Describe a natural calamity that you fear – IELTS Cue Card

Describe a natural calamity that you fear

You should say:

• What it is?
• Why do you fear it?
• How does it affect people’s lives?
• And explain how you think the damage can be reduced.

Sample Answer 1

Natural calamities are some of the most disastrous events that take place on this Earth. Since we do not have a precise system to predict the occurrence of natural disasters like earthquakes, cyclones, floods, etc. the havoc and loss caused by such events are catastrophic. Although with the evolution of human civilization, we have adapted and formulated various strategies and contingencies to tackle these unforeseen adversities, there are still certain natural calamities where human effort does not make much of a difference. One such natural disaster which poses a considerable threat to human life and property is a cyclone.

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Cyclones are large air masses that rotate around a single point called the eye of the cyclone. These winds blow at tremendous speeds and tend to uproot almost anything in their paths. Cyclones are also known to cause flooding in the areas that are affected by a cyclone, leading to the destruction of more life and property. One of the primary reasons that make cyclones so terrifying is their unpredictability and also the intensity at which they can occur. When the intensity of a cyclone crosses a certain threshold, they are called super-cyclones and these catastrophes can seriously damage the areas that are unfortunate enough to experience them.

Cyclones are known for being extremely destructive. The cyclone winds, which blow at dangerously high speeds can uproot huge trees and even lead to buildings collapsing to the ground. The areas that have the most detrimental effects are coastal regions as these places experience the cyclones at their full intensity. Coastal areas and fishing villages are often left in ruins in the aftermath of a super cyclone.

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Although there is not much we can do when it comes to the prevention of damage caused by cyclones, we can create cyclone shelters for people who live in or around the areas of impact, especially coastal areas. The government should also organize more relief efforts for the affected areas and people.

Sample Answer 2

Calamities always create a huge amount of loss. A human-caused calamity can be prevented by undertaking proper measures. On the other hand, natural calamities create more havoc than the human-caused ones because they are unpredictable. I am not a fan of any of the natural calamities that shake the world once in a while, but the one that I am concerned about the most is cyclones or any kind of destructive storms.

Cyclones are mainly caused by disturbances in the atmosphere in a low pressure belt. This results in the occurrence of violent winds which can blow at a range of 120 km/hr to 250 km/hr. Sometimes, these strong winds are accompanied by heavy rainfall due to the depression caused by the storm. India is one of the worst affected countries as it has a coastline of 8041 kilometers. Most of the storms are formed in the Bay of Bengal and affect the eastern part of the country like Orissa and West Bengal. The storms rising in the Arabian Sea are less in number.

Cyclones or the super storms unsettle me so much because they bring double-fold destruction. When a cyclone strikes a part of the country, it is not only affected by the irrepressible winds, but the profuse rainfall leads to flooding. As a result, more lives are lost, and settlements are erased. Even if the people are given prior warning, and preventive steps are taken, the damage caused by the tempest disrupts normal life. Recent cyclones that aggravated the pandemic situation of India in 2021 are Cyclone Tauktae that affected the western part of the country, and Cyclone Yaas that destroyed parts of Orissa and West Bengal.

Like all other natural calamities, cyclones affect human life and property devastatingly. Injury, homelessness, and destruction of properties are some common side effects. Human impacts are not even fully captured in mortality rates. People suffering from trauma due to loss of close ones and belongings that cannot be regained. Many heritage buildings and important structures are affected due to the intensity of the strong winds. There is a lack of basic amenities leading to diseases and death due to starvation. Even those who are far from the affected area can also face the after effects as rivers become uncontrollable and water released from the dams washes away villages and towns on its way.

Although I am not an expert, I think certain basic measures can be taken to reduce the effects of the disaster. One should pay attention to the warning issued by the Meteorology department, especially during summer and monsoon. If the area one lives in is close to the coast, then moving away to a safer place is recommended. Some basic things like food, water, torch or candles, batteries and match sticks, medicines should be kept in store. Helping people to overcome the effects of the disaster is also an important step.

Thus, having faced the aftermath of a cyclone recently, I am afraid of this natural disaster the most.

Vocabulary

• Havoc – widespread destruction
  Eg: The earthquake in Nepal in 2015 created havoc in the country.
• Irrepressible – not able to be controlled or restrained
  Eg: The ruler’s irrepressible urge to torture his captive made him infamous as ‘The Sadist’.
• Tempest – a violent windy storm
  Eg: The ship lost its way in the tempest and everyone on board died.
• Aggravated – to make (a problem, injury, or offense) worse or more serious
  Eg: The medicine aggravated his fever as he was allergic to one of its constituents.
• Aftermath – the consequences or after-effects of a significant unpleasant event.
  Eg: The aftermath of the war left everyone in tears.

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