Elephants on the coast of Thailand are acting strange. They stamp their feet and motion toward the hills. The sea draws back from the beaches. Fish flop in the mud. Suddenly, a huge wave appears. This is no ordinary wave. It is a tsunami! Tsunami waves are larger and faster than normal surface waves. A tsunami wave can travel as fast as a jet plane and can be as tall as a ten-story building. For a tsunami to occur, there must be some kind of force that causes the ocean water to become displaced. Most tsunamis are caused by underwater earthquakes. However, volcanoes, landslides, large icebergs, and even meteorites are capable of causing one of these mighty waves. Tsunamis are extremely powerful. Because tsunami waves are so strong, they can kill people, damage property, and completely ruin an ecosystem in just one hour. Scientists have no way of predicting when a tsunami will hit. However, if a powerful enough earthquake occurs, scientists can issue a warning or a watch. A warning means that a tsunami will very likely hit soon. A watch means that conditions are favourable for a tsunami. When people are notified about a watch or a warning, they have more time to prepare. It is best not to get caught unaware when a tsunami is on the way! A. Match the underlined words in the text with their definitions. 1. saying that something will happen before it happens 2. move in a loose, heavy, and uncontrolled way 3. not knowing or realizing that something is happening 4. very strong and powerful 5. good for something and making it likely to be successful 6. moved out of the usual or proper place 7. all the plants and living creatures in a particular area B. Choose the correct answers. 1. Why are the elephants acting strange? A. They are not used to seeing fish. B. They dislike wading into the ocean. C. They can sense something out of the ordinary. D. They see the ocean drawing back from the beaches. 2. What is this passage mostly about? A. How to prepare for tsunamis. B. Scientists who predict tsunami waves. C. Similarities and differences between wave types. D. Causes and effects of tsunamis. 3. Which does not cause a tsunami? A. earthquakes B. mudslides C. volcanic eruptions D. meteorites 4. Tsunamis cause so much destruction because they . A. can be predicted by scientists B. break on the coast, unlike normal waves C. are caused by volcanoes, landslides and meteorites D. can be as tall as a ten-story building 5. We can conclude from the last paragraph that . A. a tsunami warning is more serious than a watch B. a tsunami watch is more serious than a warning C. a tsunami warning and watch are equally serious D. a tsunami warning and watch both mean a tsunami has formed