Hello students. I’m proud of you for completing years 1 and 2 of our American English course. In order for you to become a strong intermediate American English learner, you need to be able to read, understand, and discuss abridged American English short stories. In this lesson, throughout Year 3 of your studies, you will read, listen to, and write about popular American English short stories. Please follow the directions below closely.
- Study the American English vocabulary below.
Words in This Story
smash – v. to break into many pieces; to shatter or destroy
atmosphere – n. the whole mass of air that surrounds the Earth
surrender – v. to agree to stop fighting, hiding, resisting, etc., because you know that you will not win or succeed
retreat – v. to move or go away from a place or situation especially because it is dangerous, unpleasant, etc.
survivor – n. a member of a group who continues to live after other members have died
firestorm – n. a very large fire that destroys everything in its path and produces powerful winds
jammed – v. to fill (a place) completely
- Listen to the story.
- Watch the video and read along.
- Take the short story quiz.
Take the quiz: https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/2914075/p1.html?isEmbedded=True
- Write a summary of the short story you just read and listened to in the comments section below. Click here to read an article that teaches you how to summarize a story. Remember to let us know who the characters of the story are, what they do, and what the story is about.
About the Author
Lesson 3.38.2: Year 3
In the quiz of this lesson, Although I went through of this heart touching report very thoroughly, but I got 50%, which is not good.
Lesson 3.38.2: Year 3
The story of an Eyewitness by Jack London.
A natural disaster is a sudden event that causes widespread destruction It might be caused by Earthquake, Flooding, volcanic, eruption, landslide, hurricanes. The western American city of San Francisco suffered a huge earthquake on April 18, 1906. An eyewitness, Mr. Jack London covered the whole damage area to make his report for his news agency. According to his report, in this earthquake more than 3000 people known to have died. 25,000 people lost their homes. San Francisco is gone, its industrial area is gone, its business area is gone, social and living area is gone. The factories great stores and newspaper buildings, the hotel and the huge homes of the very rich people are all gone.
Three days and nights the huge fire moved in the sky, reddening the sun, darkening the day and filling the land with smoke. Jack London told how people tried to save some of their possessions from the fire. many of the poor left their homes with everything they could carry. Mr. London walked through mile after mile. The U.S. army troops stationed at the nearby posts responded to help city authorities maintain order and fight fire. The army also established communications, gave medical treatment, distributed supplies and provided food, water, shelter and sanitation aid.
,hu
Dear teacher,
Lesson 3.38.2: Year 3
The story of an Eyewitness by Jack London.
The terrible natural disaster was destroyed all infrastructure and buildings in San Francisco. It caused by Earthquake, Flooding, volcanic, eruption, landslide, and strong winds. According to his report, in that earthquake even more than 3000 people known to have died. 25,000 people lost their homes. San Francisco is gone, its industrial area is gone, its business area is gone, social and living area is gone. The factories great stores and newspaper buildings, the hotel and the huge homes of the very rich people are all gone.
Three days and nights the huge fire moved in the sky, reddening the sun, darkening the day and filling the land with smoke. Jack London told how people tried to save some of their possessions from the fire. many of the poor left their homes with everything they could carry. Mr. London walked through mile after mile. The U.S. army troops stationed at the nearby posts responded to help city authorities maintain order and fight fire. The army also established communications, gave medical treatment, distributed supplies and provided food, water, shelter and sanitation aid. San Francisco at the present time is like the center of a volcano. Around this volcano are tens of thousands of refugees. All the surrounding cities and towns are jammed with the homeless ones. The refugees were carried free by the railroads to any place they wished to go. The bankers and businessmen have already begun making the necessary plans to rebuild this once beautiful city of San
Francisco.
Thank you.