Please look at these pictures. How beautiful they are !

But one day something happened.

bury The sand almost buries the house.

cycle/wear/mask

Look at the picture below.Complete the sentences using the correct form of these words. blow bury frightening last (v) sandstorm There had been a. It for ten hours and was very. The wind the sand high around the houses, and some cars were almost completely by the sand. sandstormhad lasted frightening was blowing buried

( \/ ) (×) ( \/ ) 1. Sandstorms begin in desert areas. 2.Deserts are created by climate changes. 3.Deserts are also created because people cut down trees and dig up grass. 4.Sandstorms from Asia have blown across the Pacific Ocean to American. 5.Sandstorms can’t be prevented. 6.The inland region has more sandstorms than the one near the sea.

Reading and vocabulary Look up these words in a dictionary. Then match the words with their definition.

citizen cycle (v) dust expert forecast process situation survive 1. to ride a bicycle cycle 2. someone who knows a lot about a particular subject 3. things that happen one after another, and have a result expert process 4. someone who lives in a particular town or country 5. very small bits of dirt or earth, on the ground or in the air 6. to continue to live after a difficult or dangerous situation or event 7. to say what will probably happen 8. everything that is happening at a particular time citizen dust survive forcast situation

Fast reading Look at the photos. Read the text quickly and answer the questions. 1. What is happening ? 2. What is the cyclists wearing and why ? 3. What do you think happen to traffic in this situation ? Why ? 4. What do you think experts advise people to do in this situation?

Find these words in the passage. Choose the correct answer. 1. Sand dunes mean _____. A. plants growing in sand B. sand hills 2. Affect means ______. A. to kill B. to cause a change 3. You wear a mask over your ________. A. face B. body 4. Strength is the noun of _________. A. strong B. strange B B A A

Complete these sentences using words from Sandstorms in Asia 1. Weather experts have f_______ another big sandstorm in a week’s time. 2. It’s f__________ to be outside in a sandstorm. 3. I was in a very big sandstorm some years ago. Luckily, everyone s_______. 4. There’s a lot of d___ on the floor. We need to sweep it away. 5. Desertification is a long p______ that takes many years. 6. Many Beijing c__________________ cycle to work. orecast rightening urvived ust rocess yclists/itizens

Activity A Press Conference about Sandstorms Suppose you are having a press conference about sandstorms. Some are news spokesmen, some are experts, and some are journalists. Now work in groups of 8. You can refer to the following materials.

Cause of Sandstorms Topographical factor ※ ※ Atmospheric factors ※ ※ ※ Excessive cultivation of farmland: Deforestation Over-grazing: ※ Ineffective protection of constructive sites

Measures and Suggestions certain administrative methods be taken to turn desertification preventions into the record to evaluate the work of local government officials. the issue of desertification prevention should be included in the national economic and social development program for the 21st century, and it should be on the list of key national projects and items the prevention plans must be drawn up scientifically, and the management must be strict. ◎ ◎ ◎

importance should be attached to experts' participation in the project, and the building of a new type of structure which combines production, scientific research and promotion under the new circumstances. we must do a good job of monitoring and forecasting desertification. We must also establish an information network for national desertification and sandstorm prevention, with forecasting work focused on controlling desertification at the beginning stage. ◎ ◎

Homework Think about : As a senior high student, what should we do to improve our environment ?