Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds — and Traffic Trouble — in Valencia
Listen to the story
People in the Comunitat Valenciana in Spain watched a special eclipse in the sky. Many people wanted to see it.
But the roads had big problems. Some cars caught fire. Firefighters had to stop the fires.
One motorway was closed for some time. This made long traffic jams on the roads.
Many drivers went to see the eclipse at the same time. This made the roads very busy.
The police also stopped some people. They could not go into La Albufera. This is a famous nature area.
The police said some areas were restricted. This means people cannot go there.
The police wanted to keep people safe. They did not want too many cars in small places.
Many people still saw the eclipse from other places in the region.
The eclipse was a big event for the Comunitat Valenciana.
Vocabulary15 words
- eclipse
- when the moon or sun covers another one in the sky
- motorway
- a big fast road
- traffic jams
- many cars stopped or moving very slowly
- police
- people who keep us safe and follow rules
- restricted
- not open; people cannot go there
- region
- a part of a country
- firefighters
- people who stop fires
- closed
- not open; you cannot use it
- nature area
- a place with plants and animals
- drivers
- people who drive cars
- event
- something special that happens
- safe
- with no danger
- busy
- with a lot of people or cars
- famous
- known by many people
- sky
- the space above us with the sun and moon
Quiz
Answer key
1. An eclipse 2. Traffic jams and burning cars 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
People in the Comunitat Valenciana in Spain watched a special _____ in the sky.
Some cars caught _____. Firefighters had to stop the fires.
One _____ was closed for some time.
This made long _____ on the roads.
The _____ also stopped some people.
They could not go into La _____.
The police said some areas were _____.
The police wanted to keep people _____.
Many people still saw the eclipse from other places in the _____.