【英语】2018届人教新课标选修6一轮复习：Unit5Thepowerofnature教案设计（页）

【英语】2018届人教新课标选修6一轮复习：Unit5Thepowerofnature教案设计（页）

Unit 5 The power of nature 教材分析 I.‎‎ 教学内容分析： ‎ 本单元的中心话题是火山、飓风、地震和洪水等自然灾害，听说读写等语言知识和语言技能主要围绕“自然灾害”及如何预防和利用自然灾害这一主题设计的。本单元引导学生讨论大自然的危害等问题，目的在于让他们了解自然界的威力，认识到只有保护大自然，才能有效地预防自然灾害并改造和利用自然。‎ Warming up部分主要讨论火山、飓风和地震等自然灾害，让学生了解有关地震的知识以及预防措施等。教师可以通过右边的插图引起学生们的兴趣和好奇心而导入新课内容。‎ Pre-reading部分设计了一个调查问卷，以帮助学生认识火山学家工作的危险性和工作本身的兴趣。他们的工作是非常危险的，因此，从事火山研究的人需要具备以下素质：1.喜欢野外工作；2.喜欢冒险；3.喜欢地质研究；4.喜欢富于变化的工作；5.喜欢与众不同的地方。‎ Reading部分是一位火山学家的自述。作者首先介绍了他的工作性质，说明他热爱该项工作的主要原因是能帮助人们免遭火山袭击。作者的主要工作是收集基拉韦厄火山的资料，并和其他科学家一起分析和预测火山岩浆的流速和方向。火山爆发不会造成很大的损失，因为山顶附近没有居民。但是，从山上流下的熔岩会烧毁和埋没周围的城镇。然而，观看火山爆发是非常令人兴奋的，红色的熔岩喷向高空，高达数百米，甚是壮观。有一次火山爆发后，作者和另外二位科学家一道来到火山口。他们身穿白色的防护服，艰难地走到火山口，观察沸腾的火山口中央，并采集了部分岩浆以作研究。最后，作者表述了他对自己工作的热情。20年后，火山对他的吸引力依然不减。‎ Ⅱ、教学重点和难点：‎ ‎1、教学重点 ‎1)本单元的生词和短语。‎ ‎2) 现在分词作状语的各种形式。‎ ‎3)了解自然灾害的有关情况以及怎样预防等。‎ ‎2、教学难点 ‎1)了解火山爆发的原因。‎ ‎2)学会表述恐惧、担忧和惊奇等情感的日常交际用语。‎ ‎3)学习描述一种自然灾害，进行写作训练。‎ Ⅲ、教学计划 本单元共分五课时：‎ 第一课时：Warming up 第二课时：Pre-reading, Reading, Post-reading 第三、四课时：Learning about Language 第五课时：Integrating skills Ⅳ、教学步骤：‎ Period 1 Warming up Teaching Goals:‎ ‎1.To arouse Ss’ interest in learning about the power of the nature ‎2.To develop Ss’ listening ability Teaching Procedures:‎ Step 1 Lead-in Purpose: To activate Ss’ and arouse them to talk about two earthquakes.‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Show the pictures about the earthquakes. Ask the students where the two earthquakes happened, and discuss how serious the disaster brought to the people.‎ Step 2. Warming up Warming up by learning vocabulary Hello, everyone. We shall read about volcanoes today. Everyday disasters happen here and there. But how much do you know about them? Turn to page 93 and familiarize yourself with the words and expressions used in this unit. Try to make up a story based on the vocabulary, either in English or in Chinese.‎ Warming up by sharing opinions The photo shows Mount St. Helens erupting on May 18,1980. What do you know about volcanoes?‎ A volcano is a place on earth where lava comes from the ground. Volcanoes often have the same shape as mountains. Most volcanoes have a crater at the top.‎ How volcanoes are made Most volcanoes are made where tectonic plates come together. These plates move over each other, which causes magma to rise to the surface through weak places in the crust.‎ There are many volcanoes, live or dead, in the world. The next is a list of well-known volcanoes.‎ Well known volcanoes Eatna (Sicily, Italy)‎ Hekla (Iceland)‎ Kilauea (Hawaii, USA)‎ Krakatoa (Rakata‎, ‎Indonesia)‎ Mauna Loa (Hawaii, USA)‎ Mauna Kea (Hawaii, USA)‎ Mount Shasta (California, USA)‎ Mount St.Helens (Washington‎, ‎USA)‎ Novarupta (Alaska, USA)‎ Olympus Mons (Mars(planet))‎ Popocatepetl (Mexico-Puebla state line, Mexico)‎ Surtsesy (Surtsey Island‎, ‎Iceland)‎ Mount Baker (Washington‎, ‎USA)‎ Mount Erebus(Ross Island, Antarctica)‎ Mount Hood (Oregon, USA)‎ Mount Fuji (Honshu‎, ‎Japan)‎ Mount Rainier (Washington‎, ‎USA)‎ Santorini (Santorini Island‎, ‎Greece)‎ Thambora (Sumbawa‎, ‎Indonesia)‎ Teide (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain)‎ Vesuvius (Bay of Naples‎, ‎Italy)‎ Step 3 Homework ‎1.Write a short composition to introduce an eruption of a volcano.‎ ‎2.Get on the line and find out more natural disasters and let the students prepare for the next period.‎ Period 2& 3 Pre-reading Reading & Post-reading Goals: 1.To learn about the power of nature.‎ ‎2.To develop some basic reading skills.‎ ‎3.To arouse Ss’ interest in learning about all kinds of disaster s in the world.‎ Teaching procedures:‎ Step 1 Warming up Purpose: To arouse Ss’ interest in learning about the power of nature .Ask the students to get on the line and prepare something for the power of nature ahead of time and share the information you have found.‎ Warming up by reading aloud the text AN EXCITING JOB We promote reading aloud to students and by students in order to result in a sense of English and a desire to become a fluent English speaker .So Read aloud and circle all the examples of “-ing –form ” in the text.‎ Step 2 Pre-reading Purpose: To have the students learn about some natural disasters .To get the students learn about the reason why the volcanoes erupt and how it happens.‎ Discuss the questions with a partner.‎ ‎1. Have you ever experienced a typhoon, a snowstorm or a hailstorm (冰雹)？Tell your partner what it was like.‎ ‎2. Look at the picture below. What do you think has happened to the house?‎ ‎3. Read the information beside the picture. How do you think you would feel during the cyclone and after it was over?‎ DARWIN‎ DESTROYED IN ONE NIGHT At 1 am on 25 December ‎1974 a fierce(猛烈的)cyclone(旋风)hit Darwin, a city in the far north of Australia. Winds of up to 170 kilometers swept through the city, tearing roofs from houses, pulling up trees and turning over cars. Seven hours later, the cyclone moved away from Darwin and all was peaceful again. The damage to Darwin was huge and almost the whole city had to be rebuilt.‎ Step 3 ‎Reading ‎1.Skimming and canning.‎ Purpose: To get a brief understanding of the text and to get the students to have some details in the text.‎ ‎1. Read the text quickly and try to get some details from the text. Work in pairs and try to ask and answer questions from the text. Questions can be like these.‎ ‎(1). Why is a volcanologist’s job important?‎ ‎(2). Where is Mount‎ ‎Kilauea?‎ ‎(3). Why is the lava that flows on Mount‎ ‎Kilauea more dangerous than the actual eruption?‎ ‎(4). What caused the writer’s bedroom to become as bright as day even though it was night?