Интенсивное чтение. "Исследование Африки: от Сахары до Саванны"

Разделы: Иностранные языки

Ключевые слова: английский язык

For teachers

1. Find and underline all the names of places in the text.

Africa destination world This is Earth. May be you've heard of it. I sure hope so because you live on its seven continents. Guess which continent is the hottest. That's right. You guessed it. Africa. Africa is home to the largest desert in the world, the Sahara. It's massive. It's total area spans over 3 million square miles. It's the size of an entire country. Seriously. It's almost the size of the United States. But Africa isn't all sand and dunes. Not by a long shot. A little ways south of the Sahara is the Congo Rainforest. It's the second largest rainforest in the world, and it's full of life. Mammals, birds, amphibians, and close to 10,000 species of plants. Let's take a quick trip to the African Savanna to check out all the wildlife. This tropical grassland covers 65% of Africa. And where there's grass, there are herbivores, also known as plant eaters. Zebras, elephants, giraffes and gazelles all graze off the land in large herds for safety because these herbivores live alongside predators. The big cats aren't the only carnivores in town. Crocodiles roam near the banks of the shore. Hyenas and wild dogs also roam this continent in search of their next meal. Millions of people come to visit the Savanna every year to see these amazing animals in their natural habitat. Rain or shine. Because the Savanna has only two seasons. Wet and dry. It's not just wildlife that lives here. There's another animal who shares this beautiful continent. Humans. It's hard to believe that one of the oldest civilizations began in Africa. In Ancient Egypt to be exact - dating back over 5,000 years. Today, there are over 1 billion people living on the continent of Africa in 56 different countries, speaking over 1,500 languages, living in large cities and small villages. All are residents of the second largest continent on Earth, Africa.

2. Write a brief summary of the text.

Africa is the hottest continent on Earth and is home to the largest desert, the Sahara, which spans over 3 million square miles. South of the Sahara lies the Congo Rainforest, the second largest rainforest in the world, teeming with diverse wildlife and thousands of plant species. The African Savanna, a vast tropical grassland covering 65% of Africa, is home to many herbivores like zebras, elephants, giraffes, and gazelles, as well as predators such as big cats, crocodiles, hyenas, and wild dogs. Millions of tourists visit the Savanna annually to observe these animals. Africa also boasts a rich human history, with one of the oldest civilizations originating in Ancient Egypt over 5,000 years ago. Today, Africa is a diverse and populous continent with over 1 billion people, 56 countries, and more than 1,500 languages.

3. Identify the main idea of each paragraph.

Here are the main ideas of each paragraph:

  1. Introduction to Africa's Climate and Sahara Desert:
    • Africa is the hottest continent and home to the vast Sahara Desert.
  2. Congo Rainforest:
    • South of the Sahara is the Congo Rainforest, the second largest rainforest, full of diverse wildlife and plant species.
  3. African Savanna:
    • The African Savanna, covering 65% of Africa, is home to various herbivores and predators, making it a popular tourist destination.
  4. Tourism in the Savanna:
    • Millions of people visit the Savanna annually to see the wildlife, despite its only two seasons: wet and dry.
  5. Human Civilisation and Diversity in Africa:
    • Africa has a rich human history, with Ancient Egypt being one of the oldest civilizations. Today, Africa is diverse, with over 1 billion people, 56 countries, and more than 1,500 languages.

4. Make a list of animals mentioned in the text and classify them by their type of diet (herbivores, carnivores, etc.).

Here is a list of animals mentioned in the text, classified by their type of diet:

Herbivores:

  • Zebras
  • Elephants
  • Giraffes
  • Gazelles

Carnivores:

  • Big cats (e.g., lions, leopards)
  • Crocodiles
  • Hyenas
  • Wild dogs

5. Find and explain the meaning of all idiomatic expressions and fixed phrases in the text.

Here are the idiomatic expressions and fixed phrases found in the text, along with their explanations:

1. "May be you've heard of it"

"Возможно, вы об этом слышали."

2. Explanation: This phrase is often used humorously or sarcastically to introduce a well-known fact or object. In this context, it emphasizes the importance and familiarity of Earth.

  • "Not by a long shot"

"Отнюдь нет."

3. Explanation: This idiom means "not at all" or "by no means." It is used to emphasize a significant difference or contrast. In the text, it highlights that Africa is not just desert.

  • "Rain or shine"

"При любой погоде."

4. Explanation: This phrase means "regardless of the weather" or "in any condition." It indicates that something will happen no matter what the weather is like. Here, it describes the consistent influx of tourists to the savanna, regardless of the season.

Each of these idiomatic expressions adds emphasis and a conversational tone to the text, making the information more engaging and relatable.

6. Create a timeline of the historical events mentioned in the text.

Here is a timeline of the historical events mentioned in the text:

Over 5,000 years ago:

Ancient Egypt: One of the oldest civilizations began in Africa, specifically in Ancient Egypt.

This timeline highlights the key historical event mentioned in the text, focusing on the ancient origins of human civilization in Africa.

7. Describe the different climate zones of Africa mentioned in the text.

The text describes three distinct climate zones in Africa:

Sahara Desert:

The Sahara is the largest desert in the world, covering over 3 million square miles. It is characterised by its arid climate, with vast expanses of sand and dunes. This region experiences extreme heat and very little rainfall.

Congo Rainforest:

Located south of the Sahara, the Congo Rainforest is the second largest rainforest in the world. It has a tropical climate, characterised by high humidity, abundant rainfall, and dense vegetation. This rainforest is rich in biodiversity, housing numerous species of mammals, birds, amphibians, and plants.

