Proficiency English - Text summary and analysis
a) Find a text on the given topic. Suggested sites include bbc.co.uk, guardian.co.uk, wikipedia.org
Ohio train derailment: Rail firm pulls out of meeting with residents
b) As you read the text highlight the facts and the opinions using two different colours.
On the one hand, we can see the opinion of the local residents of the area, who are concerned about the damages o
their health that can be caused by the vinyl chloride. On the other hand, the owner of the company or the rail
derailment states that it is not harmful for the health of the residents in the area; whose state can be proven by his
unattendance to the meeting.
c) Summarise the main points of the text.
Residents of East Palestine, Ohio, gathered in a public meeting to voice their anger over a toxic chemical spill caused
by a train derailment that occurred 13 days earlier. The representatives of Norfolk Southern railway company, whose
train caused the incident, did not attend, citing security concerns. Emergency crews performed a controlled release of
vinyl chloride from five railcars that were at risk of exploding. Many residents were frightened about the potential
harms that impacted humans and wildlife alike. Many have reported difficulties getting their water tested, fueling
mistrust of what they see as an ineffective and inadequate response to the crisis. The EPA announced that the head
of the agency, Michael Regan, is expected to travel to East Palestine to meet with local officials and assess the
response to the derailment.
d) Evaluate the text. Do you agree with it? Why / Why not?
I firmly believe that the vinyl chloride form five railcars that are at risk of exploding is likely to be harmful for the
health local residents. On account of that, from my point of view is a lack of respect not going to the meeting, as it
can be seen as if you were not interested or concerned about it.
e) Choose 2 words from the text to look up in the collocations dictionary (try www.ozdic.com) and write down
the most common collocations.
1 company: business organization
ADJ.
- big, large, major, medium-sized, small | start-up
- associated, commercial, joint-stock, limited, private, public
- international, multi-national, national | trading
- bus, record, etc.
VERB + COMPANY
- create, establish, form, found, set up, start (up) | manage, operate, run | acquire, buy, take over | dissolve |
work for
2 media:
ADJ.
- audio-visual, broadcast, broadcasting, electronic, mass, news, print, visual
- foreign, international, local, national | mainstream, official, popular
MEDIA + VERB
- report sth
MEDIA + NOUN
- attention, coverage, interest, publicity, reporting
f) Choose 3 expressions or collocations from the text and write them down here.
3 cited: refer to or quote
4 seething: angry or agitated.
5 pull out: withdraw involvement in