‎ ‎(5). Why did the scientists have to get close to the volcano after it began erupting?‎ ‎(6). Why was it difficult for the writer to walk towards the edge of the crater?‎ ‎(7). What does the writer find impressive about volcanoes even after studying them for many years?‎ Suggested answers:‎ ‎(1). Volcanologists study volcanoes so that they can warn people when the volcano is going to erupt and so save many lives.‎ ‎(2). Mount Kilauea is in Hawaii.‎ ‎(3). The lava flows down the mountain and can cover up or burn villages in its path .The rocks that erupt from the volcano usually don’t damage anything because no one lives near the crater.‎ ‎(4). The light was caused by the red-hot rocks and gas that erupted from the volcano.‎ ‎(5). The scientists needed get samples of the lava so they could study them.‎ ‎(6). The author was wearing special protective clothing that made it difficult to walk.‎ ‎(7). The author is impressed by the beauty of the eruption and also by its potential to cause great destruction.‎ ‎2 Listen to the tape and deal with the language points in groups ‎ Purpose: To train Ss’ listening ability To train Ss language capacity ‎1.consider思考，主要用于：‎ consider+名词/-ing形式：He is considering studying abroad. 他正在考虑出国留学。‎ consider + wh-: We considered how we should help them.我们仔细考虑应该如何帮助他们。‎ consider + 副词：Consider carefully before you decide.要慎重考虑后再作决定。‎ ‎2.risk风险、危险。例如：‎ He was taking a risk by overtaking on a bend.他在转变处超车是在冒险。‎ The house is a fire risk.这房子有起火的危险。‎ ‎3.burn to the ground指楼房等被烧毁。例如：‎ He has no place to live in because his house has been burnt to the ground.‎ 他无处栖身因为他的房子被烧掉了。‎ 短语联想 burn away烧掉: The wood had burnt away to nothing.木头已烧成灰烬。‎ burn down(建筑物)烧毁： The cinema burnt down last year.电影院去年被烧毁了。‎ The school was burnt down by vandals.学校被人纵火烧毁了。‎ burn off烧掉：He was badly injured in the accident, and all his hair was burnt off.‎ 他在事故中严重受伤，头发也被烧掉了。‎ burn out烧坏：The engine bad burnt out. 引擎给烧坏了。‎ burn up烧毁、烧得更亮/旺：The rocket burnt up when it reentered the earth’s atmosphere.‎ 火箭重入地球大气层时烧毁。‎ He put more wood on the fire to make it burn up. 他往火上加木材想让它烧得更旺。‎ ‎4.make one’s way(向某地)走（去）。例如：‎ She hesitated ,but made her way forward.她犹豫了一下，但向前走去。‎ She hastily left the room ,and made her way to her bed.她快速离开房间，朝她床边走去。‎ 短语比较 make one’s way 还表示“有出息”。例如：If you want to make your way in the world ,you must learn to work hard while you are still young.你若想要有出息，趁年轻的时候要学会发奋。‎ make way(for)让路、让位：‎ All the traffic has to make way for a fire engine.所有的车辆都得给救火车让道。‎ I shall make way for a younger man.我将把（职）位让给更年轻的人。‎ ‎5.enthusiastic(about)感兴趣的、热心的。例如：‎ She seemed enthusiastic about the idea.她好像对这个主意很感兴趣。‎ We got an enthusiastic response from our customers.我们得到了顾客们的热情反应。‎ effort可用作不可数名词，表示“力气”，例如：‎ It took a lot effort to lift the boxes.抬起那些箱子要花很大的力气。‎ effort也可用作可数名词，表示“费劲的事”、“尝试”，例如：‎ It was an effort to get up this morning.今天早晨起床很费劲。‎ Despite all our efforts ,we failed.尽管我们尽了力，我们还是失败了。‎ Make an effort to do sth.努力做某事。例如：‎ He made an effort to arrive on time.他尽量准时到达。‎ ‎7.diversity的意思是“变化多样”，“多样性”相当于variety,例如：‎ The plants of Asia show great diversity of form.亚洲的植物形态多种多样。‎ There must be a wide diversity of opinions.（对此）准是众说纷纭。‎ 联想记忆 variety(质量、种类或特征的)变化：‎ You need a lot of variety in your diet.你的膳食要多样化。‎ 种类、品种：different varieties of bananas不同品种的香蕉 a variety of 各种：These T-shirts are available in a wide variety of colors.‎ 这些T恤有各种各样的颜色供挑选。‎ Step 4 Post-reading Purpose: To have a deep understanding of the text.‎ Answer the following questions according to the text.‎ ‎(1). In what province is Changbaishan?‎ ‎(2). What is a nature reserve? Why is Changbaishan a famous nature reserve?‎ ‎(3). What is the most popular tourist attraction in the reserve?‎ ‎(4). What does Tianchi mean? How was Tianchi formed?‎ ‎(5). What is the connection between the Manchu people and Tianchi?‎ Step 5 Reflective thinking ‎ Think of a powerful natural force (such as an earthquake, flood, typhoon, storm) that you have experienced . You can use your imagination if you have not experienced any of these things. Tell your partner about your experience and how you felt. ‎ Step 6 Homework ‎ ‎1. Make some sentences with the new words and expressions. ‎ ‎2.Try to write a short composition about a natural disaster. ‎ Period 4 Learning about Language Goals: 1. To enable the Ss to master some new words and expressions. ‎ ‎2. To get the Ss to master the grammar. ‎ Teaching procedures:‎ Step 1 Free talk ‎ Talk about a certain natural disaster you have seen or heard about. ‎ Use the words and phrases you have just learned. ‎ Step 2 Word study ‎ Purpose: To consolidate the words and phrases in the text. ‎ 一. Complete the sentences with suitable words. ‎ bore, bored , boring ‎1. The students were so that some of them fell asleep.‎ ‎2. Will it you to draw the tiger over and over again?‎ ‎3.I left the theater before the opera ended; it was deadly ‎ impressive, impress ‎4. His speech about the doctor who worked heart and soul for Tibetan people ‎ us very much.‎ ‎5. The view from the top of the mountain was most ‎ ‎ excite, exciting, excited, excitement ‎6.The students waited impatiently for the film star to arrive. ‎ ‎7. After all the of the party, the little boy slept for ten hours.‎ ‎8. It was the most journey I had ever taken.‎ ‎9. Please stay calm and don’t yourself.‎ ‎ courage, encourage, encouragement, encouraging ‎10. My parents always me to do well at school.‎ ‎11. If I had more I would study overseas for a year.‎ ‎12.I phoned to thank her for her advice. ‎ ‎13. Her friend’s gives her the confidence to enter the competition.‎ Suggested answers:‎ 一、1. bored 2.bore 3.boring 4.impressed 5.impressive 6.excited 7.excitement 8.exciting 9.excite 10.encourage 11.courage 12.encouraging 13.encouragement 二、Complete the sentences . Use words from the list in the correct tense.