Solar Eclipse Amazes Millions in UK and Europe
Listen to the story
Millions of people in the UK and Europe looked at the sky on Wednesday. They watched a total solar eclipse. This happens when the moon moves in front of the sun.
The moon covered the sun. The sky went dark for a short time. People called it a once-in-a-generation event. This means it does not happen often.
Many people went outside to watch. Some used special glasses. The glasses keep your eyes safe when you look at the sun.
News reports said the eclipse made the sun go dark over Europe. People felt wowed, or very surprised and happy, when they saw it.
Scientists say eclipses like this are special. People wait many years to see one. This eclipse gave people in the UK and Europe a rare chance to watch the sun disappear.
Vocabulary15 words
- solar eclipse
- when the moon covers the sun and the sky goes dark
- total
- complete; all of something
- once-in-a-generation
- something that happens very rarely, maybe once in many years
- wowed
- made someone feel very surprised and happy
- cover
- to go in front of and hide something
- dark
- with little or no light
- special glasses
- glasses made to keep eyes safe
- rare
- not happening often
- event
- something that happens
- sky
- the space above the earth where the sun and clouds are
- moon
- the round object that goes around the earth at night
- sun
- the star that gives us light and heat
- watch
- to look at something for a time
- scientists
- people who study how things work
- chance
- a good time to do something
Quiz
Answer key
1. A total solar eclipse 2. It covered the sun 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Millions of people in the UK and Europe looked at the sky on _____. They watched a total solar _____. This happens when the _____ moves in front of the sun.
The moon _____ the sun. The sky went _____ for a short time. People called it a _____ event. This means it does not happen often.
Many people went outside to _____. Some used special _____. The glasses keep your eyes safe when you look at the sun.
News reports said the eclipse made the sun go dark over Europe. People felt _____, or very surprised and happy, when they saw it.