A woman in Lake Del Valle, California was rescued after spending 14 hours on top of her submerged car. She had driven into a flooded creek and managed to survive by climbing onto her flipped car and waiting overnight to be found. The following morning, someone who was camping nearby spotted her and alerted the authorities. The woman was airlifted to safety and taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.

The incident occurred when the woman drove into a creek that had become swollen due to heavy rainfall. The force of the water caused her car to flip over, leaving her stranded on top. Despite the dangerous situation, she remained calm and stayed on her car until help arrived.

Officials praised the woman’s resilience and resourcefulness in surviving the ordeal. They emphasized the importance of staying with the vehicle in such situations, as it provides a higher vantage point and increases the chances of being spotted by rescuers.

This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of driving in flooded areas. It is crucial to exercise caution and avoid crossing flooded roads or creeks, as the water can be deceivingly deep and powerful. If caught in a similar situation, it is recommended to stay with the vehicle, call for help, and wait for assistance to arrive.

In conclusion, a woman in California was rescued after spending 14 hours on top of her submerged car in a flooded creek. She managed to survive by staying on her car until she was spotted by someone the next morning. This incident highlights the importance of staying with the vehicle and seeking help in such situations. It also serves as a reminder to exercise caution when driving in flooded areas to avoid dangerous situations.

Original news source: Woman rescued after 14 hours atop submerged car (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will read the article and then summarize the key points in their own words. They should focus on the main events, such as the woman’s rescue and the importance of staying with the vehicle in flooded areas. After discussing their summaries with their partner, they can share them with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and give each group a set of questions related to the article. The questions should prompt students to share their opinions on the incident and its implications. For example, “Do you think the woman made the right decision by staying on her car? Why or why not?” Each group will discuss their responses and then present their opinions to the class.

– Sketch It
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns describing a scene from the article while their partner sketches it. The goal is for the partner to accurately depict the scene based on the description. After both partners have had a chance to describe and sketch, they can compare their drawings and discuss any differences or similarities.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of key vocabulary words from the article on the board. Divide the class into two teams and give each team a turn to choose a word. One student from the team will then have to draw the word while their teammates guess what it is. The team that guesses correctly gets a point. Continue until all the words have been drawn and guessed, and then tally up the points to determine the winning team.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: In small groups, students will discuss the pros and cons of driving in flooded areas. They should consider factors such as safety, convenience, and emergency situations. After the discussion, each group will present their arguments to the class and engage in a class-wide debate on the topic.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. How did the woman end up stranded on top of her submerged car?
2. What did the woman do to survive while waiting to be found?
3. Who spotted the woman and alerted the authorities?
4. How was the woman rescued from her stranded position?
5. What did officials praise the woman for?
6. Why is it important to stay with the vehicle in such situations?
7. What does this incident remind people about driving in flooded areas?
8. What steps should be taken if caught in a similar situation?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A woman in Lake Del Valle, California was rescued after spending 14 hours on top of her (1)______ car. She had driven into a flooded creek and managed to survive by climbing onto her flipped car and waiting overnight to be found. The following morning, someone who was (2)______ nearby spotted her and alerted the authorities. The woman was airlifted to (3)______ and taken to a local (4)______ with minor injuries.

The incident occurred when the (5)______ drove into a creek that had become swollen due to heavy rainfall. The force of the water caused her car to flip over, leaving her stranded on top. Despite the dangerous situation, she remained calm and (6)______ on her car until help (7)______.

Officials praised the woman’s resilience and resourcefulness in surviving the ordeal. They emphasized the importance of staying with the (8)______ in such situations, as it provides a higher vantage point and increases the chances of being spotted by (9)______.

This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of driving in flooded (10)______. It is crucial to exercise caution and avoid (11)______ flooded roads or creeks, as the (12)______ can be deceivingly deep and powerful. If caught in a similar situation, it is recommended to stay with the vehicle, call for help, and wait for assistance to arrive.

