Natural disasters "Local road was washed away and damaged. The highway of national route
'Kyiv-Chop' was blocked because of mud sliding in the Skole district in the Lviv
region. Railroad Lviv-Uzhhorod was blocked because of fall of the tree.
"A private dwelling house was destroyed because of sliding in the Ivano-
Frankivsk region. The master of the house, born in 1965, died. 963 houses-were
underflooded by flood water."
"On July, 24 in the evening 27-year-old resident of the Vyzhnytsya district
died in the basement that was flooded as a result of bad weather in Bukovyna."
These lines are from Ukrayinski Novyny report about the natural Disaster that
occurred in Western Ukraine in July 2008. As a result of heavy showers the level
of water had been raised in the rivers, and dwelling houses, farmlands and
agricultural holdings were underflooded. Some crops were destroyed.
Natural disasters have begun to occur in Ukraine with increasing frequency.
After dangerous floods in Zakarpattya storms and tornados have also come their
way. Information about the number of people killed by lightning is more frequent
in different parts of Ukraine. Until recently, we only heard of such disasters
occurring on the other side of the Atlantic.
And what are the causes of natural disasters which are becoming more
frequent in our country? Not waiting for the scientists' explanations, people say
this is our fault. During the last 50 years a great deal of forests in the Carpathians
have been cut down. Deforestation has led to changes in local climate. That's why
we have so much trouble with floods in this region. The scientists remind us that
all elements and systems are interconnected in nature. Irresponsible attitude to it
might lead to terrible results.
The conducted research work has confirmed the idea about not only natural
but man-made causes of these floods.
What is a natural disaster? The definition is: it is the effect of a natural hazard
that affects the environment and leads to financial, environmental and/or human
losses. A natural hazard is a threat of a natural occurring event that will have a
negative effect on people or the environment. Many natural hazards are
interrelated. For example, earthquake can cause tsunami and drought that can lead
directly to famine.
The costs of natural disasters — lives lost, homes destroyed, economies
disrupted... But there is reason for hope. By understanding how and where these
natural events occur, we can build and live safely on the Earth, and by providing
real-time information about floods, earthquakes, and other hazards, we can respond
effectively when disaster strikes. We should build stronger, safer communities that
are resistant to natural disasters.
1. Read the article again and choose the best answer (a-c).
1 What natural disaster did occur in Western Ukraine in 2008?
a) drought
b) earthquake
c) flood
2 What happened to the national route 'Kyiv-Chop' in 2008?

a) It was underflooded.
b) It was blocked with mud sliding.
c) It was ruined by volcano eruption.
3 What natural disasters are becoming more frequent in Ukraine?
a) floods and storms
b) floods and earthquakes
c) tsunamis and floods
4 What are the causes of frequent floods in Zakarpattya?
a) heavy showers
b) natural and man-made causes
c) deforestation
5 What is a natural disaster?
a) It is a natural hazard.
b) It is a weather event.
c) It is the effect of a natural hazard.
6 What is a natural hazard?
a) It is a threat of a natural event that might have negative effect.
b) It is a natural catastrophe.
c) It is a natural disaster.
7 What is the relationship between natural hazards?
a) They all result into natural disasters.
b) They are interrelated, one can lead to another.
c) They never influence each other.
8 What does 'to respond to natural disasters effectively' mean?
a) It means we shouldn't pay any attention to difficulties.
b) It means that we must remember that all elements and systems are interconnected
in nature.
c) It means we should learn more about disasters and build safer communities with
real-time information provided.