●Questions

1.What do you know about the most terrible natural disaster?

2.Many people believe that human beings need to have a sense of humility toward nature. Do you share this feeling?

●California Fires

Underneath the layer of thick smoke now covering all of southern California, thousands of __________ are still struggling to contain ten separate ________. Thirteen people are now known to have died, at least nine in the state's biggest fire in San Diego County.

Over a quarter of a million ________ and six hundred and fifty homes have been destroyed in what the ________ governor, Gray Davis, is calling the worst fires in California for a decade.

He’s asked President Bush to declare the area a _______________to free up federal funds. The fires have taken hold because of ________ and an ________ of bark beetle, which has left millions of dead trees. Emergency services say it may take until Wednesday bring the fires under control.