English Lessons

Tragedy Strikes as Huge Waves Hit Australia

At the start of the Easter weekend, huge waves battered the coasts of New South Wales and Victoria in Australia, resulting in tragic deaths and dangerous conditions. Five people drowned, and two others remain missing after being swept out to sea. In separate incidents, both beachgoers and a fisherman lost their lives. Emergency rescuers continue searching for the missing, as communities mourn the devastating events. One woman managed to return to the shore, but others were not as fortunate.

Authorities have advised the public to avoid unguarded coastal areas and only swim at patrolled beaches to stay safe. The head of Surf Life Saving Australia highlighted that 630 people have drowned at unpatrolled beaches in the last decade. Given the unpredictable circumstances, the organization reminds everyone to be cautious and follow their safety message: “Stop, Look, Stay Alive.” The powerful waves serve as a serious reminder of nature’s strength and the need for awareness at the beach.

I. Matching Type: Match the words on the left with their correct definitions on the right.

II. Fill in the Blanks. Use the words from the vocabulary matching list

drowned, missing, rescuers, patrolled, tragic, battered, circumstances, shore, dangerous, advised

1. The coast was ______ by strong waves during the weekend.

2. Lifeguards have ______ people to swim only at watched beaches.

3. Several people were reported ______ after being swept out to sea.

4. The woman could not make it back to the ______ and sadly lost her life.

5. Emergency ______ are still searching for those who are lost.

6. The events were described as ______ by the local government.

7. He ______ while trying to rescue someone from the water.

8. Some beaches are not ______, making them more risky for swimmers.

9. The police said the ______ were very unfortunate for the families.

10. Swimming in rough seas can be very ______.

III. Open-Ended Questions. Discuss your answers with your teacher.

1. What would you do if you were caught in strong waves while swimming?

2. How can people stay safe when visiting the beach during holidays?

3. Why do you think some people still swim at unpatrolled beaches?

4. What safety rules should families follow when going to the beach?

5. If you were a rescuer, what would be the most difficult part of your job?

Thank you!

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1jx9dknd6go