Table of Contents
A big, strong earthquake happened. It was in the Pacific Ocean near Russia. The earthquake was on Wednesday.
Many countries around the Pacific Ocean, like Japan and the United States, got a tsunami warning.
In Russia, the earthquake was the biggest since 1952. Big waves came to the coast of Russia. Some people got hurt, but not badly. A school building was also damaged.
Japan told many people to evacuate. Over 900,000 people went to high ground. This was to be safe from the tsunami waves. There was a big tsunami in Japan in 2011.
Workers at the Fukushima power plant also moved. They went to a safe place. There were no problems at the plant.
The United States also told people about a possible tsunami. The warning was for Alaska, Hawaii, California, and Oregon.
In Japan, they thought waves would be big. But only small waves came.
Japan is ready for earthquakes and tsunamis. It is in an area where many earthquakes happen.
Vocabulary
- Earthquake – a natural event where the ground shakes and moves suddenly and strongly, caused by the movement of rocks deep beneath the earth’s surface; shaking ground
- Pacific Ocean – the largest ocean on Earth, located between Asia and North and South America
- Tsunami – a large, powerful wave in the sea caused by an earthquake or volcano that can destroy many things; 🌊
- Warning – a message that alerts/informs people about a dangerous situation or a possible threat
- Wave – A moving line of water in the ocean; 🌊
- Coast – the land along the edge of the sea or an ocean; where land meets water
- Damage – physical harm that is done to something; destruction; injury; broken
- Evacuate – to leave; to get out of; to make people leave; to remove people
- High ground – Land that is higher than the land around it
- Ground – floor; earth; solid surface; dirt
- Power plant – A place where electricity is made; A big building that makes electricity ⚡🏭
- Possible – Something that might or could happen
- Area – A place or part of a place; piece of land, or country; a particular part of a place; somewhere
Discussion Questions
- Why is it important to have a plan for a tsunami?
- Do you think big waves from a tsunami are scary? Why or why not?
- Do you think it is a good idea to move to high ground when there is a tsunami warning?
- Why do you think Japan is ready for earthquakes?
- If there was a tsunami warning where you live, what would you do?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
A big, _____ earthquake happened. It was in the Pacific Ocean near _____. The earthquake was on Wednesday.
_____ countries around the Pacific Ocean, like Japan _____ the United States, got a tsunami warning.
_____ Russia, the earthquake was the biggest since _____. Big waves came to the coast of Russia. Some _____ got hurt, but not badly. A school building was _____ damaged.
Japan told many _____ to evacuate. Over _____ people went to high ground. This was to be safe from the tsunami _____. There was a big tsunami in Japan in _____.
Workers at the Fukushima _____ plant also moved. They went to a safe place. _____ were no problems at the plant.
The United States _____ told people about a possible tsunami. The _____ was for Alaska, Hawaii, California, and Oregon.
In _____, they thought waves would be big. But only small _____ came.
Japan is ready for earthquakes _____ tsunamis. It is in an area where many _____ happen.
