distant countries to visit it. It died suddenly in a terrible rain of fire and ash. Tons of hot ash fell on Pompeii, hiding it from sight. For three days the sun didn't break through the clouds of ash in the sky. Then the whole city shook and buildings fell down. When everything was calm, Pompeii was buried deep. A city disappeared and people there lost their lives too. Can you guess what had happened to the city?

S1: There must have been a terrible earthquake. After the terrible quake, everything was destroyed.

T: Yes. It's one kind of the causes. Any different ideas?

S2: Maybe a volcano erupted and a terrible rain of fire and ash fell on the city.

T: You got it! Mount Vesuvius, which had slept quietly for centuries, erupted suddenly. It destroyed the city Pompeii. How terrible! Have you ever seen a volcano erupting? Please turn to page 33. Look at the diagram. Describe a volcano erupting using the diagram and the given words.

S3: When boiling rock erupts from the volcano, the red hot lava rushes hundreds of metres into the air and a cloud of ash goes straight up into the air. Ash cloud forms. Rocks, fire, ash fall onto the ground. The lava flows slowly down the mountain. It buries everything in its path under the molten rock.

S4: Sometimes, volcano erupting can cause some other disasters like earthquakes, fire and ground sea.

T: How powerful the nature is! The lava can buries everything in its path. A volcano erupting can damage a city. A flood can carry everything in its path, while a fire will damage everything it meets. It seems that we human beings are powerless in front of these natural forces. What can we do to protect ourselves from powerful natural forces? Please work in groups of four to list some other natural forces and discuss the ways that human beings protect ourselves.

A few minutes later.

T: Who would like to share your opinion with the class?

S5: I'd like to talk about volcano. Sometimes, the volcano gives warnings in the form of many small earthquakes. And scientists can provide warnings of possible volcano explosions with the help of equipment. So the government can help people who live near the volcano leave their homes before erupting.

S6: We are more familiar with fire. In fact, it can be avoided most of the time, if we are careful in our daily life. I know a way of controlling the fire. Firefighters burn the trees which are in the path of the fire, so there is nothing to burn when the fire arrives.

S7: Flood always happens in the south of our country. Predication is very important. Scientist keep observing the level of the water during the summer. People strengthen the bank and move to higher land.

S8: We have learned more about earthquakes. People have learned many ways to protect themselves. For example, earthquake happens, if you are in bed, stay where you are and protect your head with a pillow. If you are outdoors, find a clear spot away from buildings, trees and streetlights.

S9: I think the best way is to move to a safer place where fire, earthquake, flood and hurricane will never happen.

Step Ⅱ Pre-reading

Get the students to answer the six questions on page 33 to find out whether they will enjoy working as a volcanologist. And then get them to talk about the occupation according to the questions.

T: I see. Prediction is very important. We can say scientists play an important part in protecting people from natural forces. Would you like to study volcanoes? And do you want to be a volcanologist?

Ss: Yes.

T: Let's test whether you are suitable for this job or not. Answer "yes" or "no" to these questions on page 33.

The students answer the questions to see if they are suitable to be a volcanologist.

T: Are you suitable for the job? Who can tell us what kind of person can be a volcanologist?

S1: First he must be brave enough because he must climb into a live volcano to take the temperature of the boiling rock inside.

S2: I think interest is the most important. He should show great interest in studying rocks and volcanoes.

S3: He should be interested in travelling to unusual places and like adventure in his life.

S4: If you want to be a volcanologist, you should enjoy working outside because a lot of work need to be done outdoors.

Step Ⅲ While-reading

Scanning

Get the students to read the passage quickly and accurately. Give them a couple of minutes to look through the whole passage. Tell them to read the text silently and then ask them some detailed questions about the text.

T: What does a volcanologist do? Is the work interesting? Let's read a passage written by a volcanologist. The volcanologist enjoys his job very much. He described his exciting job. And he wrote down his first sight of an eruption. Now let's read the text quickly and find out the answers to these questions Comprehending Exercise 1 on page 35 .

Several minutes later.

Check the answer..