In conclusion, a woman in California was rescued after spending 14 hours on top of her submerged car in a flooded (13)______. She managed to survive by staying on her car until she was (14)______ by someone the next morning. This (15)______ highlights the importance of staying with the vehicle and seeking help in such situations. It also (16)______ as a reminder to exercise caution when driving in flooded areas to avoid dangerous situations.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What would you do if you found yourself in a similar situation?
2. How do you think the woman felt while waiting on top of her submerged car?
3. Have you ever experienced a dangerous situation like this? If so, what happened?
4. Do you think the woman’s calmness and resourcefulness helped her survive? Why or why not?
5. How do you think the woman’s perspective on driving in flooded areas has changed after this incident?
6. What precautions do you think people should take when driving in areas prone to flooding?
7. Have you ever witnessed a rescue operation? How did it make you feel?
8. How would you react if you were the person camping nearby and spotted the woman on top of her car?
9. Do you think the woman’s decision to stay with her vehicle was the right one? Why or why not?
10. How important do you think it is for people to have basic survival skills in emergency situations?
11. What measures do you think could be taken to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future?
12. How do you think the woman’s family and friends felt when they found out about the incident?
13. Do you think the woman’s story will inspire others to be more cautious when driving in flooded areas? Why or why not?
14. How would you feel if you were the one who had to be airlifted to safety after such a harrowing experience?
15. In your opinion, what can be done to raise awareness about the dangers of driving in flooded areas?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. submerged
2. ordeal
3. swollen
4. vantage
5. resourcefulness
6. deceivingly
7. highlighted
8. crucial
9. caution
10. flooded
11. stranded
12. airlifted
13. praised
14. reminder
15. authorities

Meanings:
(A) Expressed approval or admiration for
(B) Care taken to avoid danger or mistakes
(C) The ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties
(D) A difficult or unpleasant experience
(E) A position that gives a strategic advantage, commanding perspective, or comprehensive view
(F) Increased in size, volume, or level, typically as a result of absorption of fluid
(G) Of great importance or necessity
(H) Something that serves to warn or remind
(I) Overwhelmed with an excessive amount of water
(J) Completely covered with water
(K) Left without the means to move from somewhere
(L) The group or body of officials with administrative authority in a particular area
(M) Transported by helicopter
(N) In a manner that gives a misleading impression
(O) Emphasized or made prominent
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. How long did the woman spend on top of her submerged car?
(a) 24 hours
(b) 14 hours
(c) 7 hours
(d) 10 hours

2. How was the woman rescued?
(a) She was airlifted to safety
(b) She swam to shore
(c) She called for help on her phone
(d) She walked to a nearby hospital

3. What caused the woman’s car to flip over?
(a) A strong wind
(b) A tree falling on it
(c) The force of the water
(d) A mechanical failure

4. What did officials praise the woman for?
(a) Her swimming abilities
(b) Her driving skills
(c) Her ability to stay calm in dangerous situations
(d) Her resilience and resourcefulness

5. What did officials emphasize the importance of?
(a) Swimming to safety
(b) Leaving the vehicle and seeking help immediately
(c) Driving through flooded areas
(d) Staying with the vehicle in such situations

6. What is the danger of driving in flooded areas?
(a) The water is always shallow and safe to drive through
(b) The water will not damage the car
(c) The water can be deceivingly deep and powerful
(d) There are no dangers associated with driving in flooded areas

7. What is the recommended course of action if caught in a similar situation?
(a) Stay with the vehicle, call for help, and wait for assistance
(b) Swim to shore as quickly as possible
(c) Abandon the vehicle and seek higher ground
(d) Attempt to fix the car and continue driving

8. What does this incident serve as a reminder of?
(a) The importance of swimming in flooded areas
(b) The dangers of driving in flooded areas
(c) The need for better road signs near creeks
(d) The importance of camping near water sources

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Driving in flooded areas can be safe, and it is crucial to be reckless and cross flooded roads or creeks.
2. Leaving the vehicle in such situations is important as it provides a lower vantage point and decreases the chances of being spotted by rescuers.
3. Despite the peaceful situation, the woman remained anxious and stayed in her car until help arrived.
4. The woman drove into a flooded creek due to heavy rainfall, causing her car to flip over.
5. The woman was ignored by someone who was camping nearby and alerted the authorities.
6. If caught in a similar situation, it is recommended to stay with the vehicle, call for help, and wait for assistance to arrive.
7. Officials praised the woman’s resilience and resourcefulness in surviving the ordeal.
8. A woman in Lake Del Valle, California was rescued after spending 14 hours on top of her submerged car.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. How did the woman end up on top of her submerged car?
2. What did officials praise the woman for in regards to her survival?
3. What advice do officials give for those caught in a similar situation?
4. Why is it important to exercise caution when driving in flooded areas?
5. What are the dangers of crossing flooded roads or creeks?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. How did the woman end up stranded on top of her submerged car?
The woman drove into a flooded creek that had become swollen due to heavy rainfall, causing her car to flip over.