‎ ‎ look see watch glare stare glance ‎ ‎1. They were so amazed that all they could do was .‎ ‎2.Can you move the sculpture closer? I can’t the details clearly.‎ ‎3. He was so angry with me he just and walked away.‎ ‎4. She shyly at him and then lowered her eyes.‎ ‎5. I a really good game of football on Saturday.‎ ‎6. You’ve been out the window for almost an hour now.‎ Suggested answers:‎ 二、1.staring 2.see 3.glared 4.glanced 5.watched 6.looking/staring Step 3 Grammar -ing形式的用法 ‎1．-ing 形式作状语 用法 例句 时间 Walking along the street, I net Mary. (= While I was walking along the street,……)在街上走的时候，我遇到了玛丽。‎ 原因 Being tired, I stopped to take a rest. (= Because I was tired, ……) 因为疲倦，我停下来休息。‎ 条件 Turing to the left, you will find the school. (=If you turn to the left, ……)向左转，你就会找到学校。‎ 让步 Knowing where I live, he never comes to see me. (= Tough he knows where I live, ……) 虽然他知道我的住处，但他从不来看我。‎ 伴随 I stood there, waiting for her. (=……, and waited for her.)我站在那儿等她。‎ ‎2．-ing 形式的完成式 句型 主动 Having + p·p……,主语+谓语 被动 ‎（Having been）+p·p……,主语+谓语 用法 ‎（1）-ing 形式的完成式所表示的时间在谓语词动词之前；‎ ‎（2）表示被动，可直接用过去分词。‎ 例句 Having finished my work , I went home .(=After I had finished my work, ……)工作完之后，我就回家了。‎ ‎(Having been)written in haste , the book has some faults.‎ 这本书因仓促写成，所以有此缺憾。‎ ‎3．Testing yourself (to-infinitive or-ing form?)‎ Complete these statements using an appropriate form of the verbs given.‎ Eg: I would love—(visit) China.→I would love to visit China. ‎ She stopped—(talk) to him after that last argument . →She stopped talking to him after that last argument.‎ ‎1. I don’t remember (play) any dangerous game when I was a child.‎ ‎2.When I need to remember (do) something important, I tie a knot in my handkerchief.‎ ‎3. I’ll never forget (tell) my first lie.‎ ‎4. I’ve never forgotten (do) my English homework. Not once.‎ ‎6. I usually stop (pick up) hitchhikers, whatever they look like.‎ ‎7. I tried (windsurf) last summer and I really enjoyed it.‎ ‎8. I try (learn) at least ten new English words every day, but I seem to forget most of them.‎ ‎9. I like (keep) all my credit card receipts just in case the bank makes a mistake.‎ ‎10. I hate (drive) at night, especially on country roads in rain.‎ Suggested answers:‎ ‎1.playing 2.to do 3.telling 4.to do 5. talking ‎6.to pick up 7.windsurfing 8.to learn 9.to keep 10.driving Step 4 Homework Review the new words and phrases ‎ Period 5 Integrating skills Goals: 1.To get the students to learn something about the natural disasters.‎ ‎2. Practice the students’ writing skills.‎ Teaching Procedures:‎ Step 1 Warming up Purpose: To lead the students to the topic and arouse the students’ interest about the natural disasters.‎ ‎1. Get into a group with other students who are interested in more about the same type of disaster as you are. ‎ ‎2. Spend some time researching you disaster. You can use books, magazines, newspapers or the Internet. Collect pictures and diagrams and look for information about:‎ ● what causes this kind of disaster;‎ ● actual events that happened in the past in China and/or the rest of the world;‎ ● how people helped the victims;‎ ● what is being done to prevent the disaster happening again or to lessen the damage Step 3 Read and learn Purpose: To get some details and learn how to describe disasters of different kinds?‎ ‎(1). Why is the author’s job important?‎ danger excites me and ‎ makes me feel alive I have the greatest job in the world protect people from the volcano ‎(2). What made the author realize that an eruption occurred? ‎ me bed began ‎ shaking a strange ‎ sound my bedroom became ‎ as bright as day An absolutely ‎ fantastic sight Red hot lava was fountaining hundreds of ‎ meters into the air ‎(3). What did the scientists do after the eruption?‎ put on white protective suits helmets,‎ big boots dropped as close as possible to the crater slowly made our way to the edge of the crater looked down into the red,‎ boiling center climbed down into the crater to collect some leave Step 5 Extension ‎ ‎1.Ask students who they think this passage was written for (for tourists and others who like reading travel articles) and what its purpose is (to persuade people to visit Changbaishan.)‎ ‎2.Next, ask students to underline the adjectives in the passage. Discuss how a lot of the adjectives present a positive image (e.g beautiful, unique, spectacular, crystal clear, lucky, loved, deep and lasting).‎ ‎3.Discuss how the article is structured:‎ ‎●The first paragraph describes the whole area and gives information about the location,‎ ‎ Why Changbaishan is a good place to visit and what visitors can do there. Also note how the paragraph ends by naming Tianchi.‎ ‎●The second paragraph expands the information about Tianchi by giving factual information about the lake and how visitors get to it.‎ ‎●The third paragraph presents an interesting myth about Tianchi.‎ It finishes the text by giving a romantic reason for visiting the lake.‎ ‎4. Tell the students that they are to write the next section in the tour guide, which is about the hot pools near Tianchi.‎ ‎5. Ask students to look at the facts about the hot pools in their SB. Ask them to imagine what it would be like to bathe in a hot pool. Some students may even have experienced this for themselves and can provide further details.‎ ‎6. Ask students to think of some appropriate adjectives to use in a tour guide description of the hot pools (eg: relaxing, warm, gentle, pleasant, restful, healthy)‎ ‎7. Remind students that tour guide texts contain both factual information about the attraction and positive expressions that aim to persuade people to visit the place. Ask a student to read out the sentence in their books that will form the beginning of their text.