Niagara!
(B2)
A Before you start
Answer the questions with a partner.
1. What do you know about Niagara Falls? (Where is it? Whats special about it?)
2. Have you seen it in real life?
3. If not, have you seen it on TV or at the cinema?
4. Why do you think millions of people flock to see it every year?
B Read and answer
Read the main article and answer the questions.
1. What is the flow rate of water going over Niagara Falls?
2. What is Niagara Falls made up of?
3. On which side of the border is the most spectacular waterfall situated?
4. How did Roger Woodward come to fall over Niagara Falls?
5. Why is it difficult to prevent people from committing suicide at the Falls?
6. How did Annie Taylor prepare for her ride over the Falls?
7. What is done to discourage people from attempting stunts at the Falls?
8. What record did Nick Wallenda establish?
9. What precautions was he forced to take?
10. Which side of the Falls is more built-up and commercially exploited?
C Listen and answer
N.B. This interview is graded as C1. So dont be discouraged if you find it difficult. Try to understand the main
points.
Read these statements. Then listen to the interview with Captain John Williams, without reading,
and write T (true) or F (false).
1. The Canadian pleasure boat Maid of the Mist starts its journey about one kilometre from the
Falls.
2. The trip lasts over 30 minutes.
3. The water in front of the American Falls is usually calm.
4. Its rougher when the boat approaches the Horseshoe Falls.
5. Theres a waterfall in Quebec thats much higher than the Horseshoe Falls.
6. Niagara Falls gets its water from the surrounding mountains.
7. The couples who choose to get married at Niagara Falls are usually very young.
8. They often get wet during the ceremony.
D Listen, read and check your answers
Listen to the interview while reading the text.(If you did Exercise C, check your answers while
reading.)
E Learn it! Use it!
Complete these sentences with words from the glossary. (You may have to adapt the expression in
some way; e.g. change from plural to singular.)
1. We couldnt see the island because there was a ________ over the sea.
2. The bathrooms in that hotel all have showers but no ________.
3. When Mandy got married, her younger sister was a ________.
4. It started raining heavily during the match and the players got ________.
5. I asked the hotel receptionist for an extra blanket and a softer ________.
6. Marys little daughter is a real ________; shes always climbing trees or riding her bike down
steep hills.
7. Some people hang a ________ on the wall over a door because they think it brings good luck.
8. The house was built in 1920 and all the furniture was ________ by a company in Paris.
F Ready for FCE? (Paper 3: Use of English, Part 4)
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word
given. Do not change the word given. Use between 2 and 5 words including the word given.
Example:
Twelve million visitors a year must be right.
WRONG
Twelve million visitors a year cant be wrong.
1.
WIDE
2.
HIGHEST
3.
SURVIVED
4.
INSISTED
5.
FROM
6.
HOW
7.
TAKES
8.
MIND
The width of Horseshoe Falls is nearly eight hundred metres.
Horseshoe Falls is ____________________________.
No other waterfall in the world has such a high flow rate.
They have the ____________________________ waterfall in the world.
In 2009 a would-be suicide jumped over the Horseshoe Falls and lived.
In 2009 a would-be suicide ____________________________ Horseshoe Falls.
The ABC TV network made sure Wallenda was secured by a rope.
The ABC TV network ____________________________ Wallenda by a rope.
The Falls can be enjoyed from the beautiful parkland created by the Americans.
The Americans have created ____________________________ to enjoy the Falls.
People dont realise that the Falls are so big.
People dont realise ____________________________.
Lots of people are surprised by it.
It ____________________________ surprise.
They are soaked but it doesnt seem to bother them.
They are soaked but they ____________________________.
G Talk about it
In pairs or groups.
1. Why do you think so many people choose places like Niagara Falls to commit suicide?
2. The article claims that Niagara falls is one of the seven wonders of the world. Can you name any
of the others?
3. Do you think there are any places in Brazil that could be considered wonders of the world?
4. If so, which? Why?
Answers
B Read and answer
1. 140,000 cubic metres per minute. 2. Its made up of three waterfalls: the Horseshoe Falls, the
American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. 3. On the Canadian side. 4. He was involved in a
boating accident. 5. Because its impossible for police to access the Falls. 6. She had a special
barrel made, which she tested on her cat, and she took her lucky pillow with her. 7. There are
heavy fines. 8. He was the first person to walk across the Falls on a tightrope. 9. He had to be
secured by a rope. 10. The Canadian side, where there are casinos. On the American side theres
parkland.
D Listen, read and check your answers
1. T 2. F It lasts less than half an hour. 3. F Its common for it to be rough, which is a
preview of what its like at the Horseshoe Falls. 4. T 5. T 6. F All the water comes from
Lake Erie. 7. F They are usually people getting married for a second time or renewing their
vows. 8. T
E Learn it! Use it!
1. mist 2. bathtubs 3. bridesmaid 4. soaked 5. pillow 6. daredevil 7. horseshoe 8.
custom-made
F Ready for FCE?
1. nearly eight hundred metres wide 2. highest flow rate of any 3. survived (after) jumping
over the 4. insisted on securing 5. beautiful parkland from which 6. how big the Falls are
7. takes lots of people by 8. dont seem to mind
