Terrible Earthquakes Hit Venezuela: Rescue Efforts Continue
Five days ago, powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. The terrible disasters killed more than one thousand seven hundred people in the country. Today, thousands of local people are still missing. Many rescue teams will continue to search for survivors in the country. Reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez shared these important details on CBS News today.
Five days ago, powerful earthquakes struck the country of Venezuela. The deadly earthquakes killed more than 1700 people there. Many rescue teams are still searching for survivors today. The rescue workers want to find survivors in the country. However, thousands of local people are still missing now.
The reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez reported on this disaster. He works for the well-known media company CBS News. He shared important details about the earthquakes in his report. The earthquakes struck the nation exactly five days ago. Officials confirmed a death toll of over 1700 people.
Many people lost their lives in the tragic event. Now, the rescue teams must search for the survivors. The rescue teams will continue their search tomorrow morning. They will look in many different areas for survivors. It is a very difficult job for the workers.
Camilo Montoya-Galvez gave a report for CBS News today. He explained the situation to people around the world. The total number of dead people is now over 1700. This number will probably rise in the next days. Rescue teams do not want to stop their search.
They work hard because thousands of people are missing. Many people are still waiting for some good news. The earthquakes caused a very big disaster five days ago. It is one of the worst events in Venezuela. Many people need help, so rescue teams work quickly.
They search through the affected areas for survivors now. Camilo Montoya-Galvez will share more news very soon. We will watch CBS News for more updates later. The rescue workers want to find more survivors today.
Take a position. Out loud, if you can.
Four ways to start. Pick one and try saying it before you scroll on.
Tip · Record yourself, use in a notebook, or practice with a language partner.
What did the earthquakes do five days ago?
Past Simple for Completed Actions
Use the past simple to talk about actions that happened and finished in the past.
“Five days ago, powerful earthquakes struck the country of Venezuela.”
What to know · A2
Try saying this aloud
Scenario: Discussing an important news report with a classmate.
- 01“Did you see the report?”
- 02“It happened five days ago.”
- 03“What will happen next?”
Register tip · informal
🔑Key Phrases
Uses the past tense of 'strike' to describe the impact of a disaster.
A storm struck the country of Japan.
Describes the current, ongoing search operation.
They are searching for survivors today.
Shows the official character of the casualty numbers.
The hospital confirmed a number of over fifty patients.
💬Discussion Questions
Open-ended questions to talk or write about — alone, with a partner, or in class.
- 1
Why do you think movies about natural disasters are so popular in theaters?
Opinion - 2
How does watching a disaster movie compare to watching real news about earthquakes?
Compare - 3
In what ways can media companies like CBS News help people during a crisis?
Evaluate - 4
Would you prefer to watch a documentary about rescue teams or a fictional action movie?
Personal - 5
What kind of news do you think will dominate the media next year?
Predict - 6
How do you feel when you see people sharing sad stories on social media?
Personal - 7
Should television channels stop showing sad news to protect young viewers?
Evaluate - 8
Why do famous singers and actors organize concerts to raise money for disasters?
Opinion
Adapted from CBS News · Read the original. LectoPress rewrites the facts as original graded-reader text for language learners.
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