more on the oil spill
American President Barack Obama has said the oil giant British Petroleum (BP) is responsible for paying for cleaning up the huge oil spill off America’s southern coast. The oil slick is now the size of Jamaica and has started washing up on beaches in Louisiana. Obama told reporters that BP "is ultimately responsible under the law for paying the costs of response and cleanup operations". US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano echoed her boss’ words. She called on BP to take urgent action to send resources to tackle the disaster. BP’s CEO Tony Hayward is in the area to personally direct the emergency mop-up and damage limitation exercise. President Obama has also visited the area.
The catastrophe began last week when a BP offshore oil rig exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico. As much as 5,000 barrels of oil a day are now pouring into the sea. Experts believe it is on its way to becoming the worst oil spill in U.S. history. Even worse then the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster. The spill could cause enormous environmental and economic damage to the southern U.S. states. Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi have all called a state of emergency. One of the biggest problems is the difficulty of cleaning up the oil. The affected coastline is full of wetlands that are difficult to reach by boat. Hundreds of different species are under threat including very rare bird and marine life.
1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).
a.
The U.S. president has said BP is responsible for oil-spill cleanup costs.
T / F
b.
The oil spill has reached as far as Jamaica in the Caribbean.
T / F
c.
BP is not legally responsible for paying for the cleanup.
T / F
d.
BP’s CEO is nowhere to be seen.
T / F
e.
Over 5,000 barrels of oil a day are spilling into the ocean.
T / F
f.
The article says the spill is now the biggest in U.S. history.
T / F
g.
Four different states have declared emergencies.
T / F
h.
The areas affected by the spill are not easy to reach.
T / F
The catastrophe began last week when a BP offshore oil rig exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico. As much as 5,000 barrels of oil a day are now pouring into the sea. Experts believe it is on its way to becoming the worst oil spill in U.S. history. Even worse then the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster. The spill could cause enormous environmental and economic damage to the southern U.S. states. Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi have all called a state of emergency. One of the biggest problems is the difficulty of cleaning up the oil. The affected coastline is full of wetlands that are difficult to reach by boat. Hundreds of different species are under threat including very rare bird and marine life.
1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).
a.
The U.S. president has said BP is responsible for oil-spill cleanup costs.
T / F
b.
The oil spill has reached as far as Jamaica in the Caribbean.
T / F
c.
BP is not legally responsible for paying for the cleanup.
T / F
d.
BP’s CEO is nowhere to be seen.
T / F
e.
Over 5,000 barrels of oil a day are spilling into the ocean.
T / F
f.
The article says the spill is now the biggest in U.S. history.
T / F
g.
Four different states have declared emergencies.
T / F
h.
The areas affected by the spill are not easy to reach.
T / F
posted by the blog at 3:55 PM
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