Ionian Plate Breaks Under Southern Italy, Scientists Say
Listen to the story
Scientists found new information about the ground under Italy.
A big piece of rock under the Earth is called a plate. There is a plate under the sea called the Ionian plate.
This plate is under southern Calabria. Calabria is a region in Italy.
Scientists say the plate is breaking. This is a big change under the ground.
The break also touches Sicily. Sicily is an island near Calabria.
This area is called the Sicilian-Calabrian rift. A rift is a crack in the Earth.
Scientists say the land here is rising. This means it is going up.
The land is rising faster than scientists thought before.
This is important because it can tell us about earthquakes in the future.
Southern Italy often has earthquakes. Scientists want to understand why.
More studies will help people stay safe in this area.
Vocabulary10 words
- plate
- a big flat piece of rock under the ground
- Ionian plate
- a large piece of rock under the sea near Italy
- Sicilian-Calabrian rift
- a long crack in the ground between Sicily and Calabria
- rift
- a long crack or opening in the ground
- earthquakes
- when the ground shakes suddenly
- region
- a part of a country
- island
- land with water all around it
- crack
- a thin line where something breaks
- ground
- the surface of the Earth
- scientists
- people who study the world and nature
📚 Ready to use these words in a real conversation?
Practice live with a real tutor on Preply.
Quiz
Answer key
1. The Ionian plate 2. A crack in the ground 3. True
✅ Nice work on the quiz!
Keep the momentum going — book a live English lesson with a Preply tutor.
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Scientists found new information about the ground under _____.
A big piece of rock under the Earth is called a _____.
This plate is under southern _____.
Scientists say the plate is _____.
The break also touches _____.
This area is called the Sicilian-Calabrian _____.
Scientists say the land here is _____.
The land is rising faster than scientists thought _____.
This is important because it can tell us about future _____.
Southern Italy often has _____.
🎓 Enjoyed this story?
Turn today's reading into real speaking practice with a live Preply tutor.
