ESL BLUE(s)   The Hurricane: present progressive tense   

The hurricane: quiz on present tense forms

This is the original, old-style quiz. There is a new version, in the form of two quizzes that are much more interactive. They also work on all devices: phone, tablet, notebook, desktop, tv. Here are the links: Quiz 1    Quiz 2

The reading text describes what normally happens during a hurricane. For this exercise, imagine that you are a television reporter describing the approach and the arrival of a hurricane. Because it is happening now, you must use the present progressive instead of the simple present.
Look at the examples at the beginning of the text.
Click for more information about:    present tenses


(10 a.m. newscast)
 
A hurricane approaches the Florida coast.        is approaching
It doesn't move very quickly so people have time to react.       is not moving
Meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center monitor the storm very carefully.
They warn the population that a hurricane is approaching.
Winds increase in strength
and the residents take the necessary precautions.
Many schools and businesses close early.
Parents make sure that their children are safe at home.
Some people do some last-minute shopping for food and emergency supplies.
Stores run out of things like candles, flashlights and batteries.
Many residents cover their windows with plywood.
The government encourages those who live very close to the ocean to move to evacuation centers.
Heavy traffic causes huge bottlenecks on certain roads and bridges.
The shelters fill up with people from all over the area.
Volunteers and government employees look after their needs.
They provide blankets, bedding and food.
The evacuees don't feel very safe, however.
Everybody stands anxiously around the television, waiting for news.

 
(6 p.m. newscast)
 
The hurricane hits the coast.
All hell breaks loose.

Gigantic waves crash onto the beaches.
The wind attacks everything in its path.
Trees and branches fall to the ground,
windows break,
roofs fly off houses.

The wind grabs any loose object
and carries it away.
Anybody foolish enough to go outdoors runs the risk of injury of death from all the flying debris.
Because of the violence of the storm, people don't feel secure even inside their homes.
Some areas of the city experience power outages.
The police don't patrol the streets.
There's no need. Nobody goes out onto the streets in the middle of such a violent storm.

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