‎ ‎8. Give students time to write their text.‎ ‎9. Ask students to work with a partner and to help each other improve their text. Ask them to check the following:‎ ‎●Has your partner given all the necessary facts about the hot pools ?‎ ‎●Has your partner used positive adjectives and expressions to persuade readers to visit the pools?‎ ‎●Is the spelling and grammar correct?‎ ‎●Could your partner improve his / her text in any way?‎ ‎10. Ask students to revise their text and write out a clean copy. If possible, display the student’s texts in the classroom.‎ Step 6 Assessment ‎ First reading ‎1. Ask students to read through the passage quickly to check whether the guesses they made about the work of a volcanologist (step ‎3 in “Pre-reading”) where correct. Give them a limited time to read the whole passage in order to encourage them to practice reading for general ideas and to discourage them from reading word by word.‎ ‎2. With the whole class, go through the list you wrote on the board and tick the items mentioned in the reading passage. Ask students what other tasks they now know volcanologists do and add these to the list on the board. ‎ ‎3. Set Exercise ‎1 in “Comprehending” either as a group or whole-class activity. Explain to students that the purpose of questions like these is to help them develop the skills of evaluating a text. The first question asks students to relate the text to their own experience, which will help them to understand and remember what they have read. The second question is the first step in developing an important research skill. Then the information is relevant to their purpose and whether they might have to find other resources to the information they need. ‎ Second reading ‎ ‎1. Ask students to read the text with a partner and to help each other understand any difficult parts. Ask them to underline any words they are not sure of or do not know the meaning of. Ask them to try to guess the meaning of these words but not to look them up in a dictionary or word list just yet.‎ ‎2.When they have finished their second reading, ask students to tell you what words they are still unsure about. List these on the board. Ask the student to read out the sentence containing the ‎ unknown word and ask the rest of the class to suggest the meaning. If no one can give the correct meaning, either tell them yourself or ask them to look it up in a dictionary.‎ ‎3.At this point, briefly examine the structure of the text with the whole class. Ask them what the purpose of the first two paragraphs is. (Answer: to introduce the topic of the text, to introduce the writer, to tell the reader that this text will be about the pleasures of being a volcanologist, ect). ‎ Next, look at the last paragraph and discuss its purpose. (Answer: To finish the text by summarizing how the writer feels about his job and to restate the ideas expressed in the first paragraph.‎ Finally, ask the purpose of the paragraphs in between the introductory and concluding paragraphs. (Answer: To provide evidence to back up the statements made in the introduction, to relate interesting experiences that will entertain and inform the reader).‎ Step 7 Homework Write a short composition about one of the natural disasters.‎ Background information on disasters.‎ Background information on disasters ‎1. List of disasters This is a list of disasters, both natural and man-made.‎ ‎●Classical-Era disasters Vesuvius volcanic eruption, ‎Italy Alexandria‎ earthquake that destroyed the Pharos of Alexandria Rhodes earthquake destroyed the ‎Colossus of Rhodes Sodom‎ and Gomorrah that were destroyed in an undetermined Biblical disaster more than likely meteors.‎ ‎●Modern-Era disasters ‎ Mobile magazine explosion (May 25, 1865)‎ Krakatoa‎, ‎Indonesia‎, volcanic eruption, (August 26,1883)‎ Great Galveston Hurricane and Flood, Galveston‎, ‎Texas (September 8, 1900)‎ ‎1906 San Francisco earthquake, San Francisco‎, ‎California (April 18, 1906)‎ Halifax‎ explosion, Halifax‎, ‎Nova Scotia (December 6,1917)‎ The Boston Molasses Disaster, Boston‎, ‎Massachusetts (January 15,1919)‎ Tri-State Tornado, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana (March 18,1925)‎ The Bombay Explosion, Victoria Dock Bombay, India (April l4, 1944)‎ The Port Chicago Explosion (July 17, 1944)‎ Hartford‎ Circus Fire, Hartford‎, ‎Connecticut (July 6, 1944)‎ Texas City‎ Explosion, Texas City‎, ‎Texas (April 16,1947)‎ Great Smog of 1952, London‎, ‎France (June 11, 1955)‎ The Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak, Midwest‎, ‎United States (April 11, 1965)‎ BLEVE explosion at a refinery in Feyzin‎, ‎France (January 4, 1966)‎ Ibrox disaster, Glasgow‎, ‎Scotland (January 2,1971)‎ Summerland disaster, Isle of Man (August 2, 1973)‎ The Super Outbreak, tornadoes in 13 U.S.