Table of Contents
A big winter storm is happening in the United States. Many people are in danger. More than 140 million people will experience the storm.
The storm started on Saturday, January 24th. There is a lot of snow, ice and cold rain.
It is snowing in Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The ice makes the roads very dangerous. People cannot drive safely. In New York City, three people died from the cold weather.
Travel is very hard now. About 14,000 flights are canceled. Many homes do not have electricity. This is a big problem in Texas and Virginia. Ice breaks the power lines. It also breaks the trees.
The ice will not melt soon. Workers cannot fix the power lines easily. 16 states say this is an emergency. They tell people to stay in their homes. They want everyone to be safe.
More snow will fall this weekend. Some places will get 12 inches (30cm) of snow. This is a record for the country. Half of the people in the US have cold weather today.
Vocabulary
- Storm – very bad weather; heavy rain or snow; strong winds ⛈️
- The United States – a large country in North America; the USA; America 🇺🇸
- Danger – a chance of getting hurt; not safe; a problem that can cause harm ⚠️
- Million – one million = 1,000,000;
- Experience – to feel something; to have something happen to you; to see or live through an event
- Snow – soft white pieces of frozen water that fall from the sky; cold white powder ❄️
- Ice – water that is frozen solid; hard, clear, cold water 🧊
- Road – a place for cars to move; a street; a highway 🛣️
- Dangerous – can hurt you; not safe; risky
- Drive – to control a car or truck; to move a vehicle 🚗
- Die – to stop living; the end of life ⚰️
- Travel – to go from one place to another; to move to a new city or country
- Flight – a trip in an airplane; moving through the air ✈️
- Electricity – power that makes lights and heaters work; energy for machines ⚡
- Break – to snap into pieces; to stop working; to damage something
- Power line – a wire that carries electricity to houses; a cable for energy
- Melt – to turn from ice into water; to change from solid to liquid because of heat 💧
- State – a part of a country with its own local government; a region like Texas or Virginia
- Emergency – a serious or dangerous situation; a time when you need help fast 🚨
- Fall – to drop down; to move from high to low 📉
- Inch – a small unit to measure length; about 2.5 centimeters
- Record – the best or highest level ever reached; a new top number
- The US – short for the United States; the USA 🇺🇸
Discussion Questions
- Do you like cold weather or hot weather? Why?
- What is the coldest weather you have ever experienced? How did it feel?
- How do you feel when the electricity goes out at home? What do you use for light?
- If your house lost electricity for two days during a winter storm, what would you do to stay warm?
- Is snow common in your country? What do people do when it snows?
- Is it better to travel by car or by plane during a storm? Why?
- 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 _____ storm is happening in the United States. _____ people are in danger. More than _____ million people will experience the _____ .
The storm started on _____ . There is a lot of snow, ice and _____ rain.
It is snowing in Texas, Kansas, _____ Oklahoma. The ice makes the roads _____ dangerous. People cannot drive safely. In New York _____ , three people died from the cold _____ .
Travel is very hard now. About _____ flights are canceled. Many homes do _____ have electricity. This is a big problem _____ Texas and Virginia. Ice breaks the power lines. _____ also breaks the trees.
The ice will not _____ soon. Workers cannot fix the power _____ easily. 16 states say this is an emergency. _____ tell people to stay in their homes. They _____ everyone to be safe.
More snow _____ fall this weekend. Some places will get _____ inches (30cm) of snow. This is a record for _____ country. Half of the people in the US have _____ weather today.
