Unit 2
Date: Date:
Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)? Write 'T' or 'F' in the blanks.
❶ Hong Kong is safe from earthquakes and volcanoes
because it is not near Japan, Chile or the Philippines.
❷ The 'Ring of Fire' looks like a horseshoe.
❸ The 1937 Great Hong Kong Typhoon was the strongest
typhoon in Hong Kong's history.
Choose the best answer by blackening the circle.
❹ In line 9, what does the word 'meet' mean?
meet v.
1 to see someone by chance and talk to them
This morning, I met my friend in the park.
2 to see someone at a place by arrangement
Will you meet me at the bus stop at ten?
3 to touch; to join
Two streams meet here and form a river.
4 to experience something, usually not good
She met some problems on her way to work.
A 1 C 3
B 2 D 4
❺ Which of the following can be a good title for this article?
A Do we have these natural disasters in Hong Kong?
B Hong Kong is safe
C Natural disasters are dangerous
D The 'Ring of Fire'
Fill in the blanks with the correct answers.
❻ It is (a) in the eye of the typhoon. The winds are
(b) at the edge of the eye.
Answer the question in a complete sentence.
❼ Why do people give names to typhoons?
Reading skill (2) p. 29
How many parts are there in the
article? What are they about?
Tips
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Reading
Jason is reading a magazine article about natural disasters. Read the article.
RaC
• Over the North Atlantic,
central and eastern North
Pacific, typhoons are
called hurricanes.
• People give names to typhoons so that it is
easier to keep track of them. Some interesting
names are: Fung-wong (Phoenix), Choi-wan
(colourful clouds) and Ma-on (horse saddles).
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Fun Facts
Natural disasters come in different forms. What natural disasters do we
have in Hong Kong? Are there earthquakes, volcanoes or typhoons?
Earthquakes and volcanoes
Earthquakes can destroy buildings and injure people, but the chance of
having one here in Hong Kong is tiny. Earthquakes happen when two parts
of the earth move against each other. Japan, Chile and the Philippines often
have earthquakes. It is because they are in the area called the 'Ring of
Fire'. Several parts of the earth meet there. It is home to about 90% of the
world's earthquakes and 75% of its volcanoes. During a volcanic eruption,
the volcanoes throw out a red hot liquid which looks like fire. That is how
this horseshoe-shaped area got its name. Hong Kong is not near this area,
so we do not need to worry about earthquakes or volcanoes.
Typhoons
Lots of typhoons pass close to Hong Kong. A typhoon is a storm that starts
in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. When it takes place, very strong winds spin
in a circle or spiral. In the middle is the eye. It is calm there. At the edge of
the eye is the eyewall. The winds there are the strongest.
The 1937 Great Hong Kong Typhoon was one of Hong Kong's deadliest
typhoons. It killed over 11,000 people and caused a 9.1-metre wave that
flooded Shatin and Taipo.
Typhoon Mangkhut which took place on 17 September 2018 was the
strongest typhoon in Hong Kong's history. It injured 394 people and pulled
out 1,500 trees. It also caused floods and landslips. Hong Kong Observatory
issued the typhoon signal No. 10 and it lasted for 10 hours.
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