‎ (April 3.1974)‎ The Flixborough disaster, North Lincolnshire (June 1,1974)‎ Hyatt Hotel disaster, Kansas City‎, ‎Missouri (July 17,1981)‎ Heysel Stadium disaster, Brussels‎, ‎Belgium (May 29,1985) ‎ Piper Alpha disaster, North Sea‎, ‎Scotland (July 6,1988)‎ Hillsborough disaster, Bijlmerramp‎, ‎Netherlands (Pctober4,1992)‎ Chicago‎ Heat Wave of 1995, ‎Chicago‎, ‎Illinois May 3rd tornados, ‎Oklahoma City‎, ‎Oklahoma Enschede fireworks disaster, Enschede‎, ‎Netherlands (May 13,2000)‎ Kaprun disaster, Kaprun‎, ‎Austria ( November 11,2000)‎ Bam Earthquake‎, ‎Iran‎ (December26, 2003)‎ ‎●Dam disasters ‎ Great Sheffield flood, Sheffield‎, ‎England (March 11,1864)‎ Johnstown‎ flood, Johnstown‎, ‎Pennsylvania (May 31,1889)‎ St. Francis Dam Disaster, Los Angeles‎, ‎California (March12 ,1982)‎ ‎●Environmental disasters ‎ ‎ Love Canal, Niagara Falls‎, ‎New York (1970s)‎ Seveso disaster, Italy, 1976‎ Bhopal‎ Disaster, Bhopal‎, ‎India (December 3,1984)‎ Exxon Valdez oil spill, Prince William Sound (March 24,1989)‎ Prestige oil spill, off the Spanish coast (November 13,2002)‎ ‎●Nuclear disasters ‎ December 12,1952 Chalk River Toronto ‎Canada November 1955 Idaho Falls, ‎Idaho October1957 ‎Sellafield‎, ‎England March 1958 Fyshtym, ‎Soviet Union January 1961 Idaho Falls, ‎Idaho October5, 1966 ‎Idaho Falls‎, ‎Idaho December7, 1975 ‎Lubmin‎, ‎East Germany March 28, 1979 ‎Three Mile Island‎, ‎Pennsylvania April 26,1986Kiev, Ukraine Also Known as Chernoby1‎ March24, 1992 St, ‎Petersburgh‎, ‎Russia November1995 ‎Japan March 1997 ‎Tokaimura‎, ‎Japan September 20, 1999 ‎Tokaimura‎, ‎Japan ‎●War disasters The Boitz, (German massive bombing), Caused the deaths of an estimated42,000 civilians in major British cities.‎ Dresden‎ firebomb attacks, between 35,000 and 135,000 civilians killed in few days, by ‎ United Kingdom‎ and United States massive bombing in Dresden‎, ‎Germany (between February 13 and February 15, 1945).‎ Tokyo‎ firebomb attacks by USA, is estimated to have killed 83,000 civilians.‎ Nagasaki‎ and Hiroshima nuclear bombing by USA in ‎Japan Vietnam‎ agent orange herbicide sprayed on few millions Vietnam civilians and US troops, by USA during the Vietnam War between 1961.‎ ‎●Air disasters ‎ Hydravion disaster Rio de Janeiro 3 December 1928‎ Airship R101 disaster (October 5, 1930)‎ Hindenburg disaster (May 6, 1937)‎ Munich‎ air disaster (February 6, 1958)‎ Staines‎ air disaster (July 18, 1972)‎ Ermenonville air disaster north of Paris (March 3, 1974)‎ Tenerife‎ disaster collision between KLM and Panam Boeing ‎747’‎s(March 27, 1977)‎ Mont Erebus disaster in Antarctica (November 28, 1979)‎ Challenger space shuttle explosion (January 28, 1986)‎ Ramstein airshow disaster (August 28, 1988)‎ Lockerbie disaster (December 21, 1988)‎ Kegworth air disaster (January 8, 1989)‎ Ukraine‎ airshow disaster (July 27, 2002)‎ Space Shuttle Columbia disaster (February 1, 2003)‎ Shootdown of Boeing 747 Korean Air Flight 7(September 1, 1983)‎ Japan Airlines Fight123 (August 12, 1985)‎ ‎●Railroad disasters ‎ Armagh rail disaster (June 12, 1889)‎ ‎●Ship and Ferry disasters Titanic sinking (April 15, 1912)‎ KDF Ship Wilhelm Gustloff(January 30, 1945)‎ Cap Arcona Sinking (May 3, 1945)‎ SS Andrea Doria sinking July 26, 1956‎ Herald of Free Enterprise (March 6, 1987)‎ M/S Estonia sinking (September 28, 1994)‎ ‎●Fire disasters Great Fire of London, London‎, ‎England (September 2-September 5, 1666)‎ Great Chicago Fire, Chicago‎, ‎Illinois (October 8, 1871)‎ Peshtigo Fire, Peshtigo‎, ‎Wisconsin (Pctober8, 1871)‎ II. Tangshan earthquake ‎ The Tangshan earthquake(唐山大地震) of July 28 ,1976 is one of the largest earthquakes to hit the modern world in terms of the loss of life. The epicenter of the earthquake was near the industrial city of Tangshan in Hebei, China, Which housed around one million inhabitants.‎ ‎ According to official figures, the earthquake 242,419 people dead, though some sources estimate it at as many as three times that number. A further 164,581 people were recorded as being severely injured.‎ Many buildings were flattened into rubble when the earthquake hit.‎ ‎ The earthquake hit at 3:‎52 in the morning, lasting for around 15 seconds. Many sources list it as 8.2 on the Richter scale, but Chinese Government’s official sources state 7.8 or 7.6. It was followed by a major 7.1 magnitude aftershock some 15 hours later, increasing the death toll.‎ Supplementary notes to Unit 5‎ ‎1. erupt vi.‎ ‎① to emerge violently from restraint or limits; explode; 突然发生,爆发 Violence erupted after the football match. (喻)足球赛后发生了暴力行为.‎ ‎②to become violently active(火山) 喷出,喷发 The volcano erupted after years of dormancy. 那座火山在沉睡多年后剧烈活动起来.‎ ‎2. consider vt; vi ‎①to think carefully about .考虑;思考 I am considering going abroad. 我正在考虑出国。‎ Let me consider .让我考虑一下。‎ ‎② to think or deem to be; regard as 认为；以为 I consider it a great honor. 我认为这是极大的荣幸。‎ We consider that the driver is not to blame. 我们认为这不是司机的过错。‎ ‎<注意>consider 在当“认为”讲时，常与as 或to be 连用, to be 可省略。‎ We consider him /as (to be ) our best friend .我们把他作为我们最好的朋友。‎ ‎3. imagine ‎ ‎①vt. to form a mental picture or image of 想象 You can imagine the situation there.你可以想象那里的情况。‎ I can’t imagine marrying such a girl. 我不敢想象跟这样一个女孩子结婚会是怎样的。‎ ‎②vt. to think ; conjecture 想，设想 I can imagine living in America. 我可以假想一下生活在美国的情况。‎ I imagine you’re right. 我猜你是对的。‎ ‎<联想>‎ imagine…to be…以为……是……‎ Don’t imagine yourself to be always correct. 不要以为自己总是对。‎ She imagines herself to be a true artist. 她幻想自己成一个真正的艺术家。‎ ‎<注意>imagine 后跟动词要用动名词形式，而不能用不定式。‎ ‎4. predict: to state, tell about, or make known in advance(常与that 连用)预言；预测；预示 She predicted that he would marry a doctor. 她预言他将娶一位医生。‎ ‎5.excite vt.‎ ‎①to stir to activity .使激动；使兴奋 The news excited everybody .消息鼓舞了每个人。‎ The story about a hero excited the little boys very much.‎ 一个英雄的故事使小男孩们兴奋不已 ‎② to call forth(a reaction or emotion, for example)激励；激发；引起 The King’s cruelty excited a rising of the people. 国王的残暴引起了人民的反抗。‎ The court case has excited a lot of public interest. 这案件引起了公众的广泛兴趣。‎ ‎6. experience n.; v.‎ ‎1) n.‎ ‎①［U］knowledge or skill 经验 Experience is their preparation for giving advice. 经验为她们进行咨询作了准备。‎ ‎②［C］an event or a series of events participated in or lived through. 经历，阅历 Please tell us your experiences in America. 请你告诉我们你在美洲的经历。‎ ‎2) v. to participate in personally; undergo 体验；感受 Some of the students had experienced what hardships meant before they entered the university.‎ 有些大学生在进入大学之前体验过艰苦的生活。