Natural Disasters – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Answer: (B) Travel in a different direction.

• Explanation: The anchor says that earlier today, meteorologists believed the storm “might travel north and miss us entirely”. “Travel in a different direction” is a paraphrase of traveling north and missing the city.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Hitting the city directly at midnight is the current projection, not what they originally thought. Option (C) is a plausible event for storms, but it was not mentioned in the broadcast.

2 Answer: (C) They will cause water to fill up local housing areas.

• Explanation: The speaker states that heavy downpours “will almost certainly trigger flash floods in residential neighborhoods.” “Water to fill up local housing areas” is a paraphrase of flash floods in residential neighborhoods.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The “aggressive winds” will knock down power lines, not the heavy downpours (rain). Option (B) is not mentioned in the audio.

3 Answer: (A) Avoid going out on the roads.

• Explanation: The anchor warns people, “do not try to leave your house or drive your vehicles… traveling incredibly risky right now.” “Avoid going out on the roads” is a paraphrase of not driving and staying off the risky streets.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (B) is the exact opposite of the advice given (“stay inside their homes”). Option (C) is a trap using keywords from the audio; the anchor says to keep “emergency kits nearby,” but warns people not to drive, so they shouldn’t go to the supermarket.

News Anchor: Good evening, everyone. This is a special emergency weather broadcast from the Channel 5 news desk. We are closely monitoring Tropical Storm Orion, which is rapidly approaching our eastern coastline. Um, earlier today, meteorologists believed the system might travel north and miss us entirely. However, the most recent satellite data indicates a sudden change in direction. The storm is now projected to hit our city directly at approximately midnight tonight.

We are expecting aggressive winds that could knock down power lines, alongside heavy downpours that will almost certainly trigger flash floods in residential neighborhoods. Because of these hazardous conditions, the city council strongly urges all residents to stay inside their homes. Please, do not try to leave your house or drive your vehicles this evening. Flying debris and flooded streets make traveling incredibly risky right now. Make sure your doors are locked, keep your emergency kits nearby, and wait for the all-clear signal tomorrow morning. We will be back with more information in an hour.

1 Answer: (B) The molten rock destroying the shipping port.

• Explanation: The host says, “A massive river of hot lava was flowing directly toward their harbor.” If it was destroyed, the fishing industry would be ruined. “Molten rock” is a synonym for lava, and “shipping port” is a paraphrase of harbor.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is a trap. “Thick dust” (ash) and houses are mentioned, but the host explicitly says the real danger wasn’t just the falling ash; it was the lava threatening the harbor. Option (C) is a plausible guess for an island, but it is not mentioned.

2 Answer: (A) By spraying ocean water to cool the liquid stone.

• Explanation: The locals pumped “freezing seawater onto the advancing lava” which “cooled the molten rock”. “Ocean water” is a paraphrase of seawater, and “liquid stone” means lava/molten rock.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (B) is a very tricky trap. The audio mentions a “solid wall”, but the people didn’t construct it out of rocks; the cooled lava itself created the wall. Option (C) is a common disaster response but is never mentioned in the podcast.

3 Answer: (B) The citizens came back and reconstructed their neighborhood.

• Explanation: The host says that months later, “the brave citizens returned… and slowly rebuilt their homes.” “Came back” means returned, and “reconstructed their neighborhood” is a paraphrase of rebuilt their homes.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The people had to “flee” (run away) at the beginning, but they did not move away permanently; they returned. Option (C) is not mentioned in the audio.

Simon: Welcome back to ‘History’s Mysteries’. I’m your host, Simon. Today, we’re looking at a remarkable natural disaster. Um, imagine waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of a roaring mountain. That’s exactly what happened to the residents of a small fishing island in 1973. Without warning, the local volcano, which had been asleep for centuries, suddenly erupted.

The entire population had to flee by boat in the dark. However, the real danger wasn’t just the falling ash. A massive river of hot lava was flowing directly toward their harbor. If the harbor was destroyed, the island’s fishing industry would be ruined forever.

So, what did the locals do? Well, they didn’t just give up. They came up with a brilliant idea. They used huge pipes to pump freezing seawater onto the advancing lava. Ah, incredibly, this cooled the molten rock and created a solid wall, stopping the flow just in time. Months later, the brave citizens returned, cleaned up the thick dust, and slowly rebuilt their homes.

1 Answer: (A) Beverages containing large amounts of sugar.

• Explanation: The doctor says to avoid “sugary sodas”. “Beverages containing large amounts of sugar” is a paraphrase of sugary sodas.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (B) is a plausible, common summer drink, but it is not mentioned in the audio. Option (C) is a trap; the doctor encourages drinking water, not avoiding it.

2 Answer: (B) Around the middle of the day.

• Explanation: The expert advises staying indoors during the hottest part of the day, “between 11 AM and 3 PM”. “Around the middle of the day” is a paraphrase for this time frame.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) and Option (C) are actually the safer times to be outside during a heatwave, which contradicts the doctor’s warning about the “hottest part of the day.”

3 Answer: (C) Make sure their living spaces have good air circulation.

• Explanation: Dr. Aris says to ensure the homes of the elderly and children are “well-ventilated or have fans running”. “Good air circulation” is a direct synonym for well-ventilated and using fans.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is a fun summer activity but is never mentioned in the broadcast. Option (B) is a trap; the doctor mentions fans and ventilation, but he does not tell listeners to spend money buying new air conditioners for their neighbors.

