Unit 13: Nature and Weather
Topic Overview: Describing Nature
In this unit, we explore the world around us, from the busystreets of the city to the quiet peace of the countryside. We also look at the sky to talk about the weather. When we describe the weather, we often use adjectiveslike sunny, cloudy, windy, and stormy. Temperature is important too; it can be freezing, cold, cool, warm, or hot.
We also compare places. A rural area might have a forest, a stream, or a valley. An urban area usually has traffic, skyscrapers, and pollution.
Grammar Focus 1: Future Possibilities and Plans
1. Be going to: Use this for plans you have already made orpredictions based on evidence you can see now.
- Plan: I am going to visit my grandmother this weekend.
- Evidence: Look at those dark clouds! It is going to rain.
2. Might: Use this when you are not 100% sure. It expresses possibility (about 50% chance).
- I might go tothe beach, but I haven’t decided yet.
- It might snow tonight, but the forecast isn’t clear.
Grammar Focus 2: Present Perfect for Duration
We use the Present Perfect (have/has + past participle) to talk about actions that started in the past and continue to now.
How long…? is used to ask about duration.
- Since: Use with a specific starting point (e.g., since Monday, since 2010, since I was a child).
- For: Use with a period of time (e.g., for two hours, for three years, for a long time).
Exercise 1: Weather Vocabulary Match
Match the weather word with its definition or description.
- Blizzard: (A) A flash of bright light in the sky.
- Drought: (B) A heavy snowstorm with strong winds.
- Lightning: (C) Water that is frozen solid.
- Fog: (D) A long period with no rain.
- Humid: (E) Thick clouds low to the ground that make it hard to see.
- Flood: (F) When there is too muchwater on the streets.
- Ice: (G) The air feels wet and sticky.
- Thunder: (H) The loud noise heard during a storm.
Exercise 2: For or Since?
Complete the sentences with for or since.
- We have lived in this house ________ 2015.
- She has known her best friend ________ ten years.
- It has been raining ________ this morning.
- I have been waiting for the bus ________ twenty minutes.
- They have been married ________ a long time.
- He hasn’t eaten meat ________ last January.
- We have studiedEnglish ________ three months.
- I haven’t seen him ________ I was a child.
Exercise 3: Might or Be Going To?
Circle the correct form. ‘Might’ is for uncertainty; ‘Going to’ is for plans or clear evidence.
- Look at the blue sky! It ( might / is going to ) be a beautifulday.
- I am not sure what to do. I ( might / am going to ) watch a movie.
- She bought the plane tickets. She ( might / is going to ) fly to Paris.
- There is a lot of traffic. We ( might / are going to ) be late.
- Take an umbrella. It ( might / is going to ) rain later, but who knows?
- I ( might / am going to ) be a doctor when I grow up. It is my plan.
- Don’t touch that dog. It ( might / is going to ) bite you.
- Where are you going? I ( might / am going to ) the shops.
Exercise 4: City vs. Countryside
Categorize the following words into ‘City’ or ‘Countryside’. Some might fit both!
skyscraper, field, traffic jam, subway, valley, cow, museum, farm, pollution, forest, lane, crowd
- City: ____________________
- City: ____________________
- City: ____________________
- City: ____________________
- Countryside: ____________________
- Countryside: ____________________
- Countryside: ____________________
- Countryside: ____________________
Exercise 5: Unscramble the Sentences
Put the words in the correct order to make sentences.
- rain / going / is / it / to / soon / ?
- might / park / go / we / the / to / .
- lived / have / I / here / years / for / two /.
- since / hasn’t / she / called / Monday / .
- scenery / the / beautiful / is / countryside / in / the / .
- going / visit / to / are / they / museum / the / .
- might / snow / winter / this / it / .
- long / have / how / you / known /him / ?
Exercise 6: Complete the Predictions
Complete the sentences using ‘will’, ‘won\’t’, ‘might’, or ‘going to’.
- I think cars ________ fly in the year 3000. (Prediction)
- I ________ study tonight because I have a test tomorrow. (Plan)
- I’m not sure, but I ________ go to Italy next summer. (Possibility)
- Look out! That tree is ________ fall! (Evidence)
- In the future, people ________ probably live longer. (Prediction)
- We ________ have a picnic if it rains. (Negative prediction)
- He ________ be home by 6:00, but he usually works late. (Possibility)
- I bought the ingredients. I ________ make a cake. (Plan)