‎ ‎7. reason n . ‎ ‎1) n. the basis or motive for an action ,a decision , or a conviction 原因；理由；动机 The reason why she was ill was that she had eaten had meat.她生病的原因是她吃了变质的肉。‎ The reason for this is that this plane is also a bicycle. 其原因是，这架飞机又是一辆自行车。‎ ‎2）n. the capacity for logical, rational, and analytic thought; intelligence 理性；理智；道理，判断力 There’s a great deal of reason in his advice. 他的忠告极有道理。‎ There are reasons for this great interest in the ideas, feelings, and actions of youth.‎ 对年青人的思想、感情和行动发生这样巨大的兴趣，自有它的道理。‎ ‎<辨析> reason 与 cause ‎ ‎① cause 指造成某一事实或现象的直接原因，后接of sth/ doing sth.‎ ‎②reason 指做某一件事或某事发生的原因、理由，后接for sth./ doing sth.。如：‎ the reason for being late 迟到的原因 The cause of the fire is unknown. 火灾的起因还不清楚。‎ The cause of the accident is that she was driving too fast. 事故的起因是她开的太快了。‎ The reason why she was late was that she didn’t get up on time.‎ 她迟到的原因是她没能按时起床。‎ What is the reason for your long silence? 什么原因使你沉默很久？‎ ‎8. fail v.‎ ‎① be unsuccessful 没有能够 （做成……）‎ I failed to persuade him. =I failed in persuading him .我没能说服他。‎ He failed to understand what I meant. =He failed in understanding what I meant.‎ 他没能明白我的意思。‎ He failed (in) physics. =He failed to pass the physics exam.他物理有及格。‎ ‎② to decline ,as in strength or effectiveness 衰退；缺乏 His memory /eyesight /health is failing/is beginning to fail.‎ 他的记忆力/视力/健康状况正在衰退。‎ She has been failing in health for the last two months. 最近两个月她身体越来越差。‎ The water and food supply has failed. 水和粮食的供应不足。‎ ‎9. precious adj.‎ ‎① highly esteemed ;cherished 珍贵的 precious words 珍贵的话 ‎②of high cost or worth 宝贵的 precious stones 宝石 ‎③ dear; beloved.珍爱的 My precious! 我的宝贝儿！‎ ‎10. vary vi .vt . to give variety to 改变；变化 ‎ The weather varies from day to day .天气一天天变化。‎ Leaves vary with the seasons. 叶子随着四季的变化而改变。‎ ‎<联想>‎ variety n. 变化；多样性 various adj .各式各样的；各种不同的 ‎11. unique adj.‎ ‎1) being the only one of its kind 唯一的，独一无二的 The stamp is unique; all others like it have been lost or destroyed.‎ 这张邮票是仅存的一张，其他的同式样的都已经遗失或被毁。‎ ‎2) often considered nonstandard unusual 独特的；少见的 I am in a rather unique position as my job is unique form anyone else’s.‎ 我的情况的特殊，因为我的工作与众不同。‎ That building is unique because all the others like it were destroyed.‎ 那座建筑很独特，因为所有像它那样的其他建筑都毁坏了。‎ ‎12. guarantee n. ; v ‎1) n.保证书 The new television had a guarantee with it. 这台新电视机有保修单。‎ ‎2）vt.‎ ‎① to assume responsibility for the debt, default, or miscarriage of 担保；保证 They guarantee the watch for three years. 他们保证手表可用十年。‎ ‎②to promise(与to连用)允诺 Many shopkeepers guarantee satisfaction to customers. ‎ 许多店主对顾客许诺一定让他们满意。‎ ‎13. still adj . n. adv.‎ ‎1) adj. Not moving or in motion.不动的；停滞的；无风的 The sea was calm and still. 大海风平浪静。‎ Keep still while I comb your hair. 我给你梳头时，不要动。‎ ‎2）n. silence; quiet 寂静；安静 the still of the night .夜晚的寂静 ‎3）adv. up to or at the time indicated; yet 仍，仍然，还 He came yesterday and he is still here. 他昨天来的，现仍在此。‎ My father still remembers his first day at school. 我的父亲仍记得他上学的第一天。‎ ‎<辨析>still , quiet与 silent ‎ still的意思是没有运动或骚扰，常表示静止或平静；‎ quiet 的意思是没有噪音、混乱、骚乱或烦扰；‎ silent 指没有声音或噪音，并意味着一种深深的宁静。‎ That child can’t deep still for a moment. 那个孩子一会儿也不能安静。‎ Your brother needs peace and quiet because he’s working.‎ 你的弟弟需要安宁和平静，因为他在工作。‎ Everyone was silent as the president announced the winner of the competition.‎ ‎14. pick up ‎1)to take up (something)by hand 拿起；用手拿起（某物）‎ Why didn’t you pick up that pencil which lay on the floor?‎ 你为什么不把地板上的那枝铅笔拾起来呢？‎ ‎2) to collect or gather收集或聚集 Pick up the broken pieces of glass, please. 请拾起玻璃碎片。‎ ‎3) to tidy up 整理，收拾 Let’s pick up the living room. 我们收拾一下卧室吧 ‎4)（用车）接……‎ I’ll pick you up at 7tomorrow.明天7点我去接你。‎ ‎5)to acquire(knowledge) by learning or experience:学得；通过学习或经因获得（知识）‎ ‎6)(用车)接（人或物）；（车辆）中途搭载（人）‎ The train stopped to pick up some passengers. 火车停下来搭乘客。‎ ‎7)接收（信号，节目等）‎ We were able to pick up the BBC World Service.我们能收到英国广播公司的国际广播节目。‎ ‎15. reach vt.‎; vi.‎ 1) to stretch out or put forth(a body part );extend (常与out ,for连用)伸手 The snake charmer reached out gingerly to touch the snake in his basket.‎ 耍蛇人小心翼翼地伸手去摸他筐子里的那条蛇。‎ ‎2) to stretch out or put forth (a body part );extend 延伸；伸展 The ladder won’t reach the window .梯子够不到窗户。‎ ‎3) to arrive at; attain到达 They reached London. 他们到达了伦敦。‎ The heat of summer has reached its climax.已经是夏季最热的天气了。‎ The two sides were unable to reach an agreement. 双方未能取得一致意见。‎ ‎16.put down ‎ 1) to write down. 写下来 Put it down in your diary. 请记在你的记事本里。‎ ‎2)to bring to an end; repress结束；抑制 They put down a rebellion. 他们镇压了一起暴乱。‎ ‎3)to attribute:归因于……‎ Let’s put this disaster down to experience. 让我们把这次难归因于经验不足。‎ Supplementary materials:‎ ‎1. China Earthquake Leaves 5,000 Homeless Beijing‎: An earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale left 5,000 people homeless, killed at least one person and injured 39 others in southwest China, on Thursday, with more accidents expected.‎ By late Thursday, 4,900 people were declared homeless after the quake destroyed their homes in a mountainous area lying on the border between Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. The dawn quake left one dead and 39 injured, destroyed 268 houses and damaged 1,132 other buildings so seriously that they were considered uninhabitable. Another 2,400 houses suffered les serious damage. The epicenter (震中) was near the scenic Lugu Lake, a tourist site, where the local school was severely damaged. Preliminary (最初的)estimates put economic losses at 180 million yuan (22 million dollars). Governments in Yanyuan and neighboring Yunnan county of Ninglang joined forces in the rescue efforts and tents, clothes and medicine are badly in need for the earthquake victims.The mountainous terrain, heavy rain and several after shocks all prevented rescue efforts on Thursday. The rain could cause more badly damaged homes to fall down. More dead and injured are expected “as rescuers have yet to reach many faraway areas”. It is very hard for rescue workers because most houses are scatter, around the mountains, which are inhabited by Yi and other ethnic minority group(少数民族). The quake hit the area at 5:‎00 a. m Beijing time (2,110 Wednesday GMT). Earthquakes regularly affect the two countries, with ‎ two quakes measuring 5.0 at 6.2 on the Richter scale killing at least three people and injuring more than 1,500 Ninglang in November 1998. The area is about 100 kilometers from the historic Yunnan town of Lijiang which was struck in 1996 by an earthquake that killed more than 250 people and injured 14.000.