Learning English

Record-breaking snow storm hits Spain

Spain is in a race against time to clear roads covered by heavy snow, and get Covid vaccines and food supplies to areas affected by Storm Filomena. 

Up to 50cm of snow fell on the capital Madrid, one of the worst hit areas, between Friday and Saturday.

At least four people died and thousands of travellers were left stranded. Catherine and Neil have the vocabulary you need to talk about this story.

รับชมวิดีโอพร้อมทำแบบฝีกหัด

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The story

That came as a welcome sound to the thousand or so drivers rescued in their vehicles overnight – snow being cleared from the roads. More than 400 trunk roads are blocked. Bus services in and around the capital have been suspended for the day.

The mayor, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, has asked for the army to send in more soldiers to help. But he’s also appealed to people to stay home. It could be that snow proves the great enforcer – movement restrictions are being imposed on 23 more zones around Madrid from Monday to combat coronavirus.

Key words and phrases

blankets 
covers completely with a layer of something

• Volcanoes blanket the ground with ash.
• A blanket of snow covered the entire city.

wreaks havoc
causes chaos or damage 

• Trump’s supporters wreaked havoc in the Capitol.
• The children’s party wreaked havoc on the restaurant.

swathes
large areas

• Swathes of rainforest are in danger of being lost forever.
• Swathes of Europe are under coronavirus lockdown.

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