An asteroid could collide with the Earth in 2018, says a newspaper headline. What other natural phenomena and disasters can influence life on our planet and in what way?
Our planet is exposed to many natural phenomena and disasters. One of the most critical would be a collision of earth with an asteroid. However, there are many more “down to earth” phenomena that may significantly influence our lives. They are related with the four elements: water, fire, earth and wind.
Firstly, let’s consider water. There are many places on earth that are under the threat of being flooded. Of course, there are some nations that just got used to this phenomena and live their lives according to dry and wet seasons. However, once the flood occurs, it always influences the Earth. Fields are damaged, mudslides come down the slopes demolishing houses and roads. People have no place to go. As a result, no crops grow and famine occur.
The second element is fire. It is one of the most damaging phenomena. It is usually the result of a long-lasting drought. Fire spreads even quicker when the wind blows strongly and destroys fields and forests which are natural habitat of many animals. Once the wood is burnt, it needs many years to grow once again. Extensive fires are also the cause of pollution of the atmosphere with CO2 and in this way contribute to the greenhouse effect.
The third group of phenomena is connected with layer of our planet. The very dangerous disaster that may occur is an earthquake. It is extremely dangerous as people are not able to stop it, nor even prevent it. Earthquakes bring damage to whole cities, ruining the buildings and cutting people from the sources of water, electricity or information. As the result, people are deprived of their houses. Also plagues may occur, as there are debris of people buried under the collapsed buildings. Tectonic movements of the layers under the ocean may also cause the tsunami. The big wave is very dangerous for places which are situated on the coast. It comes at once and people cannot escape it.
The last element of these four is wind. The storms, whirlwinds and hurricanes may be very harmful to our planet. Wind is the tremendous force that blows out the roofs and in one moment destroys all the properties one has. Even though wind seems to be not as dangerous as fire or earthquakes, the power of this phenomenon has always terrified mankind.
Questions:
1) Tectonic movements
2) Famine
3) Whirlwind
4) Four elements
5) Plague
a) a widespread outbreak of a disease
b) a widespread scarcity of food that can be an effect of a disaster
c) wind, fire, water, earth
d) movements of particular parts of the Earth that may cause an earthquake
e) a strong wind that form a shape of a vortex
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