2. What did the woman do to survive while waiting to be found?
The woman climbed onto her flipped car and stayed on top of it until help arrived.

3. Who spotted the woman and alerted the authorities?
Someone who was camping nearby spotted the woman and alerted the authorities.

4. How was the woman rescued from her stranded position?
The woman was airlifted to safety by rescue personnel.

5. What did officials praise the woman for?
Officials praised the woman’s resilience and resourcefulness in surviving the ordeal.

6. Why is it important to stay with the vehicle in such situations?
Staying with the vehicle provides a higher vantage point and increases the chances of being spotted by rescuers.

7. What does this incident remind people about driving in flooded areas?
This incident reminds people of the dangers of driving in flooded areas and the need to exercise caution.

8. What steps should be taken if caught in a similar situation?
If caught in a similar situation, it is recommended to stay with the vehicle, call for help, and wait for assistance to arrive.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) submerged
(2) camping
(3) safety
(4) hospital
(5) woman
(6) stayed
(7) arrived
(8) vehicle
(9) rescuers
(10) areas
(11) crossing
(12) water
(13) creek
(14) spotted
(15) incident
(16) serves
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. submerged
Answer: (J) Completely covered with water

2. ordeal
Answer: (D) A difficult or unpleasant experience

3. swollen
Answer: (F) Increased in size, volume, or level, typically as a result of absorption of fluid

4. vantage
Answer: (E) A position that gives a strategic advantage, commanding perspective, or comprehensive view

5. resourcefulness
Answer: (C) The ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties

6. deceivingly
Answer: (N) In a manner that gives a misleading impression

7. highlighted
Answer: (O) Emphasized or made prominent

8. crucial
Answer: (G) Of great importance or necessity

9. caution
Answer: (B) Care taken to avoid danger or mistakes

10. flooded
Answer: (I) Overwhelmed with an excessive amount of water

11. stranded
Answer: (K) Left without the means to move from somewhere

12. airlifted
Answer: (M) Transported by helicopter

13. praised
Answer: (A) Expressed approval or admiration for

14. reminder
Answer: (H) Something that serves to warn or remind

15. authorities
Answer: (L) The group or body of officials with administrative authority in a particular area
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. How long did the woman spend on top of her submerged car?
Answer: (b) 14 hours

2. How was the woman rescued?
Answer: (a) She was airlifted to safety

3. What caused the woman’s car to flip over?
Answer: (c) The force of the water

4. What did officials praise the woman for?
Answer: (d) Her resilience and resourcefulness

5. What did officials emphasize the importance of?
Answer: (d) Staying with the vehicle in such situations

6. What is the danger of driving in flooded areas?
Answer: (c) The water can be deceivingly deep and powerful

7. What is the recommended course of action if caught in a similar situation?
Answer: (a) Stay with the vehicle, call for help, and wait for assistance

8. What does this incident serve as a reminder of?
Answer: (b) The dangers of driving in flooded areas
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Driving in flooded areas can be safe, and it is crucial to be reckless and cross flooded roads or creeks. (Answer: False)
2. Leaving the vehicle in such situations is important as it provides a lower vantage point and decreases the chances of being spotted by rescuers. (Answer: False)
3. Despite the peaceful situation, the woman remained anxious and stayed in her car until help arrived. (Answer: False)
4. The woman drove into a flooded creek due to heavy rainfall, causing her car to flip over. (Answer: True)
5. The woman was ignored by someone who was camping nearby and alerted the authorities. (Answer: False)
6. If caught in a similar situation, it is recommended to stay with the vehicle, call for help, and wait for assistance to arrive. (Answer: True)
7. Officials praised the woman’s resilience and resourcefulness in surviving the ordeal. (Answer: True)
8. A woman in Lake Del Valle, California was rescued after spending 14 hours on top of her submerged car. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