Learn English FREE with Trancy & CNN 10 | 2024-08-27 Flash Flooding In The Grand Canyon

Credit: @CNN10

A severe flash flooding event occurred in Grand Canyon National Park, triggered by monsoon storms that turned waterways into dangerous rivers filled with debris. The flooding led to the rescue of over 100 people, including hikers, tourists, and members of local tribes. Additionally, a missing hiker was found along the Colorado River. Fortunately, the weather forecast indicates no rain in the coming days, which should help in managing the aftermath of the floods.

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Rewrite the main content story of the video according to three levels of English language learning.

Reading Passage for G8 Students

Title: Flash Floods in the Grand Canyon: A Dangerous Surprise

Flash floods hit the Grand Canyon, one of the most famous places in the United States, causing serious problems for many people. Heavy rains from monsoon storms made rivers in the canyon swell up quickly. These rivers became fast and dangerous, filled with dirt and debris. Many hikers, tourists, and even local tribes were caught in the floods, and over 100 people had to be rescued. The floods also led to the sad discovery of a missing hiker along the Colorado River.

The Grand Canyon is known for its stunning views and attracts millions of visitors each year. But the recent flash floods show how quickly nature can turn dangerous. Flash floods happen when a lot of rain falls in a short time, especially in areas like canyons, where the water has nowhere to go. The fast-moving water can catch people off guard, making it very risky for those exploring the area.

Rescue teams worked hard to save everyone affected by the floods. Thankfully, the weather forecast says there won't be any more rain in the coming days, giving everyone a chance to recover from this scary event.

Vocabulary List

1. Flash floods - 暴洪
2. Canyon - 峽谷
3. Monsoon - 季風
4. Debris - 碎片
5. Rescue - 救援
6. Hiker - 健行者
7. Discovery - 發現
8. Forecast - 天氣預報
9. Swell - 增大
10. Nature - 自然

Grammar Focus

• Past Simple Tense: Used to describe events that have already happened (e.g., "Flash floods hit the Grand Canyon").
• Relative Clauses: Used to provide additional information (e.g., "The Grand Canyon, one of the most famous places in the United States...").

Synonym Match

Phrase Match

Gap Fill Exercise

Flash floods hit the Grand Canyon, ___________(1) serious problems for many people. Heavy rains from monsoon storms made rivers ___________(2) quickly. These rivers became fast and dangerous, filled with dirt and ___________(3). Many hikers, tourists, and even local ___________(4) were caught in the floods, and over 100 people had to be ___________(5). The floods also led to the sad ___________(6) of a missing hiker along the Colorado River.

Rescue teams worked hard to save everyone ___________(7) by the floods. Thankfully, the weather ___________(8) says there won't be any more rain in the coming days, giving everyone a chance to ___________(9) from this ___________(10) event.

Answers:

1. causing
2. swell up
3. debris
4. tribes
5. rescued
6. discovery
7. affected
8. forecast
9. recover
10. dangerous

Reading Passage for G11 Students

Title: Flash Flooding in the Grand Canyon: An Unexpected Natural Disaster

The Grand Canyon, a site of breathtaking beauty and geological significance, recently faced an intense and unexpected natural disaster—flash flooding. Triggered by monsoon storms, the normally dry or gently flowing rivers within the canyon were transformed into raging torrents filled with debris. The sudden and violent surge in water levels caught many by surprise, endangering the lives of hikers, tourists, and members of local tribes. Over 100 individuals were rescued from the perilous situation, showcasing the unpredictable and hazardous nature of such environmental events.

One of the most alarming aspects of the incident was the discovery of a missing hiker along the Colorado River. This tragic outcome underscores the inherent risks of outdoor activities in areas susceptible to rapid weather changes. The Grand Canyon, while a popular destination for adventure seekers, can quickly become a site of danger when conditions deteriorate.

Flash floods occur when intense rainfall causes a rapid rise in water levels, particularly in areas like canyons where water is funneled through narrow spaces. The combination of steep canyon walls and sudden rainfall can create deadly conditions, as seen in this recent event. Rescue operations in such circumstances are challenging, requiring swift action and coordination to ensure the safety of those trapped by the floodwaters.

Fortunately, meteorological reports suggest that the weather will stabilize in the coming days, with no further rainfall expected in the immediate future. This respite will allow for recovery efforts to proceed and give the affected individuals time to regain their footing after the harrowing experience.

Vocabulary List

1. Flash flooding - 突發性洪水
2. Geological - 地質的
3. Significance - 重要性
4. Torrent - 激流
5. Debris - 殘骸
6. Perilous - 危險的
7. Unpredictable - 不可預測的
8. Susceptible - 易受影響的
9. Meteorological - 氣象的
10. Respite - 暫時的緩解

Grammar Focus

• Passive Voice: Used to emphasize the action rather than the subject (e.g., "Over 100 individuals were rescued").
• Complex Sentences: Combining multiple ideas within a single sentence (e.g., "Flash floods occur when intense rainfall causes a rapid rise in water levels, particularly in areas like canyons where water is funneled through narrow spaces").

