Floods are common natural disasters that can affect millions of people around the world. They destroy houses and buildings, and carry soil away from valuable farming land. Floods can also contaminate drinking water and lead to diseases.
At least once a year the plains around large rivers are flooded. This is due to the amount of water that rivers bring with them, because of heavy rainfall of melting snow in the mountainous regions. Thunderstorms can cause flash floods, in which small rivers can swell quickly and carry up to ten times the normal amount of water. Tropical storms, cyclones and hurricanes also lead to flooding. Hurricane Katrina caused a massive flooding of the whole Mississippi Delta in 2004.
Floods are not always destructive natural events. Before the Aswan High Dam was built yearly floods in Egypt brought along nutrients and made the land around the Nile very fertile. Every year floods during the monsoon season in Bangladesh deposit fertile soil but also kill thousands of people and leave millions homeless.
TRUE or FALSE statements?
- Tropical storms, thunderstorms, cyclones, and hurricanes which are cause of floods. _________________
- Hurricane Katrina cause a massive flooding of the whole Mississippi Delta eleven years ago.
- The plains around large rivers flooded more than once per year. _________________
- The flood is always bad event. _________________
Read the passage again and choose the best answer.
- What are NOT the damages caused by flood?
A. Destroying houses and buildings. B. Polluting drinking water.
C. Causing diseases. D. Causing unemployment.
- What does the word “plain” mean?
A. flat lands B. small rivers C. valleys D. low mountains