African Savanna:

The Savanna is a tropical grassland that covers 65% of Africa. It has a distinct climate with two main seasons: wet and dry. During the wet season, the savanna receives significant rainfall, which supports the growth of grasses and plants. In the dry season, rainfall is scarce, and the landscape becomes more arid. The Savanna is home to a variety of herbivores and carnivores, making it a key area for wildlife.

These climate zones illustrate the diverse environmental conditions found across Africa, ranging from arid deserts to lush rainforests and expansive grasslands.

For students

Africa destination world

This is Earth. May be you've heard of it. I sure hope so because you live on its seven continents. Guess which continent is the hottest. That's right. You guessed it. Africa. Africa is home to the largest desert in the world, the Sahara. It's massive. It's total area spans over 3 million square miles. It's the size of an entire country. Seriously. It's almost the size of the United States. But Africa isn't all sand and dunes. Not by a long shot (отнюдь нет). A little ways south of the Sahara is the Congo Rainforest. It's the second largest rainforest in the world, and it's full of life. Mammals, birds, amphibians, and close to 10 000 species of plants. Let's take a quick trip to the African Savanna to check out all the wildlife. This tropical grassland covers 65% of Africa. And where there's grass, there are herbivores, also known as plant eaters. Zebras, elephants, giraffes and gazelles al graze off the land in large herds for safety because these herbivores live alongside predators. The big cats aren't the only carnivores in town. Crocodiles roam near the banks of the shore. Hyenas and wild dogs also roam this continent in search of their next meal
Millions of people come to visit the Savanna every year to see these amazing animals in their natural habitat. Rain or shine (при любой погоде). Because the Savanna has only two seasons. Wet and dry. It's not just wildlife that lives here. There's another animal who shares this beautiful continent. Humans. It's hard to believe that one of the oldest civilizations began in Africa. In Ancient Egypt to be exact - dating back over 5,000 years. Today, there are over 1 billion people living on the continent of Africa in 56 different countries, speaking over 1,500 languages, living in large cities and small villages. All are residents of the second largest continent on Earth Africa.

  • Span [spæn] - охватывать, перекрывать, простираться- охватывать
  • cover, embrace, span, comprise, grasp, envelop- перекрывать
  • overlap, cover, span, overlay, shut, bridge- простираться
  • stretch, extend, spread, reach, range, span-прясть
  • spin, span-затягивать
  • protract, span, spin out
  • grassland [ˈɡrɑːs.lænd] - луг, пастбище, сенокосное угодье
  • Not by a long shot - отнюдь нет
  • Graze [ɡreɪz] - пасти, держать на подножном корму, щипать траву
  • Herd [hɜːd] - стадо
  • Predators [ˈpred.ə.tər] - хищники
  • Hyena [haˈjiːnə]- гиена
  • Roam [rəʊm] - бродить, странствовать, скитаться
  • Rain or shine - при любой погоде
  • To be exact - если быть точным

Tasks for students.

  1. Find and underline all the names of places in the text.
    • For example: Sahara, Congo, Savanna.
  2. Write a brief summary of the text.
    • Condense the main points of the text into a few sentences, preserving key details.
  3. Identify the main idea of each paragraph.
    • For example:
      • First paragraph: Description of the Sahara.
      • Second paragraph: Description of the Congo rainforest.
      • Third paragraph: Description of the savanna.
      • Fourth paragraph: Tourism and inhabitants of the savanna.
      • Fifth paragraph: Human civilizations and diversity in Africa.
  4. Make a list of animals mentioned in the text and classify them by their type of diet (herbivores, carnivores, etc.).
    • Example:
      • Herbivores: zebras, elephants, giraffes, gazelles.
      • Carnivores: big cats, crocodiles, hyenas, wild dogs.
  • Translate the text into Russian.
    • Try to translate the entire text or a part of it, maintaining the structure and meaning of the original.
  • Write an essay on the topic "Why it is worth visiting Africa".
    • Use information from the text to explain what makes Africa unique and attractive for tourists.
  • Create questions based on the text to check comprehension.
    • For example:
      • Which continent is the hottest on Earth?
      • Where is the largest desert in the world located?
      • How many species of plants can be found in the Congo rainforest?
  • Find and explain the meaning of all idiomatic expressions and fixed phrases in the text.
    • For example: "not by a long shot" (not at all), "rain or shine" (in any weather).
  • Create a timeline of the historical events mentioned in the text.
    • For example:
      • Ancient Egypt: the beginning of civilization over 5,000 years ago.
  • Describe the different climate zones of Africa mentioned in the text.
    • Example: Desert (Sahara), Rainforest (Congo), Tropical grassland (Savanna).

These tasks will help to better understand the text and develop information processing skills.
4o

Find and explain the meaning of all idiomatic expressions and fixed phrases in the text.

ChatGPT

Here are the idiomatic expressions and fixed phrases found in the text, along with their explanations:

  1. "May be you've heard of it"
    • Explanation: This phrase is often used humorously or sarcastically to introduce a well-known fact or object. In this context, it emphasizes the importance and familiarity of Earth.
  2. "Not by a long shot"
    • Explanation: This idiom means "not at all" or "by no means." It is used to emphasize a significant difference or contrast. In the text, it highlights that Africa is not just desert.
  3. "Rain or shine"
    • Explanation: This phrase means "regardless of the weather" or "in any condition." It indicates that something will happen no matter what the weather is like. Here, it describes the consistent influx of tourists to the savanna, regardless of the season.

Each of these idiomatic expressions adds emphasis and a conversational tone to the text, making the information more engaging and relatable.