【学习笔记】懂你英语 核心课 Level 6 Unit 1 Part 2（V）阅读 Chernobyl

On April 26, 1986, Unit 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in northern Ukraine, then a part of the Soviet Union, was shut down for an unauthorized safety test. 

When the nuclear fuel rods hit the cooling water, the fission reaction accelerated out of control due to a sudden power surge. 

This caused the reactor to overheat and build up pressure until its structure failed and it blew up, releasing large amounts of radiation. 

It took officials a whole day to comprehend the scale of the disaster and to order an evacuation of the surrounding area. 【选词填空】

Some 50,000 people had to leave, not knowing that they would never return.

In the following months, massive efforts were made to decontaminate the area while increased radiation levels were detected across much of Europe. 

Fallout from the disaster continues to this day, decades later, and long-term effects such as cancers are still being investigated. 

Estimates of the number of deaths that will eventually result from the accident vary enormously.

The forest area near the reactor site is one of the most radioactive places on Earth. 

Named the Red Forest because its trees turned a reddish-brown color as they died, the forest is trying to make a recovery. 

Animals such as elk and eagles have been seen in the area. 

And birch trees grow where the radioactive trees of the forest were bulldozed and buried by the Soviet government.

Some people have returned as well, mostly former residents who returned illegally after the evacuation. 

The old company town of Pripyat, once home to 50,000 plant workers is still deserted, but is slowly being reclaimed by the forest. 

It seems that nature can recover and even thrive where humans cannot. 【填空】

Let's hope that humans can learn from this experience. 

Chernobyl, and more recently, Fukushima in Japan, have lessons to teach us.

Multiple Choice

1. What is the one lesson we should learn from Chernobyl?    -Never underestimate the danger of nuclear technologies.

2. Fallout from a nuclear explosion contains radioactive particles carried into the atmosphere

3. Something is authorized if it...     is officially permitted.

4. -What is the purpose of this text?     -It's to educate.

5. A surge in power means to increase in strength.

6. To reclaim something means...     to take it back from where it was lost or stolen.

7. -Which of the following statements is ture?    (2)

(1) The number of deaths caused by the accident is clear.

(2) The nuclear reactor exploded because too much pressure built up inside.

(3) The evaluation was well organized by the officials.

(4) Many of the trees near the reactor survived the blast.

8. From the article, it's clear that officials were unprepared for such an accident.

9. If something is contaminated, it can't be used because it contains harmful substances.

Please tap the first correct sentences to appear

1. -What was released when the reactor is exploded?    -This caused the reactor to overheat and build up pressure until its structure failed and it blew up, releasing large amounts of radiation. 

2. -What is one of the most radioactive places on earth?     -The forest area near the reactor site is one of the most radioactive places on Earth. 

Repeat & Read Sentences

1. We should never underestimate the danger of nuclear technologies.

2. Let's hope that humans can learn from this experience. 

3. It seems that nature can recover and even thrive where humans cannot. 

4. Birch trees grow where the radioactive trees of the forest were bulldozed and buried by the Soviet government.

5. Estimates of the number of deaths that will eventually result from the accident vary enormously.

6. The forest area near the reactor site is one of the most radioactive places on Earth.

7. The reactor exploded because too much pressure built up inside.

8. When the nuclear fuel rods hit the cooling water, the fission reaction accelerated out of control due to a sudden power surge.