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Reading Worksheet

When Nature Strikes

A2 Zero Conditional: Facts and Scientific Cause-and-Effect Natural Disasters 20 minutes
Before You Read

Discuss these questions with a partner before you read.

  • Have you ever seen a natural disaster on TV or in real life? What happened?
  • Which natural disasters happen in your country?
  • What do people do to prepare for natural disasters?
  • Why is it important for scientists to study natural disasters?
Key Vocabulary
Word Definition Example
tectonic plate (n.) a large piece of rock that forms part of the Earth's surface and moves slowly When tectonic plates push against each other, the ground can shake.
magma (n.) very hot liquid rock found under the Earth's surface If magma rises to the surface, a volcanic eruption happens.
eruption (n.) when a volcano suddenly sends out lava, ash, and gas A volcanic eruption sends ash high into the sky.
tsunami (n.) a very large and powerful wave caused by an earthquake under the sea If an earthquake happens under the ocean, it can create a tsunami.
overflow (v.) when a river or container becomes so full that water spills over the top When rivers overflow, they flood the land around them.
flood (n./v.) when a large amount of water covers land that is usually dry Heavy rain causes rivers to flood the surrounding area.
Reading Text
Magazine Article ~210 words

When Nature Strikes

Natural disasters can be very dangerous. But scientists understand how they happen. We can use simple cause-and-effect rules to explain them.

Earthquakes happen when tectonic plates move. When two tectonic plates push against each other, pressure builds. If the pressure becomes too great, the ground shakes. This is an earthquake. If an earthquake is very strong, it destroys buildings and roads.

Volcanoes also start deep underground. If hot magma rises through cracks in the Earth's surface, a volcanic eruption occurs. When a volcano erupts, ash and lava come out. If ash goes high into the sky, it sometimes changes the weather for months.

Tsunamis begin in the ocean. If an earthquake happens under the ocean, it sometimes creates a tsunami — a giant wave. When the wave reaches the shore, it can destroy buildings and flood the land. Tsunamis move very fast.

Rain also causes disasters. If it rains heavily for many days, rivers overflow. When rivers overflow, they flood the surrounding land. Floods cause serious damage to homes and farms.

Scientists study natural disasters to help us prepare. If we understand the causes, we can build safer buildings and create better warning systems. When people get a warning early, they can move to a safe place. Knowledge saves lives.

Notice the Grammar

Look at this sentence: 'If the pressure becomes too great, the ground shakes.' Both verbs are in the present simple. This is a fact — it always happens. Can you find more sentences like this in the article?

1 Reading for Gist

Answer each question in a few words.

  1. How many types of natural disaster does the article explain?
  2. What do scientists do to help people before a natural disaster?
  3. What is the main idea of the article?
2 Reading for Detail

Write short answers based on the article.

  1. What causes an earthquake?
  2. What comes out of a volcano when it erupts?
  3. What happens to the weather when ash goes high into the sky?
  4. What causes a tsunami?  a) Heavy rain over many days. b) An earthquake under the ocean. c) Tectonic plates pushing on land. 
  5. What happens when rivers overflow?
3 True, False, or Not Given

Write T (True), F (False), or NG (Not Given) for each statement. If False, correct the statement.

  1. Tectonic plates move under the Earth's surface.
  2. Volcanic ash never affects the weather.
  3. Tsunamis move slowly towards the shore.
  4. Scientists can completely stop natural disasters from happening.
  5. Early warning systems can help people move to a safe place.
4 Vocabulary in Context

Answer the following questions about words and phrases from the article.

  1. The article says floods cause 'serious damage'. What does 'serious damage' mean?  a) Small problems that are easy to fix. b) Important harm that is difficult to repair. c) Damage only to roads, not to buildings. 
  2. What does 'pressure builds' mean when talking about tectonic plates?
  3. Find a word in paragraph 4 that means 'very large'. 
  4. The article ends: 'Knowledge saves lives.' What does this mean in your own words?
5 Grammar in Context

Complete these activities about the zero conditional.

  1. Find four zero conditional sentences from the article. Write them.
    a)  b)  c)  d) 
  2. In the zero conditional, we use 'if' or 'when'. What is always true about the result? Complete this sentence: 'In the zero conditional, the result _____ always happen when the condition is met.'
  3. Which sentence is a zero conditional?  a) If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the trip. b) If it rains a lot, rivers overflow. c) If it rained more, rivers would overflow. 
  4. Write zero conditional sentences. (a) 'Tectonic plates push together → pressure builds.' → 'When tectonic plates _____, pressure _____.' (b) 'Earthquake under ocean → tsunami possible.' → 'If an earthquake _____ under the ocean, it sometimes _____ a tsunami.'
  5. Write three zero conditional sentences about natural events you know. Use 'if' or 'when'.
Personal Response — Discuss with a partner

Discuss these questions with a partner. Share one idea with the class.

  1. Which natural disaster do you think is the most dangerous? Why?
  2. What can ordinary people do to prepare for natural disasters in their country?
  3. If a warning system told you a tsunami was coming, what would you do?

Answer Key

When Nature Strikes — A2 — Zero Conditional: Facts and Scientific Cause-and-Effect

Exercise 1 — Reading for Gist

  1. Four: earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and floods.
  2. They create warning systems so people can move to a safe place.
  3. Scientists understand how natural disasters happen, and this knowledge helps people stay safe.

Exercise 2 — Reading for Detail

  1. Tectonic plates push against each other and the pressure becomes too great, making the ground shake.
  2. Ash and lava.
  3. It sometimes changes the weather for months.
  4. b)
  5. They flood the surrounding land, causing serious damage to homes and farms.

Exercise 3 — True, False, or Not Given

  1. T — The article explains that earthquakes happen when tectonic plates move and push against each other.
  2. F — The article says: 'If ash goes high into the sky, it sometimes changes the weather for months.'
  3. F — The article says: 'Tsunamis move very fast.'
  4. F — The article says scientists help us prepare, build safer buildings, and create warning systems — not that they can stop disasters.
  5. T — 'When people get a warning early, they can move to a safe place.'

Exercise 4 — Vocabulary in Context

  1. b)
  2. It means the force between the plates gets stronger and stronger over time until something has to happen.
  3. giant
  4. When people understand how natural disasters work, they can prepare better and stay safe — so learning about them is important and can prevent deaths.

Exercise 5 — Grammar in Context

  1. Any four of the following: 'When two tectonic plates push against each other, pressure builds.'; 'If the pressure becomes too great, the ground shakes.'; 'If hot magma rises through cracks in the Earth's surface, a volcanic eruption occurs.'; 'When a volcano erupts, ash and lava come out.'; 'If ash goes high into the sky, it sometimes changes the weather.'; 'If an earthquake happens under the ocean, it sometimes creates a tsunami.'; 'When the wave reaches the shore, it can destroy buildings and flood the land.'; 'If it rains heavily for many days, rivers overflow.'; 'When rivers overflow, they flood the surrounding land.'; 'If we understand the causes, we can build safer buildings.'
  2. The result ALWAYS happens — it describes a scientific fact or general truth, not a specific or uncertain event.
  3. b)
  4. (a) When tectonic plates push together, pressure builds. (b) If an earthquake happens under the ocean, it sometimes creates a tsunami.
  5. Answers will vary. Answers will vary. Check: if/when + present simple, present simple. Both clauses must use the present simple tense. Cont

Notice the Grammar — suggested answers

Accept any five correct examples from the article that use the target grammar. Students should be able to explain why the grammar is used in each case.

Personal Response

Answers will vary. This section is for spoken discussion or short written response. There are no single correct answers.