🚨 IELTS Reading • B1 Level ⏱️ Suggested Time: 15 Minutes

Disaster Safety: Surviving the Shake and the Wave

Practise true / false / not given, multiple choice, matching paragraphs and sentence completion.

📋 How to Use This Lesson

T

For Teachers

Allow students 3 minutes to skim paragraphs A-D without pausing, then set a 12-minute timer for the 8 questions.
Use the embedded evidence quotes to conduct a targeted feedback session on distractor patterns and Not Given logic.

S

For Students

Read the text through once to understand the main safety ideas before looking at the 8 questions.
Answer each question in order, find the exact proof sentence in the text, and confirm spelling for fill-in items.

Reading Passage

Word Count: ~245 words

Survival Rule #1

DROP → COVER → HOLD ON

A person demonstrating earthquake safety by crouching under a sturdy table, covering their head with their arms, interio

A

When the ground shakes, safety experts recommend the "Drop, Cover, and Hold on" method. You should drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck, and crawl under a sturdy table. This simple action protects your body from falling objects and reduces serious injuries and deaths during an earthquake.

B

Many people believe things about earthquake safety that are not true. Standing in a modern doorway is not safer than anywhere else because it is not stronger than the rest of the building and gives little protection from flying objects. Similarly, running outside while the ground is moving is extremely dangerous due to falling glass and bricks. In fact, falling objects cause most earthquake-related injuries.

✅ Correct Action (Paragraph A)

Stay indoors, drop immediately, and protect your head under a sturdy piece of furniture until shaking stops.

⚠️ Dangerous Habits to Avoid (Paragraph B)

Standing inside modern doorways or rushing outdoors while bricks and window glass fall.

C

To teach correct reactions, the first Great ShakeOut earthquake drill was organized in 2008 in southern California. Over 5 million people practiced these survival steps at the same time. Since then the drill has spread to many other states and countries.

A tsunami evacuation sign pointing towards a hill, with the ocean in the distance.

D

Tsunamis are another deadly threat caused by underwater volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. Although barely noticeable in the deep ocean, tsunami waves travel at 500 miles per hour, matching the speed of a jet plane. A sudden strong earthquake or the sea moving back is a critical natural warning. People inside coastal areas must go to high ground quickly without waiting for official sirens, remembering that the first wave may not be the largest or the last.

IELTS Practice Questions (1 - 8)

Read each set of instructions carefully before selecting or typing your answer.

Questions 1 – 2

True / False / Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text?
TRUE: if the statement agrees with the information.
FALSE: if the statement contradicts the information.
NOT GIVEN: if there is no information on this.

1. Running outside during an earthquake puts people in danger because of falling glass and bricks.

____ TRUE ____ FALSE ____ NOT GIVEN

2. The 2008 Great ShakeOut drill received substantial funding from the regional government.

____ TRUE ____ FALSE ____ NOT GIVEN

Questions 3 – 4

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

3. Why does the author advise against sheltering inside a modern doorway during an earthquake?

____ A. It gives little protection against flying objects. ____ B. It is built using much weaker materials than older structures. ____ C. It stops people inside from running outside quickly. ____ D. It is more likely to collapse than any other part of a building.

4. What is the writer's key recommendation if you observe unusual movements in the sea?

____ A. Wait patiently for emergency sirens to confirm whether a wave is coming. ____ B. Go quickly to high ground and do not wait for a warning. ____ C. Check whether the first wave that arrives is big enough. ____ D. Take shelter inside an office building until the tide returns to normal.

Questions 5 – 6

Which Paragraph Contains the Following Information?

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

5. Which paragraph explains the main factor responsible for physical injuries during an earthquake?

____ Paragraph A ____ Paragraph B ____ Paragraph C ____ Paragraph D

6. Which paragraph mentions the extreme travel speed of a natural hazard?

____ Paragraph A ____ Paragraph B ____ Paragraph C ____ Paragraph D

Questions 7 – 8

Sentence Completion

Complete the sentences below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

7. During an earthquake, you should seek shelter under a [blank] to stay safe from falling items.

____ (Type your answer here...)

8. An unusual retreat or change in the sea serves as an important [blank] that tells you to go to high ground at once.

____ (Type your answer here...)

Disaster Safety: Surviving the Shake and the Wave

Disaster Safety: Surviving the Shake and the Wave

For Teachers

For Students

Reading Passage

✅ Correct Action (Paragraph A)

⚠️ Dangerous Habits to Avoid (Paragraph B)

IELTS Practice Questions (1 - 8)

True / False / Not Given

Multiple Choice

Which Paragraph Contains the Following Information?

Sentence Completion

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