Mastering English: Complete Exercise Correction, Dialogue Practice, and Emergency Response Reading

1. Language Learning Insights

1. According to the text, the best way of learning a foreign language is to go and live in another country.

2. They think that it is very difficult (to learn without the presence of a teacher) because online learning is a relatively new option.

3. Two qualities that online students must have are to be familiar with the use of computers and to have a lot of learning autonomy.

4. 'Learning autonomy' means that you should look for information and practice outside the classroom.

5. They can have the impression that they do not advance in their studies because learning online takes time.

2. Meeting and Greeting Dialogue

Good morning, Jack, how are you?  
Hans: Great, thanks, Jack. This is...

Jack: Nice to meet you.

You: Nice to meet you too.

Jack: Have you and Hans known each other for long?

You: Well, we've known each other for five years now. We worked together in an earthquake in Turkey.

Jack: Good, and are you ready to help?

You: Yes, I am. Do you have any idea where we'll go?

Jack: We don't know yet. I think we're expecting a note from the DART with instructions.

You: Excuse me?

Jack: I said we were expecting a note with instructions.

You: Oh, yes. Well, Jack, I think they're calling us. We should go.

You: It was a pleasure meeting you.

Jack: Yes, a pleasure for me too. Bye.

You: Bye.

3. Tropical Storm and Rescue Operation Report

The tropical storm that swept through the Philippines over the last weekend has left 80% of Manila underwater, hundreds of casualties, and hundreds of thousands of people displaced. The DART has been assigned rescue tasks in the City of Marikina, a suburb east of the capital. Reports from the teams already working on the spot speak of a total number of 124 bodies recovered so far and between 180 and 200 still missing.

Thousands of other people have been moved to field hospitals, where they are currently receiving medical assistance. Your task will consist of recovering the bodies from the collapsed buildings and looking for any survivors that might still be found in the ruins. For this task, we will have the collaboration of rescue dogs from a Canadian team.

All the personnel participating in the rescue operation must operate within the framework established by the procedure guide which was distributed to all the rescue teams. As operations are inherently dangerous and involve the performance of activities in adverse conditions, all the team members are requested to scrupulously observe the safety standards established by the Singapore Civil Defence Force. Such standards include a risk assessment and appropriate risk mitigation efforts before taking any action.

4. Official Request for Reinforcements

I am writing as a member of the DART rescue team in the City of Marikina. I should say that the situation is much worse than expected. The streets are flooded, and most houses have been destroyed.

We have recovered 86 bodies and rescued about 20 people so far, but reports from local people speak of more victims that are still missing, including at least 25 children and eight adults trapped by the water in what used to be the school.

Although we are doing all we can, our human and material resources are not enough to do everything possible to save more lives. For this reason, we must request you to send another rescue team in order to help in the rescue tasks. On the other hand, we also need some material resources, such as blankets, fresh water, stretchers, and medicines.

Because of the urgency of the situation, we hope that you can pay your utmost attention to our request, or many more people may die for lack of help.