eng8-u3-reading· UNIT 3. NATURE· ~22 min

Unit 3 Reading: Weather news and forecasts

Read weather reports for conditions, comparisons, causes, timelines, and unstated claims.

Weather reports pack several evidence types into short passages. Separate conditions from consequences, and keep units attached to their numbers. Time phrases such as since mid-July, through at least August, and for a short time set different boundaries. Reporting a hazard does not prove that a particular accident happened. For True, False, or Not Given decisions, compare the exact claim with the supplied text: supported means True, contradicted means False, and absent means Not Given.

Key terms

forecast — A report about weather expected in the future.
widespread — Happening in many places.
minimum boundary — The earliest or smallest limit guaranteed by wording such as at least.
Not Given — A claim the supplied text neither confirms nor contradicts.
Evidence to track
Evidence typeQuestionExample
ConditionWhat weather is reported?fog, gales, showers, flooding
TimeWhen or for how long?by afternoon, since mid-July, at least August
MeasurementWhat does the unit measure?°C for temperature; m/s for wind
ConsequenceWhat changed because of the weather?flooding or cancelled tours
✎Distinguish risk from outcome
  1. 1Text: Fog makes driving difficult.
  2. 2Claim: The fog caused several crashes.
  3. 3Decision: Crashes are Not Given because the text reports risk but no accident.
✎Read a comparison with units
  1. 1Land: Some winds reach 25 m/s.
  2. 2Sea: Open-sea wind reaches 30–35 m/s.
  3. 3Conclusion: The stated maximum is higher over the open sea.
🚫Do not upgrade a report

Extreme conditions do not automatically mean worst in history unless the passage gives that comparison.

💡Weather dimensions can differ

Mild air temperature can appear in the same report as dangerous wind.

⚠️Keep qualifiers

Some areas, most of the day, usually, and for a short time prevent overgeneralization.

Rules

  1. 1List the place, condition, time, and consequence separately before answering.
  2. 2Keep measurements in their categories: degrees describe temperature, while metres per second describe wind speed.
  3. 3Treat at least as a minimum boundary, not as a guaranteed ending point.
  4. 4Use cause-and-effect only when the report connects the events, such as heavy rain causing flooding.
  5. 5Do not turn a risk into an event: difficult driving does not prove that accidents occurred.
  6. 6For Not Given, check that the passage neither supports nor contradicts the exact claim.

Practice

5 easy · 5 medium · 5 hard

Up to 10 random questions per test

EasyMediumHardMixed