were injured. A few people died. The government helped the people. They gave them food and water. They also gave them tents to sleep in. Many volunteers came to help. They gave clothes and medicine. They also helped clean the streets.
The hurricane also caused a lot of pollution. The strong wind blew garbage everywhere. The floods carried dirty water into the rivers. The rivers became polluted. The fish in the rivers died. The air also became polluted because of the dust.
After the hurricane, people worked together. They cleaned the streets. They repaired their houses. They also planted new trees. Now, the city is getting better. But it takes a long time to recover from a natural disaster. We should be prepared for these problems.
My cousin lives in that city. She told me about the first night. There was no electricity for four days and no clean water for two. People cooked outside and shared everything with their neighbours.
Her school was closed for three weeks. When it opened again, six children in her class had moved to another town.
Our country has other natural disasters too. There was a big earthquake in the north ten years ago, and in the mountains there is sometimes a forest fire in summer.
Now every school has a plan. Twice a year we practise: we leave the building quietly and we meet in the car park. Some students think it is boring, but my teacher says a plan saves lives.
We cannot stop a hurricane. But we can be ready for one.
Vocabulary from this unit
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| hurricane | /ˈhʌrɪkən/ | a very strong wind | There was a hurricane in Florida last year. |
| snowstorm | /ˈsnəʊstɔːm/ | a lot of snow and wind at the same time | The snowstorm closed all the schools. |
| forest fire | /ˈfɒrɪst faɪə/ | a fire in a forest when it is very dry | The forest fire burned many trees. |
| flood | /flʌd/ | too much water on dry land | There were serious floods in the north. |
| earthquake | /ˈɜːθkweɪk/ | when the earth moves and shakes | San Francisco had a big earthquake. |
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| pollution | /pəˈluːʃən/ | dirty air, water, or earth | There is a lot of pollution in big cities. |
| polluted | /pəˈluːtɪd/ | dirty and bad for people and animals | The river is polluted. |
| air pollution | /eə pəˈluːʃən/ | dirty air | Air pollution is very bad today. |
| traffic jam | /ˈtræfɪk dʒæm/ | too many cars on the road | The traffic jams are terrible. |
| rush hour | /ˈrʌʃ aʊə/ | the time when everyone goes to work | The roads are busy in the rush hour. |
| car crash | /kɑː kræʃ/ | when cars hit each other | He had a car crash on the way to work. |
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| poor | /pɔː/ | not having enough money | Many people are poor in some countries. |
| hungry | /ˈhʌŋɡri/ | not having enough food | There are hungry people in the world. |
| homeless | /ˈhəʊmləs/ | not having a place to live | Some people are homeless and sleep on the streets. |
| unemployed | /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪd/ | not having a job | He is unemployed at the moment. |
| crowded | /ˈkraʊdɪd/ | too many people in one place | Cities are very crowded. |
2 more vocabulary sections in the full unit.
This is the free sample from this unit. The full unit adds 1 more reading passage, comprehension questions with an answer key, the listening exercises, flashcards for the vocabulary above, and a speaking task — with your progress tracked so the next unit unlocks when you are ready for it.
Common questions
What level is this unit?
Beginner — roughly CEFR A0–A1. If you are not sure of your level, the course places you with a short diagnostic before you start rather than making you guess.
Do I need to pay to use this?
The reading passage and vocabulary on this page are free to read. The rest of the unit — the remaining passages, the exercises, the listening, the answer key and the progress tracking — is part of the paid General English course.
Is this British or American English?
British English spelling and vocabulary, which is what most learners in Azerbaijan are taught and what IELTS expects, though both are accepted in the exam.