‎ ‎2. Paracutin volcano Paracutin was born in Mexico in February 1943. At the end of one week Paracutin was 500 feet high, and it is now over 9,000 feet high. Today Paracutin is asleep.‎ What is Paracutin? It was the first volcano(火山) in the world which was seen from its birth right and his wife set out to work in their cornfields from the Mexican village of Paracutin. They were surprised to find the earth warm under their feet, suddenly they heard noises deep in the earth and a small hole appeared in heard noises deep in the earth and a small hole appeared in their field. In the afternoon there was a sudden loud noise and stones were thrown high in the air. The peasants ran from the field and turned to watch. They saw the birth of a volcano.‎ Large quantities stone and lava(岩浆) broke out and a little hill began to form. By evening this hill was 100 feet high and hot ashes were falling on the village. At night the strong light of the hot lava lit up the countryside. The trees near the village were killed and the villagers had to leave their houses.‎ When the village was destroyed, its name was given to the volcano. The news quickly reached Mexio‎ ‎City, far to the east. Many people came to watch the scene. The volcano grew and grew for ten years and hundreds of square miles of forest were destroyed. Then Paracutin went to sleep.‎ ‎3. Sandstorms Strike as 2001 Dawns Sandstorms hit northwestern China’s Gansu Province and North China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region(内蒙古自治区) on the first day of the new century . According to Sun Landong, a meteorologist from the Lanzhou Meteorology Absematory, visibility (能见度) was less than 100 meters in Minqin, a Gansu county near Inner Mongolia, because of sand.When visibility drops to less than I kilometer, it is called a sandstorm. The sandstorm in Minqin blew up dust in neighboring towns, such as Baiyin, Wuwei, Jinchang and Lanzhou, the capital city of Gansu‎ ‎Province. Dust—laden winds also swept into Beijing. Brought by northwester lies blowing at more than 20 meters per second, dust first reached the capital’s suburbs at ‎7 a.m, downtown areas at ‎9 a.m. The winds, which died down during the night, brought the temperature down to as low as ‎8℃‎ below zero and many flights put off their planned time from the city’s airport.‎ It is quite rare for sandstorms, which are frequent between March and June, to happen in winter, when the earth is frozen. The sandstorms in Gansu and Inner Mongolia do not necessarily mean there will be more of them in the spring than last year, when they were serious, but Beijing is taking it very seriously. It is reported that Beijing will spend 6 Billion yuan (US 725 million) in preventing sandstorms in the capital and has already set up a special tam to make sure what causes them.‎ ‎4. EARTH WEEK-A DLARY OF THE PLANET Enduring Storms ‎ Several more rounds of severe storms, tornadoes and flash flooding struck many parts of American Midwest and Northeast as had weather continued across the US for a second month. ‎ Monsoon Storms ‎ A south-west monsoon(季风) has caused havoc(灾害) in parts of Sri Lanka. Government meteorologists said that unexpected monsoon winds blew directly across the country from the Southern Hemisphere at about ‎100km/h, producing several rounds of stormy weather. Nearly 250 houses in the capital Colombo were damaged.‎ Mt.‎‎ ‎Etna‎ Erupts ‎ Sicily’s Mount Etna volcano erupted shortly after midnight on July 1, shooting “bombs” of lava(岩浆) nearly 1.5 meters in diameter on the eastern side of the mountain. The 30—minute eruption could be seen for several miles, but did not threaten any nearby villages.‎ Hurricane ‎ Hurricane bias lost strength as it moved over cooler waters in the Pacific Ocean to the west of Mexico. Bias formed off southwest Mexico during the previous week but squalls on the outer fringes of the storm lashed(猛击) western Michoacan State, killing four people when their wood and cardboard home collapsed ( 倒塌)。‎ Monkey Repellent ‎ After years of unsuccessful attempts to keep crop eating monkeys out of Japanese fields , a Tokyo research team believes that it may have finally found a way to prevent the damage caused by the monkeys. Animal raids (突然袭击) on crops were successfully prevented by shooting chilli (辣椒) powder into the air, irritating (刺激) the eyes and noses of monkeys that passed in front of carefully placed warning sensors. “We’ve tried all kinds of preventive measures, but the monkeys are smart enough to outwit the tricks,” said Toshiaki Wada Director of the Tokyo Forestry Experiment Station IN Western Tokyo.‎ ‎5. TRAPPED BY THE FLOOD ‎“It’s not looking too good, darling. I think you’d better pack a few things and go to your mother’s place. And you’d better take Rosie and Monty with you.”