CURRENT ENGLISH

It once rained for two million years, say scientists
11th March 2024

HarderDr Ruffell and his team based their findings
on research conducted on strata of rock in
the Eastern Alps in Europe in the 1970s and80s. The data showed unusual layers
deposited in ancient rock that dated backover 200 million years. Ruffell said this led togrowing evidence that the wet period may
have been, "the trigger that enableddinosaurs, and possibly the other membersof our modern land-based fauna, to diversify
and dominate the land". He added: "It may
have been one of the most important eventsin the history of life, in terms of its role inallowing not only the age of dinosaurs, butalso the origins of most key classes that form
the modern fauna of…turtles, crocodiles,
lizards and mammals."

Farmers pray for rain in times of drought.
Most of us have experience of wanting theheavens to open for our garden to bewatered during an excessively dry spell.
However, none of us can imagine a
prolonged period of rain lasting two million
years. U.K. geologist and forensic scientist
Alastair Ruffell has discovered that 200-300
million years ago, before the single landmassof Pangea separated into continents, Earth
did see an era during which it rained nonstop for up to two million years. Dr Ruffell
said this helped forge the development offlora and fauna all over the globe. Hebelieves the precipitation may have been
sparked by a huge rise in humidity following
a series of massive volcanic eruptions.

Sources: unilad.com / earth.com / ifiscience.com/ breakingnewsenglish.com

DO YOU AGREE?
“The most important events inhistory happened millions of yearsago”.

1CURRENT ENGLISH

TRUE? FALSE?

DISCUSS MORE

According to the article, identify whether thestatements are true or false.

1) Have you ever prayed for rain?

1) Farmers pray for drought in times of heavy
rain. T / F

2) What do you think of rain?
3) How important is rain?

2) The article says rain turns our gardens into
heaven. T / F4) How do you feel when it rains all daylong?

3) There was a single landmass on Earth 300
million years ago. T / F5) How would you feel if it rained every day
for a year?

4) The rain may have been caused by volcanic
eruptions. T / F

6) Would you like to go back to the time ofthe dinosaurs?

5) The geologists studied research data fromthe 1990s. T / F

7) What are the most important events in
the history of your life?

6) The research data showed unusual rockfrom the early 10th century. T / F

8) Would you like to live somewhere where
it never rains?

7) Geologists say the rain may havefacilitated the emergence of dinosaurs. T/F

9) What do you think Earth will be like in
200 million years from now?

8) Geologists say the rain may havefacilitated the death of ancient lizards. T/F

10) What questions would you like to ask thegeologists?

SYNONYM MATCH(The words in bold are from the news article.)

RAINY DAYS

1. droughta. left behind

2. spellb. set up

Which of these is the best thing to do on a rainyday? Rank the items from 1 (top) to 8 (bottom).

3. prolonged

c. set off

4. forge

d. part5. sparked

e. period_ Do the gardening

6. conductedf.

_ Visit a museum

7. deposited

g. carried out_ Study English

8. diversify

h. lack of rain

_ Sleep

9. rolei.

basic_ Housework

10. keyj.

elongated_ Go for a walk
_ Splash in puddles

branch out_ Watch a movie

2