Dr. Aris: Good morning, listeners. Dr. Aris here with your daily health update. As you all know, we are currently experiencing a severe heatwave. Um, temperatures are expected to reach record highs this weekend.

It is absolutely essential to keep your body hydrated. Well, I strongly advise everyone to carry a water bottle at all times. Please avoid consuming too much coffee or sugary sodas, as they can actually make you lose fluids faster.

Also, try to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day, which is usually between 11 AM and 3 PM. If you must go outside, remember to wear loose clothing and apply sunscreen to protect your skin.

Finally, please check on your elderly neighbors and young children. Ah, they are much more vulnerable to heatstroke. Ensure their homes are well-ventilated or have fans running. Let’s all take care of each other during this extreme weather. Stay cool, and tune in tomorrow for more tips.

1 Answer: (C) The region has experienced non-stop precipitation for two days.

• Explanation: The automated voice says the flood is due to “continuous heavy rainfall over the past forty-eight hours”. “Non-stop precipitation” is a formal paraphrase of continuous rainfall, and “two days” equals forty-eight hours.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is a trap using the name “Riverside district”, but a broken pipe is not the cause. Option (B) is a trap using the words “local river”, but the river is overflowing because of rain, not blocked by debris.

2 Answer: (B) Leave their homes right away to find an elevated location.

• Explanation: The warning instructs residents to “evacuate your property immediately” and “move to higher ground”. “Leave their homes right away” means evacuate immediately, and an “elevated location” is a synonym for higher ground.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is the exact opposite of the audio’s instruction (“Do not attempt to gather your personal belongings”). Option (C) is also the opposite; they must leave, not stay inside and wait.

3 Answer: (A) Because automobiles can be easily washed away by the water.

• Explanation: The voice warns that “moving water can easily sweep your car off the road”. “Washed away” is a paraphrase of being swept off the road.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (B) is a realistic danger during a storm, but it is not the reason provided in the audio. Option (C) is a trap that mixes two different parts of the message; the “City Stadium” is mentioned as a shelter, but the roads leading there are not reported as closed.

Automated Voice: Beep. Beep. Beep. This is an automated emergency alert from the National Weather Service. Please listen carefully to the following message. A severe flash flood warning has been issued for the entire Riverside district. Due to the continuous heavy rainfall over the past forty-eight hours, the local river has exceeded its maximum capacity and water is rapidly overflowing.

If you reside in a low-lying area, you must evacuate your property immediately. Do not attempt to gather your personal belongings. Your life is the top priority. You are instructed to move to higher ground without delay.

Furthermore, residents are strongly advised not to operate their vehicles at this time. Most flood-related accidents happen when people try to drive through fast-moving water. Even a few inches of moving water can easily sweep your car off the road.

A temporary shelter has been opened at the City Stadium. Please proceed there safely on foot if possible. Stay tuned to your local radio station for further updates. Beep. Beep. Beep.

1 Answer: (A) Removing the wet soil from the roads.

• Explanation: The reporter mentions that people are using machinery to “clear away the sticky earth” from the “main streets”. “Removing the wet soil from the roads” is a paraphrase of this action.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (B) is a trap. The reporter says vehicles are buried up to their windows, but he doesn’t say the workers are currently pulling them out. Option (C) is a plausible post-disaster activity but is not mentioned in the audio.

2 Answer: (C) The highest room right below her roof.

• Explanation: Mrs. Higgins states she “climbed up to the attic instead.” The “highest room right below her roof” is a definition/paraphrase of an attic.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is the trap. She “initially wanted to run down to my basement” (the underground floor), but she rejected this idea because it would fill with wet soil. Option (B) is not mentioned; she stayed in her own house until rescuers arrived.

3 Answer: (B) A lack of fresh liquid for consumption.

• Explanation: Mrs. Higgins says, “we don’t have any safe drinking water” because the pipes were crushed. “A lack of fresh liquid for consumption” is a paraphrase of not having safe drinking water.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is a trap. She mentions the electricity, but says it “is still working in some areas”, so it is not a total loss. Option (C) uses words from the audio (“heavy machinery/rescue”), but a shortage of this equipment is not the problem she mentions.

Tom: Good morning. I’m reporting live from Oakville, where a massive mudslide struck late last night. The scene here is unbelievable. Um, thick brown dirt has covered the main streets, burying vehicles up to their windows. Right now, local authorities and volunteers are using heavy machinery to clear away the sticky earth. I’m joined by a local resident, Mrs. Higgins. Ma’am, how did you survive the disaster?

Mrs. Higgins: Well, it was terrifying. I heard a loud rumbling sound, like a heavy train. I initially wanted to run down to my basement, but I realized it would quickly fill with wet soil. So, I grabbed my cat and climbed up to the attic instead. We stayed there until rescue workers arrived this morning.

Tom: I’m glad you’re safe. What is the biggest challenge for the neighborhood today?

Mrs. Higgins: Ah, surprisingly, the electricity is still working in some areas. However, we don’t have any safe drinking water. The underground pipes were completely crushed by the rocks.