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time afterwards, but when it was cool enough for me to search I could find
nothing there.”
Lightning Strike
It is not surprising that people in the past were afraid of lightning and
thought it was a sign of anger from their gods. In fact we still find lightning
thrilling and fascinating. It is now also an important area of research for scien-
tists, who are trying to uncover its secrets and are looking for ways to predict
storms and protect people against lightning strikes.
(1____)
In England and Wales things are not quite as bad as they were in Italy, but
about a dozen people are struck by lightning every year and a quarter of those
are killed as a result. Men are six times more likely to be struck by lightning
than women.
(2____)
The experience of Roy Sullivan shows how dangerous it can be to work
outside. Roy, a former park ranger in Virginia, USA, held the world record for
being struck by lightning. He was first hit in 1942, losing just the nail from his
big toe. He was struck again in 1969, 1970, 1972 and 1973. In 1976 a strike hurt
his ankle and in 1977 he suffered chest and stomach burns. After surviving all
this, he killed himself in 1983.
(3____)
But even the most advanced forecasting systems can sometimes be caught
out when the weather springs one of its surprises. In March 1993, Florida and
other states of America were struck by driving blizzards and severe lightning
storms. At the peak the “Sunshine State” was hit by an astonishing 5.000 strikes
an hour. The cause of the storm and the reason it suddenly died out as it trav-
elled north, is yet another mystery of the lightning phenomenon.
2.3. Listening Practice
Exercise 1.
Listen to this account of the months of the year as seen in England.
The Months of the Year.
by Sara Coleridge (1802-1852)
January brings the snow;
Makes the toes and fingers glow.
February brings the rain,
Thaws the frozen ponds again.
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