Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.

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How to use this lesson

For Teachers

Run this lesson as a 20-minute active vocabulary and speech workout.

Check answers together in class or let learners use the automatic checking tags.

For Learners

First, study the 10 flood words and their quick memory tips in the table.

Next, complete the 16 practice items and record yourself speaking in the shadowing section.

Word table

Ten essential B2 words for talking about heavy rain, flood events, and emergency help.

🌧️ Rain and rivers

Word	Meaning	Common collocations	Word forms	Example sentence	Memory tip
downpour	a sudden, unusually heavy fall of rain	sudden downpour, heavy downpour	–	A sudden downpour soaked the entire football field within five minutes.	Picture rain pouring straight "down" out of a bucket.
forecast	a statement saying what weather will happen	weather forecast, accurate forecast	forecaster (n)	The five-day forecast predicts high winds and continuous storm clouds.	"Fore" means before: looking at the weather before it arrives.
overflow	to flow over the edge or banks because of too much water	overflow its banks, begin to overflow	–	The local river began to overflow after ten hours of storm rainfall.	"Over" + "flow": water flows higher than the top edge.
drainage	the system or process by which water flows away safely	poor drainage, drainage system	drain (v)	Poor street drainage allowed large puddles to collect on the road.	Think of the kitchen sink drain that lets dirty water escape.

🌊 During a flood

Word	Meaning	Common collocations	Word forms	Example sentence	Memory tip
submerge	to cover completely with water or another liquid	completely submerge, submerge a vehicle	–	Rising floodwater can submerge car tires in less than thirty minutes.	"Sub" means under, like a submarine deep in the ocean.
evacuate	to move people out of a dangerous area to safety	evacuate residents, order to evacuate	evacuation (n)	Police told all villagers to evacuate before the river burst through.	"Vac" means empty: you make a place vacant to stay safe.
stranded	unable to leave or move because of water or transport failure	stranded motorists, left stranded	–	Several families were left stranded on their roofs awaiting a boat.	Sounds like "stand": you are stuck standing in one spot.

🛡️ Defence and help

Word	Meaning	Common collocations	Word forms	Example sentence	Memory tip
sandbag	a heavy bag filled with sand used as a temporary wall against floods	pile sandbags, lay sandbags	–	Shopkeepers piled heavy sandbags in front of their glass doors.	Literal compound: a heavy sack of sand to block rushing water.
barrier	a solid wall or gate that stops water or movement	flood barrier, build a barrier	–	Engineers shut the river barrier to stop tidal surges entering the town.	Contains "bar": an obstruction that bars anything from passing.
relief	food, medicine, and support provided to people during a disaster	emergency relief, provide relief	relieve (v), relieved (adj)	The Red Cross brought emergency food relief to three flooded shelters.	Relief brings a sigh of "phew!": help arrives to relieve pain.

Practice

Work through 16 items from easy to hard. Every target word appears at least twice.

Part 1: Collocation Matrix

Choose the flood noun that naturally pairs with each verb group.

Item 1 of 16 • Collocation

Which noun completes the action: "check / follow the ..."

____ forecast ____ sandbag ____ barrier ____ relief

Item 2 of 16 • Collocation

Which noun completes the action: "pile / stack heavy ..."

____ forecasts ____ sandbags ____ barriers ____ relief

Item 3 of 16 • Collocation

Which noun completes the action: "build / erect a protective ..."

____ forecast ____ sandbag ____ barrier ____ relief

Item 4 of 16 • Collocation

Which noun completes the action: "provide / deliver emergency ..."

____ forecast ____ sandbag ____ barrier ____ relief

Part 2: Gap-fills with Word Bank

Type the correct word from the word bank into each blank.

downpour stranded overflow drainage

Item 5 of 16 • Gap-fill

Maria: "Did you get soaked on your way to work this morning?"
David: "Yes, an unexpected ____ hit the street right as I stepped off the bus."

Item 6 of 16 • Gap-fill

Deep rainwater pooled on the expressway, leaving dozens of commuters completely ____ in their vehicles until help arrived.

Item 7 of 16 • Gap-fill

If the rain continues throughout the night, the lake is likely to ____ and submerge the walking trails nearby.

Item 8 of 16 • Gap-fill

Engineers explained that old underground ____ pipes could not carry the sudden volume of runoff into the sea.

Part 3: Choose the Word

Every option keeps the sentence grammatically correct, but only ONE makes sensible meaning.

Item 9 of 16 • Meaning Choice

The village was damaged by an unprecedented ___ that flooded streets within twenty minutes.

____ a. downpour ____ b. forecast ____ c. barrier

Item 10 of 16 • Meaning Choice

Rescue teams advised families along the riverbank to ___ before night fell.

____ a. submerge ____ b. evacuate ____ c. overflow

Item 11 of 16 • Meaning Choice

The sudden tidal surge threatened to completely ___ the small wooden bridges on the coast.

____ a. submerge ____ b. forecast ____ c. evacuate

Item 12 of 16 • Meaning Choice

After floodwaters cut off the only access bridge, local residents were completely ___ for two days.

____ a. stranded ____ b. relieved ____ c. submerged

Part 4: Word Formation

Change the word in brackets into the correct listed form to fit the sentence.

Item 13 of 16 • Word Formation

The television weather ____ warned that coastal winds would reach hurricane strength by midnight. (forecast)

Item 14 of 16 • Word Formation

Emergency crews brought large industrial pumps to ____ floodwater out of basement apartments. (drainage)

Item 15 of 16 • Word Formation

The local government ordered an immediate ____ of all low-lying farming communities. (evacuate)

Item 16 of 16 • Word Formation

Families felt immensely ____ when the flood barrier held firm and water levels began dropping. (relief)

Shadowing

Listen to each phrase or sentence, then tap the record button to practice speaking clearly.

1. Collocation 2 words

heavy downpour

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

2. Collocation 2 words

weather forecast

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

3. Collocation 2 words

emergency relief

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

4. Collocation 2 words

flood barrier

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

5. Everyday Sentence 8 words

The heavy downpour flooded our street very quickly.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

6. Everyday Sentence 8 words

Always check the weather forecast before you travel.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

7. Everyday Sentence 8 words

Rising river water began to overflow the banks.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

8. Everyday Sentence 8 words

We used heavy sandbags to keep water outside.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

9. Everyday Sentence 8 words

Rescue boats helped motorists stranded on the road.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

10. Everyday Sentence 10 words

The charity brought food and relief to the local shelter.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

11. Focus Word 1 word (8 letters)

evacuate

Stress the second syllable: /ɪˈvæk.ju.eɪt/

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

12. Focus Word 1 word (8 letters)

drainage

Clear first syllable with soft ending: /ˈdreɪ.nɪdʒ/

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Vocabulary & Pronunciation: Floods and Extreme Weather

How to use this lesson

Word table

🌧️ Rain and rivers

🌊 During a flood

🛡️ Defence and help

Practice

Part 1: Collocation Matrix

Part 2: Gap-fills with Word Bank

Part 3: Choose the Word

Part 4: Word Formation

Shadowing

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