9 grade. Reading "Weather And Nanural Disasters"

Read texts and match with the names of natural disasters

Read the text and answer the questions

7) What caused the giant sea waves to form?

The 2004 Tsunami: One of the Deadliest Natural Disasters in History

On the morning of December 26, 2004, many people in Southeast Asia were enjoying a normal day. Some were walking along the beach, some were having breakfast, and tourists were just waking up in their hotels. But under the Indian Ocean, something terrifying was happening.

A powerful earthquake struck off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. It measured 9.1 on the Richter scale, making it one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded. The earthquake lasted around 10 minutes, and it caused the ocean floor to move suddenly and violently. This sudden shift pushed a huge amount of water upwards, creating a tsunami.

The tsunami spread across the Indian Ocean at the speed of a jet plane, reaching up to 800 kilometres per hour. In less than two hours, gigantic waves hit the shores of Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, and even Somalia on the coast of Africa, thousands of kilometres away. In many places, people had no warning. The sea suddenly pulled back, exposing the ocean floor — a strange and unusual sight. Some people walked out to look, not realising that a huge wall of water was about to come crashing down.

The waves were as high as 30 meters (100 feet) in some areas. They swept through towns, villages, and resorts, destroying everything in their path. Entire communities were wiped out in seconds. Buildings collapsed, cars floated away, and people were carried off by the rushing water. Families were separated, and many people lost loved ones.

More than 230,000 people died across 14 countries, and around 1.7 million people lost their homes. Indonesia was the hardest-hit country, especially the region of Aceh, where whole neighbourhoods were destroyed. In Thailand, the popular tourist area of Phuket was badly damaged. Many tourists from Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world were also affected.

After the disaster, countries from all over the world sent help. Rescue workers, medical teams, and supplies arrived in the region. Many people volunteered to help clean up, rebuild homes, and care for survivors. A large amount of money was donated for emergency aid and future protection.

The tragedy showed that early warning systems were not in place in the Indian Ocean at that time. Since then, scientists and governments have worked together to build tsunami warning systems that can alert people quickly in case something similar happens again.

Today, memorials and museums stand in places like Indonesia and Thailand to remember the people who were lost. Survivors often share their stories to help others understand the power of nature and the importance of being prepared.

The 2004 tsunami was a heartbreaking disaster that changed millions of lives. It reminded the world how quickly everything can change — and how important it is to support one another in times of crisis.

Read the text and answer the questions

8) Why were so many people caught by surprise?

The 2004 Tsunami: One of the Deadliest Natural Disasters in History

On the morning of December 26, 2004, many people in Southeast Asia were enjoying a normal day. Some were walking along the beach, some were having breakfast, and tourists were just waking up in their hotels. But under the Indian Ocean, something terrifying was happening.

A powerful earthquake struck off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. It measured 9.1 on the Richter scale, making it one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded. The earthquake lasted around 10 minutes, and it caused the ocean floor to move suddenly and violently. This sudden shift pushed a huge amount of water upwards, creating a tsunami.

The tsunami spread across the Indian Ocean at the speed of a jet plane, reaching up to 800 kilometres per hour. In less than two hours, gigantic waves hit the shores of Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, and even Somalia on the coast of Africa, thousands of kilometres away. In many places, people had no warning. The sea suddenly pulled back, exposing the ocean floor — a strange and unusual sight. Some people walked out to look, not realising that a huge wall of water was about to come crashing down.

The waves were as high as 30 meters (100 feet) in some areas. They swept through towns, villages, and resorts, destroying everything in their path. Entire communities were wiped out in seconds. Buildings collapsed, cars floated away, and people were carried off by the rushing water. Families were separated, and many people lost loved ones.

More than 230,000 people died across 14 countries, and around 1.7 million people lost their homes. Indonesia was the hardest-hit country, especially the region of Aceh, where whole neighbourhoods were destroyed. In Thailand, the popular tourist area of Phuket was badly damaged. Many tourists from Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world were also affected.

After the disaster, countries from all over the world sent help. Rescue workers, medical teams, and supplies arrived in the region. Many people volunteered to help clean up, rebuild homes, and care for survivors. A large amount of money was donated for emergency aid and future protection.

The tragedy showed that early warning systems were not in place in the Indian Ocean at that time. Since then, scientists and governments have worked together to build tsunami warning systems that can alert people quickly in case something similar happens again.

Today, memorials and museums stand in places like Indonesia and Thailand to remember the people who were lost. Survivors often share their stories to help others understand the power of nature and the importance of being prepared.

The 2004 tsunami was a heartbreaking disaster that changed millions of lives. It reminded the world how quickly everything can change — and how important it is to support one another in times of crisis.