‎ Putting down the phone, Sara sighed. Tomorrow was her husband Tony’s birthday .She had planned to cook him a nice meal and then surprise him with the new mountain bike she’d bought for him .If he went to her mother’s house, Tony wouldn’t get his present for days. ‎ However, her mother’s house was the best place to be right now. Being on higher land, it would be safe from the floods. It had been raining heavily for almost two weeks and the river near Sara and Tony’s house was rising higher and higher all the time. Tony and others from the village had spent the last two days putting sandbags along the side of the river to stop it overflowing. Now they feared that their hard work had been useless and soon the whole valley would flood. ‎ Sara dressed baby James in warm clothes and collected the things she would need for him over the next few days. She put the lead on the dog and went in search of Mont, the cat. It took her a long time, but eventually she found him safe and warm under the covers on her bed. She placed him in his cat basket and took him into the kitchen where James and the dog, Rosie,‎ ‎ waited. Just as she was reaching for the car keys, Sara heard a sound like the noise bath water makes when you pull out the plug. She looked at the back door. Water was flowing in underneath. Turning around she saw dirty brown water fountaining out of the drain and filling the sink. Quickly she put James into his backpack and pulled it onto her back. Calling to Rosie, she picked up the cat basket and ran to the front of the house and out into the front garden.‎ The water already up to her knees. Rosie was swimming beside her. Knowing the water would soon be much deeper; Sara ran to the car and opened the doors. She threw the cat basket onto the roof of the car and pushed Rosie up beside it. Using the car seat as a step she climbed first onto the front of the car and then onto the roof. James, safely attached to her back, made no sound at all. Sara stared down at the water, which was rushing past the car. It was already half way up the doors, and still rising.‎ ‎6. ‎Mount‎ ‎Kilauea Kilauea‎ is unique among the world’s volcanoes in that it’s not only one of the most active volcanoes in the world, but it puts out, probably, the highest volume per year of lava of any volcano on the planet. On average, over a thousand gallons of lava come streaming, gushing or oozing out of Kilauea every second, of every day of the year. Kilauea rises just over 4 thousand feet above sea level—that’s taller than four Eiffel towers stacked on top of each other—but, there’s a lot more depth to Kilauea than meets the eye. The impressive thing about Kilauea is what we don’t see of it, and there’s about another 18,000 feet of this volcano that goes down below sea level to the ocean floor. So it’s really among one of the largest volcanoes in world as well. ‎ Kilauea‎ volcano is also one of the most powerful. With temperatures hot enough to melt rock at over 1,500 degrees, Kilauea has the power to do some pretty serious damage. It’s very destructive to things that already exist on the island‎ of ‎Hawaii, such as trees, wildlife, buildings, anything in the path of this lava will be completely destroyed. Partly because it gets run over by the lava. But most importantly because it’s so hot that is sets everything in its path on fire. ‎ But amazingly, out of kilauea’s destruction comes creation. What looks like a process of destruction to us as human beings is really the process of island building and growth. And while the rich volcanic soil generates new plant life, the lava oozing into the Pacific also continues to build the island. ‎ Over the last two decades Kilauea has exploded with 55 major eruptions. Volcanologist Mick Kalber said: “The high found eruptions of Kilauea were some of the most amazing things I’ve seen in my life. Fountains go up in the air a thousand, fifteen hundred feet even more. These booms are so loud and the tremendous explosions going up in the air are just so spectacular it takes your breath away.” The lava released in a major eruption creates earning flows that stretch for miles. “Standing close to a river of lava is really unparalleled in any experience I’ve ever had. It’s this feeling of being alive. Of being close to the earth itself, of feeling the life energy of the planet.” Kalber said.‎ Kilauea is a natural wonder’ cause it’s a place where you can see active eruption taking place, new land being formed. And you can hear actually. You can hear the flows as they’re coming up ‎ and the surface cools, it crackles. You can actually approach this volcano, and watch its grandeur and its beauty without getting killed. And that’s, that’s unusual. ‎ For helping to build paradise, Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes blasts onto our list at number 10.‎ ‎7. ‎Mount Vesuvius In the afternoon of August 24 AD 79 Mount Vesuvius on the island‎ of ‎Sicily erupted sending out a huge cloud of glowing ash and barraging the surrounding country with showers of rock. For 28 hours the volcano continued to pour out rock and ash until the city of Pompeii and its unfortunate inhabitants was buried under 7 meters of rock and ash. Two thousand people died in the catastrophe. ‎ The town of Pompeii lay hidden and forgotten until 1631 when Vesuvius erupted again and workers discovered some Roman coins. Over the courser of the next 200 years or so various artifacts were dug up and looted. The site was cleared and slowly more and more was uncovered. Eventually the importance of the discoveries was realized and efforts were made to preserve the site. Today it is possible to visit Pompeii and walk down the streets and still see the figures in the same positions, as they were when the ash enveloped them over 1900 years ago.‎