Learn English FREE with Trancy & CNN 10 | 2024-09-06 Why homes in this California town are collapsing into the ground

In Rancho Palos Verdes, California, a state of emergency has been declared due to significant land shifting in the area. The land has been moving so severely that homes in the Pacific Ocean city are collapsing into the ground. Local authorities are struggling to manage the situation as the land continues to shift, threatening the stability of more homes and infrastructure. Engineers and geologists are investigating potential causes and solutions to mitigate further damage, while residents face uncertainty about the future of their properties.

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Credit: @CNN10

Vocabulary:

1. Emergency: A serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action. Example: "The town declared a state of emergency due to the land shifting."
2. Infrastructure: The basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise. Example: "The shifting land is threatening the town's infrastructure."
3. Mitigate: To make less severe, serious, or painful. Example: "Authorities are working to mitigate the effects of the land movement."
4. Severely: To an intense degree. Example: "The land is moving so severely that homes are collapsing."
5. Collapse: To fall down or give way. Example: "The homes collapsed due to the unstable ground."

Phrase Match

Phrase	Meaning	Example
State of emergency	A situation in which a government is empowered to perform actions not normally allowed.	The governor declared a state of emergency after the disaster.
Threaten the stability	To pose a danger to something's firmness or reliability.	The shifting land threatens the stability of homes.
Face uncertainty	To confront a lack of certainty about what will happen in the future.	Residents are facing uncertainty about their homes.

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G8 Level Passage

Title: Homes Sinking in California Town

In a town called Rancho Palos Verdes, California, something dangerous is happening. The land in this area is shifting and causing homes to collapse. Power lines are also being damaged, which is affecting electricity in the area. This has led to a state of emergency, meaning the government must act quickly to protect people. The problem has been going on for a long time, but recently it has become much worse. Now, homes are sinking into the ground, and people are being forced to leave their homes to stay safe. Experts believe that the land will continue to move, and more homes may be affected in the future.

Vocabulary

1. Collapse: To fall down or give way. Example: The building collapsed after the earthquake.
2. Shift: To move from one place to another. Example: The land is shifting, causing the houses to sink.
3. Emergency: A serious situation that needs immediate action. Example: The town declared an emergency because of the sinking land.

Grammar

1. Present Continuous: Used to describe actions happening now. Example: "The land is shifting" shows that it is happening now.
2. Modal Verbs (may, will): Used to express possibility or certainty. Example: "More homes may be affected" expresses uncertainty.

Synonym Match

Word	Synonym
Collapse	Fall
Emergency	Crisis
Affect	Influence

Phrase Match

Phrase	Meaning	Example
State of emergency	A serious situation requiring immediate attention	The government declared a state of emergency.
Power lines	Wires that carry electricity	The power lines were damaged by the sinking land.

Gap Fill

The town of Rancho Palos Verdes is facing a _______________(1) as homes are sinking into the _______________(2). The land has been _______________(3) for a long time, but recently the problem has become worse. People are worried that more homes may _______________(4).

Answers: (1) crisis, (2) ground, (3) shifting, (4) collapse.

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G11 Level Passage

Title: California Homes Collapse Due to Geological Shifts

In the coastal town of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, a state of emergency has been declared due to sudden and dangerous geological shifts. The unstable land is causing homes to collapse and power lines to be damaged. This is not a new issue for the region, as it has been dealing with land instability for many years. However, the recent shifts have been more dramatic, and residents are now facing the reality of losing their homes. As the land continues to move, experts are predicting that more homes may be affected, and the long-term stability of the area is uncertain. Local authorities are working to mitigate the damage, but the problem is far from being resolved.

Vocabulary

1. Geological: Related to the structure and history of the earth. Example: The geological shifts caused the land to move.
2. Mitigate: To make something less severe. Example: Authorities are trying to mitigate the damage caused by the land shifts.
3. Unstable: Not stable or safe. Example: The unstable ground is causing the buildings to collapse.

Grammar

1. Present Perfect: Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue. Example: "The region has been dealing with land instability for many years."
2. Passive Voice: Used when the focus is on the action rather than who performs it. Example: "Homes are being damaged by the shifts."

Synonym Match

Word	Synonym
Unstable	Insecure
Mitigate	Reduce
Collapse	Crumble

Phrase Match

Phrase	Meaning	Example
State of emergency	A government-declared situation to respond to danger	Authorities declared a state of emergency after the land started shifting.
Geological shifts	Movement in the earth's surface	Geological shifts are affecting the safety of homes.

Gap Fill

Rancho Palos Verdes, a coastal town in _______________(1), is facing a severe problem due to geological _______________(2). The land has been unstable for years, but recent shifts have _______________(3) the situation, causing homes to _______________(4) and power lines to be damaged. As the land continues to move, experts warn that more homes may be at risk.

Answers: (1) California, (2) shifts, (3) worsened, (4) collapse.

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University Level Passage

Title: The Collapse of Homes in Rancho Palos Verdes: A Geological Crisis

The coastal community of Rancho Palos Verdes in Southern California has been declared a state of emergency as dramatic land shifts are causing significant structural damage to homes. For decades, the region has been plagued by slow-moving geological changes, but recent movements have intensified, causing homes to sink and power lines to fail. These land shifts are attributed to the unique geological composition of the area, which is prone to landslides and subsidence. Geologists have long warned of the instability, but the current situation has brought the issue to the forefront, as entire homes have begun to slide into the earth.

The complexity of the problem is deepened by the fact that Rancho Palos Verdes is built on a combination of unstable soil and rock formations. As a result, even slight movements in the earth's surface can have catastrophic consequences. The local government, in collaboration with state and federal agencies, is actively seeking ways to stabilize the land, but the prognosis remains grim. Residents are being evacuated, and it is uncertain whether these homes can ever be restored or whether further development in the region will be restricted due to the inherent geological risks.

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Vocabulary

1. Subsidence: The gradual sinking of an area of land. Example: The homes were damaged due to subsidence in the area.
2. Prognosis: The likely course of a situation. Example: The prognosis for the region’s stability remains uncertain.
3. Catastrophic: Involving great damage or suffering. Example: The geological shifts have had catastrophic consequences for homeowners.

Grammar

1. Present Perfect Continuous: Used to describe actions that have been ongoing. Example: "The region has been experiencing geological instability for decades."
2. Complex Sentence Structures: Used to show the relationship between ideas. Example: "As a result, even slight movements in the earth's surface can have catastrophic consequences."

Synonym Match

Word	Synonym
Catastrophic	Devastating
Subsidence	Sinking
Prognosis	Outlook

Phrase Match

Phrase	Meaning	Example
Geological composition	The materials making up the earth's surface	The area’s geological composition contributes to the land instability.
Structural damage	Damage to buildings	Homes are facing severe structural damage due to the land shifts.

Gap Fill

The geological instability in Rancho Palos Verdes has led to _______________(1) for homeowners, as homes are collapsing due to _______________(2). These shifts are part of a long-term geological process, and the _______________(3) for future development in the area remains uncertain. The local government is working to _______________(4) the damage, but with limited success.

Answers: (1) devastation, (2) subsidence, (3) prognosis, (4) mitigate.

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