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Probearbeit 9b

Severe (heftig) Weather and Its Consequences in Haiti

Haiti is a Caribbean country that lies on the island of Hispaniola. In the last months and years, the country has experienced several severe weather events that have made life even more difficult for the population. Heavy rainstorms, tropical storms and hurricanes have caused flooding and serious damage in many parts of the country.

One of the most dangerous problems has been extreme rainfall. After days of nonstop rain, rivers overflowed and flooded towns and villages. Many houses were damaged or completely destroyed, especially in poorer areas where buildings are not very strong. Families lost their homes, their furniture and sometimes all their belongings. Roads were flooded or blocked by mud and rocks, which made it hard for rescue teams to reach the affected areas.

The storms also caused serious problems for infrastructure. Hospitals and health centres were damaged or could not be used because there was no electricity or clean water. Schools had to close for several days or even weeks. In some regions, people did not have access to safe drinking water, which increased the risk of diseases.

Many people had to leave their homes and stay in temporary shelters, such as schools or community centers. Living conditions there were often difficult. There was not enough space, food or medical care for everyone. Children and elderly people were especially affected by the situation.

Experts explain that Haiti is particularly vulnerable (anfällig) to extreme weather. The country lies in the hurricane belt, which means that strong storms often pass nearby. In addition, deforestation (Abholzung) and poverty make the effects of storms worse. Without trees, the soil (Erde) cannot hold water, which leads to floods and landslides (Erdrutsche). Because many people are poor, they cannot afford safe houses or insurance.

Climate change is another important factor. Scientists believe that rising sea temperatures make storms stronger and more unpredictable (unvorhersehbar). As a result, countries like Haiti suffer (leiden) more often from natural disasters. International organisations and local groups are trying to help, but rebuilding the country after every storm is a huge challenge.

Despite these difficulties, many Haitians continue to support each other and hope for a safer future. They know that long-term solutions, such as better infrastructure, environmental protection and international support, are necessary to reduce the effects of future weather events.

1

Reading: Tick the correct answer.

1. Where is Haiti located?

a) On a group of small islands in the Pacific
b) On the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean
c) In South America
d) In Central Africa

2. What was one main cause of the flooding?

a) Earthquakes
b) Long periods of extreme heat
c) Extreme rainfall
d) Volcanic eruptions

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Probearbeit 9b

3. Which buildings were especially affected?

a) Shopping centres

b) Airports

c) Hospitals and schools

d) Hotels

4. Where did many people stay after leaving their homes?

a) In hotels

b) With tourists

c) In temporary shelters like schools

d) On the streets only

5. Who was especially affected by the situation?

a) Business owners

b) Children and elderly people

c) Tourists

d) Farmers only

6. Why is Haiti particularly vulnerable to storms?

a) Because it is very flat

b) Because it lies in the hurricane belt

c) Because it has many rivers

d) Because it has cold

2

Reading: Answer in full sentences.

1. Describe two problems after the heavy rainstorms.

2. Explain how the storms affected infrastructure in Haiti.

3. What role does climate change play according to experts?

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Probearbeit 9b

3

Fill the gaps with vocabulary that fit.

During my summer holidays, I flew to the island Barbados. I was scared , but after I arrived in Barbados I was really happy.

The island is really famous for the Rihanna, because she was born there. She is really beautiful, so many people call her a .

Nature and culture on the island are . There are a lot of different types of animals and plants as well as highlights such as volcanoes.

During my time on Barbados, I stayed in a hotel. I booked the trip previously, but there were many , which I didn’t see coming, for example for drinks or special restaurants which were not included in the price. On the one hand, that really annoyed me. , I didn’t really care because the prices weren’t that high.

4

Relative pronouns: Fill in who or which. If you don’t need a relative pronoun (contact clause), make a cross.

1. Jamaica is an island is famous for its culture.
2. The people live there are friendly.
3. This is the project the government started last year.
4. I met a student wants to work in environmental protection.
5. The farms we visited were damaged by storms.
6. Solar panels are technology helps save energy.
7. She knows a boy works in tourism.
8. The tourists come to the Caribbean often go diving.
9. The island they stayed on is famous for steelpans.
10. My parents went on a cruise ship had 15 floors.

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Probearbeit 9b

5

Make one sentence out of two. Form a relative clause with the second sentence. The relative clause should be about the underlined noun in the first sentence.

Jamaica is a Caribbean island. It is affected by climate change.

The farmers grow crops. They suffer from extreme weather.

I spoke to a girl in school. She takes part in an environmental project.

This is the village. My best friend lives in it.

6

Fill in the past progressive or simple past. Use the verbs in brackets.

1. While the students (work) on the project, the teacher was helping them.

2. We (travel) through Jamaica when the hurricane warning (start).

3. He (not / listen) while the expert (explain) climate change.

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Probearbeit 9b

4. What you (do) while we (talk) to each other on the phone yesterday?

5. They (discuss) school subjects all evening.

6. While we (browse) through the internet, our WiFi (stop) working suddenly.

7

Mediation: You and your best friend are talking to an exchange student about respectful behavior. Your best friend (B) only speaks German, the exchange student (E) only speaks English. Mediate the things both people say so they understand each other.

E: I think respect is very important at school. Students should listen to each other and not interrupt when someone is speaking.

You: _______________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

B: Das sehe ich genauso. Viele Konflikte entstehen, weil sich Menschen nicht ernst genommen fühlen.

You: _______________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

E: That’s true. I also think respectful behaviour means accepting people who are different, for example because of their culture or opinions.

You: _______________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

B: Ja, Respekt bedeutet auch, niemanden wegen seines Aussehens oder seiner Herkunft zu beleidigen.

You: _______________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name:

Probearbeit 9b

E: I agree. Schools should teach students how to behave respectfully and how to solve problems peacefully.

You: __________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

B: Dann wäre das Zusammenleben für alle viel angenehmer.

You: __________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

8

Read the extract from the novel and continue the story. Include: the actions happening right after as well as Emma’s reactions and her feelings.
Write about 150-250 words. That’s about half a page to one page in normal handwriting (not too big, not too small).

Some people say everything happens for a reason. Some call it luck. I call it my worst nightmare. I hate to think about it, but it keeps coming up in my head.
Last Friday afternoon, the weather suddenly changed. It was nice weather before, but suddenly dark clouds were moving across the sky, and the wind became stronger. While I was walking home from school, I noticed that the streets were almost empty. “What is happening?”, I asked myself.
Suddenly, I heard a loud noise behind me and turned around. That was the moment when I realized that something unusual was about to happen.

Name:

Probearbeit 9b

Probearbeit 9b

Probearbeit 9b

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