Summary Exercise using ICT
Lesson 1
Instructions:
• Read the passage and summary question.
• Identify at least 18 main points in the summary.
• Apply the 3R Approach to Summary
Passage B
Hurricane Katrina, which struck the U.S. Gulf Coast in August 2005, may rank among the costliest natural disasters in lost human lives and destroyed property in U.S. history. The hurricane which affected the south-western states had the worst impact on Louisiana, particularly, New Orleans.
Aerial surveys show that Louisiana's barrier islands have sustained especially heavy losses from Katrina's scouring winds and waves. Some island chains, like the delicate, crescent-shaped Chandeleur Islands off the southeastern coast, scarcely exist today. In addition to their vital roles in the Gulf ecosystem, the barrier islands and wetlands also play a crucial part in protecting coastal communities from future hurricanes. The damage from Katrina may have been worse if those islands weren't there. Now with many of the islands reduced to sandbars and with acres of marshes washed out, those natural defenses are gone.
Katrina also damaged the Louisiana’s wetlands, a huge swath of marshes that makes up 40 percent of the wetlands in the Louisiana supports both freshwater and saltwater marshes which have been completely blown out by Hurricane Katrina. It is unlikely that the vegetation may grow back. Besides, vegetation along water sources have literally disappeared and whatever remains have turned an unhealthy brown shade.
Fishermen and state agencies are reporting that Katrina took a devastating toll on the local sea harvests, including shrimp, crab, and especially oysters. Louisiana officials estimate that two-thirds of Louisiana's oysters may have been destroyed. Louisiana is the number one oyster producer in the nation. They contribute over 40 percent of the U.S. supply of oysters. As a result of the catastrophe, the US had to resort to increase the oyster imports from other countries. Thousands of jobs in the region depend on the oyster industry and as a result of the disaster, thousands of fisherman find themselves to be unemployed and unsettled.
Floodwater in the city became contaminated as it cascaded through streets and into more than 160,000 homes and businesses. The torrent split open containers of household chemicals, overturned automobiles and cracked their gas tanks, and disturbed underground gas and oil tanks.
Adding to the toxic brew is runoff from leaking sewer and gas pipes, which sustained damage when Katrina toppled trees; roots ripped soil and pipes from below ground like giant pitchforks. Human corpses and dead pets and other animals have also not been cleared from city floodwater, further raising the risk of bacterial contamination.
After Katrina, much discussion has gone on in trying to salvage the situation. There are plans of placing dredged material for a platform for the plants to grow on. The Louisiana Coastal Area Ecosystem Restoration Plan is also planning to launch projects big and small to rebuild barrier islands and replant lost marsh grass.
Adapted from National Geographic, Teri Mitchel, The destruction of the Gulf Coast, 2005
Using your own words as far as possible, summarise how Hurricane Katrina affected Louisiana and the plans which have been discussed to improve conditions in this US state.
USE THE MATERIAL IN PASSAGE B from line 6 to line 47
Your summary, which must be in continuous writing (not note form), must not be more than 150 words (not counting the words given to help you to begin).
Begin your summary as follows: [25]
Hurricane Katrina had the most devastating impact on Louisiana where Louisiana's barrier islands have sustained heavy losses. Katrina damaged the Louisiana’s wetlands therefore it is unlikely that vegetation may grow back. Besides, vegetation disappearing, whatever remains have turned an unhealthy brown shade. Louisiana officials estimate that two-thirds of Louisiana's oysters have been destroyed therefore the US had to resort to increase the oyster imports from other countries. Fishermen were unemployed and unsettled as many depend on oyster industry. The toxic brew is runoff from leaking sewer, gas pipes and roots ripped soil and pipes from below ground. Human corpses, dead pets and other animals have not been cleared from city floodwater. Therefore, it raises the risk of bacterial contamination. Plans of placing dredged material for a platform for the plants to grow on and planning to launch projects big and small to rebuild barrier islands and replant lost marsh grass were being carried out to salvage the situation.