UNIT 3

Describe meteorological conditions; interpret synoptic charts and

meteorological information; give navigational warnings; report damage
caused by bad weather at sea; describe procedures for survival at sea
Grammar: Present Perfect and Past Simple; adverbs of time yet, already, just, still
and always
Vocabulary: verbs and connectives describing cause and effect, sea conditions;
verbs describing the movement of a vessel; life-saving equipment on ships;
equipment in survival craft
Listening and speaking: talking about the relationship between meteorology and ship
safety
Reading and writing: reporting meteorological conditions, synoptic charts and
meteorological information, damage caused by adverse weather and survival
procedures at sea

Scan read the short newspaper articles. Which of the article refer to these
topics?
the weather

emergencies

new products

health

GRAMMAR
Present Perfect Tense and Past Simple
The present perfect tense is used to talk about events that are related to now. We
dont know exactly when this events happened but they are usually recent
events.
We have developed a problem which we are working on that moment.
The Past Simple is used to talk about events which are finished. It is often marked
with words such as yesterday, in 1982, last month, twenty minutes ago.
I tried to contact the Coastguard about an hour ago but there was no response.
Read these sentences. Circle the most appropriate tense, Present Perfect or Past
Simple.
1. I have studied/I studied Spanish at school but I have forgotten/I forgot all of it
now.
2. The rain has stopped/The rain stopped half an hour ago but the crew hasnt
started/the crew didnt start loading yet.
3. Have you seen/did you see the whales when you have been/you were on
watch?
4. Have you met/did you meet the superintendent before? I dont think so.
Pleased to meet you.
5. And now some late newsPolice located/police have located the three cars
which a group of youths apparently stole/have stolen last Friday night.
6. The weather has become/The weather became milder recently. We can start
using the swimming pool again.
7. Why do you feel you could do this job? Well, I have done/I did similar jobs
before.
8. He has hurt/He hurt his back last month, so I heard. Yes, he has fallen/fell off
a ladder.

The Present perfect is often used with the words yet, already, just, still, and
always. Choose the correct word to complete the definition below.
1. .has two meaning. It means before now and is usually
used in positive sentences.
He has checked the fire fighting equipment.
The ship has left the port.
2. .. means a very short time ago.
He has checked the fire fighting equipment
Ive .. seen him in the messroom
3. .. means until now and is usually used in questions and
negative sentences.
Have you checked the fire fighting equipment..?
I havent checked the fire fighting equipment ..
4. ..means during a period of time or during ones life.
He has .been a keen fisherman
Have you .. worked here?
5. means up to and including now and expresses the
speakers surprise or annoyance. It is most often used in negative sentences.
He . hasnt checked the davits
They . havent sent us details of the training course.
CAUSE AND EFFECT
Cause and Effects can be described in a number of ways, using different verbs or
connectives. Here are some examples.
Cause/reason
The publication of a new
book
A new book was published

A new book was published

Verb or connective
has resulted in
has led to
has given rise to
has caused
As a result
For this/that reason
Consequently,
Because of this/that
So
With the result that

Effect/result
heated debate from many
sources
there was heated debate
from many sources
There was heated debate
from many sources

EXERCISE
Match the halves of these sentences together to make logical statements.
Faulty refrigeration
The threat of pirate attacks

led to widespread
seasickness
among the
passengers

The bosun studied hard

rough seas
The recommendation
contained in STCW are now
in force
water leaking into the hold
chemical cargoes may be
toxic

and as a result his

foreign language
skills improved
consequently, the
company is
implementing
new training
courses
will cause damage to
a cargo of grain
for this reason,
personnel
should wear
appropriate
protective gear
has given rise to
stricter security
in certain
stretches of the
water

Do this quiz to test your knowledge of meteorology

1. Which of the following is not precipitation?
a) Snow
b) Ice
c) Rain
d) Sleet
2) Which of the following grades wind speed?
a) Plimsoll Line
b) Beaufort Scale
c) Douglas Sea Scale
d) Fujita Scale

3) What is the rotation around a large low pressure area called?

a) a cyclone
b) an anti-cyclone
c) a depression
d) a front
4) What is a hurricane called in Asia?
5) sky is blue because of sunlight on:
a) dust
b) nitrogen and oxygen
c) water vapour
d) ozone
Answer
1) b (Precipitation is the falling to earth of any form of water. is includes:
rain,
snow, hail, sleet or mist)
2) b (Plimsoll line is the loading line on the hull of ships.e Douglas Sea
Scale
describes height of waves and swell.e Fujita Scale rates tornado
intensity.)
3) a (An anti-cyclone is when descending air over a high pressure area
takes a spiralling
motion clockwise in the northern hemisphere and anticlockwise in the
southern hemisphere. A depression is an area of low pressure and a front
is the
boundary between air masses.)
4) Typhoon
5) b

a) fog b) gale c) calm d) icing

Exercise
Which phrases also match the pictures?
a) Zero force
b) Heavy swell
c) Poor visibility
d) Sea spray
e) Freezing conditions
f) Fair weather
g) Low cloud
h) High seas
i) Gale force winds
j) Flat calm
k) Sub zero temperatures
l) Dense mist

LISTENING
Listen to the cassette. You are going to hear a conversation on the bridge of the
MV Elga during bad weather. What are the weather conditions like? Choose from
the list below.
TIDAL STREAM

FLOATING ICE

TORRENTIAL RAIN

FOG BANK

TROPICAL STORM

HIGH WINDS

GALES

DUST STORM

POOR VISIBILITY

SNOW

Read these sentences from the dialogue. In all of these sentences someone is
reporting news. Answer the questions.
1. Which sentence use a different tense from the other sentences?
2. Why is a different used?
Sir, Ive just received a security call
I tried to contact the coastguard about an hour ago but there was
no response
The tanker has requested all other vessels in her vicinity to be on
standby
Ive just noticed that weve drifted 5 degrees off course in this gale
Ive tried again but I still havent had any response

Writing
Exercise .
Study this weather forecast and use the information to complete the
form:
Severe gale warning for sea area Viking: Cyclonic north 7 becoming severe gale
9 expected soon. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first. Showers.
Moderate or good.
Gale warning
LOCATION
WIND

PRESENT:
FUTURE

VISIBILITY
WEATHER
SEAS