Issue 171 Biggest wave ever

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1 Issue 171 Biggest wave ever Basic Vocabulary: Bad weather. Choose the correct option a) flood b) hurricane c) heat wave a) tornado b) thunderstorm c) flood a) hurricane b) cold spell c) hailstorm a) snowstorm b) flood c) thunderstorm a) hailstorm b) flood c) wave a) heat wave b) snowstorm c) wave a) hailstorm b) cold spell c) tornado a) wave b) flood c) hurricane a) snowstorm b) thunderstorm c) hailstorm [See answers below]

2 Read the news story. Biggest wave ever British surfer Andrew Cotton has tried to break a world record for surfing big waves. The 34-year-old man surfed a 24.3-metre (79.7-foot) wave on a beach in Portugal. The wave followed storm Brigid that hit the western coast of Europe in January. Cotton was able to surf the wave for about 10 seconds before he fell. "It was a massive wave and I knew it could be a world record," Cotton told Sky News. Cotton travels around the world looking for giant waves. "For me it's a dream, and I'm lucky I have an understanding wife and family," he said. "Surfing is exciting because you never know when there's going to be a bigger wave," he added. Judges from the Billabong XXL surfing competition will now look at the video of the event and decide if it really was a record-breaking wave. The decision will be announced in March. From Tuesday, 4 February 2014 Vocabulary world record (n) best in the world of its type wave (n) line of high water that moves over the sea hit (v) to arrive suddenly, with a lot of force follow (v) to come after something storm (n) bad weather, usually with a lot of rain, wind, thunder and lightning coast (n) land next to the sea knew (v) to understand something clearly (past=knew) giant (adj) very big massive (adj) very big dream (n) ambition understanding (adj) when a person understands and accepts another person's actions add (v) to also say judge (n) person who decides who the winner is competition (n) when different people compete and try to win event (n) situation, something that happens announce (v) to say publicly Answers: 1 b, 2 a, 3 c, 4 a, 5 c, 6 a, 7 b, 8 b, 9 b

3 Issue 171 Biggest wave ever Intermediate Grammar: Comparatives and superlatives. Choose the correct option. 1. The waves are on the Atlantic coast than on the Mediterranean coast. a) much bigger b) biggest c) as big 2. Cima di Pape is mountain I have climbed. a) tallest b) the tallest c) taller 3. The Mariana Trench is part of the Pacific Ocean. a) the deeper b) more deep c) the deepest 4. In 2013 we had winter this century. a) the coldest b) most cold c) colder 5. Today the wind is as yesterday. a) stronger b) much stronger c) as strong 6. The weather last week was than this week. a) bad b) worse c) the worst 7. They have temperatures in Sweden than here. a) as extreme b) most extreme c) more extreme 8. Last year there was snow in the mountains as this year. a) as much b) more c) the most [See answers below]

4 Read the news story. Biggest wave ever British surfer Andrew Cotton has tried to break his own world record for surfing big waves. The 34-year-old man rode a 24.3-metre (79.7-foot) wave on a beach in Portugal. The wave followed storm Brigid that hit the western coast of Europe in January. Andrew held his position for about 10 seconds before the wave consumed him. "It was massive, and I knew it was potentially a record-breaking wave," Cotton told Sky News. Cotton travels around the world looking for waves like the one he caught on Sunday. For me it's a dream to ride these waves, and I'm lucky I've got an understanding wife and family," he added. "The really exciting thing about surfing is that you never know when there's going to be a bigger wave it's not like mountain climbing where you can climb the highest mountain." Judges from the Billabong XXL surfing competition will now examine the video footage of the event and decide if it really was a record-breaking wave. The outcome will be announced in March. From Tuesday, 4 February 2014 Vocabulary break a record (v) ride a wave (v) hold a position (v) consume (v) massive (adj) potentially (adv) add (v) judge (n) examine (v) footage (n) outcome (n) to create a new record to surf to stay in one position (to stay on the surfboard) to completely cover something and make it disappear very big possibly to also say person who decides who the winner is to look carefully a filmed sequence result Answers: 1 a 2 b, 3 c, 4 a, 5 c, 6 b, 7 c, 8 a

5 Issue 170 Biggest wave ever Advanced Vocabulary: Winning and losing. 1. Murray Andujar 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. a) lost b) beat c) won 2. If we the match, we are out of the league. a) beat b) lose c) defeat 3. I hope Williams the Dubai Championships final. a) beats b) defeats c) wins 4. Did William the Conqueror King Harold in 1066? a) defeat b) win c) lose 5. The education reform bill was in Parliament. a) won b) lost c) defeated 6. They hope to promotion to the premiere league. a) defeat b) win c) beat 7. The conservative party will probably the next elections. a) defeat b) beat c) win 8. Stanley is hoping to his personal best time of 2 hours 23 minutes. a) beat b) win c) defeat [See answers below]

6 Read the news story. Biggest wave ever British surfer Andrew Cotton has tried to break his own world record by riding what could be the biggest ever wave. The wave, which followed a storm in Nazare, Portugal, is estimated to have reached 24.3 metres (79.7 feet) larger than the 23.7-metre (77.8-foot) record set by Cotton three months ago. The 34-year-old was towed into position by a jet ski driven by US surfer Garrett McNamara after Atlantic storm Brigid hit the west coast of Europe. He held his position for about 10 seconds before the wave consumed him. "It was massive that morning, and I knew it was potentially a record-breaking wave," Cotton told Sky News. Cotton travels the world in search of waves like the one he caught on Sunday. "It's a dream to ride these waves for me, and I'm lucky I've got an understanding wife and family," he added. "The really exciting thing about surfing is that you never know when there's going to be a bigger wave it's not like mountain climbing where you can climb the highest mountain." Video of the record attempt was shot by Jose Pedro Gomes as an entry in the Ride of the Year category of the 2014 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards surfing competition. A definitive ruling on whether the feat set a new world record will be made by the Billabong XXL judges in March. From Tuesday, 4 February 2014 Vocabulary ride a wave (v) estimate (v) tow (v) jet ski (adj) consume (v) massive (adj) in search of (phrase) shoot (v) entry (n) ruling (n) feat (n) to surf to calculate to pull behind small vehicle that moves on water to completely cover something and make it disappear very big looking for to film or record a picture, video, movie (past=shot) something that is included in a competition decision by judges difficult action Answers: 1 b, 2 b, 3 c, 4 a, 5 c, 6 b, 7 c, 8 a

7 What do you think? Think about your answers to the following questions. What are the risks of surfing massive waves? What are the best places for surfing in your country? How big do the waves get there? Is the weather getting more extreme in your country? Do you think climate change is a reality? What is the government of your country doing to prevent climate change?

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NEWS ENGLISH LESSONS.com Surfer breaks record for biggest wave MANY FLASH AND ONLINE ACTIVITIES FOR THIS LESSON, PLUS A LISTENING, AT: http://www.newsenglishlessons.com/1205/120513-surfing.html IN THIS