Synonym Match

Phrase Match

Gap Fill Exercise

The Grand Canyon, a site of ___________(1) beauty and geological ___________(2), recently faced an intense and unexpected natural disaster—flash flooding. Triggered by monsoon storms, the normally dry or gently flowing rivers within the canyon were transformed into ___________(3) torrents filled with ___________(4). The sudden and violent surge in water levels ___________(5) many by surprise, endangering the lives of hikers, tourists, and members of local tribes. Over 100 individuals were ___________(6) from the perilous situation, showcasing the ___________(7) and hazardous nature of such environmental events.

One of the most alarming aspects of the incident was the discovery of a ___________(8) hiker along the Colorado River. This tragic outcome underscores the ___________(9) risks of outdoor activities in areas ___________(10) to rapid weather changes.

Answers:

1. breathtaking
2. significance
3. raging
4. debris
5. caught
6. rescued
7. unpredictable
8. missing
9. inherent
10. susceptible

Reading Passage for University Students

Title: The Perils of Flash Flooding in the Grand Canyon: An Analysis of Natural Disasters in Geological Hotspots

The Grand Canyon, an iconic symbol of natural beauty and geological wonder, recently became the site of a significant natural disaster: flash flooding. This event, triggered by monsoon-driven rainfall, transformed the typically placid streams and rivers of the canyon into torrents of destructive water, laden with debris and powerful enough to endanger lives. Flash floods are a well-documented but still perilous phenomenon, particularly in regions with steep topography like the Grand Canyon, where rapid water accumulation can funnel through narrow spaces, leading to catastrophic outcomes.

The recent flooding event necessitated the rescue of over 100 people, including hikers, tourists, and indigenous tribes who were caught unaware by the sudden rise in water levels. The Grand Canyon’s unique geological features, while contributing to its grandeur, also make it exceptionally vulnerable to such events. The steep walls and narrow passages characteristic of the canyon landscape can accelerate the flow of water, amplifying the destructive potential of flash floods. This incident also resulted in the tragic recovery of a missing hiker along the Colorado River, a somber reminder of the lethal force of nature.

Flash floods occur when intense rainfall overwhelms the capacity of the ground and existing waterways to absorb or channel the water. In the context of the Grand Canyon, the situation is exacerbated by the region's geology, where impermeable rock layers prevent water from seeping into the ground, forcing it to flow rapidly across the surface. The canyon’s steep gradients further contribute to the velocity and volume of water flow, creating conditions ripe for disaster.

This incident highlights the importance of understanding the interplay between meteorological conditions and geological formations in predicting and mitigating natural disasters. While flash floods are not uncommon in the Grand Canyon, their unpredictability and the speed at which they can develop make them particularly dangerous. Moreover, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change could exacerbate the risk of such occurrences in the future.

Meteorological data suggest that the immediate threat has passed, with no additional rainfall expected in the coming days. However, this event serves as a critical case study in disaster preparedness and response, emphasizing the need for robust early warning systems and public education on the risks associated with natural wonders like the Grand Canyon.

Vocabulary List

1. Perilous - 危險的
2. Geological - 地質的
3. Placid - 平靜的
4. Laden - 滿載的
5. Topography - 地形
6. Catastrophic - 災難性的
7. Vulnerable - 易受傷害的
8. Amplifying - 放大
9. Exacerbated - 加劇
10. Impermeable - 不可滲透的

Grammar Focus

• Complex Sentences with Clauses: Combining multiple ideas with the use of dependent and independent clauses (e.g., "Flash floods are a well-documented but still perilous phenomenon, particularly in regions with steep topography like the Grand Canyon, where rapid water accumulation can funnel through narrow spaces, leading to catastrophic outcomes").
• Advanced Vocabulary and Phrasing: Usage of formal and precise language to convey complex ideas (e.g., "This event highlights the importance of understanding the interplay between meteorological conditions and geological formations").

Synonym Match

Phrase Match

Gap Fill Exercise

The Grand Canyon, an iconic symbol of natural beauty and geological ___________(1), recently became the site of a significant natural disaster: flash flooding. This event, triggered by monsoon-driven rainfall, transformed the typically ___________(2) streams and rivers of the canyon into torrents of destructive water, ___________(3) with debris and powerful enough to endanger lives. Flash floods are a well-documented but still ___________(4) phenomenon, particularly in regions with steep ___________(5) like the Grand Canyon, where rapid water accumulation can funnel through narrow spaces, leading to ___________(6) outcomes.

The recent flooding event necessitated the ___________(7) of over 100 people, including hikers, tourists, and indigenous tribes who were caught unaware by the sudden rise in water levels. The Grand Canyon’s unique geological features, while contributing to its grandeur, also make it exceptionally ___________(8) to such events. The steep walls and narrow passages characteristic of the canyon landscape can ___________(9) the flow of water, amplifying the destructive potential of flash floods. This incident also resulted in the tragic recovery of a missing hiker along the Colorado River, a somber reminder of the ___________(10) force of nature.

Answers:

1. wonder
2. placid
3. laden
4. perilous
5. topography
6. catastrophic
7. rescue
8. vulnerable
9. accelerate
10. lethal